1994 Topps Universal Monsters Illustrated trading cards combine horror movie icons and fine art. Think Star Wars Galaxy only with the likes of Dracula instead of Darth Vader and the Wolf Man instead of Chewbacca. The set didn’t catch on like the Galaxy line or several art-based Marvel brands but that doesn’t take away from its quality.
1994 Topps Universal Monsters Illustrated Checklist Details
The 100-card base set is divided up into nine different sections, each based on one of the classic Universal Monsters films:
- Dracula
- Frankenstein
- The Mummy
- The Invisible Man
- The Bride of Frankenstein
- The Wolf Man
- Creature from the Black Lagoon
- This Island Earth
- The Incredible Shrinking Man
Once you get beyond the title cards, these movies get an 11-card breakdown. The first has artwork from either Basil Gogos or, for The Invisible Man and The Incredible Shrinking Man, Joe Smith. Gogos’ monster portraits are some of the most recognizable pieces of horror art ever. Smith’s poster work was also extremely important and reached beyond just the monsters. These first cards for each film introduced the film and gave an overview on its importance.
A modern artist takes over for the remaining cards for each film. This makes continuity in style for each mini section but when you take the set as a whole, there are several different looks. Dave Dorman, Mike Mignola and Bill Sienkiewicz are among the notable names to contribute to the base set.
Backs have more art, artifacts and photos from the film as well as write-ups that both explain what’s going on and delve a little further into movie history.
1994 Topps Universal Monsters Illustrated has two additional insert sets. Monsterchrome (1:9 packs) takes ten pieces of art and gives it the chromium treatment. Horrorglow (1:18 packs) glows in the dark. Todd McFarlane, John Byrne, Joe Quesada and Mark Schultz provide the art for the four-card set.
1994 Topps Universal Monsters Illustrated Checklist
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Set size: 100 cards
Cards per pack: 8
Packs per box: 36
Shop for 1994 Topps Universal Monsters Illustrated boxes on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
100 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Title Card
2 Dracula
3 Dracula
4 Dracula
5 Dracula
6 Dracula
7 Dracula
8 Dracula
9 Dracula
10 Dracula
11 Dracula
12 Dracula
13 Frankenstein
14 Frankenstein
15 Frankenstein
16 Frankenstein
17 Frankenstein
18 Frankenstein
19 Frankenstein
20 Frankenstein
21 Frankenstein
22 Frankenstein
23 Frankenstein
24 The Mummy
25 The Mummy
26 The Mummy
27 The Mummy
28 The Mummy
29 The Mummy
30 The Mummy
31 The Mummy
32 The Mummy
33 The Mummy
34 The Mummy
35 The Invisible Man
36 The Invisible Man
37 The Invisible Man
38 The Invisible Man
39 The Invisible Man
40 The Invisible Man
41 The Invisible Man
42 The Invisible Man
43 The Invisible Man
44 The Invisible Man
45 The Invisible Man
46 The Bride of Frankenstein
47 The Bride of Frankenstein
48 The Bride of Frankenstein
49 The Bride of Frankenstein
50 The Bride of Frankenstein
51 The Bride of Frankenstein
52 The Bride of Frankenstein
53 The Bride of Frankenstein
54 The Bride of Frankenstein
55 The Bride of Frankenstein
56 The Bride of Frankenstein
57 The Wolf Man
58 The Wolf Man
59 The Wolf Man
60 The Wolf Man
61 The Wolf Man
62 The Wolf Man
63 The Wolf Man
64 The Wolf Man
65 The Wolf Man
66 The Wolf Man
67 The Wolf Man
68 Creature from the Black Lagoon
69 Creature from the Black Lagoon
70 Creature from the Black Lagoon
71 Creature from the Black Lagoon
72 Creature from the Black Lagoon
73 Creature from the Black Lagoon
74 Creature from the Black Lagoon
75 Creature from the Black Lagoon
76 Creature from the Black Lagoon
77 Creature from the Black Lagoon
78 Creature from the Black Lagoon
79 This Island Earth
80 This Island Earth
81 This Island Earth
82 This Island Earth
83 This Island Earth
84 This Island Earth
85 This Island Earth
86 This Island Earth
87 This Island Earth
88 This Island Earth
89 This Island Earth
90 The Incredible Shrinking Man
91 The Incredible Shrinking Man
92 The Incredible Shrinking Man
93 The Incredible Shrinking Man
94 The Incredible Shrinking Man
95 The Incredible Shrinking Man
96 The Incredible Shrinking Man
97 The Incredible Shrinking Man
98 The Incredible Shrinking Man
99 The Incredible Shrinking Man
100 The Incredible Shrinking Man
Horrorglow Checklist
4 cards.
1:18 packs.
H1 Frankenstein’s Monster
H2 Creature from the Black Lagoon
H3 The Mummy
H4 The Wolf Man
Monsterchrome Checklist
10 cards.
1:9 packs.
M1 Universal Monsters
M2 Dracula
M3 Frankenstein
M4 The Mummy
M5 The Invisible Man
M6 Bride of Frankenstein
M7 The Wolf Man
M8 Creature From the Black Lagoon
M9 This Island Earth
M10 The Incredible Shrinking Man
Promo Cards Checklist
Bride of Frankenstein / Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein / Frankenstein – oversized, 5 1/4″ by 7 1/4″ – Previews magazine
The Mummy
This Island Earth – Non-Sport Update magazine
