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Description

The Mars Attacks trading card series was created by Topps in 1962. Product developer Len Brown, inspired by artist Wally Wood’s cover for EC Comics WEIRD SCIENCE #16, pitched the idea to Woody Gelman. Gelman and Brown created the story – with Brown writing the copy – and created rough sketches. They enlisted Wood himself to flesh out the sketches and Bob Powell to finish them. Norman Saunders painted the 55-card set.
The cards tell the story of the invasion of Earth by cruel, hideous Martians. The cards depicted futuristic battle scenes and bizarre methods of Martian attack, torture and slaughter. The story ends with a combined Earth invasion fleet attacking Mars by landing on the planet and destroying it.
The cards, which sold for five cents per pack of five, were test marketed through the dummy corporation Bubbles, Inc. under the name Attack From Space. Sales were sufficient to expand the marketing and the name was changed to Mars Attacks. The cards sparked parental and community outrage over their graphic violence and implied sexuality. Topps responded initially by repainting 13 of the cards to reduce the gore and sexuality, then, following inquiries from a Connecticut district attorney, agreed to halt production. And so, the cards became collectors' items.

Description

The Mars Attacks trading card series was created by Topps in 1962. Product developer Len Brown, inspired by artist Wally Wood’s cover for EC Comics WEIRD SCIENCE #16, pitched the idea to Woody Gelman. Gelman and Brown created the story – with Brown writing the copy – and created rough sketches. They enlisted Wood himself to flesh out the sketches and Bob Powell to finish them. Norman Saunders painted the 55-card set.
The cards tell the story of the invasion of Earth by cruel, hideous Martians. The cards depicted futuristic battle scenes and bizarre methods of Martian attack, torture and slaughter. The story ends with a combined Earth invasion fleet attacking Mars by landing on the planet and destroying it.
The cards, which sold for five cents per pack of five, were test marketed through the dummy corporation Bubbles, Inc. under the name Attack From Space. Sales were sufficient to expand the marketing and the name was changed to Mars Attacks. The cards sparked parental and community outrage over their graphic violence and implied sexuality. Topps responded initially by repainting 13 of the cards to reduce the gore and sexuality, then, following inquiries from a Connecticut district attorney, agreed to halt production. And so, the cards became collectors' items.