Ack, Ack, Ack!

Just the mention of this Kickstarter for Mars Attacks: Occupation Trading Cards made me drag out the DVD from 1996. You know, just to set the mood. Well, anyway, this Kickstarter Spotlight is a lot different than most of the ones I’ve done in the past. The project was created by The Topps Company, and trust me when I say they know a thing or two about cards in general and these cards in particular.

Originally created in 1962, Mars Attacks! was a trading card collection before ever becoming a comic, movie, or merchandise franchise. It revived in the eighties, and again with the movie release. Well, it seems it’s time to breathe new life into it again. So read on to hear more about how you can help make this happen and to see the Kickstarter campaign video.

It has been more than fifty years since the publication of the first line of Topps’ Mars Attacks trading cards and the nationwide moral outrage over the cards’ graphic violence and implied sexuality that ensued. Kids thrilled to the gory images and monstrous Martian invaders, but parents and authority figures had a hairy fit. Topps attempted damage control by reissuing the cards with repainted art to take out the offending material, but the company ultimately suspended the line following inquiries from a Connecticut district attorney. The original cards became collector’s items.

In the years that followed, Topps turned Mars Attacks into a franchise of comic books and action figures and last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the original line by reissuing the cards in an expanded set called Mars Attacks Heritage. Now, the company is bringing the controversial sci-fi card set back in grand style with the release of Mars Attacks: Invasion, the first story-based line since the original hit stores in 1962.

You can check out a few images from the Invasion set here below.

IDW Publishing and Topps announced that they would be bringing cult-hit Mars Attacks to the publishing company as an ongoing comic book series with writer John Layman and artist John McRea in tow.

Starting in June 2012, IDW Publishing will be breathing new life in the Mars Attacks series, which started as a 1962 trading card series from Topps. A new universe full of insane action, dark humor and of course, science fiction.