Stan Lee's Comikaze and Topps Join Forces to Bring Mars Attacks

Hey there, True Believers!  The Topps Company and Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo are teaming up to bring MARS ATTACKS to Los Angeles!  Topps, setting up shop at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo for the first time, will bring an exclusive MARS ATTACKS trading card featuring Stan Lee himself facing off against their iconic Martian invader!  Limited to just 2500 cards and fully painted by Joe Jusko, the card entitled "Stan Strikes!" will be given away FREE on a first-come-first-served basis and available ONLY at Comikaze!

"In 1962 when Mars Attacks was making its mark on the world of trading cards, Stan and his stable of sensational superhero stories were transforming the landscape of comic books," said Topps' Adam Levine.  "I can't think of any better match-up than these two pop culture icons to face off in the most outrageous, out-of-this world trading card crossover we've ever seen!"

Topps will be on hand at Stan Lee's Comikaze this Nov 1-3 to promote the release of Mars Attacks: Invasion, the modern revival of the classic card series and the first all-new story based MARS ATTACKS card series in more than half a century!  The set boasts all-new art by some of the most renowned illustrators in the industry, including Jusko, Earl Norem, Glen Orbik, Greg Staples, Alex Horley, Sanjulian, Dan Brereton and many more!  A limited edition print featuring Joe Jusko's stunning painting will also be available for sale at the Topps booth, signed by the artist, while supplies last!

For more information on Comikaze, Stan Lee's Comic, Sci-Fi and Horror Convention, visit www.comikazeexpo.com

San Diego Comic Con 2012 Gentle Giant Mars Attacks Mini Bust Exclusive

Gentle Giant Studios has just made the SDCC Mars Attacks Mini Bust exclusive available to pre-order to Premier Guild Members. What an amazing year for Mars Attacks fans because this year celebrates the 50th Anniversary for the release of Topps Mars Attacks trading cards. In celebration, Gentle Giant is definitely doing it right with amazing busts and ornaments for Mars Attacks this year. The Mars Attacks mini bust is limited to only 550 pieces and is sure to be a quick sellout.

 The year was 1962! Mars invaded earth with devastating effect. Now, 50 years later, the menacing terror marches on! This hand-painted, limited-edition mini  bust offers dozens of details. Featuring authentic accessories, weapon, clear-cast dome and a “flying Saucer” themed base. One of the most iconic and memorable Sci-Fi monsters of a generation! Collect this Martian invader before he collects YOU!

Ack Ack Ack!!!

Mars Attacks Mini Bust $75 License: Mars Attacks
Edition Size:  550 Pieces
Item Number: 80268

Gentle Giant Premier Guild Members can now pre-order the SDCC Mars Attacks Mini Bust!



Topps 50th Anniversary Mars Attacks Heritage

Topps and Mars Attacks is celebrating 50 years in the very popular card set that started something epic. In celebrating the 50th anniversary, Topps will be creating  the Mars Attacks Heritage, which will collect the original 55-card set with 25 new and never-before-seen images. All of the cards will be printed on thick, old fashioned card stock and the wrappers will mimic the 1962 original wrappers. 

Not only will we be getting a treat in collecting the original set, but you will find amazing insert cards as well. Packs of Mars Attacks Heritage will include limited-edition, multi-colored parallel cards and 3D lenticulars. Both will be randomly included in packs. Mars Attacks Heritage will also include sketch cards, which will definitely be highly sought after!  

One of the artists that will have sketch cards in the Mars Attacks Heritage is our friend, Denise Vasquez. Here are a few of the sketch cards she has created for Mars Attacks Heritage. They even glow in the dark! 

Other artists who have contributed in creating sketch cards are John McCrea, Bruce Gerlach, Lee Bradley, Beck Seashols, Ashleigh Popplewell, Layron Dejarnette, Chris Mason, and so many more. 

Topps recently announced autograph inserts in the Mars Attack Heritage set. 

Signed by Original Series Co-Creator Len Brown April 16 – As a surprise addition to this summer’s highly anticipated Mars Attacks Heritage card series, Topps announces that co-creator Len Brown will be signing a limited number of foil-stamped parallel cards. 

“During the course of his remarkable, 40+ years at Topps, Len Brown helped shape hundreds of Topps products, from Ugly Stickers to Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages,” said Ira Friedman, Topps VP of Global Licensing. “He spearheaded many legendary sets, collaborating with artists the likes of Basil Wolverton, Jack Davis, Norm Saunders and Art Spiegelman, among many others– and in his spare time created the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book with Wally Wood for Tower Comics. We’re thrilled that Len has agreed to add his signature to our 50th Anniversary card set so that fans can have the chance to own an authentic piece of Mars Attacks history.”

For Mars Attacks Heritage, Brown will be signing 10 foil-stamped parallel of each of the 55 cards from the reissued base set, for a total of 550 autographs, randomly inserted into packs. Each of these parallel cards will also be hand numbered 1 through 10.

 Mars Attacks Heritage is currently being offered in this month’s issue of Previews catalog (April cover date), and via Topps authorized hobby distributors and will be in stores this July. For more information on Mars Attacks, including an ever-growing gallery of sketch cards, go to:

www.facebook.com/MarsAttacks. Also follow on twitter for news, announcements and more @realmarsattacks

Mars Attacks Invasion Has Begun from Gentle Giant Studios

In a recent post, we mentioned that we had the opportunity to get an Exclusive First to see the premiere of the Mars Attacks license with Gentle Giant Studios at WonderCon. Well great news has come today in that Gentle Giant has allowed the Mars Attacks invasion to begin in opening the pre-orders for the Mars Attacks ornaments.

Mars Attacks Ship Ornament - $49

License: Mars Attacks

Item Number: 80278

UPC: 8-71810-00929-9

Dimensions:  2.25” L x 3” W x 3” H

Release Date: Q4 2012

Nothing quite says “Happy Holidays” like an alien invasion! To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the original Mars Attacks collectable sci-fi/horror trading cards, Gentle Giant Ltd. is proud to bring you the Mars Attacks Ship Ornament! Cast in high quality polystone and featuring a clear dome to reveal the highly detailed and fiendish alien invader within, this unique keepsake is the perfect way for any classic sci-fi fan to deck the halls! 

Mars Attacks Topps Ornament - $29

License: Mars Attacks

Item Number: 80279

UPC: 8-71810-00930-5

Dimensions:  2.25” L x 1.5” W x 3.75” H

Release Date: Q4 2012

Nothing quite says “Happy Holidays” like an alien invasion! In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the original Mars Attacks collectable sci-fi/horror trading cards,  Gentle Giant Ltd. is proud to bring you the Mars Attacks Topps Ornament! Shaped like the original wax-wrapped trading cards and featuring authentic vintage Mars Attacks artwork, this unique high quality polystone keepsake is the perfect way for any classic sci-fi fan to deck the halls!

 The Gentle Giant Mars Attacks ornaments will definitely be invading our Christmas tree this year!! Again, you can now Pre-order the two Mars Attacks ornaments at Gentle Giant. 

Mars Attacks Invades Gentle Giant Studios at WonderCon

Well, Day 1 has come to a close here in Anaheim, CA for WonderCon 2012! Great panels, costumes, special guests, announcements, and yes, an exclusive first look for Angry Koala Gear. We had the opportunity to chat with Greg Crafts of Gentle Giant Studios and he said, "I have a surprise to share with you guys". I was very excited when he mentioned this and felt like a child that just learned they would be getting ice cream. 

Greg mentioned that Gentle Giant has recently acquired a new license in Mars Attacks. Mars Attacks is actually celebrating 50 years this year. We were already scheduled to meet with him to talk about the WonderCon exclusive Yoda in 3D glasses and popcorn mini bust, but I think we were both too excited to talk about the amazing piece. He mentioned that late last night he was handed this prototype to unveil at the WonderCon and he wanted us to be the first to share this incredible news! 

Gentle Giant Studios has two Mars Attacks pieces lined up so far with this being the first. It is a holiday ornament that will be available to pre-order very soon. The second Mars Attacks piece is still in development, but it will also be a holiday ornament. The second one will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary in Mars Attacks and will actually look very similar to the Vintage Topps Cards that originally created Mars Attacks. We are really looking forward to seeing this piece! 

The Mars Attacks holiday ornament is truly an amazing piece! The detail is incredible and should come to no surprise coming from Gentle Giant Studios. This is just another reason why Gentle Giant Studios is one of our favorites. 

We just want to thank Greg Crafts and Gentle Giant Studios for sharing this first look into their new line in Mars Attacks with Angry Koala Gear. 

Mars Attacks Returns with the Amazing Team of John Layman and John McCrea

IDW Publishing and Topps are pleased to announce the multiple Eisner Award-winning creative team for MARS ATTACKS, an all-new ongoing comic series based on the fan-favorite Mars Attacks franchise.

Debuting in June 2012, IDW’s comic series will offer the first stories of an all-new Mars Attacks universe, bringing the brand’s outrageous action and dark humor to a new set of tales. Writer John Layman, author and co-creator of the Eisner-winning series Chew, will pen the series, with art by John McCrea, best known for his collaborations with Garth Ennis, including Eisner-winner Hitman.

“I’m a huge fan of Mars Attacks from a long way back. I own about half the original card set from 1962 and have a pretty big collection of collectibles and doodads,” Layman said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to destroy the Earth and inflict huge degrees of suffering on the rest of humanity. With this Mars Attacks series, I finally get my chance.”

Created in 1962, Mars Attacks celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012 with major product launches throughout the year. IDW’s new comic series, as well as high-quality reprints of existing material, will be a cornerstone of that effort.

Originally published by Topps as a series of trading cards, Mars Attacks was created by Len Brown and Woody Gelman, after Brown was inspired by the Wally Wood cover to Weird Science #16 (EC Comics). The cards went on to achieve cult status for their then-shocking imagery—fully painted by pulp legend Norm Saunders and based on designs by Wood and Bob Powell—and remains a staple of pop culture. Topps revived the franchise in the mid 1990s with a second card set, comic book series and toy line. The story was also adapted into the 1996 feature film Mars Attacks!, directed by Tim Burton.

MARS ATTACKS will include covers by McCrea and alternate covers by such comic-book luminaries as Sam Kieth, Ben Templesmith and Eric Powell. The first issue will also feature a unique approach to variant covers: It will ship with 55 different covers, each depicting one of the original trading cards from the debut set of Mars Attacks from 1962. A complete collector’s set of the 55 covers in a box that replicates the original card packaging will be offered separately as well.

MARS ATTACKS #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in June 2012.