Monster Trading Cards

horrorhunter · September 03, 2014, 05:12:36 PM

Twilight Zone (Rittenhouse Archives, 1999+) is a great series of 4 sets of 72 base cards each which continued the same numbering throughout the set. I only have the first three so my cards are #s 1-216. Set 1 was produced in 1999 with the other sets following every year or two. The sets devoted 6 cards per episode. Chase cards are available including several autograph cards. As nice as these are it's still a shame we never got TZ gum cards back in the '60s. Bubbles, Inc. (Topps) could have turned out a fantastic set of Twilight Zone cards back in the day.

Checklist Cards & Wrapper:

Backs:

Cards 1-9:

Backs:

http://nslists.com/twizone.htm

http://www.monsterwax.com/monsterlistM2T.html

http://thewrapper.tripod.com/chillingsets.html

http://thewrapper.tripod.com/witches.html

http://thewrapper.tripod.com/twilightzone.html

horrorhunter · September 03, 2014, 05:37:36 PM

Bernie Wrightson: Master Of The Macabre (FPG, 1993) is a rippingly cool card set featuring my favorite comic book artist's drawings/paintings. The base set is 90 cards with a 45 card Frankenstein subset and 3 hologram cards. Super rare are the gold hologram cards and the Bernie autograph card. Very satisfying is the preponderance of ZOMBIES herein. I think Bernie draws better zombies than anyone...even "Ghastly" Graham Ingels...and that's saying something.

Cards 1-9:

Backs:

Frankenstein Subset Cards 1-9:

Backs:

Holograms & Frankenstein Hologram Promo:

Backs:

The only issue of Previews I kept for my collection is the one with the Frankenstein Hologram Promo glued to the cover. It's about 2" thick but that one is too cool to toss.

horrorhunter · September 03, 2014, 06:06:14 PM

Bernie Wrightson Series 2: More Macabre (FPG, 1994) is the sequel to the first great set. It consists of 90 base cards and 5 Metallic Sternn chase cards. This set includes a good selection of zombies, vamps, werewolves, demons, aliens, dinosaurs, hotties, and plant monsters (yes, there is a Swamp Thing lookalike lurking herein).

Cards 1-9:

Backs:

First 3 Metallic Sternns:

Backs:

horrorhunter · September 03, 2014, 06:20:48 PM

Bernie Wrightson Stickers (FPG, 1996) is a set of 50 stickers featuring Wrightson art. They are blank on the backs. Some fabulous Wrightson art here. However, I think the card sets are superior.

Stickers 1-9:

Stickers 46-50 and Wrapper:

Mike Scott · September 03, 2014, 08:50:32 PM

Those Bernie Wrightson sets look great!

Would love to get those TZ sets! Do you know what they go for, these days?

horrorhunter · September 03, 2014, 10:34:58 PM

Quote from: Mike Scott on September 03, 2014, 08:50:32 PM
Those Bernie Wrightson sets look great!

Would love to get those TZ sets! Do you know what they go for, these days?

I just checked on the TZ sets and you can buy the individual base 72 card sets for around 10-15 bucks including shipping on the 'Bay. A 50th Anniversary Set came out in 2009 and I just ordered a base set of those for $12 with SH. Some of the autograph cards can be bought for as little as $10 (including Susan Gordon). I couldn't find any full boxes for sale though. I went ahead and ordered the Series 4 set I needed for like 13 bucks w/SH. I would like to score some of those autograph cards but that could run up a big bill pretty quick. Guess I'll settle for the base sets for now.

I also ordered the two Metallic Sternn chase cards I needed for that Wrightson 2 set for 5 bucks each postpaid. I've needed those things for 20 years! This thread has been good for my card collection but not my wallet.

Mike Scott · September 04, 2014, 12:13:13 AM

Quote from: horrorhunter on September 03, 2014, 10:34:58 PM
I just checked on the TZ sets and you can buy the individual base 72 card sets for around 10-15 bucks including shipping on the 'Bay.

Thanks! Glad you finally finished your TZ set!

horrorhunter · September 04, 2014, 12:58:04 AM

Quote from: Mike Scott on September 04, 2014, 12:13:13 AM
Thanks! Glad you finally finished your TZ set!

Thanks. If I get a crack at a full box from that 2009 TZ Series I may spring. Lotsa cool autographs in that one, and I think it guarantees at least 4 autographs per box. If one pops up I bet it would be expensive though.

Hepcat · September 04, 2014, 08:06:10 AM

Quote from: horrorhunter on September 03, 2014, 05:37:36 PMI think Bernie draws better zombies than anyone...even "Ghastly" Graham Ingels...and that's saying something.

Bernie Wrightson is a tremendous talent but unfortunately I'm often put off by his subject matter. Tim Vigil is another artist about whom I feel the same.

horrorhunter · September 04, 2014, 01:25:18 PM

Quote from: Hepcat on September 04, 2014, 08:06:10 AM
Bernie Wrightson is a tremendous talent but unfortunately I'm often put off by his subject matter. Tim Vigil is another artist about whom I feel the same.

Wrightson did some humor strips that may not appeal to you, like the Captain Sternn stuff. I'm a Heavy Metal fan so I like all of his stuff. My favorite Wrightson art by far is his monsters, and the very best examples of that are early in his career- late '60s through mid '70s. I think the comic book work that Bernie did for DC and Warren in that period are the best monster art I've seen this side of Frank Frazetta. The covers and stories Wrightson did for House Of Mystery, House Of Secrets, Swamp Thing, and a few other horror titles in the late '60s-early '70s are probably the pinnacle of his work. Web Of Horror is another example of Wrightson greatness, as well as some fanzine work from that period. At some point Wrightson broke his hand and it really affected his fine line technique. I like his stuff from the '80s onward, like the trading cards above, but the outstanding quality was diminished. He's still one of the best, however.