I used to love playing card games like Top Trumps etc. This pack wasn’t an official Top Trumps pack but it was my favourite of the lot. I was always a fan of Marvel comics and the artwork on these cards is fantastic. The game actually isn’t amazing because they only have three categories. You’d think they might have made it at least four categories. But I still thought it was fantastic.
The pictures below are from my pack I had as a child. Unfortunately there are a few ripped ones. They were always ripped like this as far back as I can remember, so it was always obvious who had The Hulk, The Human Top or Morbius! We’re also missing The Green Goblin. I need to try to source an image for that one.
I remember that the best cards to get were Goliath and the Silver Surfer. This was possibly where my love of the cosmic stories came from. I’ve always loved Surfer and Goliath since then. The Silver Surfer was the only card to have a 10 and Goliath was the only one to have two 9s. Mephisto and Thor were also pretty formidable. The pack also introduced me to some lesser known Marvel characters like The Grizzly and Tarantula. Interestingly there aren’t any X-Men covered in this pack.
Just check out the awesome artwork below. I’d love to know who drew these.
You can see more pics from this pack in The Gallery.
anna cohen
May 2, 2016 -
How many cards were there in a deck? ! have an early deck from probably 1977 when they 1st came out in UK and my mother brought a deck out to the USA for my (now 40-something) kids. There appear to be 40 cards, (actually 39 1/2 as Silver Surfer has lost 1/4, and Loki has lost his name). My grandsons, 7 & 5 are now just the age to really enjoy the game, and their parents remember what a fun game it was.
Happy memories!
Retromash
Jul 31, 2019 -
I’m very sorry that I missed your comment Anna. I believe there are 40 cards in total. I’m missing one. Thanks for taking the time to comment and sharing your story!
Gaetano
Sep 17, 2021 -
You are missing The Green Gobbling card.
Cool stuff!
I spent hours playing nthis card game.
Tonio Schembri
Jun 5, 2022 -
hi
i am missing the Abomination card
Anyone knows if I could buy a copy anywhere?
thanks!
Phillip Beadham
Jul 31, 2019 -
You asked who drew the Superheroes pack. Here are some answers!
Galactus – Jack Kirby:
https://www.comics.org/issue/537120/cover/4/
Silver Surfer, Thor & Captain America – Steranko:
https://www.google.com/search?q=FOOM+%2B+Steranko&rlz=1C1TEUA_enGB467GB467&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=uSYze8qzqtzrMM%253A%252Cv4evZvDGc_OS1M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQwir2zfYNAxJBjSvm8iJsUzN5_DA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiiuIae1d_jAhXtQxUIHQgWC8MQ9QEwAHoECAgQBg#imgrc=uSYze8qzqtzrMM:
Hulk – Ron Wilson:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361618/
Mephisto – Keith Pollard:
https://www.comics.org/issue/537124/cover/4/
The Dread Dormammu – Steve Ditko (I remember this from Dr Strange Marvel Treasury Edition)
Goliath – Gene Colan:
https://www.comics.org/issue/537642/cover/4/
The Vision – John Buscema:
https://www.comics.org/issue/537632/cover/4/
Spider-man & Tarantula – Al Milgrom:
https://www.comics.org/issue/536533/cover/4/
Abomination – Herb Trimpe:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361621/cover/4/
Tiger Shark – Keith Pollard:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361597/cover/4/
Jackal & Grizzly – Larry Lieber:
https://www.comics.org/issue/536526/cover/4/
Gremlin – Herb Trimpe:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361605/cover/4/
Captain Britain – Herb Trimpe:
This one doesn’t need any explaining – just look at Captain Britain Annual 1978!
Submariner – Neal Adams:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361590/cover/4/
Black Panther – Arvell Jones/ Keith Pollard:
https://www.comics.org/issue/537621/cover/4/
Rhino – Herb Trimpe:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361596/cover/4/
What impresses me, is the pictures in the Marvel Superheroes pack seem to be improved versions of the originals. On Christmas Day 1977, the Marvel Superheroes pack & my Captain Britain Annual 1978 were my most prized possessions!
Phillip
Retromash
Jul 31, 2019 -
Phillip. This is fantastic. I’m going to look at all those in detail and I’ll probably write a blog post about it and will give you full credit for the art links. Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to comment! Michael