Mars Attacks: 50th Anniversary Collection REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW Bubblegum bloodbath

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Half a century ago, bubblegum manufacturers Topps thrilled kids with a set of 55 lurid cards depicting an invasion by big-brained Martians. Tim Burton was a fan, and went on to adapt them into a hit-and-miss 1996 film. This neat little hardback reproduces them all, front and back. The art’s been taken from the original transparencies, while the text on the back’s been scanned from an archive set.

As well as the original cards, there’s bonus material aplenty, including further cards released in the ‘90s (these are even more gruesome, featuring vivisection and decapitation), alternate designs featuring toned-down levels of violence (drawn up when Topps was considering reworking the cards after complaints – in the end they pulled them from the market altogether), concept designs and development sketches. There’s also a touching remembrance of the artist by his daughter, and an introduction by co-creator Len Brown. Finally, tucked away at the back in a plastic pouch is a reproduction card.

Sure to delight any fan of ‘50s SF, Burton’s movies, or the grotesque in general, this is a great little stocking filler that represents good value for money - especially when you consider that a full set of cards in mint condition would now set you back around $25,000!

Ian Berriman twitter.com/ianberriman

Read more of our book reviews .

Deputy Editor, SFX

Ian Berriman has been working for SFX – the world's leading sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine – since March 2002. He's also a regular writer for Electronic Sound. Other publications he's contributed to include Total Film, When Saturday Comes, Retro Pop, Horrorville, and What DVD. A life-long Doctor Who fan, he's also a supporter of Hull City, and live-tweets along to BBC Four's Top Of The Pops repeats from his @TOTPFacts account.

Latest in Entertainment
Walton Goggins in The Righteous Gemstones
The final season of Fallout star's HBO comedy has debuted to a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth studio asked Scarlett Johansson to join Instagram, but she refused: "The film will do fine"
San in warpaint next to wolf Moro in Princess Mononoke
28 years after its original release, one of the best Studio Ghibli movies is getting a restored IMAX re-release
A Minecraft Movie
Minecraft movie's popcorn bucket is an explosive, game-accurate continuation of a cinema trend that shows no signs of slowing down
The Running Man
The Running Man reboot is bringing back key aspects of Stephen King's novel to turn it into "the deadliest game of hide and seek"
Indy in Ben Leonberg's haunted house horror Good Boy
Good Boy, a new scary movie told from a dog's POV, is being called "one of the best horror films of the year"
Latest in Reviews
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"
Altered: Trial by Frost booster box and packs on a playmat
Altered: Trial by Frost review - "Satisfying enough to offer highly varied gameplay"
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind
Boro and Alta sit on a bench together in Wanderstop
Wanderstop review: "Exalting the transformative power of tea"