1965–66 Topps : Superman Cards
Superman Cards were first distributed by Topps Chewing Gum in
1965. The 66-card series features scenes and promotional photos from
the Adventures of Superman television series starring
George Reeves. Superman Cards were sold in 6-card wax packs
for 5 cents each. The first printing included a stick of bubble gum in each
pack. Each box contains 24 packs.
The live-action show began as a reworking of The Adventures of Superman radio program. Producers Robert Maxwell and Whitney Ellsworth drafted
the screenplay for Superman and the Mole Men, a full-length
feature film released on November 23, 1951. The movie served as a pilot for
network syndication. The first 26 episodes were filmed before acquiring
Kellogg's as a sponsor. Adventures of Superman originally aired for six seasons from September 19, 1952,
to April 28, 1958.
The card series features both Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill as
Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. Phyllis Coates first appeared as Lois alongside George Reeves in
Superman and the Mole Men. After season one, Coates was replaced by
Noel Neill, the first live-action Lois Lane. Neill previously starred in the
1948 serial Superman and the 1950 sequel
Atom Man vs. Superman. Reeves and Neill also appear in the 1954
educational film Stamp Day for Superman, produced by the U.S. Treasury
Department.
The cards depict scenes from all six seasons. The final three seasons were
filmed in color, but originally broadcast in black-and-white. A rare series of
test cards issued in 1965 contains black-and-white card backs. The limited
test series is comprised of 44 cards with no copyright year or puzzle pieces.
Orange card backs are numbered to #66. The last 22 cards form two different
puzzle images. The first printing of orange back cards do not list a copyright
year. The early wrappers included bubble gum and one of four different
advertisements.
The more common orange back cards are copyrighted 1965. The series was
distributed as late as 1970. The cards and wrappers read "Watch Superman on
T.V." The T.V. packs do not contain any bubble gum.
.png "1966 Topps Superman #5 (T.V. Back)")
Since 1987, the Smithsonian Institution has archived items from the
Superman Cards series. Story cards, advertisements, and wrappers are
held in the collections of The National Museum of American History.
An undisclosed number of Superman Cards were stamped in gold foil and
reissued by Topps as buyback inserts. The stamped cards are included in the
2002 American Pie: Spirit of America Edition and the 2013 Topps 75th Anniversary
series. Reprints of "Metropolis' Hero" were included the
Topps 75th Anniversary set.
![2013 Topps 75th Anniversary - #45 - Superman 1966 - Metropolis' Hero [Rainbow Foil]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbYs2k9BeobfhxDyXrpnuX0cZXCxsliysoYKXNbGmIQXrHO6XWf_D840NgsCcgLIdrzWVRZ80qmUVplg0IEaSTia4RRJ1yu7WnbWXmzbzxv29DfeZBIK5qhs-Jb_9quSUBe6drqtCOdiMmdfCjVsnDGvkvV4ZPab7wkMQAskbUZwIX7J3iSrbF1RW2E8/s0/2013%20Topps%2075th%20Anniversary%20-%20%2345%20-%20Superman%201966%20-%20Metropolis'%20Hero%20%5BRainbow%20Foil%5D.png "2013 Topps 75th Anniversary - #45 - Superman 1966 - Metropolis' Hero [Rainbow Foil]")
The
2018 Topps 80th Anniversary
series includes a limited edition card and 10 x 14 inch poster that
reprint the Superman Cards wrapper art. The card and poster
were sold exclusively through the Topps website. The print run was limited
to only 343 cards.
.png "2018 Topps 80th Anniversary - #16 - 1966 Superman Wrapper Art")
| Superman Cards Checklist | |
| 1 | Krypton is Doomed |
| 2 | Destination: Earth |
| 3 | Superman’s Parents |
| 4 | Ace Reporter |
| 5 | Superman |
| 6 | A Job for Superman |
| 7 | The Man of Steel |
| 8 | Superman’s Strength |
| 9 | Metropolis’ Hero |
| 10 | The Threat |
| 11 | Plotting Lois’ Death |
| 12 | Lois in Trouble |
| 13 | Lois is Kidnapped |
| 14 | Jimmy and Clark |
| 15 | He’s Been Shot |
| 16 | Clark Gets a Lead |
| 17 | No False Moves, Kent |
| 18 | You’re Finished Kent |
| 19 | Superman in Action |
| 20 | Futile Fight |
| 21 | Superman’s Warning |
| 22 | The Backfire |
| 23 | Crushing Blow |
| 24 | Seeing with X-Ray Eyes |
| 25 | Saved by Superman |
| 26 | Safe at Last |
| 27 | Superman’s Peril |
| 28 | Jimmy, Superman & Perry |
| 29 | Great Caesar’s Ghost |
| 30 | Bullets Bounce Off Him |
| 31 | In the Nick of Time |
| 32 | Superman & the Savages |
| 33 | Superman Leaps In |
| 34 | Superman to the Rescue |
| 35 | Superman’s Problem |
| 36 | The Challenge |
| 37 | The Pirates’ Decision |
| 38 | It’s Superman! |
| 39 | Helping Hand |
| 40 | Superman & the Cavemen |
| 41 | Facing the Death Ray |
| 42 | Superman’s “Wedding” |
| 43 | Happy Ending |
| 44 | Reporter Clark Kent |
| 45 | Super Safecracker |
| 46 | Interviewing the Chief |
| 47 | Superman’s Pet |
| 48 | At the Police Station |
| 49 | Capturing the Crooks |
| 50 | The Alien Arrives |
| 51 | Superman Gets His Man |
| 52 | Jor-El on Krypton |
| 53 | Jimmy Behind Bars |
| 54 | Help Me, Superman |
| 55 | Lois Threatened! |
| 56 | Superman’s Search |
| 57 | Pa Kent Finds Superboy |
| 58 | Held as a Hostage |
| 59 | Rocket from Krypton |
| 60 | Flight over Metropolis |
| 61 | The Kryptonite Ray |
| 62 | Superman as a Baby |
| 63 | Ruler of Krypton |
| 64 | Superman’s Father |
| 65 | Visitor from Space |
| 66 | Harmless Blow |