Maybe Next Time Your Master Will Clean Up After You

Mars Attacks!
Bubbles Inc. (Topps), 1962
36. Destroying a Dog

Kick the crap out of the US military? Go for it.

Destroy Washington D.C.? If you must.

Burn cattle? We call it barbecue.

Shoot a dog? Whoa, there.

And a controversial card was born. I wish I’d been born early enough to collect Mars Attacks! Not because of their value on today’s market but because this set just plain rocks. From a kid’s perspective, it’s great because it’s got the gore and violence to make it banned from schoolyards. I had the fun but way too kid-friendly Dinosaurs Attack! instead. And Garbage Pail Kids, I guess. But Mars Attacks! is the one that paved the way for them and set the standard for Pokemon to follow.

Of all the classic imagery, perhaps this card is the most controversial. Violence towards people is pretty normal to see. We eat cows, so that one wasn’t completely shocking. But unless it’s a rabid Old Yeller, you just don’t hurt puppies. Well, this ugly Martian did.