Ohhhhh, We're Halfway There.....

July begins with another addition to my slow and steady set build of the beautiful 1962 Mars Attacks. I am building it in PSA 4 form, with no qualifications to how old or new a label it arrives in. Despite nabbing a couple at local card shows, most have come from eBay and today's entry is no different.

Number 6 in the set, Burning Navy Ships, is the lucky card that becomes number 28 of 55 and officially moves me to over 50% of the project being in-hand.

Here is the back for those who enjoy seeing both sides of a piece of cardboard.

Sadly, I'm Sure We Will Bomb Mars

Great artwork will probably be the main theme of my collecting journey moving forward, at least for the foreseeable future. Be it sketch cards or non-sport vintage, seeing beautiful art makes this completely non-artistic person a happy camper.

Card number 47 in the 1962 Mars Attacks set enters the PC after an eBay win. The acquisition of "Earth Bombs Mars" puts me at 27 out of 55, or 49%. It's been a slow but fun process of snatching these up and I look forward to the long set build ahead as I tick away at my remaining needs.

Turning The Tide On Dastardly Martians

I slowly edge forward with one of my few remaining cardboard projects after today's addition to my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 set build. The artwork in this set remains undefeated and knowing this journey will take months and months to complete -- if not years -- is an oddly comforting feeling.

"Capturing A Martian" makes its entry into the cardboard conglomerate as I was able to secure it on eBay and not get sniped or shilled. Each pickup feels rewarding and like I won at something. That's always a fantastic feeling. Plus, again....the art!

I Am Nearly 50% Complete On My 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 Set Build!

It's been too long since I posted an update for my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 Set Build, and I just so happen to have two sitting patiently in my "to deal with" pile of stuff that has accumulated during my hobby lull. I am positive I picked these up at a Front Row Card Show from one of my all-time favorite dealers. The set build had a chunk appear all at once but it has been slow since then.

# 49 -- The Earthmen Charge -- is first up. Beautiful artwork as always, although nowhere near as graphic as most of the cards in the set.

Next up, the more visually appealing card as Mars Explodes (# 54) joins the club.

This dealer is always willing to work with me on price if I can show my comp work, and this time was no different. I always appreciate that willingness, and because of it, I now move to 25/55 in my journey to complete this project. 45.5% of the way there feels great and I hope to be solidly over halfway there by the end of 2026.

More Mars Attacks PSA 4 Additions!

I was able to add a few more cards to my 1962 Topps Mars Attacks Set Chase. The below three bring my total to 23 of 55 cards, or ~42%. I have had a few rushes of pickups but overall it's been a slow and steady grind which is exactly what I anticipated this project being.

eBay pickup number one is card number 20 -- Crushed To Death. As always, the artwork is exceptional and absolutely killer!

The second of my only eBay pickups from the set in the last year plus is card number 17 -- Beast and The Beauty. I had never noticed the glass breaking and suspended in mid-air as the Martian grabs the scared young girl....until just now. These just keep paying artistic and cardboard dividends!

The third and final card was had at a local card show of all places -- Martian City in Ruins, number 53 in the doable set. When I saw a dealer I like had a stack I was hoping to find a bunch, but what he had was mostly dupes for my needs or happened to be on the high-end of historical eBay pricing for each card. That being said, I was happy to snag the one!

Another Chunk of My 1962 Mars Attacks Set Build Is In The Books!

I was able to secure a nice group of cards from eBay a while back that inches me ever closer to completion on my 1962 Mars Attacks Set Build. These bad boys in PSA 4 form used to run roughly $20 a piece for the commons, but over time that grew to $35-40 a pop. That was too rich for my blood and I slowed in my chase, picking off one or two when they were solid deals. October proved to be a boon, however, and I landed all five of the below from the same eBay seller. Not one exceeded $35 and 60% were right in line with old pricing....much to my delight.

#16, Panic In Parliament, is first up. The artwork on all of these is truly legendary.

Robot Terror, card number 32, is the next piece I was able to land. It reminds me greatly of the beginning of "War of the Worlds," as mediocre a movie as that was from what I recall.

The next that arrived was Army Of Giant Insects, the 39th card on the checklist. This scene in a movie now would be pretty cool to witness.

Horror In Paris would likely be top ten in artwork for the entire set, or at least close to it. It comes in as number 41 in the iconic set.

Finally, Blast Off For Mars is number 46 of the 55 card run and features some of the tamer and less mind-blowing art -- although it is still fantastic as they all are.

These five get me to 20 of 55, a nearly 9% increase from where I previously stood. I continue to keep an eye out for more and know this will take years to complete.

The Coolest Looking Mars Attacks Card

Number 15 of 55 to join my PSA 4 set build of this iconic issue is one of its most famous and sought-after cards. It's easily the most expensive piece I've added and until I land card number one or the checklist, it will remain the priciest entry.

Prize Captive, card number 21 in the set, is a masterpiece of art and comedy/horror. I truly love everything about this cardboard delight and the price was too good to pass up when it popped up on eBay. It went for less than all recent comps at the time of purchase and I'm thrilled to add it!

Here's the (blurry) back, for completion's sake.

Saucers Invading? Not Yet.

Here's the 14th of 55 cards in the 1962 Mars Attacks set that I've acquired. PSA 4s don't always pop up so if it stays within a reasonable price range I have to jump on it. They've been appearing on eBay more frequently over the last year or so, meaning progress on the project has been greater than I could have hoped for.

Card number 15, Saucers Invade China, yields what all others in the set do -- great artwork that often trends towards and surpasses what is politically correct.

I Hate Bugs, But I'll Tolerate This One

I wasn't kidding when I said eBay was providing numerous opportunities to add to my 1962 Mars Attacks Set Build at a rate I can't ever remember occurring previously. With 13/55 now in-hand (23.6%) the project seems like less of a 10-year venture and more of a 2-3 year one.

I truly hate bugs of all kinds -- so thankfully this one just exists as stellar artwork!

The Shrinking Ray

More incredible artwork rounds out the week as card number 24 in the 1962 Mars Attacks set -- and the twelfth I have acquired -- enters my PC.

The slow build on this project will make its completion all the sweeter! This one presents way better than a PSA 4 at first glance....buy the card, not the grade. It was rubberbanded at some point, leading to the designation of cuatro.

America Would Kick Alien Ass

Or maybe we wouldn't -- who knows. Thankfully we do not have to face such Independence Day-esque concerns and can instead enjoy cards like this beautiful addition to my 1962 Mars Attacks set build.

Card number 10 in the set, and number 11 in my set build, is dubbed "The Skyscraper Tumbles." It features more fantastic and colorful artwork. These bad boys have been landing on eBay with regularity recently after a bit of a lull.

More Mars Madness

I've been on a buying spree recently and knocking off set needs left and right for my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 build. They have been popping up on eBay much more frequently than expected....and a few "deals" were even had.

The tenth addition to make its blog debut is this beautiful The Frost Ray, card number 23 in the small set. The artwork on these never ceases to amaze.

Do The Creep

Today's addition to my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 set build moves me past the 15% completion mark (9 of 55 in-hand/posted). The artwork, the science fiction, the gore, and more -- it is just a truly great and underappreciated vintage masterpiece.

Card number 37, Creeping Menace, joins the club in a plastic tomb. This is a long haul sort of deal and I don't even have the three big ones yet, so patience will be the name of the game.

1962 Mars Attacks: Flame Throwers!

Additions to my 1962 Mars Attacks Set Build Project don't occur as often as I would like, but I am always on the hunt for the cards I need in this slow journey towards completion. When I undertook this task I could land PSA 4s for about $20. I should have bought every one available as prices have basically doubled.

Thankfully one did cross my path and stay just under the new market value. My bidding held up and I was able to secure card number 35 in the set -- "The Flame Throwers." The artwork is simply glorious!

8 of 55 down, so roughly 15% complete....

Another PSA 4 1962 Mars Attacks Add!

I was able to add another piece to a lengthy project I'm working on with today's eBay acquisition. I knew this project would take some time to complete but prices have near doubled since I began it back in the second half of 2019. I had to pay up on this one but I was able to land it for a tiny bit of a deal, at least.

The 1962 Mars Attacks set is just spectacular in every way and I aim to finish it off with all cards being slabbed PSA 4s. The Monster Reaches In (# 31) is a prime example of why I find this issue so appealing -- vibrant color, incredible artwork, and definitely not PG.

3 More 1962 Mars Attacks, All PSA 4's

Though it was never my intention I have decided to slowly chase the 1962 Mars Attacks set in PSA 4 slabs. The sheer beauty and unique nature of this set are just too tough to ignore. Great artwork has gripped my wallet and I.

The color and registration on this copy of # 51, Crushing The Martians, is absolutely phenomenal. The yellow and fire just jump off of the cardboard.

As much as the first one in today's post pops I think Death In The Shelter, # 29, is my favorite of the troika I was able to snag. Being trapped in a shelter full of martian spider-like creatures would be....not ideal.

Rounding out the additions is # 9, The Human Torch. What I like about these three is that they are indicative of the condition I'll be targeting. All have been graded a "4" at some point in time but they span the gamut of what a "4" can look like. Which is truly perfect in my book....aesthetically-pleasing but full of technical flaws that drag down the overall grade.

My First 1962 Mars Attacks Cards!

I review orders at work and one customer's order many months ago immediately sent me to eBay to rectify a hole in my collection. A huge chunk of the order was 1962 Mars Attacks and while I obviously knew the set decently well, looking up prices on so many of the cards also gave me the opportunity to look at the images once again. It is such a visually-stunning set and was so far ahead of its time that I knew I needed to nab one or two for myself.

I went the mid-grade route and couldn't be happier with my purchases. I landed # 45, Fighting Giant Insects, in a PSA 4. I mean, just look at it....purely magnificent in every possible way imaginable.

The second card -- also in a PSA 4 -- is # 50, Smashing The Enemy. I don't think there is any way this set could be made today without getting a company in major hell from offended people. Thankfully, the '60s were a different time or at least a time devoid of social media.

I intend on grabbing more of these beauts in PSA 4 form, although there is absolutely no rush. It'll be a long-term project/goal.