Topps Comic Book Heroes Stickers            Bubbles

Comic Book Heroes '74-'75           **New Test Checklist!** **New Third Test Wrapper Found!**

In 1974-1975 Topps churned out two sets of delicious stickers to satisfy the hungry masses of kids in the 1970's. This first set would be called Comic Book Heroes. In licensing super heroes from the Marvel group, Topps put together, with it's trademark black borders, this first group of 32 super heroes with funny and sometimes clever captions.

A few of the super heroes from this set have been duplicated with alternate captions in their 'speech balloons' For example, Spiderman can be seen with the caption "Bug off!" and "You drive me up a wall!" In addition, several heroes are duplicated in different poses and are differentiated by a -1 or -2 next to their name on the checklist and on the sticker itself.

This set was produced initially as a tan back set in the test issue but was later issued as a white back set in the regular release. The Test set for the Comic Book Heroes were test issued three times with three different test wrappers!!! White wax wrappers with a sticker affixed atop the pack and another sticker to close the back of the wrapper. The serial numbers for the test wrappers were T-47-5, T-34-5-A and T-34-5-B distinguishable by changed lettering on top sticker.

"With 1 stick Bubble Gum" on wrapper # T-47-5 ,

"With 1 stick Bubble Gum" on wrapper # T-34-5-A and

"With Puzzle Card" on # T-34-5-B. I'm guessing the TEST Checklist Cards probably came from the first test issue.

Stickers from T-47-5 have Two copyrights on stickers:
"©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In U.S.A." "© 1975 Marvel Comics Group. All Rights
Reserved." while stickers from T-34-5-B have two copyrights on stickers:
"©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In U.S.A." "Copyright ©1974 And TM Marvel Comics Group. All Rights Reserved"

Test Puzzle Back: Fantastic Four / Checklist Front (dark) with two copyrights: 1975 (only) (from T-47-5): "©1975 Marvel Comics Group. All rights reserved" "©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In
U.S.A. "

The regular whiteback issue of this set had two copyrights on stickers:
"Copyright ©1974 And TM Marvel Comics Group. All Rights Reserved" "©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In U.S.A." while the Puzzle Back: Fantastic Four / Checklist Front (light/bright) with two copyrights on puzzle/checklist:
"© 1974 and TM Marvel Comics Group All Rights Reserved." "©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc.,
PRTD. In U.S.A. "

Four of the cards have been seen with an additional copyright variations: KA-ZAR, THOR -1, DR. DOOM and SUB-MARINER

The wrapper for the regular issue has Thor and Spiderman on the front with three Ads- 'Golden Fruit Pin', 'Real Camera' and 'Binoculars' with the serial number 0-488-21-01-5.

 

Cards in Checklist order below:

The Falcon-- You Bet Your Bird!
The Thing-1-- It's Clobberin' Time!
Frankenstein's Monster-- Maybe It's My Breath!
Shang-Li, Kung Fu-- All Aspirin Is Not Alike!
Dr. Strange-- Darn Those House Calls!
Dracula - 1 Sure Doesn't Taste Like Tomato Juice!
Human Torch - 1 Tan....Don't Burn!
Daredevil Badness Makes Me Red!
Iron Man-- Fight Rust!
Werewolf-- Only My Hairdresser Knows For Sure!
Thor-1-- Support Your Local Thunder-God!
Sub-Mariner-- Don't Pollute My Waters!
Hawkeye-- Annie Oakley I Ain't!
Captain Marvel-- Fly the friendly skies of United!
Captain Marvel [alternate title]-- Which way to the John?
Ghost Rider-- Peter Fonda Look Out!
The Living Mummy-- Which Hand Has The M&M's?
Morbius, Living Vampire-- Which Way To The Blood Bank?
Ka-Zar-- Be Kind To Animals...Or Else!
Spider-Man-1-- Who'd You Expect? Little Miss Muffet?
Captain America-1-- I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy!
Conan-- Trick Or Treat!
Kull-- These Pants Don't Fit!
Dr. Doom-- I'm Dressed To Kill!
The Son of Satan-- The Devil Made Me Do It!
SpiderMan-2-- You drive me up a wall!
SpiderMan-2 [alternate title]-- Bug off!
Dracula-2-- Flying Drives Me Bats!
Human Torch-2-- When You're Hot, You're Hot!
Thor-2-- Who Said Blondes Have More Fun?
Hulk-1-- Who Stole My Right Guard?
The Thing-2-- I'm Going To Pieces!
Captain America-2-- Look, Ma, No Cavities
Dr. Octopus-- I'm Just A Well Armed Crook!
The Valkyrie-- Support Women's Lib!
Mr. Fantastic-- I'm The Long Arm Of The Law!
Medusa-- Darn That Cheap Hairspray!

Black Widow-- I'm Natasha Fly Me To Miami!
Iron Fist-- Kung Fooey
Man-Thing-- I Dropped The Soap In The Shower!
Hulk-2-- Green Power!
Luke Cage-- I Was A 98lb. Weakling!

Cards in Alpha order here

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Comic Book Heroes Test Set

-Wrapper: plain white wax with sticker
a. "With 1 stick Bubble Gum" serial # T-47-5 copyright on wrapper: "© 1974 Marvel Comics Group.
All Rights Reserved."
b. "With Puzzle Card" serial # T-34-5-B copyright on wrapper: "© 1974 Marvel Comics Group. All
Rights Reserved."

-Stickers (tan backs): Two copyrights on stickers (from T-47-5):
"©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In U.S.A." "© 1975 Marvel Comics Group. All Rights
Reserved."
-Stickers (tan backs): Two copyrights on stickers (from T-34-5-B):
"©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In U.S.A." "Copyright ©1974 And TM Marvel Comics Group. All Rights Reserved"

-Puzzle Back: Fantastic Four / Checklist Front (dark) with two copyrights: 1975 (only) (from T-47-5):
"©1975 Marvel Comics Group. All rights reserved" "©1975 Topps Chewing Gum, inc., PRTD. In
U.S.A. "

Four of the cards have been seen with an additional copyright variations: KA-ZAR, THOR -1, DR. DOOM and SUB-MARINER