Mars Attacks Merchandise – the Invasion for Your Shelf
Some franchises begin with a novel; this one began with a bubblegum insert: in 1962, trading card manufacturer Topps released the series "Mars Attacks" – 55 cards full of Martian atrocities, illustrated so graphically that outraged parents forced an early end to the series. That very scandal reputation is what made the cards legendary. In 1996, Tim Burton brought the bug-eyed invaders to the big screen: "Mars Attacks!" assembled a star cast from Jack Nicholson to Pierce Brosnan and had them cheerfully decimated by giggling Martians. Not a triumph at the US box office at first, the film matured over the years into a celebrated cult classic – a fate it shares with many of its B-movie role models. At Elbenwald you'll find officially licensed Mars Attacks fan merchandise – defense measures against actual invasions are, unfortunately, not included.
What makes Mars Attacks a cult classic?
The irreverence. While other alien stories play their invaders as threatening, Mars Attacks celebrates the chaos: the Martians, with their exposed oversized brains, fake peace offerings, vaporize monuments, and giggle their unmistakable "Ack! Ack!" while doing it. Burton's film translated the aesthetic of 1950s science fiction – saucers, ray guns, brightly colored panic – into a satire that parodies and worships B-movie clichés at the same time. Then there's the look: the grinning skull face of the Martians is a motif with instant recognition value that works just as well on a collectible as it does on a shirt. Anyone collecting the offbeat is unlikely to get around the giggling invaders anyway – retro charm with an impact crater, in the best sense.
Frequently asked questions
What Mars Attacks products does Elbenwald offer?
A rotating, curated selection of officially licensed fan merchandise around the cult invasion. What's currently in stock is shown in the category's inventory.
What is Mars Attacks based on?
A Topps trading card series from 1962 that caused a stir with its graphic invasion motifs. In 1996, Tim Burton adapted the material into a star-studded science fiction satire with Jack Nicholson in a double role.
How do I recognize officially licensed Mars Attacks merchandise?
By the license notice on the product or packaging. Elbenwald carries exclusively officially licensed goods – the product page names details on the respective manufacturer.
Range overview
Since invasion fleets land irregularly, it's worth browsing the big categories: figures and collectibles for the display case, T-shirts for wearable Martian grins, posters for walls in need of saucers, and trading cards as a tribute to the format that started it all. What's currently landed in stock is revealed by checking the respective category.
What else goes well with it?
Extraterrestrial visits come in many temperaments: Alien takes it deadly seriously, E.T. just wants to phone home, the Ghostbusters handle all kinds of supernatural business, and Terminator proves the threat can be homemade too. The Movies & TV Shows theme world gives you the full overview.
