Topps was all-in on science fiction in the late 1970s. And why not? To say that Star Wars was a massive success would be an understatement. They were followed by new television shows Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers. On the big screen, the trend continued with 1979 Topps Alien trading cards at the launch of Ridley Scott’s franchise.
1979 Topps Alien Checklist Overview
The base set comes in at 84 cards. The R-rated blockbuster might be one of the scariest films ever made but these cards are not. One could argue that the bright red borders go against the claustrophobic, something-could-be-hiding-around-every-corner tone that helps make Alien so good (and frightening). The text used for the caption on the front don’t help much, either looking like something that screams “The Future” in the earliest versions the Print Shop computer program.
The Nostromo and its crew are featured on most of the cards. For those keeping track, this is the first set of trading cards to include Sigourney Weaver. The Xenomorph makes a handful of appearances but not a lot.
Backs fare a little better with the iconic egg acting as the frame to hold write-ups. They’re not fancy, but they work. Some backs have puzzle pieces instead.
Stickers are also part of the 1979 Topps Alien checklist. A total of 22 are in the set with one landing in each pack. With the base set getting the puzzles, backs for these have adds for Topps candy and confectionary products.
Today, several R-rated and adult-oriented films and shows get trading cards. That’s because the hobby has evolved. Back in 1979, cards were still very much kids stuff. To that end, Alien certainly seems like a curious choice. But history also shows that scares and a little gore (even if toned down and carefully selected) goes a long way in a set’s success as evidenced by Topps originals like Mars Attacks.
Today, 1979 Topps Alien commands relatively strong prices. Not only have most sets from this era seen significant gains, the enduring popularity and evolution of the franchise has certainly played a factor as well.
1979 Topps Alien Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 84 cards
Cards per pack: 11
Packs per box: 36
Shop for 1979 Topps Alien boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
84 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 The Nostromo
2 Halls of Silence
3 The Ship…Deserted
4 Activated Star Helmet
5 Electronic Conversation
6 Emerging from Hypersleep
7 Nostromo Interiors
8 Captain Dallas
9 Warrant Officer Ripley
10 Executive Officer Kane
11 Science Officer Ash
12 Navigator Lambert
13 Engineer Parker
14 Technician Brett
15 Introducing ‘Jones’
16 Crew of the Nostromo
17 A Message from ‘Mother’
18 Where’s Earth?
19 Signals from Deep Space
20 Ready to Land
21 Asteroid Colony Design
22 The Refinery
23 The Planet In Sight
24 Searing Electrical Fire!
25 The Steamy Peril
26 A Pensive Kane
27 Futuristic Spacesuit
28 Space Tug: Disengaged
29 The Landing
30 The Asteroid Explorers
31 Walking to Derelict
32 Bizarre Alien Landscape
33 Grotesque Rock Formations
34 Ash’s Deception
35 Explorers…Or Invaders?
36 Nightmare Planet
37 Dawn on the Devil World
38 Dallas, Kane and Lambert
39 The Derelict Spaceship
40 Entrance to Derelict
41 At Death’s Door
42 Mind-Boggling Sight!
43 Fantastic Space Jockey
44 Face of the Space Jockey
45 Inspecting the ‘Jockey’
46 Sculpting the ‘Jockey’ Prop
47 Creating a Space Jockey
48 The Chamber Entrance
49 Enter…the Hall Chamber!
50 Egg Hatchery
51 Kane’s Discovery
52 Don’t Touch It, Kane!
53 Unearthly Assault!
54 Dressing a Movie Set
55 Nostromo Tug Lifting Off
56 Returning to the Refinery
57 The Face Grabber
58 Remains of a Monster
59 The Last Supper
60 The Thing Within Kane!
61 The Chest Burster
62 Alien Search Weapons
63 The Search Begins
64 Oh God…No! NO!
65 Hunting the Beast
66 Dallas’ Fate
67 Ash…An Enemy?
68 Struggle With Ash
69 Ash Runs Amok!
70 The Murderous Android
71 The Secret Revealed
72 Where Can It Be?
73 Corridors of Nostromo
74 Organic Starcraft Design
75 The Monster At Bay
76 Unstoppable Horror!
77 Escape Shuttle Narcissus
78 It Lives to Destroy!
79 Walking Nightmare!
80 Spacesuit Storage Area
81 Ripley Strikes Back!
82 The Final Stand
83 Blown Into Oblivion!
84 The Survivor
Stickers Checklist
22 cards.
1 per pack.
Captions refer to base cards with matching photos.
1 Engineer Parker
2 Executive Officer Kane
3 Captain Dallas
4 Navigator Lambert
5 Alien Search Weapons
6 Escape Shuttle Narcissus
7 Face of the Space Jockey
8 Nightmare Planet
9 Crew of the Nostromo
10 The Refinery
11 Ash’s Deception
12 Technician Brett
13 Science Officer Ash
14 Warrant Officer Ripley
15 Fantastic Space Jockey
16 Where Can It Be?
17 The Nostromo
18 Asteroid Colony Design
19 Dawn on the Devil World
20 Where’s Earth?
21 Dallas / Kane
22 Xenomorph
