Dark Angel arrived on TV with high hopes. And why shouldn’t it have? James Cameron, already one of the most successful directors in history (and this was before Avatar), was one of its creators. He was still riding high off of Titanic and the show looked to take him back to his Sci-fi roots. It was buzz-worthy enough to land a set of cards. Unfortunately, the show never really caught on, but the 2002 Topps Dark Angel trading cards feature two of the most coveted cards of the early aughts.
2002 Topps Dark Angel Autographs and Inserts
Today, the draw for the set comes in the form of a couple of autographs. James Cameron is a biggie, even though he’s a behind-the-camera personality — something that usually doesn’t translate into a lot of hobby interest. But not every director can say they made the two biggest box office draws of all-time.
The only other card giving Cameron a run for the most valuable 2002 Topps Dark Angel trading card belongs to Jessica Alba. At the time, she was a rising star. Now she’s not only a beautiful and well-known actress, but quite the entrepreneur as well. The 2002 Topps Dark Angel Jessica Alba autograph regularly tops several hundred whenever it shows up for sale now. High-grade copies are even higher.
Besides Alba and Cameron, there are a handful of other autographs featuring lead characters, but none are overly exciting. Autographs combine to land 1:33 hobby packs. Retail packs have the potential for just one signature, Byron Mann, who is not in the hobby version.
That’s important to know if you’re looking to roll the dice on a box of 2002 Topps Dark Angel trading cards. Hobby boxes come with 36 packs while retail boxes have just 24. You will not find Jessica Alba or James Cameron autographs in retail boxes.
The product’s only other inserts are five embossed foil cards. Landing 1:6 packs, they’re not tough to find.
The 2002 Topps Dark Angel base set has 72 cards. If you’re a Jessica Alba fan, she’s featured on the majority of them. Photos are a mix of stills from episodes and promo shots.
2002 Topps Dark Angel Checklist
Click on links to shop for cards or check current market values on eBay.
Cards per pack: 7
Packs per box: 36 (hobby), 24 (retail)
Shop for 2002 Topps Dark Angel boxes on eBay.
Base Set
72 cards.
1 Title Card
2 Max
3 Logan
4 Lydecker
5 Original Cindy
6 Sketchy
7 Normal
8 Kendra
9 Herbal Thought
10 Bling
11 Renfro
12 Zack
13 Brin
14 Tinga
15 Detective Matt Sung
16 Agent Sandoval
17 P.I. Dan Vogelsang
18 Sebastian
19 Dark Angel: Season One
20 Pilot
21 Pilot: Escape from Manticore
22 Pilot: Encounter with Cale
23 Pilot: Max’s Conscience
24 Pilot: Rescue and Redemption
25 Heat
26 Flushed
27 C.R.E.A.M.
28 411 on the DL
29 Prodigy
30 Cold Comfort
31 Blah Blah, Woof Woof
32 Out
33 Red
34 Art Attack
35 Rising
36 The Kidz Are Aiight
37 Female Trouble
38 Haven
39 Shorties in Love
40 Pollo Loco
41 I and I am a Camera
42 Hit a Sista Back
43 Meow
44 …And Jesus Brought a Casserole
45 Season One Wrap-Up
46 Max on Top
47 Swingers
48 Girls Kick Butt
49 Feline Power
50 Crash and Burn
51 Girl vs. Machine
52 Cameron’s Way
53 Catching the Action
54 Love and War
55 Woman of Wonder
56 Threesome
57 Is it Me or Manticore?
58 Second Season Sensation
59 The Max Factor
60 Angelic Beauty
61 X-treme Max
62 Dynamic Duo
63 Don’t Mess with Max
64 Alec
65 Joshua
66 Asha
67 White
68 New Allies, New Dangers
69 Creatures Featured
70 Dressed to Thrill
71 Teen Dream
72 Checklist
Autographs
8 cards, 1:33 hobby packs.
Click here for a full gallery.
All autographs except Mann are exclusive to hobby packs. Mann inserted 1:78 retail packs and not available in hobby. Individual hobby odds listed for each signer.
Jessica Alba as Max (1:454)
Alimi Ballard as Herbal Thought (1:186)
Peter Bryant as Bling (1:186)
James Cameron – Creator (1:589)
Richard Gunn as Sketchy (1:186)
William Gregory Lee as Zack (1:186)
Byron Mann as Detective Matt Sung
J.C. MacKenzie as Normal (1:186)
Angelic Foil Embossed
5 cards, 1:6 packs.
1 Max, Logan
2 Max – Leather Coat
3 Max – Tank Top, Black Pants
4 Max – Jeans, Hands on Hips
5 Max – Jeans, Hands at Side
Promo Cards
P1 Max
