Last week in Great Ghosts of the Shelves, I reminisced about the wonderfully lurid Horror Top Trumps of the 1970s, and as promised we now start our epic journey uncovering the secret history of the packs. This entry #0 in the series details the basic important facts about the Horror range of Top Trumps, and provides a full rogue's gallery of both packs of cards.
In 1978 Dubreq launched the Horror Range of Top Trumps, and they were re-released in 1982 when Waddingtons acquired the rights to Top Trumps. Both packs consisted of 32 cards for game play, plus several additional cards - a title card whose reverse had the rules of the game printed on, another showing the title card of the other Horror Top trumps Pack, a Top Trumps reference card listing the other packs available (with handy tick boxes to keep track of your collection), and a Special Offer card.
Both packs came in clear plastic cases, and both packs of cards featured a vampire bat design on the reverse. In rarer editions of the packs released both by Dubreq and Waddingtons this beastie is printed in blue rather than black. The card stats for both packs were -
- Physical Strength
- Fear Factor
- Killing Power
- Horror Rating
And the card listings for both packs are as follows -
DEVIL PRIEST PACK
- Alien Creature
- The Beast
- Colossus
- Creature From Outer Space
- Creature From the Black Lagoon
- Cyclops
- Death
- Devil Priest
- Diablo
- Dr. Syn
- The Fiend
- Fire Demon
- Frankenstein
- High Priestess of Zoltan
- Hunchback of Notre Dame
- The Jailer
- Killer Rat
- The Living Gargoyle
- The Living Skull
- Lizard Man
- Martian Warrior
- Mistress Vampire
- The Mummy
- The Slime Creature
- The Sorcerer
- Talon
- Terror of The Deep
- Thor
- Venusian Death Cell
- Wolfman
- Zetan Priest
- Zoltan
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DRACULA PACK
- Ape Man
- Cannibal
- Circus of Death
- Dracula
- The Executioner
- The Freak
- Fu Manchu
- Gargantua
- The Ghoul
- Godzilla
- The Gorgon
- Granite Man
- The Hangman
- Headhunter
- Incredible Melting Man
- King Kong
- Lord of Death
- The Mad Axeman
- The Mad Magician
- Madman
- Maggot
- Man Eating Plant
- Phantom of The Opera
- Prince of Darkness
- The Risen Dead
- Skeleton
- The Sorceress
- The Thing
- Two Headed Monster
- Vampire Bat
- Werewolf
- Zetan Warlord
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NEXT TIME on TOMBS OF THE TRUMPS, we begin our quest to discover where the art on these iconic cards was shameless ripped off from, I mean, *ahem* was inspired by!
Both of the Horror Top Trumps packs have been re-released as part of the retro collection by Winning Moves. Disappointingly, each pack consists of 30 cards rather than the original 32. The Dracula pack is missing Man Eating Plant and The Sorceress. The Devil Priest pack is missing Death and Martian Warrior. Not sure why... should please owners of the original packs though.
ReplyDeleteI bought several of those classic card packs from winning moves and they all had 30 cards. I used Winning moves contact page to ask why there are cards missing but so far I have been ignored.
ReplyDeleteAs I remember it all the top trumps decks had 32 cards.
The Winning moves fantasy deck is missing the (rare) demon card, but I am not sure what else it is missing.
Have to say I was a bit disappointed to be missing the cards. And also to be ignored.
Yes, I recently picked up the reissued packs too, and yes each deck is missing two cards -
ReplyDeleteThe Devil Priest deck is missing Death and Martian Warrior, and the Dracula deck is missing Man-Eating Plant and The Sorceress.
Also compared to the originals, the artwork is slightly cropped ie missing a little bit at the bottom - however in nearly all cases you'd hardly notice, but you do se the difference on the Maggot card where the victim's head is now missing his eyes.
So far there been no real explanation offered why the decks are missing cards :S
Yes. I had an argument with my son. He said man eating plant was missing . I said "no dont be daft"... but yes 2 cards missing... my 2 cents ..it could be the printing. Maybe they could only get rows of 10 on a sheet?
ReplyDeleteLast comment... why is the dracula pack far superior? Its like they were giving out 90+ on loads of cards... the freak physical strength 94??? Great to buy them again and show em to my kids.
I emailed Winning Moves about the missing cards and this is the response I received:
ReplyDelete"I’ve been in touch with the Product Development Team and they have explained a few things about the retro packs.
Please allow me to pass on what they said:
‘’On their original release many years ago, they had 32 cards but due to manufacturing spec changes, the packs were trimmed down to 30 cards to fit the current machines & new case mouldings.
(All current packs of Top Trumps have a maximum of 30 cards).
The 2 cards previously mentioned, are now used for promotional giveaways and special prizes but these aren’t held in stock unfortunately.
With regards to the purpose of the new packs, they are an emulation, an update, a contemporary version of what previously existed, not a straight recreation of the original product.
They’re not really designed to be 100% replications for collectors, more of a vintage style, retro nod for consumers to enjoy, with some nostalgia.
For collectors who are looking for the ‘original product’ then searching places such as eBay would be the best way to find the items to add to their collection.’’
I hope this has helped to explain things a little more.
Sincere apologies for any confusion and we do hope that you enjoy the packs you have purchased.
Thank you for your custom.
Kind Regards"
Ah very interesting! I shall have to have a look for the said promos!
ReplyDeleteI was gutted... of all the cards to get rid of...death... it was the best!
ReplyDeleteI know, I miss him and his sombrero!
ReplyDeleteI used to love this game as a kid but was very disappointed with the 2 cards missing out of each pack...especially Death. It feels like playing a game of snooker without the black ball
ReplyDeleteJust a few I spotted:
ReplyDeleteThe Freak - monster from Hammer's "The Reptile"
Living Skull - Hands of Orlac
Fire Demon - a Dr Who Daemon
Venusian Death Cell - Dr Who Sea Devil
High Priestess of Zoltan - unflattering still of Barbara Steele from Curse of the Crimson Altar
Creature From Outer Space - alien from "This Island Earth"
Headhunter - genie from "The Thief of Baghdad"
Fu Machu - Li H'sen Chang from Dr Who "Talons of Weng Chiang"
Dr Syn - Christopher Lee as Fu Manchu
Living Skull is Madhouse, starring Vincent Price and Peter Cushing.
DeleteFu Manchu is the Boris Karloff film of the same name
Maggot is the Alien that grabs Dr Smith's head from "Lost in Space". The head in his claws is Dr Smith (Jonathan Harris).
ReplyDeleteNo-one else knew this but me lol.