1959 Topps You’ll Die Laughing Trading Cards

Product Details

1959 Topps You'll Die Laughing (also known as Bubbles Inc. Funny Monsters) is one of the pioneering sets not only in the history of entertainment cards, but the history of the monster card sub-genre as well. When taking the time to delve into the makeup and background of this particular set, one will find that there are many unique and special aspects to it.

At first glance, you may not be familiar with the company who produced this set, Bubble Inc. However, almost assuredly, you are. Bubble Inc. was the name under which Topps released sets that they determined might be met with some backlash by consumers. By hiding behind a pseudonym they were putting potential negative publicity at arm’s length. Topps quickly found out that any kind of press, good or bad, resulted in publicity and ultimately sales. Other sets to originall use the Bubbles Inc. name include 1962 Topps Mars Attacks and 1965 Topps Ugly Stickers.

1959 Topps You'll Die Laughing cards feature detailed color sketch work of some of the most recognizable movie monsters. Also included are some impressive new artist creations The full-color sketch on the front of the card is coupled with a satirical caption that's supposed to get some chuckles. This was, in all likelihood, an attempt by Topps to minimize the potential negative reaction from parents to the card's subject matter. By adding gags, it lessens the opportunity to say that these weren’t scary or evil monster cards. Instead, they're funny, whimsical monster cards.

Card backs reveal the You'll Die Laughing name. The original boxes and packs have the set labeled as Funny Monster. Backs all feature the same classic movie monsters like Frankenstein and The Mummy gathered around graveyard tombstones. The words “You’ll Die Laughing” run across the top and a joke is printed inside a framed border. Other than the packaging, the name Funny Monsters is nowhere to be found on the cards themselves.

The sketches on the front of each of the 66 different 1959 Topps You'll Die Laughing cards are eye-catching and definitely the highlight of the set. The artist responsible for them, Jack Davis, is also well known. He  is one of the founding artists behind Mad Magazine as well as over a dozen T.V. Guide covers. He has also did work on many EC comic books including Tales From The Crypt. This set serves as a focused portfolio and does an incredible job at capturing a great selection of his work.

Being a set from the late 1950s there is always the issue of condition sensitivity when trying to find singles. For the most part collectors will have no trouble finding cards in the EX to NM range. In addition, for its age, 1959 Topps You'll Die Laughing remains an affordable set to try and compile in higher graded condition.