Trading Card Treats

Nintendo Trading Card Treats

A Short-Lived Halloween Candy Alternative

The National Safe Kids Campaign decided to try a different kind of Halloween treats one year. With all the news reports about razor blades in apples and poisoned candy, not to mention kids turning into human beachballs of fat, the Campaign decided to steer adults toward a completely safe and healthy trick-or-treat alternative - trading cards! Produced by Impel in 1991, there were six different series represented: Archie, Inspector Gadget, Nintendo, Marvel Super Heroes, Universal Monsters, and Widget, with six cards per subset. Definitely aimed more toward boys than girls, but still desirable to most kids.

Although I was still trick-or-treating myself in 1991, I never got any of these in my plastic jack o' lantern pail. Instead, I hunted these down at a local flea market after seeing an ad in an old issue of Nintendo Comics System. The Nintendo series cards (which seem a bit rarer than the other sets, if Ebay is any indication) feature official artwork for various Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda games popular at the time. Before the days of the internet, this was a big find for a collector.

The Nintendo series cards (6) - Click to open larger image in a new window

Card #1 - official artwork from Super Mario Bros shows early renderings of Mario, the Princess, Toad, and a host of enemies. Many of these characters have been completely redesigned, especially Princess Toadstool (who's shown here as a tiny redheaded girl, much smaller than Mario).
Back text:
To the delight of the Mushroom People, Mario defeats the Koopa foes and rescues Princess Toadstool. A simple plumber, Mario was working in Brooklyn one day when he heard a distant voice echoing up from the pipes. It was the Princess Toadstool, imprisoned by evil King Koopa Bowser. Mario knew he could not stand by while such injustice reigned, so he leaped down the nearest manhole, was whisked to the Mushroom Kingdom, and began the work of rescuing the Princess.

Card #2 - official artwork from the Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction manual
Back text: Stair Safety
Mario: "This is a steep stiarway, boys and girls, and I need to climb it safely. (It's the only way to reach the World of Dreams!) If I had my plumbing tools, I'd rig-up some handrails and hold on to them all the way to the top. But I guess I'll just have to do the next best thing: go slowly, and take one step at a time."

Card #3 - official Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork
Back text: As Luigi rushes up the stairs of King Bowser's castle, Raccoon Mario lures the boat load of Koopas away. Can you name all the Koopalings? There's Larry (the youngest), Morton, Jr. (the grouch), Wendy O. (the only female), Iggy (who's fast, but not too tough), Roy (who's big and burly), Lemmy (the clown prince), and Ludwig von Koopa (second in commnad, and a real monster). Hey, Luigi - Princess Toadstool is on the boat! You'll have to rescue her next time!

Card #4 - official Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork. Check out Bowser's stylish purple cape!
Back text: Raccoon Mario flies from the Mushroom Kingdom with Bowser and all his little Koopalings close behind. But look - there are lots of other enemies pursuing Mario, as well! How many can you find? (Certainly some Green Koopa Troopas, a few Bloopers, and some Green Koopa Paratroopas.) The enemies don't know it yet, but Mario is only a decoy: it's Luigi who's escaping from the Mushroom Kingdom with Princess Toadstool. Hurray for Mario and Luigi!

Card #5 - official Legend of Zelda artwork. Who's the blonde girl throwing the boomerang? She almost looks like a younger version of Princess Zelda from the cartoon series (aside from the hat). Very unusual artwork - if anyone knows what this is supposed to be about, let me know! The back text seems like a mix between the cartoon series and some faulty information (since when did Zelda smash the Triforce of Power?)
Back text: Link and his pixie friend, Spryte, encounter enemies, monsters, and fiends as Link searches for the missing pieces of the Triforce of Power. Princess Zelda smashed the Triforce and hid the pieces to prevent the evil wizard, Gannon, from finding it. In turn, the wicked Gannon imprisoned her for her deed. "Who will help us rescue the princess?" asks Impa, Zelda's nursemaid, and soon, Link is off on an adventure.

Card #6 - official Zelda II: The Adventure of Link artwork
Back text: In a time when people didn't have last names, Link was born to Arn and Medilia, who were best known for their unusually pointed ears. They all lived in Calatia, until Link turned 16 years old and left home to seek excitement and adventure. His travels led him to Hyrule, where he defeated the evil wizard Gannon and rescued Princess Zelda. Now, Link mostly just like to have fun - battling Moblins, storming castles, and trying to kiss Zelda.

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