1966 Topps Batman Bat Laffs: A Collector's Guide

Fifty-five photo cards, a corny joke on the back, and a back variation most sellers never mention.

Of Topps' five Batman sets from 1966, Bat Laffs is the one that doesn't take itself seriously at all. That's saying something in a year built around the campiest Batman ever filmed. The 55-card set pairs photos from the 1966 Batman feature film with puzzle-piece backs and groan-worthy jokes. It completes the 1966 Topps Batman run, and it's often the last set collectors chase.

How to Identify a Bat Laffs Card

• Photo fronts with a large image, a thin white border and the card number in a small white circle.

• No caption on the front.

• Backs with puzzle pieces, and on many cards a corny joke under a "Bat Laffs" headline.

• Numbered 1 to 55.

Bat Laffs and the Riddler Back set are the two 1966 Topps Batman issues built from film photos. The other three, Black Bat, Red Bat and Blue Bat, use Norman Saunders paintings. Bat Laffs is easy to tell apart from Riddler Back: Riddler Backs have black photo-album fronts and riddles on mostly black backs.

The Photos

The images mix promotional photos with stills from the film, which starred the TV cast. Batman and Robin appear most often, sometimes as Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. The villains, the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and Catwoman, all get cards, along with the gadgets. Supporting players such as Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara and Aunt Harriet round out the set.

The Back Variation

This is the detail that separates casual sets from master sets. Cards with a joke on the back come in two versions:

1. With the line "See the BATMAN Motion Picture release by 20th Century-Fox" above the copyright line.

2. Without that line.

Most collectors build one version. Master-set collectors track both. When you buy singles or sets, ask for back photos and check which version you're getting. A matched set looks and sells better than a mix.

Key Cards

• #1 Bruce Wayne. The first card, and condition-sensitive like every #1.

• #2 Robin and #3 The Joker. Early cards featuring the stars.

• #7 Batmobile and #14 Batcave. Gadget and location cards are perennial favorites with 1966 Batman fans.

• #36 Batcopter and Batmobile. Two iconic vehicles on one card.

• #34 The Penguin, the Riddler, Catwoman and the Joker. All four villains together, a natural display card.

• #28 and #30, featuring Commissioner Gordon, and on #30 Chief O'Hara, with Batman and Robin.

• #37 Aunt Harriet, a card for completists of the TV cast.

• #55, the last card, vulnerable to end-of-stack wear.

Condition Issues to Inspect

• Corner and edge wear, which shows clearly against the white borders.

• Centering. The thin border makes off-center cuts obvious.

• Photo surface. Scratches, print dots and soft focus are common on 1960s photo cards.

• Gum and wax stains on the backs.

• Writing, sometimes added by kids to label puzzle pieces.

Building the Set

Pick your back version first. Decide whether you're building the version with the 20th Century-Fox line, the version without it, or both. Then sort every card you buy by back version.

Use the puzzle as a checklist. Laying out the puzzle backs shows instantly which pieces you're missing.

Start with the stars. Lock in #1, the Joker, the vehicles and the four-villain card first, then fill the supporting cast.

Grade selectively. High-grade copies of #1 and the vehicle and villain cards are the natural grading candidates. Most others can stay raw.

Completing the 1966 Topps Batman Run

All five sets total 236 cards. Many collectors build the painted sets first, then finish with the two photo sets. Bat Laffs, with its back variation, is often the last piece of the puzzle in more ways than one.

Storage and Display

Bat Laffs cards fit standard vintage sleeves and toploaders. Nine-pocket pages keep a set in order and make it easy to compare back versions. If you display the puzzle, use a double-sided frame with UV-protective glass so the photo fronts don't fade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the 1966 Topps Batman Bat Laffs set?

Fifty-five, numbered 1 to 55.

What is the Bat Laffs back variation?

Joke-back cards exist with and without the line "See the BATMAN Motion Picture release by 20th Century-Fox" above the copyright line.

Are the Bat Laffs photos from the TV show?

They're promotional photos and stills tied to the 1966 Batman feature film, which starred the TV cast.

What's the difference between Bat Laffs and Riddler Back?

Both are photo sets. Bat Laffs has white-bordered fronts with joke and puzzle backs. Riddler Back has black photo-album fronts and riddles on the backs, with a decoder that came in packs.

Shop 1966 Batman at Crafted TCG

Browse Bat Laffs singles and sets at CraftedTCG.com. Every listing shows the back, so you know which version you're buying.