1966 Topps Batman Black Bat: A Collector's Guide

Norman Saunders pulp art, orange story backs and the hardest #1 in 1960s non-sports.

The Batman TV series premiered on ABC on January 12, 1966, and the country went bat-crazy almost overnight. Topps answered with five Batman card sets that year. The 55-card Black Bat set, generally treated as the first series, is the one most collectors consider the cornerstone. It's pulp art at full volume, painted by one of the great illustrators of the era, and it's harder to find in high grade than its bright colors suggest.

The Five 1966 Topps Batman Sets

Topps used similar front designs across its 1966 issues, so collectors sort them by the bat logo on the front and by the backs:

Together that's a 236-card master run. Many collectors start with the Black Bat set and never get past it.

Norman Saunders and the Art

Norman Saunders painted the Black Bat fronts. He was the pulp-cover veteran who also painted 1962 Topps Mars Attacks, and the same sensibility shows here: saturated color, dramatic lighting, and villains caught mid-snarl. Licensed through National Periodical Publications, DC's predecessor, the set leans on the comic-book Batman as much as the TV show. The Joker, Catwoman, the Riddler and the Penguin all get showcase cards, and those are the singles that sell first.

Reading the Backs

Each orange back carries a block of story text, a running Batman figure on the right, and a bat logo with the card number in the top left corner. The cards are grouped into numbered story arcs, marked "9 of 11" and so on. That's why the Black Bat set rewards completion more than most: a full run lets you read every chapter.

When buying a set, check the backs, not just the fronts. Back numbering is the fastest way to spot a Red or Blue Bat card mixed in, or a duplicate covering a gap.

The #1 Problem

Card #1, The Batman, is the key to the set, and it's condition-sensitive for a simple reason. Kids rubber-banded their stacks, and #1 sat on top, taking the dents, the rubbing and the band marks. The last card in the set rode the bottom of the same stacks.

PSA 9 copies of #1 are genuinely rare, and the population report thins out sharply above EX. A strong #1 in mid-grade is often the single biggest line item in building a nice set. The common advice holds: buy the best #1 you can afford, and buy it early.

Condition Issues to Inspect

• Rubber-band dents and edge pinches, especially on #1 and the last card.

• Gum and wax stains on the back. These came from 1960s wax packs and are common, but they still cost a grade.

• Centering. Many cards are miscut left to right, and top-to-bottom tilt is common too.

• Print registration. Blurry color layers soften the art, and focus matters on a painted set.

• Toning on the orange backs. It shows clearly on cards stored in damp basements.

Watch for Reprints and Look-Alikes

Topps reissued the Black Bat set in 1989 as part of a boxed set with two other 1966 painted series. The reprints have a glossy finish and are marked as reprints, so they're easy to identify in hand. They're much harder to spot in a cropped online photo. Britain's A&BC Gum also issued Batman cards in this era, so on any unfamiliar example, confirm that the back says Topps.

Building the Set: Two Routes

Buy a complete set. This is faster, and often cheaper per card. The risk is condition drift. Most "complete" sets mix grades, and some are complete only because a reprint or off-series card fills a hole. Ask for photos of all 55 backs.

Build from singles. This is slower, but you control consistency. A common plan is to lock in #1 and the villain showcase cards first, then fill the commons as nice copies turn up. Keep a checklist with the grade of each card, so a bargain doesn't quietly drop a VG card into your EX run.

For grading, keys like #1, #2 Robin – Boy Wonder and the villain cards often justify the fee in EX or better. Most commons don't, unless you're building a PSA registry set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Black Bat the first 1966 Topps Batman series?

It's generally treated as the first series, ahead of the Red Bat A Series and the Blue Bat B Series.

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

Fifty-five. Wrappers and display boxes are separate collectibles and aren't part of the count.

How can I tell a 1989 reprint?

Look for the glossy finish and the reprint marking on the card itself.

Shop Vintage Batman at Crafted TCG

Browse 1966 Topps Batman singles and sets at Crafted TCG. Every listing shows the front and back. Building the full 1966 run? Read our guides to the Red Bat, Blue Bat, Riddler Back and Bat Laffs sets.