Discover the 1994 Topps Beavis and Butt-Head Set
In 1994, few TV shows were more popular or talked about than Beavis and Butt-Head. The animated comedy had just premiered on MTV the year prior, following the characters’ debut on the channel’s late-night “Liquid Television” block. It garnered huge attention right from the start, sparking a rapid-fire seven-season run, a huge wave of merchandising, and immediate entry into the permanent pop cultural parlance. In its second year, Beavis and Butt-Head also got its own set of Topps trading cards, which are now celebrating their 30th anniversary.
The set features all the same crude cartoon style and irreverent comedy that the series was already famous for upon its release. Cards range from character portraits and story moments from the show to notable locations, with most including colorful descriptions on the back. Those explanations are written in the two protagonists’ infamous speech style, so there are a lot of little Easter eggs and jokes worked into the cards. That’s beyond the ridiculous art itself, which is spot-on for the show’s early seasons.
Collectors should be aware that the numbering convention for the 1994 Beavis and Butt-Head set isn’t exactly typical. In homage to the characters’ crass sense of humor, the cards start at number 0069, then go to 0169, all the way up to 9969. The numbering then resets, with the next card being number 6901, followed by 6902, and so on up to 6950.
That would normally count out to 150 base cards in total, including the checklist, or “chick list” as it’s called in this particular set. However, there are several “holes” in the set that drop that number down a bit. The checklist only names 132 cards, with 18 numbers omitted randomly throughout.
Whether you’re a Beavis and Butt-Head superfan who missed out on these cards at the time, or you’re just looking to diversify your collectible card portfolio, the 30th anniversary is a perfect time to jump in. This set still has a relatively active market, and it’s not too hard to find unopened packs to recreate the ‘90s chase. Looking to complete the whole set? Just want some nice condition cards to sleeve and add to the shelf? The task isn’t out of reach in 2024 by any means.
