In 1989 the Tim Burton version of Batman was released which essentially revived the franchise and was quickly followed by the first major releases of Batman non-sport trading cards by a major company in 23 years.
O-Pee-Chee and Topps released a very similar set with a few minor changes north of the border (if we assume that Topps is the baseline as normal).
Series I
The pack images are similar, with the O-Pee-Chee image being reversed on pack version 1 and French text added to the “#1 Hit Movie Tag to conform to Canadian bilingual regulations and marketing needs on both versions.
Topps O-Pee-Chee
Other differences include the fact that the Topps package offers 9 Cards, 1 Sticker and a 1 stick Bubble Gum. The corresponding O-Pee-Chee packages offered an unspecified number of cards, an unspecified number of pieces of Bubble Gum and an unspecified number of Puzzle cards.
These differences will become evident as the first series contains a total of 154 cards for O-Pee-Chee but 132 cards plus 22 stickers for the Topps release.
Disappointingly for Canadian fans, the Topps version of the package includes an offer for a “Super Glossy Batman Set in Collectors Box”, which was not offered to those north of the border as the space for the offer has the Canadian requirements to list the gum ingredients as well as the O-Pee-Chee manufacturing statement.
As there was no factory set issued by O-Pee-Chee, there is correspondingly no 22 card bonus set issued in Canada and could only be obtained with the purchase of the Topps factory set.
The stickers that are listed on Topps package were not released by O-Pee-Chee and instead were issued as cards 133-154 so that O-Pee-Chee card #133 equals sticker Topps sticker #1, O-Pee-Chee card # 134 equals Topps sticker # sticker 2 etc.
Card 1 Is the title card for both sets, the respective company name for each is shown on their card.
There is almost no way to tell the difference between cards 2-132 unless you saw them come right out of the pack as they are almost identical on both the front and back. Although the O-Pee-Chee card stock does appear a bit lighter and brighter.
O-Pee-Chee Front Topps Front
O-Pee-Chee Back Topps Back
An example of the sticker issued by Topps and the corresponding card issued by O-Pee-Chee.
On the O-Pee-Chee cards, the O-Pee-Chee trademark information replaces the Topps information and the card number corresponds with the O-Pee-Chee numbering.
The backs of some O-Pee-Chee puzzle cards carry the O-Pee-Chee Ptd. in Canada information, however this is not present with all card numbers and for those without there is no way of telling which is which by only looking at the back. Obviously, if the sticker has been removed then by default it must have been a Topps card!
List of Series I differences
O-Pee-Chee card 1 front shows O-Pee-Chee equals Topps card 1 front with Topps
O-Pee-Chee card 133 Batman equals Topps Sticker 1 Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 134 Batman Logo equals Topps Sticker 2 Batman Logo
O-Pee-Chee card 135 Vicki /Bruce equals Topps Sticker 3 Vicki /Bruce
O-Pee-Chee card 136 Batmobile equals Topps Sticker 4 Batmobile
O-Pee-Chee card 137 Joker equals Topps Sticker 5 Joker
O-Pee-Chee card 138 Joker’s Goons equals Topps Sticker 6 Joker’s Goons
O-Pee-Chee card 139 Batman vs. Joker equals Topps Sticker 7 Batman vs. Joker
O-Pee-Chee card 140 Batmobile equals Topps Sticker 8 Batmobile
O-Pee-Chee card 141 Three Faces equals Topps Sticker 9 Three Faces
O-Pee-Chee card 142 Joker caricature equals Topps Sticker 10 Joker caricature
O-Pee-Chee card 143 Batman action equals Topps Sticker 11 Batman action
O-Pee-Chee card 144 Batman Statue equals Topps Sticker 12 Batman Statue
O-Pee-Chee card 145 Batwing equals Topps Sticker 13 Batwing
O-Pee-Chee card 146 Batwing equals Topps Sticker 14 Batwing
O-Pee-Chee card 147 Joker in cyan tie equals Topps Sticker 15 Joker in cyan tie
O-Pee-Chee card 148 Joker standing equals Topps Sticker 16 Joker standing
O-Pee-Chee card 149 Batman w Batmobile equals Topps Sticker 17 Batman w Batmobile
O-Pee-Chee card 150 Joker and gulls equals Topps Sticker 18 Joker and gulls
O-Pee-Chee card 151 Batman equals Topps Sticker 19 Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 152 Batman portrait equals Topps Sticker 20 Batman portrait
O-Pee-Chee card 153 Joker in soft hat equals Topps Sticker 21 Joker
O-Pee-Chee card 154 Vicki Vale equals Topps Sticker 22 Vicki Vale
Series II
Other than the Series II title card that shows the respective issuing company (using the actual logo this time rather than just the name), there are a few major differences between the cards issued by O-Pee-Chee and those issued by Topps.
Card numbering
The most obvious is the numbering, as O-Pee-Chee once again did not issue stickers with their set the number for series II they issued cards only using #155-308.
Series II issued by Topps goes from 133 (picking up where O-Pee-Chee issued cards instead of stickers) to 264. They then issued a further 22 stickers (which again O-Pee-Chee issued as cards).
So in total the O-Pee-Chee complete set is 308 cards only. The Topps set is 264 cards plus 44 stickers (for a total of 308).
Back Colouring
The second difference between two cards is more pronounced as the colour on the back is a bright blue on O-Pee-Chee but more of a muted light blue/grey on Topps.
Topps O-Pee-Chee
Note the card numbering and colour are the clear differences.
There are several differences in the Series II pack wrappers between O-Pee-Chee and Topps to help differentiate them beyond the obvious inclusion of their respective logos.
The O-Pee-Chee version includes the addition of the necessary French translations. While Canadian collectors miss out again on the Topps version with offers for the “Official Full Colour Batman Magazine” or the “2nd series Deluxe Batman set in Collectors Box”
The most striking difference in my opinion however is the lack of gum offered by O-Pee-Chee in Series II!
List of Series II differences
O-Pee-Chee card 155 Batman The 2nd Series equals Topps card 133 Batman The 2nd Series Cover Card
O-Pee-Chee card 156 The Man and His Quarry equals Topps card 134 The Man and his Quarry
O-Pee-Chee card 157 Hand of Vengeance equals Topps card 135 Hand of Vengeance
O-Pee-Chee card 158 Parked in the Batcave equals Topps card 136 Parked in the Batcave
O-Pee-Chee card 159 Fistfuls of Funny Money! equals Topps card 137 Fistfulls of Funny Money!
O-Pee-Chee card 160 Onward, To His Fate … equals Topps card 138 Onward, to his fate…
O-Pee-Chee card 161 Doppelganger equals Topps card 139 Doppelganger
O-Pee-Chee card 162 Time to Die, Grissom! equals Topps card 140 Time to Die, Grissom!
O-Pee-Chee card 163 Armadillo Effect equals Topps card 141 Armadillo Effect
O-Pee-Chee card 164 The Last of Eckhardt equals Topps card 142 The Last of Eckhardt
O-Pee-Chee card 165 Leer of the Clown Prince equals Topps card 143 Leer of the Clown Prince
O-Pee-Chee card 166 I’ve Got to Work Tonight equals Topps card 144 I’ve got to work tonight
O-Pee-Chee card 167 Leap from the Belltower equals Topps card 145 Leap from the Belltower
O-Pee-Chee card 168 March of the Misfits equals Topps card 146 March of the Misfits
O-Pee-Chee card 169 Meltingly Beautiful equals Topps card 147 Meltingly Beautiful
O-Pee-Chee card 170 You Know Who I Mean…! equals Topps card 148 You know who I mean…!
O-Pee-Chee card 171 Power of the Batmobile equals Topps card 149 Power of the Batmobile
O-Pee-Chee card 172 Flugelheim Aftermath equals Topps card 150 Flugelheim Aftermath
O-Pee-Chee card 173 Alley Bat equals Topps card 151 Alley Bat
O-Pee-Chee card 174 Aiming To Kill! equals Topps card 152 Aiming to Kill!
O-Pee-Chee card 175 News of the Battle! equals Topps card 153 News of the Battle!
O-Pee-Chee card 176 The Wayne Manor Party equals Topps card 154 The Wayne Manor Party
O-Pee-Chee card 177 Of Mimes and Memories equals Topps card 155 Of Mimes and Memories
O-Pee-Chee card 178 Danger in the Streets equals Topps card 156 Danger in the Streets
O-Pee-Chee card 179 The Oddest Couple equals Topps card 157 The Oddest Couple
O-Pee-Chee card 180 Knight and the Damsel equals Topps card 158 Knight and the Damsel
O-Pee-Chee card 181 Hanging On For Life! equals Topps card 159 Hanging on for Life!
O-Pee-Chee card 182 Murder…Just for Laughs equals Topps card 160 Murder…Just for Laughs
O-Pee-Chee card 183 Twisted Pitchman equals Topps card 161 Twisted Pitchman
O-Pee-Chee card 184 Copter Escape! equals Topps card 162 Copter Escape
O-Pee-Chee card 185 Instructions for Alfred equals Topps card 163 Instructions for Alfred
O-Pee-Chee card 186 Gotham City Landscape equals Topps card 164 Gotham City Landscape
O-Pee-Chee card 187 Flugelheim Museum Interior equals Topps card 165 Flugelheim Museum Interior
O-Pee-Chee card 188 Elevated Subway Exterior equals Topps card 166 Elevated Subway Exterior
O-Pee-Chee card 189 Flugelheim Museum Exterior equals Topps card 167 Flugelheim Museum Exterior
O-Pee-Chee card 190 Grissom’s Office equals Topps card 168 Grissom’s Office
O-Pee-Chee card 191 Their Final Bow? equals Topps card 169 Their Final Bow?
O-Pee-Chee card 192 The Batmobile–Head On equals Topps card 170 The Batmobile–Head On
O-Pee-Chee card 193 Dangling Devil equals Topps card 171 Dangling Devil
O-Pee-Chee card 194 See Rotelli Roast equals Topps card 172 See Rotelli Roast
O-Pee-Chee card 195 The Defeat of Batman equals Topps card 173 The Defeat of Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 196 Sneaking Up Behind Jack… equals Topps card 174 Sneaking up behind Jack…
O-Pee-Chee card 197 Festival of Madness equals Topps card 175 Festival of Madness
O-Pee-Chee card 198 Battered But Unbowed! equals Topps card 176 Battered but Unbowed!
O-Pee-Chee card 199 Mission Accomplished! equals Topps card 177 Mission Accomplished!
O-Pee-Chee card 200 Retreat Into Darkness equals Topps card 178 Retreat into Darkness
O-Pee-Chee card 201 You Want To Get Nuts… equals Topps card 179 You want to get nuts…
O-Pee-Chee card 202 The Master’s Mimes equals Topps card 180 The Master’s Mimes
O-Pee-Chee card 203 Knox Chats with Alfred equals Topps card 181 Knox chats with Alfred
O-Pee-Chee card 204 Savage Sneak Attack! equals Topps card 182 Savage Sneak Attack!
O-Pee-Chee card 205 Madness Wears a Smile equals Topps card 183 Madness Wears a Smile
O-Pee-Chee card 206 The Batmobile Escapes! equals Topps card 184 The Batmobile Escapes!
O-Pee-Chee card 207 Jack and Alicia equals Topps card 185 Jack and Alicia
O-Pee-Chee card 208 Trick or Treat! equals Topps card 186 Trick or Treat!
O-Pee-Chee card 209 The Field Flies High! equals Topps card 187 The Field Flies High!
O-Pee-Chee card 210 His Card… equals Topps card 188 His Card…
O-Pee-Chee card 211 Silent But Deadly equals Topps card 189 Silent but Deadly
O-Pee-Chee card 212 The Phantom Avengers equals Topps card 190 The Phantom Avenger
O-Pee-Chee card 213 A New Mad Plan! equals Topps card 191 A New Mad Plan!
O-Pee-Chee card 214 Friends and Lovers equals Topps card 192 Friends and Lovers
O-Pee-Chee card 215 Fiery Finale equals Topps card 193 Fiery Finale
O-Pee-Chee card 216 Another Man Down equals Topps card 194 Another Man Down
O-Pee-Chee card 217 The Batwing Soars! equals Topps card 195 The Batwing Soars!
O-Pee-Chee card 218 The Joker (By Tim Burton) equals Topps card 196 The Joker by Tim Burton
O-Pee-Chee card 219 Batman Costume Design equals Topps card 197 Batman costume design
O-Pee-Chee card 220 The Joker Costume Design equals Topps card 198 The Joker costume design
O-Pee-Chee card 221 Batman Design Concept equals Topps card 199 Batman Design Concept
O-Pee-Chee card 222 Metal Walkway equals Topps card 200 Metal Walkway
O-Pee-Chee card 223 Tugging the Line equals Topps card 201 Tugging the Line
O-Pee-Chee card 224 The Hanging Hood equals Topps card 202 The Hanging Hood
O-Pee-Chee card 225 Over the Gantry equals Topps card 203 Over the Gantry
O-Pee-Chee card 226 The Joker Knocked Backwards equals Topps card 204 The Joker Knocked Backwards
O-Pee-Chee card 227 Danger Directly Ahead! equals Topps card 205 Danger Directly Ahead!
O-Pee-Chee card 228 Clearing the Trigger equals Topps card 206 Clearing the Trigger
O-Pee-Chee card 229 Preparing for an Assault equals Topps card 207 Preparing for an assault
O-Pee-Chee card 230 Cathedral Dead Ahead! equals Topps card 208 Cathedreal Dead Ahead!
O-Pee-Chee card 231 Goons in Hot Pursuit! equals Topps card 209 Goons in Hot Pursuit!
O-Pee-Chee card 232 Mysterious Millionaire equals Topps card 210 Mysterious Millionaire
O-Pee-Chee card 233 Alleys of Gotham City equals Topps card 211 Alleys of Gotham City
O-Pee-Chee card 234 The Villain Supreme! equals Topps card 212 The Villain Supreme!
O-Pee-Chee card 235 Who Is Jack Napier? equals Topps card 213 Who is Jack Napier?
O-Pee-Chee card 236 The Joke’s on Alicia equals Topps card 214 The Joke’s on Alicia
O-Pee-Chee card 237 Weapon Against Evil equals Topps card 215 Weapon Against Evil
O-Pee-Chee card 238 His Foul and Fiendish Grin equals Topps card 216 His Foul and Fiendish Grin
O-Pee-Chee card 239 Armor Inspiration equals Topps card 217 Armor Inspiration
O-Pee-Chee card 240 Grotesque Reflections equals Topps card 218 Grotesque Reflections
O-Pee-Chee card 241 A Gift for Vicki equals Topps card 219 A gift for Vicki
O-Pee-Chee card 242 The Night Is His Again! equals Topps card 220 The Night is His Again!
O-Pee-Chee card 243 Kids Playing ‘Batman’ equals Topps card 221 Kids playing “Batman”
O-Pee-Chee card 244 Brains + Beauty = Vicki equals Topps card 222 Brains + Beauty = Vicki
O-Pee-Chee card 245 Everyone Needs a Hobby! equals Topps card 223 Everyone Needs a Hobby!
O-Pee-Chee card 246 Throttling a Punk equals Topps card 224 Throttling a Punk
O-Pee-Chee card 247 An Artist Most Bizarre equals Topps card 225 An Artist Most Bizarre
O-Pee-Chee card 248 Batman’s Public Service equals Topps card 226 Batman’s Public Service
O-Pee-Chee card 249 A Goon and His Tune equals Topps card 227 A Goon and his Tune
O-Pee-Chee card 250 City of Light and Danger equals Topps card 228 City of Light and Danger
O-Pee-Chee card 251 Heroic Escape! equals Topps card 229 Heroic Escape!
O-Pee-Chee card 252 How the Joker Lives equals Topps card 230 How the Joker lives
O-Pee-Chee card 253 Batman in the Belfrey equals Topps card 231 Batman in the Belfrey
O-Pee-Chee card 254 Classic First Issue! equals Topps card 232 Classic First Issue!
O-Pee-Chee card 255 Directing Grissom’s Murder equals Topps card 233 Directing Grissom’s Murder
O-Pee-Chee card 256 The Clown and the Clapboard equals Topps card 234 The Clown and the Clapboard
O-Pee-Chee card 257 The Director’s Vision equals Topps card 235 The Director’s Vision
O-Pee-Chee card 258 Maniacal Murderer! equals Topps card 236 Maniacal Murderer!
O-Pee-Chee card 259 Knox Takes a Shot at Heroism equals Topps card 237 Knox Takes a Shot at Heroism
O-Pee-Chee card 260 What Tim Burton Wants… equals Topps card 238 What Tim Burton Wants…
O-Pee-Chee card 261 Getting the Worst from Grissom equals Topps card 239 Getting the Worst from Grissom
O-Pee-Chee card 262 Directing Helicopter Escape equals Topps card 240 Directing Helicopter Escape
O-Pee-Chee card 263 Special Advice for Batman equals Topps card 241 Special Advice from Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 264 Directing Michael Keaton equals Topps card 242 Directing Michael Keaton
O-Pee-Chee card 265 Flight of the Dark Avenger equals Topps card 243 Flight of the Dark Avenger
O-Pee-Chee card 266 Interviewed by Knox equals Topps card 244 Interviewed by Knox
O-Pee-Chee card 267 Tim Burton, Filmmaker equals Topps card 245 Tim Burton, Filmmaker
O-Pee-Chee card 268 Alicia–Exquisite! equals Topps card 246 Alicia–Exquisite!
O-Pee-Chee card 269 Presenting the Batmobile! equals Topps card 247 Presenting the Batmobile!
O-Pee-Chee card 270 Relaxing with Key Players equals Topps card 248 Relaxing with Key Players
O-Pee-Chee card 271 Filming the Dance Macabre equals Topps card 249 Filming the Dance Macabre
O-Pee-Chee card 272 Shooting the Rescue Scene equals Topps card 250 Shooting the Rescue Scene
O-Pee-Chee card 273 Dining at Wayne Manor equals Topps card 251 Dining at Wayne Manor
O-Pee-Chee card 274 Secret Life of Bruce Wayne equals Topps card 252 Secret life of Bruce Wayne
O-Pee-Chee card 275 City Street Miniature equals Topps card 253 City Street Miniature
O-Pee-Chee card 276 At the Nerve Center equals Topps card 254 At the Nerve Center
O-Pee-Chee card 277 Computerized SFX equals Topps card 255 Computerized SFX
O-Pee-Chee card 278 Fantastic Miniature Set equals Topps card 256 Fantastic Miniature Set
O-Pee-Chee card 279 Trail of the Mystery Man equals Topps card 257 Trail of the Mystery Man
O-Pee-Chee card 280 Directing Jack Nicholson equals Topps card 258 Directing Jack Nicholson
O-Pee-Chee card 281 Dance of the Deranged equals Topps card 259 Dance of the Deranged
O-Pee-Chee card 282 From Burton to Batman equals Topps card 260 From Burton to Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 283 Batman’s Revenge equals Topps card 261 Batman’s Revenge
O-Pee-Chee card 284 Gruesome Grimace equals Topps card 262 Gruesome Grimace
O-Pee-Chee card 285 Buildings of Gotham City equals Topps card 263 Buildings of Gotham City
O-Pee-Chee card 286 The Killer Clown’s In Town! equals Topps card 264 The Killer Clown’s In Town!
O-Pee-Chee card 287 The Joker and Batman equals Topps Sticker 23 The Joker and Batman
O-Pee-Chee card 288 Batman with cape still equals Topps Sticker 24 Batman with cape still
O-Pee-Chee card 289 The Joker equals Topps Sticker 25 The Joker
O-Pee-Chee card 290 Batman with cape flowing equals Topps Sticker 26 Batman with cape flowing
O-Pee-Chee card 291 The Joker celebrating equals Topps Sticker 27 The Joker celebrating
O-Pee-Chee card 292 Batman, arms crossed equals Topps Sticker 28 Batman, arms crossed
O-Pee-Chee card 293 Joker smiling face equals Topps Sticker 29 Joker smiling face
O-Pee-Chee card 294 Batman caricature portrait equals Topps Sticker 30 Batman caricature portrait
O-Pee-Chee card 295 Joker strutting equals Topps Sticker 31 Joker strutting
O-Pee-Chee card 296 Batman drawing, swirls cape equals Topps Sticker 32 Batman drawing, swirls cape
O-Pee-Chee card 297 Joker caricature equals Topps Sticker 33 Joker caricature
O-Pee-Chee card 298 Batman in control room equals Topps Sticker 34 Batman in control room
O-Pee-Chee card 299 Batman, waist up equals Topps Sticker 35 Batman, waist up
O-Pee-Chee card 300 Bruce Wayne, waist up equals Topps Sticker 36 Bruce Wayne, waist up
O-Pee-Chee card 301 Joker in cyan shirt equals Topps Sticker 37 Joker in cyan shirt
O-Pee-Chee card 302 Batman logo equals Topps Sticker 38 Batman logo
O-Pee-Chee card 303 Batman lips pursed equals Topps Sticker 39 Batman lips pursed
O-Pee-Chee card 304 Joker and scissors equals Topps Sticker 40 Joker and scissors
O-Pee-Chee card 305 Batman hiding in steam equals Topps Sticker 41 Batman hiding in steam
O-Pee-Chee card 306 Batman and Vicki on platform equals Topps Sticker 42 Batman and Vicki on platform
O-Pee-Chee card 307 Joker and megaphone equals Topps Sticker 43 Joker and megaphone
O-Pee-Chee card 308 Batmobile equals Topps Sticker 44 Batmobile
If there are any other differences please let me know.
The OPC Completist 