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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 31, 1992                   TAG: 9201310285
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SAN FRANCISCO                                LENGTH: Short

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SERIAL-KILLER TRADING CARDS SPARK OUTRAGE

Trading card collectors could be swapping Ted Bundy for Jeffrey Dahmer with a California publishing company's plan to market a "True Crime" series of collectibles.

Crime victims and their advocates said Thursday they are appalled with the cards, which they said tear open the wounds of victim's families and glorify notorious sociopaths and their crimes.

"It's offensive. It's obscene. It's outrageous," said Marlene A. Young, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Victim Assistance. She noted in a statement that many young people collect cards, primarily those of sports heroes.

But Eclipse Enterprises Inc. vigorously defended its "True Crime" series to be released in May. The cards aren't aimed at any particular age group and are no different from mainstream news coverage of inherently sensational events, the company said.

Eclipse Enterprises, based in Forestville about 60 miles north of San Francisco, publishes comic books and books about popular culture as well as collectors' cards, which include series on history and current events.

The "True Crime" series will feature 110 cards, to be sold in packets of 12 for $1. About half depict organized crime figures, such as Al Capone, and famous law enforcement officials, like J. Edgar Hoover.

Fifty-four depict serial killers and mass murderers.

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