1992 Impel : DC Cosmic Cards: Inaugural Edition

From Clark Kent to Hell-Bent.

In October 1990, Impel Marketing released the first Marvel Universe trading card set featuring bonus holograms of their flagship characters. DC followed in February 1992 with the Inaugural Edition of DC Cosmic Cards.

A complete set is comprised of 180 base cards and 10 "Hologram Hall of Fame" cards. Each box contains 36 packs and there are 12 cards in each pack. The odds of finding a hologram are 1:10 packs. Hologram cards showcase artwork by Walt Simonson. The set was edited by Bhob Stewart.

"From Clark Kent to Hell-Bent", DC characters are profiled from the 1963 "Crisis on Earth-One!" storyline to the "War of the Gods" in 1991. Aside from Dick Grayson as Nightwing, Batman and related characters are missing from this set. During this time, Topps controlled Batman card licensing for the Tim Burton films. Batman would not appear in a DC Universe set until early 1994. Green Arrow is also mysteriously absent, but Speedy is featured.

The "Hero Heritage" subset depicts three versions of Superman throughout history. Steve Rude provided art for the Golden Age Superman. Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson (Swanderson) were fittingly selected to represent the Silver Age Superman. The Statue of Liberty background and Modern Age Superman card was illustrated by Jerry Ordway.

  

There is one Superman hologram (DCH8) and one featuring Clark Kent and Lois Lane (DCH1). The "Hologram Hall of Fame" subset was illustrated by Walt Simonson.

The "Classic Covers" subset showcases the first issues of Action Comics and Superman. The cover of Action Comics #1 was illustrated an unknown DC staff member based on an interior panel by Joe Shuster.

The cover of Superman #1 (Summer 1939) appears on card #169. The frame artwork is by Leo O’Mealia. The image of Superman is based on the opening panel of Action Comics #10 (March 1939) by Joe Shuster and Wayne Boring. A similar panel by Shuster appears in the newspaper strip "Is Superman Late" from May 1939.

Superman makes a cameo appearance on 11 additional storyline cards. There are uncut four-card promotional panels that contain the Modern Age Superman. Promotional five-card cellophane packs include a Modern Age Superman variation with no large set number on the back. Silver Age Superman appears on promo sheets distributed by SkyBox at the National Sports Convention held July 9–12, 1992, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Complete factory set boxes are serial numbered to 4500. A vinyl album binder was sold separately.

The back of each card has a copyright date of 1991 and text that states "1992 Series I". During development, the 1993 DC Cosmic Teams release was originally referred to as "Cosmic Cards II" by Wizard. The numbering format for the hologram subset continues in DC Cosmic Teams. On April 15, 1992, Impel Marketing Inc. rebranded as SkyBox International Inc. Some of the artwork from this set would later be used in the 1994 DC Stars series released by SkyBox and Walmart. Original artboards from DC Cosmic Cards have been observed in private collections.

The checklist consists of 180 base cards and 10 holograms.

1992 Impel : DC Cosmic Cards: Inaugural Edition
Hero Heritage
1	Vitamin 2-X	Golden Age Blue Beetle	Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
2	The Blue Beetle's Magic Scarab	Silver Age Blue Beetle	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
3	Blue Beetle's Bug	Modern Age Blue Beetle	Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
4	The Flash's Winged Helmet	Golden Age Flash	Joe Kubert
5	The Flash's Ring and Costume	Silver Age Flash	Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson
6	Flash's Special Police Band Radio Receivers	Modern Age Flash	Greg LaRocque, José Marzan, Jr.
7	Alan Scott's Power Ring	Golden Age Green Lantern	Martin Nodell, Murphy Anderson
8	Hal Jordan's Power Ring and Battery	Silver Age Green Lantern	Gil Kane
9	The Guardians of the Universe	Modern Age Green Lantern	M.D. Bright, José Marzan, Jr.
10	Hawkman's Mace and Cestus	Golden Age Hawkman	Joe Kubert
11	Hawkman's Starship	Silver Age Hawkman	Murphy Anderson
12	Hawkman's Blaster	Modern Age Hawkman	Graham Nolan
13	The Brazier Used to Summon Shazam	Golden Age Shazam!	Kurt Schaffenberger, Graham Nolan
14	Whiz-TV	Silver Age Shazam!	Kurt Schaffenberger, Graham Nolan
15	The Gift of the Elders	Modern Age Shazam!	Graham Nolan
16	The Daily Star	Golden Age Superman	Steve Rudy, Jerry Ordway
17	Superman's Arctic Fortress of Solitude	Silver Age Superman	Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, Jerry Ordway
18	The Doomed Planet Krypton	Modern Age Superman	Jerry Ordway
19	Paradise Island, Home of the Amazons	Golden Age Wonder Woman	Trina Robbins
20	The Invisible Robot Plane	Silver Age Wonder Woman	Jan Duursema
21	The Magic Lasso	Moder Age Wonder Woman	Jill Thompson
Villain Heritage
22	The Cheetah's Dagger	Golden Age Cheetah	Trina Robbins
23	The Cheetah's Razor-Tipped Gloves	Silver Age Cheetah	Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
24	Minerva's Cheetah Elixir	Modern Age Cheetah	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
25	The Powerstone	Golden Age Lex Luthor	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
26	Lex Luthor's Lab	Silver Age Lex Luthor	Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson
27	Lex Luthor's Kryptonite Ring	Modern Age Lex Luthor	Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
28	Mr. Mxyztplk's Derby	Golden Age Mr. Mxyztplk	Steve Stiles
29	The Fifth Dimension	Silver Age Mr. Mxyzptlk	Joe Orlando, Steve Stiles
30	An Example of Mxyztplk's Magic	Modern Age Mr. Mxyzptlk	Howard Post, Joe Orlando, Steve Stiles
Earth's Mightiest Heroes
31	Animal Man's Alien Benefactors	Animal Man	Tom Mandrake
32	Atlantis, Aqualad's Home	Aqualad	Ken Hooper, Steve Leialoha
33	The Lighthouse Where Aquaman was Raised	Aquaman	Ken Hooper, Tom Sutton
34	Black Condor's Dagger	Black Condor	Greg Guler, Dick Giordano
35	Black Lightning's Power Belt	Black Lightning	Trevor Von Eeden, Bob Smith
36	Blackhawk's Plane, The Grumman X-F5F Skyrocket	Blackhawk	Rick Burchett
37	Blue Devil's Rocket-Powered Trident	Blue Devil	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
38	Booster Gold's Wrist Blasters and Power Rods	Booster Gold	Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
39	Bronze Tiger's Original Mask	Bronze Tiger	Ric Estrada, Dave Cooper
40	The Logans' Experimental Ray	Changeling	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
41	The Creeper's Transformation Device	The Creeper	Graham Nolan
42	Crimson Fox's Steel Claws	Crimson Fox	Greg Guler, Karl Kesel
43	Cyborg's Arsenal	Cyborg	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
44	Deathstroke's Power Staff	Deathstroke the Terminator	Steve Erwin, Bob Smith
45	Dr. Light's Laboratory	Dr. Light	Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
46	Terataya	Dove	Greg Guler, Dick Giordano
47	Gingold, Elongated Man's Secret Stretching Elixir	Elongated Man	Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
48	The Pyroplasm Ray	Fire	Greg Gular, Dick Giordano
49	The Machine That Created Firehawk	Firehawk	Tom Mandrake
50	Hudson Nuclear Power Plant	Firestorm	Tom Mandrake
51	Gangbuster's Nunchaks and Taser	Gangbuster	Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
52	Prince Brion's Home Country of Markovia	Geo-Force	Jim Aparo, Robert Campanella
53	The Guardian's Shield	The Guardian	Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
54	Guy Gardner's Library	Guy Gardner	Joe Staton, Bob Smith
55	T'Charr	Hawk	Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
56	Hawkwoman's Wings and Anti-Gravity Belt	Hawkwoman	Graham Nolan
57	Hourman's Strength-Augmenting Skin Patches	Hourman	Nick Napolitano, Andy Kubert
58	The Dome, Former Global Guardians Headquarters	Ice	Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
59	Jade's Power Pulse	Jade	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
60	Stewart's Current Home, The Planet Oa	John Stewart	Joe Staton, Bob Smith
61	Soultaker, Katana's Sword	Katana	Jan Duursema
62	The Orb of Ra, Metamorpho's Sole Weakness	Metamorpho	Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
63	Infinity, Inc. Headquarters	Mr. Bones	Trevor Von Eeden, P. Craig Russell
64	The Nightshade Dimension	Nightshade	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
65	Nightwing's Stun Disks and Gas Mask	Nightwing	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
66	The Lost City of Feithera	Northwind	Trevor Von Eeden, Nick Napolitano
67	Nuklon's Exercise Equipment	Nuklon	Shawn McManus
68	Pantha's Claws	Pantha	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
69	Peacemaker's Cybernetic Helmet, Jetpack, and Belt	Peacemaker	Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
70	Phantom Lady's Holographic Jewel and Wrist Taser	Phantom Lady	Dick Giordano
71	Karen Starr's Company, Starrware, Inc.	Power Girl	Joe Orlando, Dick Giordano
72	Rags 'n' Tatters, Rory Regan's Junk Shop	Ragman	George Pratt
73	Raven's Soul-Self	Raven	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
74	Rocket Red's Electro Net	Rocket Red	Ty Templeton
75	Speedy's Bow and Arrows	Speedy	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
76	New Chronos	Troia	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
77	Vixen's Tantu Totem	Vixen	Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
78	Grant's Gym	Wildcat	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
Earth's Mightiest Villains
79	Amazo's Creation Matrix	Amazo	Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
80	Big Sir's Energy Mace	Big Sir	Carmine Infantino, Dave Cooper
81	Black Manta's Undersea Craft	Black Manta	Ken Hooper, Robert Campanella
82	Roland Desmond's Blockbuster Serum	Blockbuster	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
83	Bolt's Power Glove	Bolt	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
84	Brainiac's Spaceship	Brainiac	Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
85	Captain Boomerang's Sonic and Explosive Boomerangs	Captain Boomerang	Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
86	Professor Norton, Chemo's Creator	Chemo	Shawn McManus
87	Chronos's Time-Wise Weaponry	Chronos	Gil Kane
88	Copperhead's Venomous Fangs	Copperhead	Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
89	Vertigo's Inner-Ear Implant	Count Vertigo	Trevor Von Eeden, Karl Kesel
90	Deadline's Energy Rifle and Anti-Gravity Disks	Deadline	Tom Lyle, Scott Hanna
91	Deadshot's Wrist Magnum	Deadshot	Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
92	Dr. Light's Strobe Ray and Teleportation Gun	Dr. Light	Mike Clark
93	Dr. Polaris' Magno-Gun	Dr. Polaris	Gil Kane
94	Eclipso's Black Diamond	Eclipso	Trevor Von Eeden, Dave Cooper
95	Goldface's Gold Gun	Goldface	Gil Kane
96	Gorilla City	Gorilla Grodd	Carmine Infantino, Ray McCarthy
97	Houngan's Voodoo Doll	Houngan	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
98	Jericho's Wildebeest Glove	Jericho	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
99	Druspa Tau, Kestrel's Homerealm	Kestrel	Greg Guler, Karl Kesel
100	Monarch's Space Station	Monarch	Dan Jurgens, Dick Giordano
101	Ocean Master's Oxygen-Filtering Helmet	Ocean Master	Ken Hooper/ Robert Campanella
102	The Toxic Waste that Transformed Parasite	Parasite	Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
103	A Sample of Phobia's Illusions	Phobia	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
104	General Zahl's Laboratory	Plasmus	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
105	The Medusa Mask	Psycho-Pirate	Andy Kubert
106	The Shadow Field Generator	Shadow Thief	Graham Nolan
107	Silver Swan's Sonic Power	Silver Swan	Jill Thompson
108	Sonar's Sonic Pistol	Sonar	Gil Kane
109	Toyman's Deadly Arsenal	Toyman	Joe Orlando
110	The Source of Savage's Immortality	Vandal Savage	Greg LaRocque, Dave Cooper
111	Warp's Dimensional Portal	Warp	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
Heroes From Beyond
112	Adam Strange's Blaster and Rocket Pack	Adam Strange	Carmine Infantino, Dick Giordano
113	The Green Lantern Corps' Earth Headquarters	Arisia	Joe Staton, Dave Cooper
114	Barda's Mega-Rod	Big Barda	Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
115	The Black Racer's Skis of Death	Black Racer	Rick Hoberg
116	Fastbak's Aeropads	Fastbak	Rick Hoberg
117	G'nort's Custom-Designed Power Ring	G'Nort	Joe Staton, Steve Stiles
118	Kilowog's Lab	Kilowog	Joe Staton, Steve Stiles
119	Supertown, New Genesis	Lightray	Rick Hoberg
120	Lobo's Intergalacticycle	Lobo	Simon Bisley
121	The Planet Mars	Martian Manhunter	Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
122	Metron's Mobius Chair	Metron	Rick Hoberg
123	Mr. Miracle's Aero Disks and Multi-Cube	Mr. Miracle	Kevin Maguire, Karl Kesel
124	Orion's Mother Box and Astro-Glider	Orion	Rick Hoberg
125	Starfire's Gordanian Captors	Starfire	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
Villains From Beyond
126	The Mace and Hammer of Ares	Ares	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
127	Tamaran	Blackfire	Tom Grummett, Al Vey
128	The Planet Apokolips	Darkseid	Rick Hoberg
129	Desaad's Killing Gloves	Desaad	Rick Hoberg
130	Despero's Deadly Chessboard	Despero	Trevor Von Eeden, Ray McCarthy
131	Godfrey's Mind Control Helmets	Glorious Godfrey	Rick Hoberg
132	Granny's Punishment Club	Granny Goodness	Rick Hoberg
133	Kalibak's Beta-Club	Kalibak	Rick Hoberg
134	The Planet Thanagar	Kanjar Ro	Graham Nolan
135	The Cluster	Manga Khan	Ty Templeton
136	Maxima's Starship	Maxima	Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
137	The Nebulamobile	Mr. Nebula	Ty Templeton
138	Sinestro's Power Ring	Sinestro	Paris Cullins
139	Starro's Starship	Starro	Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
140	Steppenwolf's Electro-Axe	Steppenwolf	Rick Hoberg
141	The Promethean Galaxy, Yuga Khan's Prison	Yuga Khan	Rick Hoberg
Great Battles
142	Crisis on Earths One & Two, Card A	Crisis on Earth's One & Two	Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
143	Crisis on Earths One & Two, Card B	Crisis on Earth's One & Two	Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
144	Crisis on Earths One & Two, Card C	Crisis on Earth's One & Two	Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
145	Crisis on Infinite Earths, Card A	Crisis on Infinite Earths	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
146	Crisis on Infinite Earths, Card B	Crisis on Infinite Earths	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
147	Crisis on Infinite Earths, Card C	Crisis on Infinite Earths	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
148	Legends, Card A	Legends	Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
149	Legends, Card B	Legends	Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
150	Legends, Card C	Legends	Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
151	Millennium, Card A	Millennium	Joe Staton
152	Millennium, Card B	Millennium	Joe Staton
153	Millennium, Card C	Millennium	Joe Staton
154	Invasion!, Card A	Invasion!	Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
155	Invasion!, Card B	Invasion!	Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
156	Invasion!, Card C	Invasion!	Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
157	Cosmic Odyssey, Card A	Cosmic Odyssey	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
158	Cosmic Odyssey, Card B	Cosmic Odyssey	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
159	Cosmic Odyssey, Card C	Cosmic Odyssey	Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
160	The Great Darkness Saga, Card A	The Great Darkness Saga	Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
161	The Great Darkness Saga, Card B	The Great Darkness Saga	Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
162	The Great Darkness Saga, Card C	The Great Darkness Saga	Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
163	Armageddon 2001, Card A	Armageddon 2001	Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
164	Armageddon 2001, Card B	Armageddon 2001	Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
165	Armageddon 2001, Card C	Armageddon 2001	Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
166	War of the Gods, Card A	War of the Gods	Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
167	War of the Gods, Card B	War of the Gods	Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
168	War of the Gods, Card C	War of the Gods	Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
Classic Covers
169	Action Comics #1	Superman	Joe Shuster, DC Staff
170	All-American Comics #16	Green Lantern	Martin Nodell
171	All Star Comics #3	Justice Society of America	E.E. Hibbard
172	The Brave and the Bold #34	Hawkman	Joe Kubert
173	New Gods #1	New Gods	Jack Kirby
174	Sensation Comics #1	Wonder Woman	H.G. Peter, Jon Blummer
175	Showcase #22	Green Lantern	Gil Kane
176	Showcase #34	The Atom	Gil Kane
177	Superman #1	Superman	Joe Shuster, Wayne Boring, Leo O'Mealia
178	Wonder Woman #1	Wonder Woman	H.G. Peter
179	Checklist Part One
180	Checklist Part Two

DC Hologram Hall of Fame
DCH1	Clark Kent and Lois Lane	Walt Simonson
DCH2	Darkseid	Walt Simonson
DCH3	Deathstroke the Terminator	Walt Simonson
DCH4	Flash	Walt Simonson
DCH5	Green Lantern	Walt Simonson
DCH6	Hawkman	Walt Simonson
DCH7	Lobo	Walt Simonson
DCH8	Superman	Walt Simonson
DCH9	Wonder Woman	Walt Simonson
DCH10	Waverider	Walt Simonson

Promo Cards
Cello Pack
6	Flash's Special Police Band Radio Receivers	Modern Age Flash	Greg LaRocque, José Marzan, Jr.
9	The Guardians of the Universe	Modern Age Green Lantern	M.D. Bright, José Marzan, Jr.
18	The Doomed Planet Krypton	Modern Age Superman	Jerry Ordway
21	The Magic Lasso	Modern Age Wonder Woman	Jill Thompson
44	Deathstroke's Power Staff	Deathstroke the Terminator	Steve Erwin, Bob Smith
Four-Panel Sheet
	#21, #120, #44, #18	Wonder Woman, Lobo, Deathstroke, Superman	Previews
Six-Panel Sheet
	Six-Panel Sheet
	Six-Panel Sheet