1992 Impel : DC Cosmic Cards: Inaugural Edition

From Clark Kent to Hell-Bent

1992 Impel : DC Cosmic Cards: Inaugural Edition

In October 1990, Impel Marketing released the first Marvel Universe trading card series featuring bonus holograms of their flagship characters. A series from DC Comics followed in February 1992 with the Inaugural Edition of DC Cosmic Cards. The card text was edited by Bhob Stewart.

Each box contains 36 packs and with 12 cards per pack. Complete factory sets are numbered to 4,500. A collector album binder was sold separately. The series contains 180 base cards and 10 "Hologram Hall of Fame" cards. The odds of finding a hologram are approximately 1:10 packs.

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 Gotham characters are missing from this series. At the time, Topps controlled Batman card licensing for the Tim Burton films. Batman would not appear in a DC Universe trading card set until early 1994. Green Arrow is also 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.

1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #16 - Golden Age Superman 1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #17 - Silver Age Superman 1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #18 - Modern Age Superman

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

1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards - Hologram Hall of Fame - DCH8 - Superman

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

1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #169 - Classic Cover - Action Comics #1

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. A similar panel by Shuster appears in the newspaper strip "Is Superman Late?" from May 1939.

1992 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #177 - Classic Cover - Superman #1

Superman makes a cameo appearance on eleven additional base cards. Uncut four-card promotional panels include 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 is included on promo sheets distributed by SkyBox during the National Sports Convention on July 9–12, 1992.

The back of each card has a copyright date of 1991 and text that states "1992 Series I". The 1993 DC Cosmic Teams release was originally referred to as "Cosmic Cards II" by Wizard magazine. The numbering format for the "Hologram Hall of Fame" subset continues in DC Cosmic Teams.

On April 15, 1992, Impel Marketing Inc. rebranded as SkyBox International Inc. Artwork from DC Cosmic Cards was reused in the DC Stars series released by SkyBox and Walmart. Original artboards from DC Cosmic Cards have been observed in private collections.


Hero Heritage
1 Golden Age Blue Beetle Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
2 Silver Age Blue Beetle Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
3 Modern Age Blue Beetle Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
4 Golden Age Flash Joe Kubert
5 Silver Age Flash Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson
6 Modern Age Flash Greg LaRocque, José Marzan, Jr.
7 Golden Age Green Lantern Martin Nodell, Murphy Anderson
8 Silver Age Green Lantern Gil Kane
9 Modern Age Green Lantern M.D. Bright, José Marzan, Jr.
10 Golden Age Hawkman Joe Kubert
11 Silver Age Hawkman Murphy Anderson
12 Modern Age Hawkman Graham Nolan
13 Golden Age Shazam! Kurt Schaffenberger, Graham Nolan
14 Silver Age Shazam! Kurt Schaffenberger, Graham Nolan
15 Modern Age Shazam! Graham Nolan
16 Golden Age Superman Steve Rude, Jerry Ordway
17 Silver Age Superman Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, Jerry Ordway
18 Modern Age Superman Jerry Ordway
19 Golden Age Wonder Woman Trina Robbins
20 Silver Age Wonder Woman Jan Duursema
21 Moder Age Wonder Woman Jill Thompson
Villain Heritage
22 Golden Age Cheetah Trina Robbins
23 Silver Age Cheetah Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
24 Modern Age Cheetah Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
25 Golden Age Lex Luthor Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
26 Silver Age Lex Luthor Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson
27 Modern Age Lex Luthor Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
28 Golden Age Mr. Mxyztplk Steve Stiles
29 Silver Age Mr. Mxyzptlk Joe Orlando, Steve Stiles
30 Modern Age Mr. Mxyzptlk Howard Post, Joe Orlando, Steve Stiles
Earth's Mightiest Heroes
31 Animal Man Tom Mandrake
32 Aqualad Ken Hooper, Steve Leialoha
33 Aquaman Ken Hooper, Tom Sutton
34 Black Condor Greg Guler, Dick Giordano
35 Black Lightning Trevor Von Eeden, Bob Smith
36 Blackhawk Rick Burchett
37 Blue Devil Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
38 Booster Gold Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
39 Bronze Tiger Ric Estrada, Dave Cooper
40 Changeling Tom Grummett, Al Vey
41 The Creeper Graham Nolan
42 Crimson Fox Greg Guler, Karl Kesel
43 Cyborg Tom Grummett, Al Vey
44 Deathstroke the Terminator Steve Erwin, Bob Smith
45 Dr. Light Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
46 Dove Greg Guler, Dick Giordano
47 Elongated Man Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
48 Fire Greg Gular, Dick Giordano
49 Firehawk Tom Mandrake
50 Firestorm Tom Mandrake
51 Gangbuster Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
52 Geo-Force Jim Aparo, Robert Campanella
53 The Guardian Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
54 Guy Gardner Joe Staton, Bob Smith
55 Hawk Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
56 Hawkwoman Graham Nolan
57 Hourman Nick Napolitano, Andy Kubert
58 Ice Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
59 Jade Tom Grummett, Al Vey
60 John Stewart Joe Staton, Bob Smith
61 Katana Jan Duursema
62 Metamorpho Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
63 Mr. Bones Trevor Von Eeden, P. Craig Russell
64 Nightshade Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
65 Nightwing Tom Grummett, Al Vey
66 Northwind Trevor Von Eeden, Nick Napolitano
67 Nuklon Shawn McManus
68 Pantha Tom Grummett, Al Vey
69 Peacemaker Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
70 Phantom Lady Dick Giordano
71 Power Girl Joe Orlando, Dick Giordano
72 Ragman George Pratt
73 Raven Tom Grummett, Al Vey
74 Rocket Red Ty Templeton
75 Speedy Tom Grummett, Al Vey
76 Troia Tom Grummett, Al Vey
77 Vixen Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
78 Wildcat Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
Earth's Mightiest Villains
79 Amazo Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
80 Big Sir Carmine Infantino, Dave Cooper
81 Black Manta Ken Hooper, Robert Campanella
82 Blockbuster Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
83 Bolt Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
84 Brainiac Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
85 Captain Boomerang Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
86 Chemo Shawn McManus
87 Chronos Gil Kane
88 Copperhead Greg Gular, Karl Kesel
89 Count Vertigo Trevor Von Eeden, Karl Kesel
90 Deadline Tom Lyle, Scott Hanna
91 Deadshot Luke McDonnell, Mike Clark
92 Dr. Light Mike Clark
93 Dr. Polaris Gil Kane
94 Eclipso Trevor Von Eeden, Dave Cooper
95 Goldface Gil Kane
96 Gorilla Grodd Carmine Infantino, Ray McCarthy
97 Houngan Tom Grummett, Al Vey
98 Jericho Tom Grummett, Al Vey
99 Kestrel Greg Guler, Karl Kesel
100 Monarch Dan Jurgens, Dick Giordano
101 Ocean Master Ken Hooper/ Robert Campanella
102 Parasite Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
103 Phobia Tom Grummett, Al Vey
104 Plasmus Tom Grummett, Al Vey
105 Psycho-Pirate Andy Kubert
106 Shadow Thief Graham Nolan
107 Silver Swan Jill Thompson
108 Sonar Gil Kane
109 Toyman Joe Orlando
110 Vandal Savage Greg LaRocque, Dave Cooper
111 Warp Tom Grummett, Al Vey
Heroes From Beyond
112 Adam Strange Carmine Infantino, Dick Giordano
113 Arisia Joe Staton, Dave Cooper
114 Big Barda Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
115 Black Racer Rick Hoberg
116 Fastbak Rick Hoberg
117 G'Nort Joe Staton, Steve Stiles
118 Kilowog Joe Staton, Steve Stiles
119 Lightray Rick Hoberg
120 Lobo Simon Bisley
121 Martian Manhunter Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
122 Metron Rick Hoberg
123 Mr. Miracle Kevin Maguire, Karl Kesel
124 Orion Rick Hoberg
125 Starfire Tom Grummett, Al Vey
Villains From Beyond
126 Ares Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
127 Blackfire Tom Grummett, Al Vey
128 Darkseid Rick Hoberg
129 Desaad Rick Hoberg
130 Despero Trevor Von Eeden, Ray McCarthy
131 Glorious Godfrey Rick Hoberg
132 Granny Goodness Rick Hoberg
133 Kalibak Rick Hoberg
134 Kanjar Ro Graham Nolan
135 Manga Khan Ty Templeton
136 Maxima Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
137 Mr. Nebula Ty Templeton
138 Sinestro Paris Cullins
139 Starro Kevin Maguire, Dave Cooper
140 Steppenwolf Rick Hoberg
141 Yuga Khan Rick Hoberg
Great Battles
142 Crisis on Earth's One & Two Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
143 Crisis on Earth's One & Two Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
144 Crisis on Earth's One & Two Paris Cullins, Dave Cooper
145 Crisis on Infinite Earths Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
146 Crisis on Infinite Earths Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
147 Crisis on Infinite Earths Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
148 Legends Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
149 Legends Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
150 Legends Paris Cullins, Karl Kesel
151 Millennium Joe Staton
152 Millennium Joe Staton
153 Millennium Joe Staton
154 Invasion! Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
155 Invasion! Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
156 Invasion! Bart Sears, Brett Breeding
157 Cosmic Odyssey Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
158 Cosmic Odyssey Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
159 Cosmic Odyssey Paris Cullins, Robert Campanella
160 The Great Darkness Saga Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
161 The Great Darkness Saga Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
162 The Great Darkness Saga Keith Giffen, Al Gordon
163 Armageddon 2001 Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
164 Armageddon 2001 Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
165 Armageddon 2001 Dan Jurgens, Art Thibert
166 War of the Gods Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
167 War of the Gods Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
168 War of the Gods Paris Cullins, Romeo Tanghal
Classic Covers
169 Action Comics #1 Joe Shuster, DC Staff
170 Green Lantern Martin Nodell
171 Justice Society of America E.E. Hibbard
172 Hawkman Joe Kubert
173 New Gods Jack Kirby
174 Wonder Woman H.G. Peter, Jon Blummer
175 Green Lantern Gil Kane
176 The Atom Gil Kane
177 Superman #1 Joe Shuster, Leo O'Mealia
178 Wonder Woman H.G. Peter
179 Checklist Part One
180 Checklist Part Two
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
Promos
6 Modern Age Flash Greg LaRocque, José Marzan, Jr.
9 Modern Age Green Lantern M.D. Bright, José Marzan, Jr.
18 Modern Age Superman Jerry Ordway
21 Modern Age Wonder Woman Jill Thompson
44 Deathstroke the Terminator Steve Erwin, Bob Smith
Four-Panel Sheet
Wonder Woman, Lobo, Deathstroke, Superman Previews
Six-Panel Sheet