1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman Trading Cards

The one true Superman stands revealed


1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman Factory Set Title Card

The Return of Superman Trading Cards were released released by SkyBox International on August 25, 1993. The base cards reprint artwork from "The Reign of the Supermen!" and "Better Than Ever" storylines. The series is follow-up to Doomsday: The Death of Superman Trading Cards, released in 1992. The title is a reference to "The Reign of the Superman" by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first published in 1933.

1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman #1

Each box contains 36 packs with 8 cards per pack. According to SkyBox, there were 10,000 cases and at least 35,300 factory sets produced. Complete sets are included with a limited edition collector album. A limited binder that combines The Death of Superman series was sold separately.

The Return of Superman binder collection includes an exclusive title card and special insert. The title card reprints the cover of Action Comics #692 (October 1993). The full artwork appears on base card #97, "And Now - Clark Kent!" The cover was sketched by Ed Hannigan, penciled by Kerry Gammill, inked by Jackson "Butch" Guice, and colored by Denis Rodier.

1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman #97

Factory sets include a special "Earth's Greatest Hero!" insert card. The insert depicts the trade paperback cover of The Return of Superman (December 1993). The cover was illustrated by all four Superman creative teams. Silver bordered SP1 inserts received a print run of 35,000 copies. Gold bordered SP1 inserts are limited to 300 cards.

1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman Factory Set Gold (300 copies)

The odds of finding one of four gold-foil puzzle cards are approximately 1:36 packs, or about one per box. Each gold-foil card contains an image of Superman that is exclusive to this series. The cards assemble a 5 x 7 inch image of the Superman emblem. Uncut puzzle sheets and color proofs have been released to the public.

1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman - Gold Foil Puzzle

Promo cards were distributed to through dealers and conventions. A select number of promo cards were numbered and autographed by Brett Breeding or Dan Jurgens.

1993 SkyBox : The Return of Superman #0 - Promo

The four replacement Supermen first appeared on trading cards in the 1993 DC Bloodlines series from SkyBox. Collector editions of The Adventures of Superman #500 include a promo sheet of DC SkyCaps. The characters are featured on a series of six trifold cards released by Kellogg's Canada.

The Death and Return of Superman was released by Sunsoft for the Super NES in August 1994. A Sega Genesis version rated MA-13 followed in 1995. Guinness World Records 2009 listed the title as the "First superhero game to tie into a contemporary storyline."


The Return of Superman Checklist
1 Reign of the Supermen! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
2 The Last Son of Krypton! Jackson Guice
3 The Man of Steel! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
4 The Man of Tomorrow! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
5 Superboy! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
6 Living Energy! Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice
7 Evil's Enemy! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
8 Serving Justice! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
9 Superman is Back! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
10 Lois Demands Proof! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
11 Chained Fury! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
12 Doomsday Lives! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
13 Armored Protector! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
14 Hammer Power! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
15 Steel Heart! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
16 Steel Savior! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
17 Brush Style! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
18 Stopped Cold! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
19 Don't Call Me Superboy! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
20 Pumped! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
21 Shocking Discovery! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
22 Hunter of the Night! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
23 Heroic Challenge! Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice
24 America's Guardian! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
25 Seal of Approval! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
26 Prince of the City! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
27 Supergirl! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
28 Boy Meets Girl! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
29 Tracking the Truth! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
30 Rescue in the Skies! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
31 Easy Targets! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
32 My Way or the Highway! Tom Grummett, Karl Kesel
33 Harsh Lecture! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
34 Let the Hammer Strike! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
35 Showoff! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
36 Lightning-Quick Attack! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
37 Standoff! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
38 Silent Observation! Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice
39 Angry Eyes! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
40 Unstoppable War Suit! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
41 Battleground Metropolis! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
42 Hero vs. Hero! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
43 Righteous Rage! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
44 Disgraced in Defeat! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
45 Crisis Awaits! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
46 Surrounded by Death! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
47 Ambushed! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
48 Simultaneous Attacks! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
49 A City Annihilated! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
50 From the Ashes! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
51 Bow to the Conqueror! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
52 Taking the Blame! Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice
53 Murder without Mercy! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
54 Mayhem in the Skies! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
55 Evil's Victory! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
56 Escape! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
57 Grim Determination! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
58 Superman? Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
59 Lois is Convinced! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
60 Charging to War! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
61 Anticipating War! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
62 Schemes of Evil! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
63 At the Battlefront! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
64 Identity Revealed! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
65 Taking Command! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
66 The Battle Begins! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
67 Riding Hard! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
68 Against the Odds! Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice
69 Naked Assault! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
70 Resistance! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
71 Armed and Dangerous! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
72 Blasting Away! Tom Grummett / Doug Hazlewood
73 Into the Breach! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
74 Punch-Out! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
75 Fire Power! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
76 To the Core! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
77 Trouble Approaches! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
78 Mongul's Death Grip! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
79 Surprise Savior! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
80 Target Superman! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
81 Standing Tall! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
82 To the Rescue! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
83 Surprise Ally! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
84 Eradicator Defeated! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
85 Eradicator Victorious! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
86 Fury Unleashed! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
87 Final Charge! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
88 Fists of Vengeance! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
89 Deadly Kryptonite! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
90 Noble Sacrifice! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
91 Full Power! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
92 Doomsday for the Cyborg! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
93 A Hero Restored! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
94 On to Metropolis! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
95 Haunted! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
96 Metropolis! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
97 And Now - Clark Kent! Ed Hannigan, Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
98 The Daily Planet! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
99 Lois and Clark! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
100 Checklist Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
Promo
0 The Return of Superman! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
Gold Foil Puzzle Cards
1:36 packs
SP1 Superman - The Man of Steel! Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke
SP2 Superman in Action! Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
SP3 The Adventures of Superman! Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood
SP4 Superman! Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding
Binder Factory Set
Title Card Ed Hannigan, Kerry Gammill, Jackson Guice, Denis Rodier
SP1 Earth's Greatest Hero! Gold limited to 300
SP1 Earth's Greatest Hero! Silver limited to 35,000