Dark Horse and Marvel Comics have teamed up to release a gallery book showcasing the complete Marvel Universe Trading Card collection from 1990 to 1994—and The Beat has all the details.
Hitting shelves this fall, Marvel Universe Gallery: 1990-1994 Trading Card Collection is a collectible, 256-page hardcover written by penciller and former Marvel editor Bob Budiansky. It catalogues nearly 1 thousand cards including foils, acetates, and even rare chase holograms, with commentary from Marvel veterans throughout.
Marvel Universe Trading Cards launched in 1990 from Marvel Comics and Impel Marketing. The collectible card industry had begun to take on a life of its own at the time. Although it had largely been dominated by cards featuring professional athletes for many years, the late ’80s and early ’90s saw an influx of pop culture trading cards featuring all kinds of media. (Impel also partnered with DC Comics, for example.)
In addition to star heroes and villains like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Doctor Doom, each Marvel Universe annual set also featured lesser-known characters including Deadzone, Bloodseed, and Slayback. Every card featured original art and a breakdown of characters’ origins, abilities, and alternate egos.
Marvel Universe Gallery: 1990-1994 Trading Card Collection will be available everywhere books are sold on September 8 for $59.99.
