X-Men: It’s all in the Cards

The X-Men Series One Trading Card Set Is Instant Nostalgia in Every Pack

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s chances are at some point in your childhood you owned trading cards. In the early 90s the card market was booming. Card sets were sold everywhere, in pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, specialty shops, you name it, they carried them.

I really don’t remember what my first pack of trading cards were. I know we had GI Joe, TMNT, all kinds of sports cards, and even packs of the Desert Storm cards. 

My first comic book card came inserted in a Marvel Toybiz action figure. I think it was a Marvel Universe Series One Apocalypse card or maybe it was the Blob ? I can’t remember. But I do remember thinking how cool it was to get a card with a toy. The cards had all this information on the characters. Power sets, intelligence levels, fighting abilities. They had win-loss records and fun facts or brief bios. It was all this information in one spot without having to pick up a ton of back issues. Back in 1992 there was no internet to conveniently look up all this information. We would get all the knowledge from the monthly comics themselves, or Wizard Magazine, sometimes comic specials like Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe or DC’s Who’s Who. 

So when I got my first taste of collecting marvel cards, I was hooked. Early on I must’ve come across an X-Men series one card, with all that beautiful Jim Lee art. He did the whole set of 99 cards plus the hologram subset. This was some of the best art my 7 year old eyes have ever seen. They had my favorite characters and a bunch of ones I didn’t know! All with its own unique information that I could soak up.

I remember going to local card conventions and stores with my father, trying to pick up all the X-Men ones I could get. Cards were so big then, that even my Dad, who collected nothing was collecting football cards. It was a time that we could bond over a common interest and it gave me some of my favorite childhood memories. 

Looking back at these cards hits me with instant nostalgia. Like the many things that I used to collect, it takes me back to a simpler, happier time. So it’s no surprise when I saw sealed boxes of both X-Men series one and series two at an LCS six years ago I knew I had to buy them both! 

The Jim Lee Card set had a few categories that it was split up into. Here are my favorites from some of the categories.

Superheroes

Wolverine

In the Classic brown and tan uniform, Wolverine leaps into action with a ferocious energy and intensity. Jim Lee’s Wolverine is one of the best looks that the character ever had! It’s a kick looking at the stats on the back of the card seeing what 1992 knew about all these characters. 

195 lbs? Maybe without the Adamantium skeleton. Other fun facts, his first appearance is Hulk 180 …. Most sources list that as a cameo as to his first full appearance is in Hulk 181. Issue 181 goes for far more money now. 

Nightcrawler

It’s just fun seeing Jim Lee draw Nightcrawler. How man times did he do that? Doesn’t seem like that many to me, but this one really knocks it out of the park. It really catches his swashbuckling nature. 

In 1992 I feel like it might’ve been hinted that Mystique was his mother but not confirmed yet. That fun fact will reveal itself soon, but in ‘92 it was still a mystery. 

Psylocke

Another look and design by Jim Lee that I absolutely love. This is Psylocke at her very best. Simple ninja look, but absolutely beautiful and deadly. 

Before seeing this card, I had no idea that Captain Britain was Psylocke’s brother back in the day. Cool little fact about a character I was just learning about back then. 

Domino

Little was known about the Mutant Domino at this time. Yet another character that Jim Lee rarely drew since she was a Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza creation. I feel like he nails the characters look perfectly. 

We would learn later that Domino’s real name is Neena Thurman, her first appearance overshadowed by it also being Deadpool’s first appearance. We would find out later that she was actually the Shape Changing mutant Copycat and not actually Domino in New Mutants # 98. 

I like how much of a mystery this great character was that, the card doesn’t even describe her powers. A mystery I was curious about for years to come. 

Gambit

Having only been around for a little over a year at the time this card set comes out, they don’t even know that Gambit’s real name was Remy LeBeau. An ultra cool character for the 90s, this is Gambit’s ultimate look. No other design of the character comes close to touching this one. 

These mysterious characters were so interesting and intriguing, couldn’t help but wanting to find out more ! 

Super-Villains

Magneto

Looking at this card makes me miss when Magneto was a true villain. The X-men were always at their best when they had these epic battles with the master of magnetism. I can’t believe Magneto’s real name wasn’t revealed by ‘92 but it could be possible. 

Jim Lee updated his look from the classic ‘63 design and reinvigorated the character into being the badass villain he always should be.

Sabretooth

The truly deadly and dangerous Sabertooth, a villain I loved to hate in the ‘90s. Wolverine vs Sabretooth was always a must buy for me. This savage animalistic look was the best the character has ever been. Even in this card they have to mention his passionate hate for his arch foe Wolverine. 

Omega Red

I know I’m not alone when I say that I absolutely love this character’s look. Another enemy of Wolverine’s past, Omega Red is more cerebral and calculating. Having debuted a few months before this card series released, Jim must’ve know that he would be a hit and make a huge impact. 

Teams

X-Men Gold Team

The X-Men Gold Team stared monthly in the Uncanny X-Men series starting with issue # 281. This was the “other” book that ran parallel with the mega hit X-Men series. Uncanny would be drawn by Whilce Portacio, a great artist in his own right. The team would be lead by Storm and introduce the fan favorite, time traveling mutant Bishop. 

I like the mention about the BlackBird Jet, The X-Men’s main form of transportation. I always thought that Jet was cool, even though all the changes it has had throughout the years. 

X-Men Blue Team

It doesn’t get any better than Jim Lee drawing the X-Men Blue Squad in my opinion! The team that launched the 1991 X-Men comic that sold over 8 million copies right here for a team photo! 

If you can’t tell by now this was my absolute favorite configuration of the X-Men team. It was a nice mix of new and veteran members, that had strength, brains, and the attitude of the 90s! 

Just this card alone made me want to write about the card series. I can go on and on about it, but I need room for one last thought! 

The Danger Room

The last nine cards of the main set is this beautiful connecting Danger Room Sequence. Incorporating characters from both Blue, Gold, Excalibur and X-Force, it is a nice collage of the mutants in action. I used to love when the comics showed the 90s Danger Room in use. Deep below the institution, this is where the X-men hone their skills and strategies. An important part of X-Men lore the Danger Room is somewhat a character in its own way. 

The Timeless X-Men

If you are a fan of the X-Men this set is a must have. Jim Lee’s art is amazing in each and every card. All the cards do a really nice job with the information they had at the time about each character. This set is still talked about highly today. A timeless piece of art work that inspires 30 plus years later.