Impel

Impel Marketing was the pioneering publisher that revolutionized comic book trading cards in the early 1990s. Founded in 1989, the company quickly obtained Marvel and DC licenses to publish its first series starting in 1990.

The Marvel Universe Cards of 1990 made history by introducing an unprecedented format: 162 cards with detailed profiles of heroes and villains, including real names, first appearances and affiliations. Each card even displayed win-loss statistics in combat and a "Did You Know?" section. The series featured innovative subsets such as Rookies, Famous Battles and Most Valuable Comics.

Impel rebranded itself as SkyBox in 1992, the year the DC Cosmic Cards series was also released. This collection of 180 cards was the DC equivalent of Marvel Universe Cards, notably featuring 30 cards dedicated to the ten greatest DC icons, available in Golden Age, Silver Age and Modern Age versions.

Impel's technical innovation lay in the introduction of hologram cards as chase cards, adding a new element to Marvel cards. These foundational series established the codes of the modern comic book card market.