1994: GENE CARDS 15-16 (Marvel UK)

The second, and final, issue of the DEATH METAL VS GENETIX limited series (cover-dated January 1994) closed-out the Marvel UK Gene Pool line and came polybagged with the final two cards in the sixteen-card GENE CARDS set.

The notable difference on these final cards is that artist Kev Hopgood FINALLY got a back-of-card credit.

Front cover inside printed bag.

Front cover with bag removed.

Back cover.

1993: GENE CARDS 13-14 (Marvel UK)

The Marvel UK GENE CARD trading card set, presented as free bagged inserts with the GENE POOL sub-line continued with DEATH METAL VS GENETIX issue 1, cover-dated December 1993.

This broke the 'rules' established by the earlier Gene Pool books: this time the first issue came bagged with only two cards.  Another two cards were bagged with the second issue of the two-part limited series (which I'll post in a mo).  Only the first issues of the previous Gene Pool titles were bagged with cards.

Cover inside printed plastic bag.

Cover with bag removed.

Back cover.

1993: GENE POOL EDITORIAL (Marvel UK)

This is an editorial page, from GENETIX issue 1, with some background information on Marvel UK's GENE POOL line.  Similar pages ran in the other launch issues.

1993: GENE CARDS 9-12 (Marvel UK)

Here are four (actually five) more long-forgotten Marvel (UK) characters, as featured on cards 9-12 of the GENE CARDS set given away with selected issues of Marvel UK's Gene Pool line.

These cards were polybagged free with the first issue of GENETIX, cover-dated October 1993.

The front cover in the original printed bag.

The front cover with bag removed.

The back cover

1993: GENE CARDS 5-8 (Marvel UK)

GENE POOL was a sub-set of the US format Marvel UK line (which I've dubbed the GENESIS 92 line), published with cover dates spanning late 1993 and early 1994.

Marvel used a tried-and-tested ruse to bolster sales: bagging trading cards (GENE CARDS) with the first issues of each of the GP titles: GUN RUNNER; GENE DOGS; GENETIX and DEATH METAL VERSUS GENETIX.  This might have been a relatively new innovation stateside but - of course - cheap paper freebies were an old favourite of British publishers looking for a sales kick.

The thinking was that collectors would buy two copies: one to open and one to keep bagged.  Exclusive trading cards would also pull-in card collectors, another hobby area that was booming (thanks to speculators) during this period.

Cynics might also ponder that bagging copies prevented readers from flicking through the contents before buying... and quite likely returning it to the shelf.

Unfortunately, the Marvel UK 'miracle' was pretty much over by this point and the British comics were getting lost in the tide of new launches that were swamping overstretched retailers.

Inevitably, the comics and the new characters they introduced have been all but forgotten today. Which probably means they are due a revival... just to maintain the copyrights.

Cards 1-4 came polybagged with issue one of GUN RUNNER (cover-dated September 1993).  Unfortunately, whilst I have that issue I've yet to find a copy with the bag and cards still attached.  If I ever do, I'll scan and post them.

The cards below, numbers 5-8 in the Gene Cards set, came free with issue one of GENE DOGS (cover-dated October 1993).

The art is by Kev Hopgood (I think).  He's not credited on the cards themselves but he gets an editorial nod in some of the internal publicity for the Gene Pool line.  It's an oversight that's fixed on the final cards in the set.

I've posted previous sets of Marvel UK trading cards before, notably the two sets (2D and 3D) that came mounted on the covers of the UK fortnightly OVERKILL.  See here and here for more.

The front cover with printed bag intact.

The front cover with bag removed.

The back cover.