Series: Dragonball Z
Company: Artbox
Year: 2001
Main distribution: United States
These are trading cards from Dragonball Z by Artbox. This is Series 4. The series exists out of 72 cards, with 10 Prism cards and 4 Clear cards, creating 86 cards total. Additionally there is a Promo Card. The images are based on the Trunks Saga, Android Saga and Imperfect Cell Saga.
Artbox (also known as DBA Artbox Entertainment or Japan Printing Products USA Inc.) was an American publisher of trading cards and Collectable Card Games. Their headquarters was in San Clemente, California, USA. A subsidiary of Ensky (Formerly Amada Printing MFG. Co., Ltd), Artbox Entertainment was established in 1995 as a United States based company to manufacture and market popular licensed products by specialising in the category of printed toys and collectables. Founded over 65 years ago, Ensky is Japan’s leading manufacture, marketer and distributor of licensed products. With strong support from Japan’s leading manufacturers, Artbox Entertainment was well equipped as a leader of printed toys and collectables for licensed products.
They gained many licenses, including Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Pokémon, Sailormoon and many more.
Here I’ll show my Dragonball Z Trading Cards Series 4.
The cards are recognisable as having a dark blue corner border with Dragonball Z on it. The backs have a dark background with Shenron on it, and a small picture with text. The Prism cards have Dragonball Z on a black backdrop on it, and the back is orange with a picture and some text.
They came in 10 and 5 packs, with 1 Prism card included. I always kept one of the pack’s designs with my cards.
Each pack also came with a little leaflet to order the Binders that went with the series. Unfortunately this was American only so I never got these.
I got 82/87, most of the complete set. I’m only missing the 4 Clear Cards, and the Promo Card.
After Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and the Chromium Series, I thought I had all the Dragonball Z Trading Cards. However, I then found Series 4!
My uncle worked at the NATO, an American base, which had an American shop that imported stuff from America for the Americans based here. Occasionally my uncle brought me along and I would buy tons of cards there. I would also ask him to buy me some every time he went. And here I found Series 4. These weren’t sold anywhere where I lived, so I bought a lot here.
I couldn’t trade these as no one else had them. So I had to get them all by buying and opening packs. However, because no one had them, it was easy to get rid of my doubles. I traded everywhere with these for my other series to complete. On school, on markets, with friends etc. I was the coolest kid on the block as I had cards no one else had. Luckily my uncle is a collector and gambler as well and knew the importance of getting the full set! He traded some with his American co-workers’ kids as well for me. I basically managed to get the full set, but I never saw a Clear card. These are the only ones I’m still missing!
If anyone has C-01, C-02 C-03 or C-04, or the Promo Card and wants to part with it, let me know! I still have a few doubles left if anyone wants to trade or buy (P-07, 03, 29, 42 and 51)?
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own any of these cards? Or do you have the full set? Would you like to trade any? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!
I once bought the American booster box. It contained 24 packs (10 card per pack, 1 holo and 9 regular cards).
Managed to pull 2 clear cards (1 out of 12 packs). I remember opening it! There was a holo at the end, the second to last one was a clear card, and 8 regular cards.
Not sure about the smaller 6 card packs, I’ve read somewhere they do contain clear cards as well, 1 out of every 24 packs…
There was no promo to be found in my box opening though, you probably had to send out that little flyer that comes in every pack in order to get the promo card together with the special binder, etc.
Oh I never saw the booster box. So cool you got some clear cards! I’d love to see them. I don’t think I could apply for the promo as I’m not in America.
I bought so many of the loose small packs to get them all. :’) Kinda peeved I miss those clear cards and promo, but happy to have the base set “complete”.
It was a long time ago that I purchased the american box. I bought the small European (?) packs this year and it said it contains only 82 cards: 72 regular cards and 10 prism. Which is fine, at least we both have the European sets complete!
Can you post the 2 cards you have? Would like to see what they look like.
Hi Ryan,
Apologies about the late approval and reply. I had to step away from the site for a while.
I gained C-03 Trunks but have yet to update the post for this. It’s on my to do list. 🙂
Are you willing to part ways with any of the clear cards?