Dragonball Z Hero Collection Series 2 – Artbox

Series: Dragonball Z

Company: Artbox

Year: 2001

Main distribution: United States / Europe / Japan

Barcode: 601139152204

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These are trading cards from Dragonball Z from Artbox. This series is called the Hero Collection Series 2 and contains 84 cards and 3 Double Gold Laser Cards, making 87 cards total. There were also an additional 6 Promo Cards. The numbering continues from Series 1. The images are based on the Great Saiyaman Saga, World Tournament Saga and Babidi 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 Hero Collection Series 2 cards.

The cards are recognisable as they have a black band at the bottom with Dragonball Z on it, as well as the card number and the series name. The back has black sides with a picture in the middle and Japanese text around it. The Double Gold Laser Cards have a gold border and a picture on the back, much like Series 1‘s.

They came in 5 packs. I always kept one of the pack’s designs with my cards. Each pack also came with some advertising cards, which I kept as well.

I got 88/93; the complete set minus 5 Promo Cards.

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These were my favourite Dragonball Z cards series as a kid. I loved how Japanese they were! I found these first actually, as they sold in the comic book store in Sittard I frequented (the only part of the series they sold). I went there so often, and bought so many cards, I guess I became known as the Dragonball girl. One day, they just gave me a bunch of packs that had gotten ripped in transit and they could no longer sell, as well as some loose cards. One was the promo DBZHC2 #2, with Vegeta! I even got the empty box (I was still collecting those at the time, but I think I have since sold them all).

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. When my comic book shop sold out, I bought some more here. Although I focussed more on the other series as at this point I had most of Series 2 if not all!

I think this was one of the first series I managed to complete (apart from these promo’s). I’m (still) so happy I got them all! I’m not too fussed about the promo’s, but if anyone has them and wants to part with them, let me know!

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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? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!