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Plasm Zero Issue
The River Group - 1993

Notes:  The set was also issued in two factory tin sets, a "premium" and a "special" edition.
The premium edition, limited to 5,555 tin sets, included 150 foil-stamped cards plus the
9 Level-1 and 4 Level-2 chase cards plus an additional #4 of 4 on heavy stock; a "comic"
on cassette tape with a story synopsis and 4-card set based on the audio; a certificate for
a special comic; and certificates of authenticity and welcome.  The special edition, limited
to 25,000 tin sets, has the certificate for a special comic and the #4 of 4 chase card, and
certificate.  A supplement of 33-card, foil "character cards" was issued separately as a
boxed factory set.  A related item is the Splatter Bowl I factory set, which is checklisted 
here.   Three different editions of binders were also produced.  Although the Level-1
holographic-foil chase cards are marked "X of 9", the usual chase set contains only the
eight cards that were available in packs, excluding the one distributed in the binder.  The
Level-2 (embossed) chase card #4 was also randomly inserted in packs for the Dark
Dominion set. And thanks much to Douglas Cambron, Rogers Cadenhead, Tom Keir,
Jim Hollister, Michael Jones, Chris Brown, Chris Scott, and Defiant1 for updates!

There is considerable uncertainty about the Level-3 chase cards. According to Douglas
Cambron, "Originally there was only supposed to be one level three signed card (as
printed on the cards wraper) and placed one in a  case ... Due to time constraints they
had Jim  sign a level 1 card.  But for some reason they did not have enough of the 
same type of card on hand and his signature appeared on an unknown number of 
the level one cards that were placed 1 in every 3 cases.  This is all debatable and Mr.
Shooter himself does not remember how many or of what type of cards his signature
graced." Jeff indeed pulled a signed Level-1 card from a pack (number 5 of 9), but
it is not certain whether all of the Level-1 cards were signed, nor in what quantities,
nor whether there was also a different card used for part of the distribution.  Jim
reports possessing signed cards for all numbers except 1 and 4 and has been told
that the signed cards were inserted in approximately 1 of every 5000 packs, which
would make them more scarce than the other reports would indicate.

The binders can also be confusing.  Apparently the original package offered by River 
Group in 1993 included only the binder (stamped in gold foil as "Premier Edition", 
gold-foil-stamped Splatter Bowl comic, and a  single holofoil.  The second printing is 
distinguished by a silver-foil "Second Edition" marking on the cover and comic, with
the image from the Plasm #0 comic within a frame on a black background, instead of
filling the page like the actual comic cover. Chris Brown was the first to report that 
both of the two first editions included a coupon on the back that could be cut out and 
mailed in for the "back cover art" from the comic, to be inserted in the back of the 
binder. Albums with redeemed artwork are more desirable than albums with the 
send-away offer attached.  And David Pass reports that there was a  third-edition 
binder with a different cover soon before Defiant shut down, sold through Revco
drug stores and possibly other retail outlets separate from the usual comics trade.  

The Plasm Zero Issue comic was bound into Previews magazine, but Chris Scott 
reports that it was also available as a standalone product -- with one staple in the 
middle of the comic.

In 1997, extended packages were released by whomever 'inherited' the remaining stock 
from Defiant and/or River Group, and a new album package (for both 1st and 2nd 
printing albums) now included the original contents plus a complete basic set and all 
nine Level-1 holofoils.  So if you are in the market for the album package, make sure 
you check to see which version you are receiving; the 1997 "repackages" will probably
never be as collectible as the editions produced by Defiant. There might be additional 
combination packages available in the aftermarket; Jim Shooter said, "I could not stop 
them [Defiant/River Group] when they did gimmicks and limited editions", so even
he was not sure which packages might have been distributed in the beginning.

Chris Brown also points out that not all Level-1 chase cards that were signed by Jim 
Shooter are Level-3 cards, because Jim signed some of the cards after the set was r
eleased.  If the signature is beneath the clear UV card coating, it is a Level-3; if the 
signature is on top of the clearcoat, it is a signed Level-1.

Box: 36 packs of 9 cards.
Common sets: approx. 2.15 per box if collation were perfect.

  No.   First Dialogue / Character

    1   THE DEATH
    2   Seeker Lorca, if you keep bringing in bi
    3   Paise the Org, Centurion, we'll see....
    4   OF LOVE
    5   (Trouble. I knew it! I should have pre-)
    6   (no text)
    7   Concept and characters developed by Jim
    8   Inked by Michael Witherby - Painted by J
    9   Lettered by Kenny Lopez - Edited by Debo
   10   You die to feed the Org of Plasm!
   11   No! We won't be gore for your Org!
   12   Back away, or I'll kill this one!
   13   Praise and magnify... Ahh!
   14   Sad about the Centurion. Nice fellow...
   15   How lucky these infidels are to be mulch
   16   What's this batch of plasm being used fo
   17   We've gotten word from the Incorp Center
   18   Lorca's doing, I heard!
   19   I swear, this team can't lose, Lorca! Be
   20   Betting on Splatterball is as astupid an
   21   Tackle the ball! Can's score without the
   22   Gotcha!
   23   One flask on the Gutgash Slaughterers! I
   24   What a waste!
   25   (Aortalon is the Tusker runner... He's )
   26   In fact, I'm so certain that the Slaught
   27   (Hoy, Slaughterslugs! I'll take that!)
   28   Here's the play! It's a dive to the righ
   29   Aortalon's in the end zone! He's going f
   30   Yeeek!
   31   Aortalon spikes the ball! He's flattened
   32   Yes, I doubled the bet, and no, I can't
   33   Hoy, no...! I'll be the laughingstock of
   34   Next time I'll let them chop you!
   35   Can you imagine if the Emp saw me hoppin
   36   No, thanks. That stuff muddles you
   37   Too far... He's gone too far.
   38   Such a beautiful child... Hmm.
   39   Compulsors!
   40   Lorca. The one you're after is inside.
   41   (Huh! You twitched to that sweet little)
   42   (Good night, Magistrate... ... and hell)
   43   Compulsor, what's going on in there? I a
   44   They are coming out with the prisoner no
   45   What do you mean, sir?
   46   Praise the Org, indeed. How I've waited
   47   Hoy! Let's celebrate!
   48   ... considering your distinguished recor
   49   ... High Gorelord of the Org--devastatin
   50   Yes?
   51   Hm... Ah! Speaking of lust! Our little m
   52   Tomorrow. She graduates tomorrow.
   53   Membrane open. Pass, Seeker Lorca.
   54   May I ask why a command-rank officer wis
   55   I'm not like that. I'd never...
   56   Why shouldn't I expect similar treatment
   57   ... a cell in the body of the ecosystem?
   58   You could do well to consort with one of
   59   I wish there were another place to go--
   60   So I choose to stay here, caring for inn
   61   Did you enjoy your visit, sir?
   62   He's leaving without her, sir!
   63   At first sight, something about the mors
   64   You seem troubled, lust mate!
   65   Hieek! Kill their leaders!
   66   (Now, sit down and listen to me!)
   67   Well done, Lorca! Hoy, the splatter tast
   68   Nice rich gore for the Org! Time to call
   69   Yes. Time to mulch the biomass...
   70   Conquer... strip... and ravage... ... fo
   71   Praise the Org!
   72   What are you doing here? I told you...
   73   Current probe sequence and entire cycle
   74   All possible loci have been probed. All
   75   Then probe impossible loci! Test mathema
   76   After all I've acquired for this Org, th
   77   Hwhuh! Wait! There... There!
   78   Well done, zoms! You! Go to the school c
   79   Hoy! I did it!
   80   Lorca! You're still holed up here? I oug
   81   What is all that muddlemess on those scr
   82   I've found it! a place where we can go,
   83   I have a plan... Ooph!
   84   I'll need a lock of your hair... so I ca
   85   I'll need one of me, too. We'll extingui
   86   With luck, everyone will think the clone
   87   This is where we're going, Laygen.
   88   What kind of place is it?
   89   By then we'll have lived out our unique
   90   My zome will return you to the school. T
   91   And now, fellow citizens, fellow cells i
   92   This is your moment, lust-mate. I knew i
   93   ... the plasmoid who's kept the chattel
   94   ... our esteemed Seeker Lorca!
   95   Praise the Org!
   96   It is an honor to participate in your el
   97   Hello, everyone, Hortch the Jovial, your
   98   I assume no one challenges dear Lorca's
   99   Hold! I object!
  100   Watch his eyes, my Emp!
  101   Citizens of the Org--Watch his eyes!
  102   (Watch this, Lorca!)
  103   Here is Lorca's monadist lover!
  104   (no text)
  105   (no text)
  106   (What's your point?)
  107   (no text)
  108   Now... His eyes will betray him, so watc
  109   What is your point, Ul?
  110   I watched his eyes. He didn't flinch.
  111   Enough nonsense. Proceed with the ceremo
  112   Why do you suppose Ul did that?
  113   Lorca, old friend! No hard feelings, eh?
  114   For your sake, Lorca! Besides... you too
  115   Neither will I. Ha! Neither will I!
  116   Nothing, Sue...
  117   If you'll excuse me, I have much to do.

Character Cards

  118   Lorca
  119   Strafelord Maxilla
  120   Laygen
  121   Tibiarrum
  122   Sueraceen
  123   Trample-Zoms
  124   Lord Thoraxolic
  125   Grind-Zoms
  126   Hortch
  127   Lifescourge
  128   Sky Czar Keel
  129   Pleasure-Zoms
  130   Lord Leviathan
  131   Ulnareah
  132   Phlogia
  133   Body Barges
  134   Zom-Mothers
  135   Aeriaks
  136   Grafters
  137   Sludge Slaves
  138   Chattelwagons
  139   Covertrons
  140   Flaktrons
  141   Lichtor
  142   Splicers
  143   Craniallus
  144   Abdoratchet
  145   Slaughtermaster Gnash
  146   Torpedrons
  147   Mongrel Rude
  148   Fleshthreshers
  149   Armamentor Pharynx
  150   Purgist Skullurk


CHASE CARDS

Level-1 (Holographic Foil) Chase Cards

1 of 9  Ironhead
2 of 9  Glory
3 of 9  Lightpath
4 of 9  The Great Grimmax
5 of 9  Hooky and Clipper
6 of 9  Killer
7 of 9  Nudge
8 of 9  Shooter
9 of 9  Oob [available only with binder and premium tin set]

Level-2 (Embossed Foil) Chase Cards
  Card 4 was found only in the factory tin set or as a random insert in packs
  of the Dark Dominion card series.

1 of 4  Lorca and His Enemy - Lorca and Ulnareah
2 of 4  Lorca and His Lust-Mate
3 of 4  Lorca and His Lover
4 of 4  Heroes from Earth - Principals from Plasm
          Also found in Dark Dominion packs

HoloFoils Signed by Jim Shooter (Level-3)
  See note above. Cards are Level-3 inserts only if signature was applied
  before the clear UV coating was applied to the card.

1 of 9  Ironhead
2 of 9  Glory
3 of 9  Lightpath
4 of 9  The Great Grimmax
5 of 9  Hooky and Clipper
6 of 9  Killer
7 of 9  Nudge
8 of 9  Shooter
9 of 9  Oob [signed version was not available in packs]

Uncut Sheet (wrapper mail-in offer; limited to 5000)

  --    (33-card panel of Character Cards, 118-150)

Uncut Character Foil Sheet (direct sale by manufacturer)

  --    (33-card panel of Character Cards, 118-150)

Uncut 60-card Sheet (direct sale by manufacturer)

  --    Level 1 inserts #1 through #9 (4 each)
  --    Level 2 inserts #1 through #3 (4 each)
  --    Level 2 insert #4 (12 each)

Uncut Sheet

  ---   (100-card, 10x10 panel; 2 different)
  ---   (100-cards but only 50 twice, rotated)

Premier Edition (First Printing) Card Album (15,000 made)

   Premier Edition (1993) (15,000 produced)

  --    Plasm (black binder; title superimposed on image as in comic)
  --    Beyond the Imaginary Limits ("The Plasm Story" sheet, 7-1/2" x 11")
  --    (Nine-pocket plastic pages)
  --    Splatterball: Skullrenders vs. Sludgemakers (limited edition comic,
          gold-foil stamped "Premier Edition))
9 of 9  Oob (holofoil originally exclusive to binder, in pocket glued inside 
          the back cover)
  --    Plasm ComiCollector (Special Offer, back cover insert 8" x 11-1/4")

   Reissue Package (1997)

  --    Plasm (black binder)
  --    (Nine-pocket plastic pages)
  --    (Complete 150-card basic set)
  --    Plasm Zero (limited edition comic, foil stamped)
  --    (Complete set of nine Level-1 chase cards)

Second Edition Card Album (silver-foil-stamped "Second Edition")

   Original Package (1993)

  --    Plasm (binder; title on black background)
  --    Beyond the Imaginary Limits ("The Plasm Story"sheet, 7-1/2" x 11")
  --    (Nine-pocket plastic pages)
  --    Splatterball: Skullrenders vs. Sludgemakers (limited edition comic,
          silver-foil stamped "Second Edition")
9 of 9  Oob (holofoil originally exclusive to binder, in pocket glued inside 
          the back cover)
  --    Plasm ComiCollector (Special Offer, back cover insert 8" x 11-1/4")

   Reissue Package (1997)

  --    Plasm (binder)
  --    (Nine-pocket plastic pages)
  --    (Complete 150-card basic set)
  --    Plasm Zero (limited edition comic, foil stamped)
  --    (Complete set of nine Level-1 chase cards)

Third Edition Card Album (not foil-stamped)

  Defiant1 first spotted the third edition binder, which has different
  artwork on the binder front and back from the first two editions. Chris 
  Scott and Jim Hollister report a sealed 3rd Edition binder from Revco, 
  without stamp, comic, cover letter, or #9 card; but distributed with an 
  unopened card box. Jim speculates that this binder was
  made from leftover Dark Dominion binders, but has new art for the album 
  front and back.

  --    Plasm (binder)

Premium Edition Tin (limited to 5555 sets)

  --    (150 regular cards)
  --    (9-card Level-1 set)
  --    (4-card Level-2 foil set)
  --    (4-card character set)
  --    (3-card promo set; limited to 5000)

Special Edition Tin (limited to 25,000)

  --    (150 regular cards)
  --    (4-card character set)

Warriors of Plasm Character Cards (boxed set, sold separately)

 1/33   Lichtor - The Emp's Majordomo
 2/33   Splicers - Molecular Manipulators
 3/33   Craniallus - Supreme Breeder
 4/33   Abdoratchet - Master Assembler
 5/33   Flaktrons - Living Antiaircraft Weapons
 6/33   Fleshthreshers - Skeleton-Stripping Zoms
 7/33   Armamentor Pharynx - Head Ordnance Engineer
 8/33   Purgist Skullurk - Head of the Emp's Own Secret Service
 9/33   Sky Czar Keel - Sky Czar of the Atmospheric Fleet of the Org of Plasm
10/33   Covertrons - Spy-Zoms
11/33   Mongrel Rude - Radical Rebel Underground Leader
12/33   Torpedrons - Living Missiles
13/33   Slaughtermaster Gnash - Incorporation Center Overseer
14/33   Strafelord Maxilla - Honored Combat Pilot of the Atmospheric Fleet of
          the Org of Plasm
15/33   Chattelwagons - Prisoner Transport
16/33   Body Barges - Corpse Reapers
17/33   Zom-Mothers - Living Zom-Making Machines
18/33   Aeriaks - Living Aerial Weapons
19/33   Lifescourge - Attack Bio-Hovercraft
20/33   Sludge Slaves - Waste-Product Recyclers
21/33   Ulnareah - Grand Inquisitor of the Org of Plasm
22/33   Lord Leviathan - High Admiral of the Armada of the Org of Plasm
23/33   Pleasure-Zoms - All-purpose Entertainers
24/33   Tibiarrum - Trample Lord of the Org of Plasm
25/33   Grafters - Cosmetic Enhancers
26/33   Hortch - Emp of the Org of Plasm
27/33   Laygen - Beloved of Lorca
28/33   Lorca - Supreme Acquisitor of the Org of Plasm
29/33   Sueraceen - High Gorelord of the Org of Plasm
30/33   Phlogia - Superintendent of the Emp's School Centers and the
          Principle Shepherd
31/33   Grind-Zomd - Infantry; All-Purpose Soldiers
32/33   Lord Thoraxolic - Gorelord of the Org of Plasm
33/33   Trample-Zoms - Berserker Shock Troops

Three By Shooter Boxed Set
  See this link for the set listing.


PROMO CARDS

The Org of Plasm Preview

1 of 4  Arhq Tsolmec
2 of 4  Zahnree Phla
3 of 4  The Council of Wizards
4 of 4  The Featherd Serpent

  1/3   Skipper (foil-stamped; Defiant Universe)
  2/3   Billy Ballistic (foil-stamped)
  3/3   Charlemagne (foil-stamped)

  --    Jim Shooter's Back! (4-card panel, 6-1/2" x 9"; 1993 San Diego Comic Con)
  --    Special Edition Tin (4-card panel, 5" x 7")
  --    Jim Shooter's Back (3-card panel, 6-1/2" x 9"; two versions)

  --    (3-card panel, 5" x 7"; Plasm logo in green block letters; no River
         Group or Defiant logo, just identifying words.)

San Diego Comic Con 9-card panels (7-1/2" x 10-1/2")
  Each packaged in envelope marked "Here's a collectible ..."

  --    The Incorporeration Center
  --    Pitiful, ignorant monadists!
  --    ... and the TUSKERS have ...

Heroes World Signed Set (Full set inserted in cello pack.)
  Signed by Jim Shooter and Dave Lapham, limited to 100 sets.  All ten
  cards together tell a story; taken from regular cards 28 through 36.

 1/10   This pack was produced exclusively for Heroes World Distribution Company.
 2/10   Here's the play! It's a dive to the righ
 3/10   Aortalon's in the end zone! He's going f
 4/10   Yeeek!
 5/10   Aortalon spikes the ball! He's flattened
 6/10   Yes, I doubled the bet, and no, I can't
 7/10   Hoy, no...! I'll be the laughingstock of
 8/10   Next time I'll let them chop you!
 9/10   Can you imagine if the Emp saw me hoppin
10/10   No, thanks. That stuff muddles you

Diamond Distributors Promo Set
  Full set inserted in cello pack; covers story of cards 19-27.

 1/10   (Lorca) This pack was produced exclusively for Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc.
 2/10   I swear, this team can't lose, Lorca! Be
 3/10   Betting on Splatterball is as astupid an
 4/10   Tackle the ball! Can's score without the
 5/10   Gotcha!
 6/10   One flask on the Gutgash Slaughterers! I
 7/10   What a waste!
 8/10   (Aortalon is the Tusker runner... He's )
 9/10   In fact, I'm so certain that the Slaught
10/10   (Hoy, Slaughterslugs! I'll take that!)

Capital City Promo Set (Full set inserted in cello pack.)
  Produced exclusively for Capital City Distribution, Inc.  All ten
  cards together tell a story; taken from regular cards 10 through 18.

 1/10   This pack was produced exclusively for Capital City Distribution Inc.
 2/10   You die to feed the Org of Plasm!
 3/10   No! We won't be gore for your Org!
 4/10   Back away, or I'll kill this one!
 5/10   Praise and magnify... Ahh!
 6/10   Sad about the Centurion. Nice fellow...
 7/10   How lucky these infidels are to be mulch
 8/10   What's this batch of plasm being used fo
 9/10   We've gotten word from the Incorp Center
10/10   Lorca's doing, I heard!

Foil Promo Set
  Set of 33, the same cards as the regular set's character cards, with
  foil treatment (similar to the Level-1 cards) and arranged in a slightly
  different order.

  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (black border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (blue border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (dark green border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (light green border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (orange border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (purple border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (red border)
  --    Plasm Overstreet Giveaway Gimmick #3 (yellow border)


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