 Adam Bomb (Series 1 #8a) became an icon of theGarbage Pail Kids trading card franchise; the image was used on the first five series' packs. | |
| Type | Trading cards |
|---|---|
| Invented by | Art Spiegelman,Mark Newgarden and John Pound[1] |
| Company | The Topps Company[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1985–2007 |
| Official website | |
Garbage Pail Kids is a series ofstickertrading cards produced bythe Topps Company, originally released in 1985 and designed toparody theCabbage Patch Kids dolls, which were popular at the time.
Each sticker card features a Garbage Pail Kid character having some comical abnormality or deformity, or suffering a terrible fate or death. The characters have humorous names involvingword play (Adam Bomb) oralliteration (Blasted Billy). Two versions of each card were produced, with variations featuring the same artwork but a different character name, differentiated by an "a" or "b" letter following the card number. The sticker fronts aredie-cut so that just the character with its nameplate and theGPK logo can be peeled from the backing. Many of the card backs feature puzzle pieces that form giant murals, while other flip-side subjects vary greatly among the various series, from humorous licenses and awards to comic strips and, in more recent releases, humorousFacebook profiles.
Fifteen original series (OS) of regular trading cards were released in the United States, with various sets released in other countries. Two large-format card editions were also released, as well as a set of fold-out posters.All-New Series (ANS) sets were introduced in 2003,Flashback re-releases began in 2010 and aBrand-New Series (BNS) was announced for 2012[3] withBrand New Series 2,Chrome S1, andBNS3 following in 2013. A new format was released in 2014 using the year to designate the edition, followed by the release name ofSeries 1, which had an Olympics-style format. In 2016, the format was changed again to themed sets that spoofed different pop culture topics.
The series was the brainchild of cartoonistArt Spiegelman, then a consultant for Topps. He came up with the product idea after the success of his earlier creationsGarbage Can-dy andWacky Packages. The concept originally began as an unreleasedWacky Packages sticker for a 1985 series,[4] but the management at Topps thought it would be a good idea for a separate spin-off series. Spiegelman and fellow cartoonistMark Newgarden worked together as the editors and art directors of the project,Len Brown was the manager and the first run of the cards was drawn exclusively by artist John Pound.[5] They were first issued in 1985.[6][7] Following the initial success of the cards, several additional artists and writers were brought in to contribute to the series, includingJay Lynch,Tom Bunk andJames Warhola, among others.
The cards were also known asBukimi Kun [ぶきみくん/Mr. Creepy] inJapan,The Garbage Gang inAustralia andNew Zealand,La Pandilla Basura [The Garbage Gang] inSpain,Havurat Ha-Zevel [חבורת הזבל/The Garbage Gang] inIsrael,[8]Basuritas [Trashlings] inLatin America,Gang do Lixo/Loucomania [Trash Gang/Crazymania] inBrazil,Sgorbions [Snotlings] inItaly,Les Crados [The Filthies] inFrance andBelgium andDie total kaputten Kids [The Totally Broken Kids] inGermany and other German speaking countries, e.g.Austria.
A smaller-sized card format was released in Australia and New Zealand. Each pack contained three stickers and the "peel here" arrow pointed to the top left area since there was no die-cut scoring. Initially in New Zealand, aSeries 6 of the Garbage Pail Kids was released as a market test (this version was a mix of the United StatesSeries 6 and7). After this success,Series 1 was released in Australia and New Zealand known asThe Garbage Gang and was identical to the United States version (albeit smaller in size). The first series was released in Australia and New Zealand in 1989 with different versions: the Australian stickers were darker, had a different banner and some of the names were changed to reflect cultural differences. FromSeries 2 onward, the same version was released in Australia and New Zealand.Series 4 was the last release ofThe Garbage Gang.
The commercial success of the trading cards led to the production of a live-action movie,The Garbage Pail Kids Movie,[9] in 1987. Ananimated television series was also created in 1987, but its initial scheduled broadcast in the U.S. was postponed due to parental complaints.[10] The show did make a brief appearance on U.S. television years after it was originally intended to air and was also briefly aired in Europe.[11] The movie was released on DVD byMGM Home Entertainment on July 12, 2005 (the original VHS had been distributed byParamount), and the animated TV series was later also released on DVD byCBS Home Entertainment on April 4, 2006 (again with distribution by Paramount). A similar set of 160 trading cards, calledThe Sloppy Slobs, was released in Italy in 1993.
During the height of the cards' popularity,Garbage Pail Kids were banned in many schools.[12] One of the main reasons for the ban was that teachers cited them as distractions during class.[13][14]
Since 1988,[15] any export and import ofGarbage Pail Kids is banned inMexico due to the approval of a reform to the Export and Import Law, banning all representations of minors "in a degrading or ridiculous manner, in attitudes of incitement to violence, self-destruction or in any other form of antisocial behavior", citingGarbage Pail Kids as an example.[16]
They are also prohibited from being imported into Australia.[17]
Topps was sued by the rightsholders ofCabbage Patch Kids, Original Appalachian Artworks, fortrademark infringement.[18][19] As part of the out-of-court settlement, Topps agreed to modify the appearance of the Garbage Pail Kids to remove the resemblance between the characters and to change the logo design. Production of the cards themselves continued, but by 1988 sales had dwindled and a plannedSeries 16 was never produced.
In March 2021, Topps released a sticker card depicting aWhac-A-Mole game with members ofK-pop groupBTS being severely beaten with aGrammy award. After public backlash due to the card's perceivedanti-Asian tone, the company apologized and withdrew the card.[20]
In 2003, Topps reintroducedGarbage Pail Kids with all-new artwork, dubbed theAll-New Series (ANS).ANS1 was entirely made up of artwork intended for release in the 1980s asSeries 16, but 2004'sANS2 featured brand-new and original concepts. Unique numbers on the backs of silver foil and gold foil insert cards could be redeemed online at the official Garbage Pail Kids website, where visitors could build and "gross out" their own Garbage Pail Kids; as the number of unique code numbers applied to the character increased, the grosser it became. Less than six months later,ANS3 was released.
In 2005, Topps celebrated the 20th anniversary of the GPK franchise with specialSketch Card original art inserts for itsANS4 set.[21] These were limited to one randomly inserted card per hobby-exclusive box (available only from speciality retailers) and featured original artwork by series regularsJohn Pound,Tom Bunk andJay Lynch, as well as guest artists Strephon Taylor, John Czop,Don Perlin andJustin Green. Although a regular to the series with over 35 paintings, Luis Diaz was not involved in the sketch cards due to a previous financial dispute with Topps from years earlier.
In 2006,ANS5 was released with 40 more new kids (each with an a/b twin), followed byANS6 in early 2007. January 2008 saw the release ofANS7 which expanded the base set to 55 new characters and was the last set to feature new artwork until 2010'sFlashback Series 1 subset of six previously unpublished "lost" kids.
TheANS cards differ from the original series (OS) in a number of ways, the most obvious being the upgraded quality of the card stock with a glossy protective surface. TheANS releases also changed the card numbering format:OS cards used a continuous numbering pattern so that each new set would pick up where the last one ended (e.g.OS1 ended at #41a/b andOS2 picked up at #42a/b, whileANS reset the numbering back to #1a/b with each subsequent release). EachANS also featured specialchase cards randomly inserted in packs; for example, foil cards show characters from the original series (with modified artwork due to the lawsuit),Scratch 'n Stink cards,collectible card game cards,temporary tattoos, 3D pop-up cards, alphabet cards, activity cards, magnets,lenticularLoco Motion cards and die-cut jigsaw puzzle cards, along with special bonus cards available only at participating retailers in either "bonus boxes" or rack-packs; these bonus stickers were the first cards not to have a twin set.
Topps released a 25th-anniversaryFlashback set[22] on February 24, 2010, featuring reprints of characters from the original 1985–87GPK series (eight each fromOS1 toOS8) plus six previously unpublished "lost" characters and 10Where Are They Now? cards, the latter showing classic GPKs drawn as they would have appeared if they had been released at that time. Packs contained randomly inserted chase cards, including lenticularLoco Motion cards, authentic printing plates, four levels of parallels and hand-drawn artist sketches by pop-culture artists, includingLayron DeJarnette, Brent Engstrom, Dave Gross, Mark Pingitore,Joe Simko, Colin Walton, Neil Camera, Fred Wheaton, Jeff Zapata and veteranGPK artistsTom Bunk andJay Lynch.
A secondFlashback set was released on February 23, 2011, with 65 moreOS reprints fromSeries 1 to9 plus five more "lost" kids, 10 newWhere Are They Now? cards, five 3D cards (resembling holograms but in full color), unique artist sketches and 10Adam Mania cards showing variants of Adam Bomb's iconic mushroom cloud, plus parallels of the base andAdam Mania sets.[23]
GPK Flashback Series 3 followed on November 2, 2011, with 65OS reprints, four more "lost" kids, 10 newWATN? cards, five more 3D cards, 10 moreAdam Mania cards, plus artist sketches and parallels.
Topps andAbrams Books released a hardcover book that showcased the first five series. The cover depicted a wrapper from the very first series released back in 1985. Each card was displayed with the "a" name and the "b" name on the bottom corner of the page. It also included four new chase cards that were wrapped in cellophane and adhered to the inside back cover of the book, but were easily removable without running the risk of damaging the book.
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In 2012, Topps announced it would reboot the Garbage Pail Kids franchise with new character and content themes more reminiscent of the original 1980s series in a set calledBrand-New Series 1 (BNS1). The set was released on October 24, 2012.BNS1 features 55 newGPK characters, a reality TV subset, motion cards, mix 'n' match stickers, parallels, artist sketch cards and code cards redeemable for a chance to be painted as a GPK in the nextBNS.BNS2 was released in March and features 55 new characters, 18 reimagined characters, lenticular cards, glow-in-the-dark cards and folded cards. Unlike theAll-New Series set and like the old series sets, the numbering ofBNS continues where the previous series ended. They have now announced that there will be aBNS3 released in the middle of October, after the release of theChrome edition in August.
In October 2013, Topps re-released the originalSeries 1 as a metallic chromium card set containing all 41 kids, plus 14 previously unpublished "lost" kids.[24]
On July 30, 2014, Topps re-released 1985's originalSeries 2 set, plus 13 returning characters fromSeries 2 characters that have been reimagined in previousGarbage Pail Kids sets also as a set of metallic chromium cards.Chrome Series cards are thicker than the original cards and are not stickers.[25]
Topps released a series of all-new cards with brand-new artwork for 2014. Like the older cards, these have activities on the back of the cards, including checklists, puzzles andFacebook profiles.
In July 2015, Topps released the30th Anniversary Series with 110 a/b cards (220 cards total). The numbering differed from previous series in that, instead of ranging from #1–110a/b, it had several themed subsets, each of which started at #1 a/b with the subsets being checklist cards featuring variations of Adam Bomb (#1–2a/b), includingAdam Bomb: Don't Push My Button, featuring classicGPK characters pressing Adam Bomb's button (#1–10a/b),Artistic Impression, featuring historical art asGPK characters (#1–10a/b),Artistic Interpretation, featuring characters drawn by guest artists (#1–5a/b),Comic Book Covers, featuring art from the comic books (#1–7a/b),Cutting Room Floor, featuring rejected concepts (#1–5a/b),Garbage Pail Kids' Kids, featuring the children of classic GPKs (#1–10a/b),Garbage Pail Pets, featuring animals as Garbage Pail Kids (#1–10a/b),Garbage Pail Presidents, featuring 10 former U.S. Presidents as Garbage Pail Kids (#1–10a/b),Lost Original Art, featuring the original paintings of classic GPKs which were never before published (#1–6a/b),Zoom Out, featuring zoomed-out GPKs showing what happened in the background (#1–10a/b) and'80s Spoofs, featuring parodies of things that were popular in the 1980s (#1–25a/b).
After the30th Anniversary Series, Topps began using a new formula that structured each series with an overall theme divided into subsets focusing on particular topics. In January 2016,As American as Apple Pie In Your Face! put GPKs in situations that parodied American culture. A second 2016 series followed in April calledPrime Slime Trashy TV with humorous takes on popular television shows. The first series for 2017 was January'sAdam-geddon, which put the Garbage Pail Kids (including some classic kids) in perilous end-times scenarios.[26] Topps announced that the second series for 2017 will arrive in October and be calledBattle of the Bands, caricaturing popular music acts and album covers. The yearly themed series, along with their timing around the 2016 presidential elections, provided Topps with a perfect opportunity to spoof American politics. In July 2015, they released the “Thirtieth Anniversary” series, which featured ten additional “Garbage Pail Presidents.” This was followed in January 2016 by “The 2016 Presidential Candidates,” and in September 2016, they launched "DisgRace to the White House." The series culminated with "Best of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election" and the "2017 Presidential Inaug-Hurl Ceremony" in January 2017.[27]
On August 21, 1987, a live-action film based on the card characters was released.[28] Its campy production made it both a critical and commercial flop, opening poorly in 374 theaters with initial receipts of $661,512 and total gross receipts of $1,576,615, making a 60% profit on its $1 million budget.[9] OnRotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 0% critic rating.[29] The film is consideredone of the worst films ever made. Topps featured advertisements for the movie on the originalSeries 9 and10 box-topper poster and variant wrapper.
On March 12, 2012, it was announced thatMichael Eisner'sTornante Company would be producing a new movie based on the Garbage Pail Kids, likely with computer-generated character imagery. Michael Vukadinovich was hired to write the screenplay for the film andPES has been hired to direct.[30][31]
In May 2021, it was announced that a new animated series is in the works atHBO Max, and would be co-produced by Topps, Tornante Company andDanny McBride's production companyRough House Pictures.[32] In October 2023, director David Gordon Green confirmed the series is still in development.[33]
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