GARBAGE PAIL KIDS
POSTERS SET

~ Series Introduction ~
~ Product Overview ~
~ Fun Facts and Tid-bits ; GPK History Section ; Artwork Images ~
~ Comprehensive Checklist ~

     Release Date: MAY 1986

A GPK Posters set was released by Topps in 1986 during the increasing popularity of the card sets. The due date for the poster set was February 31st which was produced after the 3rd series GPK set (released in January) and released during the 4th series GPK set in May of that year. The 18 posters contain original GPK artwork (sometimes rendered) with all-new images and creations measuring 12 X 17 inches.  Several pieces were previously unpublished images that did not make the smaller card set format and many themes that can also be found in the simultaneously released GIANT GPK Sticker card set. Each pack cost 99¢ and inlcuded one poster.

YELLOW BOX (1-588-70-01-6) - 1 Variation
(Main Box Artwork : John Pound)
(Layout and Rendered Box Artwork : Tom Bunk)

YELLOW WRAPPER (0-588-15-01-6) - 1 Variation
(Rendered Box Artwork : Tom Bunk)

(Final Artwork as Auctioned Off of eBay Used Unless Otherwise Noted)

1. POSTER # 1 - "DRINK all-natural Garbage Pail Kola - You'll Never Drink Anything Else!". The poster image can also be found on a 2005 Topps Vault magazine Ad pictured in Non-Sport Update (June/July Vol. 16 - No. 3).

The background "House Special" picture is an image drawn by John Pound that can be found in the GIANT GPK Sticker Set - # 8 "Take A Garbage Pail Kid To Lunch" which is reminiscent of a later unpublished 10th series Tom Bunk piece. The image can also be found on poster #13 "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" pictured further below.

The foreground "G.P.Kola" bottle image can also be found within the 4th series in the artwork for 128a "Sloshed JOSH" and 128b "Low CAL" by John Pound with red lettering on the bottle instead of blue lettering (and a "Kid" inside rather than a rat). The overall piece is later rendered for an 11th series piece for cards 422a "SHERI Cola" and 422b "All-Night DINAH" by John Pound picturing the same toilet drink with lemon slice, ice, straw, cola, table cloth, booth, window curtain, and the girls clothes are almost the same.


2. POSTER # 2 - "Hang In There, Baby! - With Garbage Pail Kids" (partial poster image pictured) - A parody of the cat posters of the late 80's with the kitten hanging from a tree limb with his paw(s). A similar cat image can be found in the 4th series for card images 159a "Catty KATHY" and 159b "KITTY Litter" by David Berg.


3. POSTER # 3 - "Garbage Pail Kids Sugar Crusted Sewage All Artificial" - is very similar to the Wacky Package cards that parody brand name products - a parody of the popular kids cereal Kelloggs "Rice Krispies".


4. POSTER # 4 - "Garbage Pail Kids : The Inside Dope" - Was an unpublished 2nd series GPK idea that was later intended for the 6th series GPK set as well.


5. POSTER # 5 - "Visit Garbage Pail Land" - contains a boat titled "Hate-Boat" which is a parody of the cruise ship television show "The Love Boat". Tom Bunk's preliminary color sketch artwork also pictured.



6. POSTER # 6 - GPK Headquarters - KEEP OUT! (partial poster image pictured). A pigtailed girl cut up in a barbwire theme was later used in the ANS4 set for cards 15a "Jumpin' JEN" and 15b "MEGAN Trouble".


7. POSTER # 7 - "Eat My Face!, Garbage Pail Kids" (partial poster image pictured) - Was an unpublished 2nd series GPK idea that was also considered for the 6th series GPK set as well. The image was later used for the 16th series unpublished card 639a "GUY Pie" and 639b "Pepperoni Toni" and again later in the published All-New Series 1 set for card 9a "Cheesy CHARLIE" and 9b "Pizza Face CHASE" (notice the four fingers on the character instead of the three fingers of later character releases).


8. POSTER # 8 - "Slime Magazine, Zit Of The Year" - featuring 1st series 19a "Corroded CARL" and 19b "Crater CHRIS" is a parody of the Time Magazine publication. Tom Bunk's color sketch artwork also pictured.


9. POSTER # 9 - Garbage Pail Kids Calendar is reminiscent of the 3rd series character 122a "Broad MAUD" and 122b "Large MARGE" with a ponytail rather than pigtails... both pieces completed by Tom Bunk whose pencil and color sketch artwork is also pictured.


10. POSTER # 10 - "Double-Crossing The Delaware" - is a parody of the famous painting "Crossing The Delaware".


11. POSTER # 11 - National Garbage Pail - is a parody of the famous trash mag "The National Inquirer". Tom Bunk's color sketch artwork also pictured.


12. POSTER # 12 - I 'Heart' Garbage Pail Kids - a great poster by James Warhola, nephew of Andy Warhol.


13. POSTER # 13 "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - if viewed from a distance is a skull with cross-bones. The poster contains six different card images from the GIANT GPK Sticker set on the wall around the vanity table. From left to right, top to bottom, cards #7 "Why Fight It? Collect GPKs", #12 "It Takes GUTS To Be A GPK", # 5 "Have A Nice Day", #11 "How To Be A GPK", #8 "Take A GPK To Lunch!" (Image can also be found on poster #1 "DRINK all-natural Garbage Pail Kola" pictured further above), and # 6 "Hooked On GPK".


14. POSTER # 14 - Before and After. How to make a Cabbage Patch Kid look like a Garbage Pail Kid! -- has the same 'stitched' feeling as the later unpublished 16th series character 626a "Interracial RACHEL" and 626b "Stitched STELLA"


15. POSTER # 15 "Gone With The Garbage" - is a parody of the popular movie "Gone With The Wind". Tom Bunk's preliminary color sketch artwork pictured.


16. POSTER # 16 "How To Be A Garbage Pail Kid" (partial poster image pictured). This image can also be found as card # 11 "How To Be A Garbage Pail Kid" in the GIANT GPK Sticker set.


17. POSTER # 17 - "Garbage Pail Kids Want You" - is also the same image as the 3rd series card 110a "Snooty SAM" and 110b "U.S. ARNIE" by John Pound - poking fun at the U.S. Army with a parody of the popular Uncle Sam poster.


18. POSTER #18 - "BUSTED!, Garbage Pail Kids" - is also used for the U.S. 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th series Advertisement Posters (partial poster image pictured). The image can also be found as card # 14 "BUSTED!" in the GIANT GPK Sticker set of postcard humor.


19. Two Unpublished Pieces intended for the Giant 5x7 set or GPK Poster set were titled "Miami Lice" (parody of the television show Miami Vice) and "E Pluribus Garbage" (a GPK coat of arms).

20. The Unpublished Box Artwork as auctioned off of eBay during July of 2008. The image of the 4th series characters 126a "Armpit BRITT" and 126b "Shaggy AGGIE" was replaced by the poster parody image of the 3rd series characters 110a "Snooty SAM" and "U.S. Arnie".


20. Checklist on back of Wrapper (0-588-15-01-6) - All posters have code 4-588-26-01-6.

1 = First Print Run

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