Garbage Pail Kids

The Garbage Pail Kids was the title of a series of trading cards produced by the Topps Company starting in 1985. The cards parodied the birth certificates included with the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. Each card contained a picture of a Garbage Pail Kid (such as the baby covered in tattoos named "Art Gallery", or the vomiting "Heavin' Steven") and came with an "a" or "b" version, each with a different name. Each series of cards also included a few cards that had rare "triplets", meaning a second "a" or "b", for a total of three different names. Fifteen regular series were released in the United States with many more sets released in other countries. Two large card editions were released along with a set of posters as well.

Related Topics:
Trading card - Topps Company - 1985 - Cabbage Patch Kids - United States

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The commercial success of the trading cards led to the production of a movie of the same name in 1987. Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie was a financial failure and one of the most universally and vehemently panned films in Hollywood history. There was also an animated television series made that never aired in the US because of parent complaints, but was briefly aired in Europe. The cards themselves continued, although they underwent some redesign when Mattel sued Topps for infringing the Cabbage Patch Kids trademark. By 1988, however, sales had dwindled, and a planned 16th series never saw production.

Related Topics:
Movie - 1987 - Hollywood - Mattel - Trademark - 1988

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Garbage Pail Kids were later reintroduced, with all-new cards, in 2001. The new series features unique ID numbers that can be redeemed online at the official website. Visitors can build and "gross out" their own Garbage Pail Kids. The more unique ID numbers you apply to your character, the more gross he/she can be.

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Len Brown was the manager while Art Spiegelman and Mark Newgarden were the editors and art directors for the Garbage Pail Kids card series. The card art work was created by John Pound, Tom Bunk, and James Warhola, among others. Jay Lynch helped Topps out with ideas for some of the fronts and backs.

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