Artists Begin Work on 2020S1 Garbage Pail Kids Late for School Sketches

Updated 11/21 to add Sobot Cortez and GPK Nik

Topps sketch artists are hard at work once again. After staying busy with recent On Demand GPK sets, artists are now beginning work on 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late for School. Topps sent invites out late last week, and artists started getting sketch blanks in the mail this week. With a mid-January release date, Topps is really cutting things close this series. Artists were given a 12/13/19 due date for sketches. This gives artists just one month to complete sketches. This series each artist is being asked to complete 36 regular, 12 Shaped, 5 Loaded, 3 Panoramic, and 3 Tryptych sketches. Those numbers are very close to what was requested last series. With the number of artists falling this set, expect sketches to be an even tough pull than they were last series. In a bit of good news for artists, they do not have to mail in their artist returns this series. This should help to ensure a smoothly process between artists and clients for returns.

Topps is going with a dark green and red color theme for this series’ sketches. The fronts of most of the sketches feature a hunter green GPK banner,  the exception being the apple which has a red banner. Topps is going with a number of different mascots for the card backs. Stoned Sean is featured on the back of the regular sized sketch. The panoramic sketch has Cranky Franky, while the tryptych sketch has Brainy Janie and Glooey Gabe. Once again there will be two different shaped sketches. The regular garbage can version is joined by an apple with a bite out of it shaped sketch.

The total number of sketch artists is down again from the previous series. 2019S2 Revenge of Oh the Horror-ible had 51 artists. So far only 38 of the 51 have confirmed they will be returning for 2020S1 Late to School. The returning artists are; David Acevedo, Simone Arena, Rö García Astorga, Quinton Baker, Bobby Blakey, John Brewer, Neil Camera, Pat Chaimuang, Jasmine Contois, Sobot Cortez, Jason Crosby, Vincenzo D’Ippolito, Dave Dabila, Joseph Dobbins, Joey Fitchett, Shane Garvey, Patrick Giles, Daniel Goodroad, Dennis Gortakowski, Kelly Greider, Jason Heil, Robert Jimenez, Rickey Kipfer, Mike McHugh, Rory McQueen, Lily Mercado, Rich Molinelli, John Monserrat, Victor Moreno, Jay O’leary, Darrin Pepe, Chad Scheres, Brent Scotchmer, Anthony Skubis, Mike Stephens, Gregory Tilson, Gavin Williams, and Clinton Yeager. A total of 12 artists so far have declined the invite for various reasons. Some cited burnout, other projects, the tight deadline, and artist pay as reasons why they are sitting this set out. The 13 not returning are; Michael Barnard, Daniel Contois, Shawn Cruz, Jon Gregory, Simon Jacobsohn, Chris Meeks, Barry Nygma, Ryan Moffett, Steve Potter, Todd Rayner, Matt Steffens, Floydman Sumner, and Dan Burn Webster.  There are however five artists who didn’t sketch the last set, that are coming back. They are; Emma Burges, David Gacey, Lowell Isaac, Cathy Razim, and Mangus Von Robotsson. For the first time in a long time Topps has added a new artist. GPK Nik will be making his retail sketch set debut. That brings the current total number of sketch artists to 44. If Topps doesn’t start to add new artists there will be far fewer sketches in the next set.

Artists haven’t been sharing as many previews as in the past. With the tight deadlines we might not see many previews ahead of time. 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late to School is set to release in stores on Jan. 15, 2020.

2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late for School Retail Sell Sheet

With Monday’s release of the Hobby sell sheet for 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late for School, you knew the retail sheet would be too far behind. The info is out, and there are a number of changes being made to where parallels and sketches will be found in the upcoming set. The first set of 2020 will no longer feature subsets. Instead, card numbering is back on the fronts of the cards. The backs will feature new artwork, puzzles, and checklists. Also in a change from recent sets, the subject matter is back to being kids. These cards will not be based on real life people in pop culture. Many of these things collectors have been begging for since Topps drastically changed the way sets were done back in 2015.

Retail Display boxes are back again. The 24 pack boxes will be the only place to find the GPK Mascots insert set. GPK Mascots will feature characters as GPK-inspired school mascots. Fool’s Gold parallels (/50), printing plates, and artist autograph cards will continue to be randomly inserted in all pack types across the series. The Booger Green parallels will continue to come 1 per pack. There is a discrepancy on the sell sheet for the green parallels. The sell sheet says they will be found in only Display packs. However, Topps has confirmed with GPKNews that the green parallels will continue to be found in Fat and Value packs. Another change being made is Phlegm Yellow parallels will no longer be in Display boxes. Those will be moving to the Value Boxes. The sell sheet also says regular sketch cards will only be in Display boxes. However, once again Topps has confirmed with GPKNews that the plan is to continue to have regular sketches inserted into all retail pack types.

Value boxes are back, and one again will come 40 to a case like with Revenge of Oh the Horror-ible. The tradition of non-traditional packaging for the Value boxes continues. This time each Value box will be shaped like a school. Each Value box will come with three Class Superlatives insert cards. These will be classic characters who were voted most popular and more. As mentioned above, according to the sell sheet the Phlegm Yellow parallels are moving to Value boxes. The sell sheet lists them as 1:5 packs. Which would make them one per Value box. Loaded sketches will once again also be found in Value boxes only. In a strange twist, Panoramic sketches will be inserted into Value boxes as well. Topps has confirmed pano sketches are moving to Value boxes.

Finally, Fat Packs will also be returning. These 22 card packs act as almost a double pack. Each Fat pack will include two Faculty Lounge insert cards. These will be classic characters in their new roles as teachers. Jelly Purple parallels will also be back in fat packs, inserted 1 per pack.

To view the retail sell sheet in PDF click here, or see the pictures below. 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late for School is scheduled to be released 1/15/20.

Topps Announces 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late to School

Topps today announced their next retail set, 2020 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids Late to School. The first series of 2020 will feature a brand new theme, this time not focused on any real life people. Unlike previous sets focused on movies, TV, and music, this set will feature new gags of more general kids. The base set will once again feature 100 new pieces of artwork with a/b versions. However, just because the base set size is staying the same there are some major changes. The sell sheet advertises there will be checklists on the back! Also the base cards show the card numbering and Peel Here arrows on the front! Could this mean the return of card back artwork and puzzles?

Perhaps the biggest change is how Collector boxes will be packaged. Lunchboxes!!! That’s right, the Collector box will be a lunch box. There will be 4 different versions to collect. Patch cards will also be returning, as this time School Pennant Patch cards will be randomly inserted into Collector boxes. Also a new insert set School Wacky Packages will come one per Collector box. The sell sheet also advertised a new shaped sketch will be appearing as well. Artist autos, printing plates, and Triptych sketches will all also return to collector boxes. Retail Display boxes will be back again, and contain regular sketch cards, printing plates, and artist autos.

The parallels will have a similar feel as before. Booger Green will appear one per Display pack. Collector boxes will have the familiar Bruised Black (1 per pack), Spit Blue (/99), and Blood Nose Red (/75). Gold parallels will be inserted into all pack types and be limited to /50 copies.

Yo can view the complete sell sheet here, or see pictures below. GPK collectors better get their lunches packed, because school starts Jan. 15th, 2020.