Topps today begin informing distributors that the 2024 Series 1 Garbage Pail Kids: Kids At Play set was delayed. Topps has set the new street date as Friday, 2/16/24. GPKNews has been hearing rumblings for a couple of weeks now that the set would be delayed. No overreaching issues led to the delay. Topps just needed some more time to get everything ready for pack out after the holidays. Collectors can expect a post Valentine’s launch.
GPK Nation Launching Adam Bomb Cheater’s License OS 1 Coin
GPK Nation is getting 2024 off to an old school start! The company will be launching tomorrow the GPK Adam Bomb Cheater’s License OS 1 Coin. The officially licensed coin features Adam Bomb on one side, with the artwork for the Cheater’s License from the original card back on the other side. Each coin will be numbered to /50. The coin goes on sale at the GPKNation website tomorrow, 1/10/24, at 3:00 PM EST.
2024 Garbage Pail Kids Series 1 Kids At Play Hobby Sell Sheet
It’s been over a month since Topps first announced the next retail set, 2024 Garbage Pail Kids Series 1 Kids At Play, by releasing the retail sell sheet to distributors. With just over three weeks until the scheduled release date, the company today finally released the Hobby sell sheet. Once again collectors can expect a 200 card base set, 100 new pieces in a/b versions. The theme is everything related to children’s playtime and activities.
There will once again be Collector boxes, and Retail Display boxes. The Retail Display boxes will also be sold under the “Hobby” label, continuing to confuse collectors and allow companies to charge more money for the same thing. The usual parallels will return. Booger Green parallels can be found one per pack in all retail pack types, while Black parallels can be found one per pack in Collector packs. Blue parallels (/99) are exclusive to Retail Display packs, while Red (/75) will be exclusive to Collector packs. Grey (/199), Fool’s Gold (/50), and Printing Plates (1/1) can be found throughout all pack types. Like 20223S2, there will once again be artist autographs of the base cards in addition to Fool’s Gold autos (/50), and Foilfractor Autos (1/1). The sell sheet also advertises a whopping five exclusive inserts for Collector boxes. The Game Over insert set features iconic video game characters from the 1980’s. Bored of Board Games are new and previous GPK characters in famous board games. Wacky Packages: Playthings will features famous toy and game themed packaging. There will once again be patch cards, as the GPK Scouts Patch Cards will once again be a hit in boxes. The patches also have a number of parallels; Green (/150), Blue (/99), Red (/75), Fool’s Gold (/50), and Foilfractor (1/1). There will also be the GPK “TCG” Cards, these “First Edition” trading cards feature GPK characters that mock TCG cards. The TCG cards will also have Foilfractor (1/1) versions. There is no mention of the insert sets found in the “Hobby” boxes, but the Retail sell sheet does mention the Tom Bunk Let’s Get Physical set that will be found in Retail Display boxes. Sketch cards of course return with regular sketches in Retail Display boxes, while Shaped and Triptych sketches will be in Collector boxes.
You can view the sell sheets below or the PDF can be found here. 2024 Garbage Pail Kids: Kids At Play is still set to release in just over three weeks, 1/24/24.
The 2023 GPKNews.com Best of GPK Award Winners
If GPK in 2022 was known for set delays and giant print runs, 2023 quite possibly will be known for getting back to normalcy. After years of set delays, Topps returned to more of a normal schedule by the end of 2023. Collectors finally got the long delayed GPK Vacation set in early 2023, saw Chrome 6 in the middle of the year, and ended with InterGoolatic in the fall. Additionally, the giant unrealistic print runs from 2022 returned to a more realistic number in 2023. In the online realm, there were once again a number of 6 week sets, as well as the usual releases celebrating different events. Online sales remained strong through the year, but started to slow as the year ended. With lower print runs and lower online sales, GPK’s popularity may be softening in the new year.
GPK merchandise begin to see a transition. Products long in the pipeline and delayed from Covid were finally released. However, Fanatics begin to limit new licensed products as the company transitioned from old Topps management to Fanatics. Collectors still got a number of different products from GetAGrip, multiple comic releases from Dynamite, and a number of individual products from longtime licensees Abrams, Insight Editions, GPKNation, Super Impulse, and License 2 Play. One new comer, Flix Candy, debuted with a popular candy item.
2023 was another strong year with multiple retail, online, and merchandise releases. It’s time to take a look back at what stood out in 2023. The following is the 7th annual 2023 GPKNews.com Best of GPK Awards. Winners have been selected by the editor of GPKNews.com in eight categories. Additionally, a Reader’s Choice winner was also named in each category. Readers of GPKNews were able to vote in a poll on GPKNews’ Facebook page in mid-December. On some awards there is agreement, while others vary in opinion. Let the debate begin! It’s time to celebrate the best in GPKs for 2023!
And the winners are…
2023 GPK Retail Set of the Year
Winner: 2023S2 InterGoolatic Mayhem
Reader’s Choice: 2023 InterGoolatic Mayhem
Due to the late 2022 release of Chrome 5, collectors had 4 retail sets to vote on in this category for the first time. It didn’t matter, in the biggest squash of the Reader’s Choice awards, 2023S2 InterGoolatic Mayhem was the easy winner. We agree as the set is the 2023 Retail Set of the Year winner. Feedback from collectors on the set’s release was nearly unanimously positive. Collectors enjoyed the sci-fi theme, gags, and artwork in the set. Additionally, the quality control for Topps on the set, while not perfect, was a marked improvement over previous releases. This all added up to easily the set of the year. Honorable mention: 2023S1 Vacation, 2023 Chrome 6, 2022 Chrome 5.
2023 Online GPK Set of the Year
Winner: GPK x View Askew
Reader’s Choice: 2023 Oh the Horror-ible Expansion Set (1-6)
Topps decided to run back many of the online releases in 2023. There was another Ermsy Entertainment Blend, another MLB x GPK set by Alex Pardee, more six week expansion sets, and the usual Valentine’s, Krashers, and award winner sets. There was one new theme this year, and it’s this year’s 2023 Online GPK Set of the Year. The GPK x View Askew set was sold simultaneously at SDCC and on Topps.com. The cards celebrated the films of director Kevin Smith. The set saw some positive publicity for the GPK brand. Both GPK collectors and Kevin Smith fans chased parallels of the key cards in the set throughout the year. In the Reader’s Choice voting, collectors chose this year’s Oh the Horror-ible set just barely over the View Askew set. Surprisingly, Sapphire dropped in popularity for the first time, finishing third in voting. Honorable mention: 2023 Oh the Horror-ible Expansion (1-6), Sapphire 3, Valentine’s Day is Cancelled, and GPK x MLB 2.
2023 Non-Traditional Set of the Year
Winner: 2023 Topps International Trading Card Day
Reader’s Choice: 2023 Topps International Trading Card Day
Who doesn’t like free cards? Well, no one! This year’s 2023 International Trading Card Day GPK set is this year’s winner for Non-Traditional Set. For the second year in a row, collectors around the country burned gallons of gas as they drove from store to store to claim their free GPK pack. A wide selection of base cards and auto inserts had collectors trading and selling for weeks to complete their sets. Honorable mention: 2023 NYCC Set, Fanatics Executive Set.
2023 Topps GPK Licensee of the Year
Winner: GetAGrip Skateboards
Reader’s Choice: GetAGrip Skateboards
The company that somehow got original GPK artist John Pound to sign cards, is easily this year’s GPK Licensee of the Year. GetAGrip shocked the collecting world by releasing two blind bag skateboard releases this year that were highlighted by autographs from John Pound. Pound had refused for years to be involved with anything GPK. That wasn’t all GetAGrip did this year. The company also released a wooden toy product, Deadwoodz, and some high end GPK themed neon lights. No company released a wider variety of GPK merchandise this year. Honorable mention: Dynamite Entertainment, GPK Nation, Super Impulse, and Flix Candy.
2023 Rookie Sketch Artist of the Year
Winner: Marion Carole Miller
Reader’s Choice: Marion Carole Miller
2023 was a banner year for new GPK sketch artists. A record 19 artists made their GPK debut this year. They ranged from first time sketch artists to veterans of other Topps sets. The result was a number of excellent sketch cards in the final set of the year, InterGoolatic Mayhem. This was such a hard category to choose a winner in, there could have easily been any of 10 different winners. However, despite all the online promotion, reader’s agreed with GPKNews that Marion Carole Miller is the GPK Rookie Sketch Artist of the Year. The artist brought his unique style to both returns and pack inserted sketches that has already found a large fan base. Collectors will hope to chase his sketches for years to come. Honorable mention: Eddie Rhodes, Eric Lassen, Steve Martin, Fox Layng, and Julia McKenzie.
2023 Sketch Artist of the Year
Winner: Chris Meeks
Reader’s Choice: Bekki Sharp
We have three-peat! This year’s GPK Sketch Artist of the Year is once again Chris Meeks. Chris Meeks has set himself apart from his peers when it comes to GPK sketch cards. His GPK returns routinely fetch the highest figures in the secondary market. He continues to contribute to all GPK sets, with his pack inserted cards also being high quality. There are a lot of great GPK sketch artists, but right now Meeks stands out. The Reader’s Choice award once again saw heavy promotion by multiple artists. This year Bekki Sharp came out on top after a close vote. Honorable mention: Bekki Sharp, David Acevedo, Eric Medina, Mike Stephens, and Gavin Williams.
2023 GPK Artist of the Year
Winner: David Gross
Reader’s Choice: David Gross
It’s now four years in a row, as David Gross is the GPKNews Artist of the Year. Gross also won the Reader’s vote in a landslide once again. All the artists do a fantastic job on the artwork for the sets throughout the year. However, it’s the gag writing that puts Gross’ cards a cut above. From the obvious to the small details, he makes sure the gags are just as important as the art. Another banner year for new GPK artwork! Honorable mention: Joe Simko, Brent Engstrom, and Rory McQueen.
2023 GPK Card of the Year
Winner: Marty Mayhem (Trashy TV Philly Promo 1a Artist/Concept David Gross)
Reader’s Choice: Ghost Buster (InterGoolatic 74a Artist/Concept Brent Engstrom)
In the Reader’s Choice voting it was neck and neck between the Marty Mayhem and Ghost Buster for Card of the Year. Ghost Buster was the most popular card from the most popular set of the year. So why then was Marry Mayhem chosen as the Card of the Year? This card helped to advance that ever so rare Disney GPK card. There haven’t yet been any main stream Disney or Star Wars cards, but with the help of Adam F Goldberg, the card was able to be approved and used as a promo card at the Philly Non-Sport card show. The card expertly depicts Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem in GPK form. A popular card that helps to make inroads to Disney properties makes it the Card of the Year. Honorable mention: Ghost Buster, Spacin Jason, Night Mary, Silent Bobby, AI Adam, and Sleepy Faye.
Topps Launches 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Sapphire
It’s a Christmas miracle for GPK collectors who like their shiny cards! Today Topps launched 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Sapphire. Surprisingly, the set is not being offered to Montgomery Club members first, despite being promised that when the club was sold. Collectors are being limited to 6 boxes purchased per account. The box advertises 32 cards per box, which equates to the usual 8 4-card pack boxes. The new set comes with 100 base cards, matching the Chrome OS 6 checklist from earlier this year. Of course there are parallels. In fact, the top of the box shown advertises 4 parallels per box. Topps did release the official odds for the parallels. The list of parallels and odds is:
- Black /150 – 1:6
- Aqua /99 – 1:9
- Fuchsia /75 – 1:12
- Green /50 – 1:18
- Orange /25 – 1:35
- Gold /15 – 1:57
- Purple /10 – 1:86
- Red /5 – 1:171
- Padparadsha 1/1 – 842
Based on the odds given and the statement that there are 4 parallels per box, the print run of this year’s Sapphire set is the lowest yet. Based off some quick math here’s where the set stacks up against previous releases.
- S1 Sapphire – 16,600 boxes
- S2 Sapphire – 22,000 boxes
- S3 Sapphire – 21,250 boxes
- S4 Sapphire – 11,250 boxes
Here are links to the checklist and odds supplied by Topps. Each box can be purchased for $109.99. Shipping is free when choosing the Economy option. Go get those shiny cards now!
Topps Reveals Print Run for 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Was the Worst
After launching cards daily last week, Topps has finished revealing the print runs for each card in the Garbage Pail Kids 2023 was the Worst set. Here is how each card finished in sales:
- 1- Noah Writing – 432
- 2 – Grimm Ace – 623
- 3 – Outer Stacy – 447
- 4 – Ridiculous Nicholas – 456
- 5 – Menacing Margot – 704
- 6 – Emergency Emilio – 450
- 7 – Heatwave Dave – 435
- 8 – Adam Sphere – 530
- 9 – Clearin’ Sheeran – 560
- 10 – Unsavory Avery – 460
- 11 – Past Time Pat – 530
Sadly for Topps, this year’s Worst set saw the worst online GPK sales of the year. Sales for this year were very underwhelming for Topps. 2022’s set sold many multiple times in sales for each card compared to this year’s set. Collectors didn’t seem to gravitate towards the gags chosen for this year’s set. Collectors also didn’t care for the individual card sales used for the worst set. 2024 is set to bring another year full of a variety of online GPK offers.
The 2023 GPKNews.com Best of GPK Awards, Vote Now!!!
Welcome to the 7th annual GPKNews 2023 Best of GPK Awards. This year saw Topps get back on schedule post pandemic, a good number of retail and online sets, and another round of GPK merchandise. What were your favorite things GPK in 2023? It’s your turn to help choose the Reader’s Choice awards!
Click here to vote now in the 2023 GPKNews.com Best of GPK Awards!
Read on for an explanation about how the categories and nominees were chosen, along with the fine print of voting.
Here are the categories to be voted on this year:
- 2023 Retail Set of the Year – With Chrome 5 coming out after last year’s awards, there are four retail sets to choose from in 2023!
- 2023 Online Set of the Year – Another full year of online offers! Everything from expansion sets, MLB, packed out sets, and sets with sketches! What was your favorite online release of the year?
- 2023 Non-Traditional Set of the Year – Second year for this award! Do you like sets from stores, sets from cons, or maybe you’re a Fanatics executive? Which one was your favorite?
- 2023 Licensee of the Year – Always a hotly contested category. Which company represented GPK best this year?
- 2023 GPK Rookie Sketch Artist of the Year – The rookie sketch artist award is back! A whopping 17 first time GPK artists in 2023 to choose from!
- 2023 GPK Sketch Artist of the Year – To be eligible an artist must have had official Topps GPK sketch cards appear in a set in 2023. Two retail and two online sets featured sketches this year! Over xx sketch artists in 2023. Who was your favorite?
- 2023 GPK Artist of the Year – To be eligible an artist must have painted an official Topps GPK final published card in 2023. Retail, Online, Convention, and Licensed sets are eligible. Don’t see your favorite on the list? Feel free to choose the write-in option and vote for them!
- 2023 GPK Card of the Year – All GPKs published in 2023 are eligible. Retail, Online, Convention, and Licensed cards are eligible. For nomination purposes if a/b versions are available, only the “a” card is listed. There are hundreds to pick from! Don’t see your favorite on the list? Feel free to choose the write-in option and vote for them!
Categories and nominees were chosen by the Editor of GPKNews.com. Any GPK releases after 12/17 will be eligible in next year’s (2024) awards. Categories such as best artist, sketch artist, and best card also contain a write-in option. Write-in votes will only be counted for a valid artist/card. Voting will be live from Sunday 12/17 through Sunday 12/24 @ 8:00 PM(PST). Voting will only be done through Facebook. Participants can only vote once. Vote totals or individual votes cast will not be made public. Winners will be revealed in a future article that will appear on GPKNews.com right around the 1st of January.
Topps Launches 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Was the Worst Cards #9-#11
We’ve reached the final day of launches for the set that shows the worst in pop culture this year. Today Topps launched Garbage Pail Kids 2023 Was the Worst cards #9-#11. Today’s cards ends the week long launches to finish the set at 11 card. Collectors who purchase have a 1:5 chance at receiving a Sad Face parallel card. Each card can be purchased for $9.99, in a lot of 5 for $29.99, or a lot of 10 for $49.99. Shipping is free when choosing the Economy option. The cards are available for 24 hours on Topps.com. Topps will reveal the print run at the end of the sale. Here are pictures of today’s cards.
Topps Launches 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Was the Worst Cards #7 & #8
Topps continues on with the set celebrating the worst of pop culture in 2023. Today Topps launched Garbage Pail Kids 2023 Was the Worst cards #7 & #8. This is the second to last day of launches for the set. Collectors who purchase have a 1:5 chance of receiving a Sad Face parallel. Each card can be purchased for $9.99, in a lot of 5 for $29.99, or a lot of 10 for $49.99. Shipping is free when choosing the Economy option. The cards are available to purchase for 24 hours from Topps website. Topps will reveal the print run at the end of the sale. Here are pictures of today’s cards.
Topps Launches 2023 Garbage Pail Kids Was the Worst Cards #5 & #6
Day three of GPKs celebrating the worst of pop culture is upon us. Today Topps launched Garbage Pail Kids 2023 Was the Worst cards #5 & #6. Collectors who purchase have a 1:5 chance at receiving a Sad Face parallel card. Each card can be purchased for $9.99, in about of 5 for $29.99, or a lot of 10 for $49.99. Shipping is free when choosing the economy option. The cards will be available for 24 hours on Topps.com. Topps will reveal the print run at the end of the sale. Here are pictures of today’s cards.
