Every year, right about this time, Topps lays out its plans for the following year. GPKNews has seen the 2023 Topps Sales Calendar, and once again Garbage Pail Kids have a full slate of products planned. Thanks to Jeff P from The Garbage Pail Kids Superstore for sending along the calendar, be sure to visit their Facebook page! If you’ve been collecting GPKs for more than a week, you’ll know that due to a variety of reasons, the dates mentioned on these calendars should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s almost a certain guarantee all the dates will change multiple times over the next year plus. The calendars do show what Topps has planned for the brand over the next year. With that in mind, let’s look at what we know, what we’ve heard, and what collectors can expect from Topps in 2023.
Retail Sets
If Topps has their way, 2023 will see three new retail releases. Currently the only retail set officially announced by Topps is 2021S2 GPK Vacation. The most recent street date calendar has the set now listed as Feb. 2023 TBD. Collectors have been frustrated that Topps has been unable to release retail sets, mainly GPK Vacation. The set has continued to be delayed due to Topps struggles to obtain sticker card stock. Believe it or not, Topps feels a lot of this same frustration, and wants to release the set as soon as they can. At one point a couple of months ago, Topps thought they would have the necessary sticker stock to launch Vacation in Dec, when it become known they wouldn’t, the date was moved to Feb 2023. GPKNews has heard Topps believes they will have the sticker stock and GPK Vacation should release late Feb/early March.
From there Topps is hoping to go back to a regular GPK release schedule. The 2023 sales calendar also shows two new retail sets. 2023S1 is now planned to release in May 2023. The 2023S1 theme has not yet been announced or the set solicited by Topps. Final card artwork for the set however, has been completed, but sketch cards or autos have not yet been assigned. 2023S2 is also on the calendar for Aug. 2023. Artists have already started working on the gags and art for the 2023S2.
Chrome
Topps surprised collectors when they officially announced that 2022 GPK Chrome OS 5 would release on 12/23/22. Chrome OS 5 had been planned over a year ago to release in late 2022, but collectors thought the set would be delayed longer since Chrome OS 4 was just released in Aug. Topps has been more readily able to obtain Chrome card stock in recent months, that coupled with the date change of GPK Vacation, led Topps to be able to release Chrome OS 5, and get the Chrome releases back on track. GPK Chrome collectors will be pleased to hear that “GPK Chrome” is on the 2023 sales calendar, scheduled for a Nov. 2023 release.
GPK Sapphire 3
For the first time Topps has announced ahead of time that the third GPK Sapphire set will be coming in 2023. Topps this week announced a number of changes to their yearly Montgomery Club. Collectors who purchase a membership in the club will get early access to purchase a limited amount of GPK Sapphire, among other Sapphire products throughout the year. Topps has lowered the price of membership for 2023. With the lower price comes less free exclusive sets, and a lower number of preorder abilities for Sapphire sets. Collectors can renew their Montgomery Club memberships from 12/5-12/7 for $149.99. From 12/7-12/9 new memberships will be available for $199.99. Topps is now also limiting the number of memberships to one per household.
Online
Online physical sets run independently from the retail releases. Their plans aren’t generally announced too far ahead of time. However, with the sales success throughout 2022 for online GPK products, it’s a safe bet there will be a plethora of online releases throughout the year. There are concrete plans to continue the six week online series during 2023. The six week series will feature both expansion sets for past releases, as well as new themes. The first six week series of 2023 will come in early January with the launch of the Trashy TV Expansion Set. Collectors can also expect at least one more online release in 2022 to finish the year strong.