In what might be the worse kept secret for the last 6 months, sketch cards for the first time will be in 2024 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome 7. While that in and of itself is a huge change, it’s just the tip of the iceberg with the changes Topps is making to sketch cards in GPK products. Collectors of Star Wars products might have recognized Topps changed sketch cards in early 2024 by introducing a tier system. The changes were born out of a need for Topps to not only simplify the process on their end, but also insure better quality sketch cards. They’ve adapted that system and migrated it to the GPK brand.
Starting with Chrome 7 Topps is launching Universal GPK Sketch blanks. The idea is the blanks will remain the same from set to set. It allows Topps to collect sketches earlier for retail releases, theoretically giving artists more time to complete sketches. Since there are now universal blanks, Topps informed the artists they would no longer be commissioning shaped, panoramic, triptych, and puzzle sketches. Unless something changes, going forward all retail releases will use the same type of sketch blanks. The universal GPK sketch blanks are broken up into four different tiers; green, silver, gold, and black. The current plan, and how it was done for Chrome 7, is the blanks are ordered by scarcity. Greens are the most common sketch card, then silver, then gold, with the rarest being the black sketches. Tiered sketches can be distinguished by the color of the Garbage Pail Kids header on the front, and the primary color of the card back. Topps is making these changes to attempt to improve the quality of sketch cards collectors pull from sketches. Gone will be basic B&W pencil sketches with minimal shading, sketches with partial faces, and sketches created using stencils. Instead there are guidelines sketch artists must follow based on the sketch tier. Green sketches can be color or B&W of a full head through full figure. Head only sketches must be in color. Silver sketches can be color or B&W with full shading of a head and torso through full figure. Gold sketches are color only of a head and torso through full figure. Black cards are color only and must be the full figure with enhanced background detail. Cards that are submitted not following these guidelines won’t make it into packs.
At the same time as the new sketch process was launched, Topps also issued new guidelines regarding restricted sketches. Many of the same guidelines that existed in the past are still in place. Artists can not do sketches of any licensed GPKs, Disney owned characters, Beyond the Streets, Hundreds, and all cards featuring Donald Trump. They also spelled out cards should not contain racial stereotypes, overly gross depictions, and excessive blood, poop, and urine. The company also for the first time supplied a list of cards that are off limits. The list has been significantly expanded from previous guidelines. The list also shows cards that can be sketched, but changes must be made. For example removing weapons, removing depictions of domestic violence, and in the case of Joe Blow removing the Bazooka Gum logo from his shirt. These guidelines must be followed on both pack inserted and artist proof sketches.
For Chrome 7 artists were asked to do 40 sketches and given right around two months to complete. Topps made an effort to distribute the sketch tiers based on previous work submitted by artists. While all artists primarily received green and silver sketch blanks, artists that previously submitted full color sketches received gold and black sketch blanks as part of their allotment. Sketch artists continued to receive 1 artist proof blank per each 10 sketches completed. All Artist Proof sketches use the green tier blanks. In some good news, for the first time since sketches launched in GPK packs, the artists received a raise for each sketch completed. While they won’t become rich, prices paid for each sketch varies by sketch tier.
The changes put in place only apply to retail sets, online sketches will remain themed to the various releases. Collectors should take note, and probably even expect that some of these guidelines could change and evolve as soon as the next retail set in 2025 after Chrome. The guidelines will certainly be fined turned based on both artist and collector feedback going forward. 2025 will be the year of changes in GPK, this is only the beginning.