My parents would not let me buy Garbage Pail Kids stickers when I was growing up. Consequently, I was fascinated by them. Anything my parents didn't want me to have - GPK, Big League Chew, Stephen King books - must've been really amazing. I saw this book featured on TV last week and knew I had to have it, if for no other reason than to gratify the child-of-the-80s in me who lusted after these sticker cards from afar.
Garbage Pail Kids was a spoof of the Cabbage Patch kids produced by Topps, and created by Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Holocaust graphic novel, Maus. They were irreverent, creative, and really, really gross. Now, Abrams ComicArts and Spiegelman have released a hardcover book showcasing the first five of the 15 series produced by Topps. Each card, 206 in all, is given its own page, scanned from the original art, nice and big to give you a better glimpse than you've ever had of these truly beautifully disgusting kids. A very nice, informative introduction by Spiegelman and an afterword by artist John Pound round out the book.
It's a very nicely-produced book, with many very clever touches. The dust jacket is made from the same waxy material the card packs were originally wrapped in. The actual boards feature a minimalistic photo of the chalk-like gum stick that came in every pack. Four rare, never-before-released cards are included, as well.
I have only two complaints. One is that the card backs are not included, apparently not considered to be of the same artistic merit as the card faces. I tend to think they were an equally important part of what made GPK great, so they are missed. My other complaint is that the book features only the first 5 series - 1/3 of the total art produced. These complaints are enough to knock off a half-star, but I've given a 5-star rating out of respect for Spiegelman and in the hopes that a positive reaction from the masses is enough to compel Topps and Abrams to release additional volumes. I would love to eventually have the full set on my shelf. Then I can finally thumb my nose at my parents and my inner child will sleep soundly for the first time.
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Reviews with images
Best book in the whole world 👌
Fantastic book. All of the garbage pail kids from series 1-5. Even gave me garbage pail kids cards. Everyone should have it.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024
Fantastic book. All of the garbage pail kids from series 1-5. Even gave me garbage pail kids cards. Everyone should have it.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2023
This is just like having all the complete first 5 series in one book. Every page shows each exact card in exact order with full color including a full color picture of each wax pack at the beginning of each series. The slip cover for the front is even almost a direct copy of the first series wax pack cover and designed with material that makes it feel almost like a wax pack, it's like your opening a pack of garbage pails but only bigger, then if you look under the slip cover the hardback is green and has what looks like a copy of the stick of gum inside and on the back cover has the same stick but looks as if it was all broken up just like some packs in the 80s really was, then it will walk you through with an introduction by one of the two original artists and each chapter begins with a full color page of the actual pack for that series and takes you through each card and the end of the book is some final notes from the other original artist and the final grand finale is at the end of the book you will find a pack of garbage pail kids from the "lost series". Originally made in the 80s but not released because it was to offensive at the time. Get this book.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2012
Top reviews from other countries
Cesar Adrian BG
Super Sastifecho ⭐
Reviewed in Mexico on December 30, 2023
Cesar Adrian BG
Reviewed in Mexico on December 30, 2023
Sin Duda Recomendadisimo⭐
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D. Meakin
Fantastic book, great value for money
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2022