The NPD department
would create the artwork and card type, but the actual Art department
was in charge of the overall design and layout, and would produce the
composition of the front side and card backs as well as the promotional
material and packaging. Composition images were generated to help guide
the final card type design and artwork placement. Artist Jay Lynch had
mentioned that although the ‘COMIC‘ backs were
created as a parody of the ‘BAZOOKA JOE‘ bubble-gum
comics with premiums, the inspiration for the actual feel for the GPK
card backs came from the ‘LITTLE CREEPS‘ comics
that he created in the late 70’s that ran for several years and were
modeled and/or rendered after these monster-themed comics, and took
it a step further by spoofing mail-order novelty products often found
in the back of comic books. This new iteration of GPK comics would be
titled The Garbage Gang for OS10.

“I
wrote and did color roughs for all [of
the 10th Series].
I did the finished art
with Gary Whitney on all backs and premiums.”
— JAY Lynch, circa 2003.

Per Lambiek Comiclopedia, Gary Whitney was an underground comix artist.
He contributed to Bizarre Sex and Dope Comix at Kitchen Sink Press,
and was also present at Artie Romero’s Everyman Studios. He drew the
‘Phoebe & the Pigeon People’ comic strip (1978-1996), written by
Jay Lynch for the Chicago Reader. From 1990 on, Jim Siergey was assistant-inker.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 379a Locked DORIAN FEATURES
the OS2 character for card (75a Off-the-Wall PAUL and) 75b ZACH Plaque,
seen in the same predicament, closely conversing with the OS3 character
for card (119a NED Head and) 119b Still JILL, also just hanging
around. NOTE: for the OS2 card image, the character
has blond air and blue eyes, and doesn’t have a peanut-shaped head;
the old characters also had to take on the new model changes.

—
The character is a lot more talkative
without a pacifier (dummy; British English) in their mouth; mabye it
fell out when he opened his mouth to speak(?), and with no arms/hands…
he can’t retrieve it. On that same dark humour wavelength, the shrunken
head character, dead as a doornail (different than the unclinched nail,
nailed to the wall), cannot laugh at the joke (even if alive, mouth
sewn shut), and obviously cannot dance due to no body/legs/feet.
—
The novelty product, premium ‘#44663’,
mentions 50,000 tons of pressure, but it might even be closer to 725,000
pounds per square inch and temperatures greater than 2,000°F to
turn carbon/coal into a diamond. Naturally, one’s lifespan is less than
three million years, especially if you’re gonna sit and wait. I’m not
sure a 1 carat diamond, of lower quality, would be worth $6K + roughly
$250 in comics (at 5¢ a piece), or worth your while.

Original Series — one Puzzle Preview
card: 379a — twenty-one Puzzle Piece
cards: 380a,
386a, 390a, 392a, 393a, 394a, 395a, 396a, 399a, 400a, 401a, 402a, 403a,
404a, 405a, 406a, 407a, 409a, 410a, 416a + 417a.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 379b SIDNEY Kidney FEATURES
the OS2 character for card (52a Dirty HARRY and) 52b ROB Slob, seen
outside his pigpen, accusingly conversing with the OS4 character for
card 139a Double IRIS (and 139b 4-Eyed IDA), spotting filth with her
extra set of irises. NOTE: for the OS4 card image,
the character isn’t wearing the glasses, and the dress and hair ribbons
are more of a yellow colour, rather than orange.

—
The OS4 character
is not only visually paired, but can spot a dirty pig over a
mangy mutt, any day.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#174’, is a suggestive way of attemptig to point out a ‘good’
fishing (man)hole whilst living in the big city and living nowhere near
a body of clean water; one that could sustain life, let alone freshwater
fish. Nothing like taking in the dark asphalt pitch used for surfacing
roads compared to the lush greenery of a lake or river. The ‘string,
hook, and bobber NOT included’ caveat, at the end of the ‘GOTCHA!‘
premium write-up, lets you know that the envelope will be empty when
you receive it, and I’m not sure your $500 + roughly $150
in comics (at 5¢ a piece), is worth dirt, nor your time spent digging
up worms.

Original Series — one Puzzle Preview
card: 379b — twenty-one Puzzle Piece
cards: 380b,
386b, 390b, 392b, 393b, 394b, 395b, 396b, 399b, 400b, 401b, 402b, 403b,
404b, 405b, 406b, 407b, 409b, 410b, 416b + 417b.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 381a Ground CHUCK & 381b Lean JEAN FEATURES
the OS3 character for card 84a JOE Blow (and 84b Wad ROD), seen in a
movie theatre, fussily conversing with the OS4 character for card 141a
ASHLEY Can (and 141b GRETA Garbage), mumbling about some free ABC-gum
handout. NOTE: for the OS4 card image, the character
has white polka dots on her kerchief, rather than yellow ones; and the
OS3 character is free of gum.

—
Strangely, the
glutton for gum OS3 character is a germophobe, unlike the trashy OS4
character, which tracks. And although homeless, found her way into the
theatre by sneaking in or panhandling her way to a free ticket.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#810’, is poking fun at tanker, rig, well, and/or offshore
platform spills of crude oil (or refined petroleum product). The oil
spills are extremely costly, including clean-up. On a smaller scale,
a filthy kid mimicks this environmental devestation within a bathtub,
but maybe the water needs to be changed more often than the referenced
(car) oil change; in general, cards now-a-days (2024) need an oil change
every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. A barrel of rubber duckies would be far
less expensive than $700 + roughly
$50
in comics (at 5¢ a piece).

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 382a Good-Bye HY & 382b Farewell MEL FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 2a Junkfood JOHN (and 2b RAY Decay), seen
without a pile of sweets & treats, conversing in non-baby talk with
the OS3
character for card 84a JOE Blow (and 84b Wad ROD),
spitting out some ABC chicle. NOTE: the OS3 character
is seen once again without his own signature BAZOOKA chewing gum and/or
popped bubble.

—
Strangely,
the glutton for gum OS3 character is a germophobe,
unlike the OS1 character who will eat anything. NOTE: the word ‘PTUI’,
seen within the discarded gum, is the phonetic spelling for the sound
or act of spitting.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#871’, is convincing potential buyers to be persuaded to grow
out there nostril hairs, in order to sell some
generic barrettes. An al natural state for the nasal passageway.
I’d imagine a cheap pair of hair barrettes at Fashion Bug or retro mall
jewelry kiosk, would definitely cheaper than the $500 +
roughly $17.50 in comics (at 5¢
a piece) price tag for cheap accessories.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 383a Itchy MITCH & 383b Raked JAKE FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 76a BONNIE Bunny (and 76b Pourin’ LAUREN),
seen without her serving tray, conversing with the OS5
character for card 170a RICHIE Retch and 170b LUKE Puke,
barfing, ad nauseam. NOTE: the OS5 character is
not described within the ‘FEATURING‘ section
of the card, so it’s unknown which twin card character is actually involved.

—
Although
the OS2 playboy bunny is
usually working at more of an adult establishment, she apparently has
another part time job serving at a diner (with fly pie on the menu).

—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#8181’, is attempting to upscale a clothespin as a money clip,
and even going so far as to state it can also be used as a tie clasp.
In general, clothespins are extremely cheap, not sure it’s worth sending
$400 + roughly $100 in comics (at
5¢ a piece), no matter what you play it off as.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 385a PHIL ‘Er Up & 385b Chuckin’ CHARLIE FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 144a Horny HAL (and 144b RUDY Toot), seen
tooting his own horn and conversing with the OS5
character for card (175a Windy WINSTON and) 175b JOHNNY One-Note,
rooting and tooting out the rear end. NOTE: a
one-asterisk (*) trademark line sample is shown for both versions, the
red Garbage Gang logo & the blue Garbage Gang logo, rather than
the two-asterisk (**) trademark line. No rhyme or reason behind this
that is known.

—
The
blues brothers
are mainly interested in burps and farts, making a different kind of
music, or rather, noise pollution.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#3415’, is attempting to sell an infestation of trapped city
rats and their byproducts as a good-luck charm, similar to the rabbit’s
foot fad. Not to compare (too much), but a soft and cute rabbit’s foot
has the upper hand, or err, paw. Plus, a pet rat might cost $10-$20
bucks, so I’m not sure $6,500 + roughly $20
in comics (at 5¢ a piece), is worth the trade off. A total ratfink
seller, IMHO, don’t be played like a fiddle.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 387a Fatty MADDIE & 387b CORA Corset FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 126a Armpit BRITT (and 126b Shaggy AGGIE),
seen with her usual underarm stance, relunctantly conversing with the
OS5
character for card (192a Delicate TESS and) 192b Hamburger PATTIE,
just hanging around, per usual. NOTE: personally,
I always associated the names ‘Tess’ and ‘Pattie’ as feminine in nature
(call me old-fashioned), and the character as female, but flirting is
flirting no matter the gender, especially with a harsh and raspy Brooklyn
accent.

—
The
characters
are taking certain words/things out of context; the word ‘FRESH‘
uttered by the OS4 character is intended as, “(informal)
being presumptuous toward someone, especially in a sexual way”,
rather than, “(of food) recently made or obtained; not preserved”,
which was the OS5 character’s meaning. The idiom, “a dime a dozen”
means something is common, easily found, or not valuable”, and
the OS5 character is basically selling himself (his body/meat) for cheap,
which can also be misinterpreted. For the trading card image, the meat
was only “35¢ per POUND”, a price increase of 54 cents;
and the ‘POUND’ was a round-about signature by the artist, John Pound.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#3437’, is taking ‘checked bags’ literally… like checkout
bags, rather than travelling luggage. Adding a monogram increases the
price, and would most likely just be markered on. The $7,500 + roughly
$200 in comics (at 5¢ a piece)
steal-of-a-deal is very lux and expensive for some inexpensive
paper bags.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 388a Facey TRACIE & 388b Heads UPTON FEATURES
the OS5 character for card (198a Gore MAY and) 198b CONNIE Sewer, seen
without their snot cutlery, conversing and conspiring with the OS5
character for card (173a Menaced DENNIS and) 173b Wormy SHERMY,
taste testing a worm delicacy. NOTE: this is one
of only two comic strips that contains four panels rather than the ‘regular’
three panels.

—
To
make the characters look less CPK-ish, the heads have a very peanut-shell
shape to them, oval-shaped eyes, ears sticking out, & four digits.
I suppose there very well might be a big difference between eating the
mouth-end of the worm versus the tail/rear end of the worm.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#4635’, is a cheap shot at the buyer’s intelligence, or there
lack of. The time spent (punitive damages) trying to just catch the
worm might not be worth your while, not to mention the additional costs
of buying glue. The $1,000 + roughly $40 in
comics (at 5¢ a piece) does not equate to time well spent.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 389a Dire RITA & 389b Overflow JOE FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 137a MAX Axe (and 137b Deadly DUDLEY), seen
off their pedestal, cattily conversing with the OS4
character for card 157a LARRY Lips (and 157b Distortin’ MORTON),
taste testing canned sardines, and tossing the unannounced OS4 character
for cards 159a Catty KATHY and 159b KITTY Litter. NOTE:
the OS4 cat character by Burke is not featured within the ‘FEATURING‘
section, but is a big prop for the joke.

—
The
audience would take the line “SHOULD WE THROW THE
CAT A LITTLE BIT“
as still referencing the sardines, but the ornamentalist and executioner
took it as a whole new subject entirely, and instead of throwing the
cat some sardines, they spent time tossing the cat back-and-forth.
—
If you have a friend
like OS4 character 165a DANA Druff and 165b Flakey FAY, the novelty
product, premium ‘#122’, would not be needed, and saving you the $900
+ roughly $50 in comics (at 5¢
a piece) on the pricey dead scalp skin. The “NO
TWO FLAKES ARE ALIKE!” line is obviously misquoting the
infamous “NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE!”
quote.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 391a Glass ISAAC & 391b False IRIS FEATURES
the OS2
character for card 76a BONNIE Bunny (and 76b Pourin’ LAUREN), seen working
at another part time job,
curtly conversing with the OS4
character for card (146a Baked JAKE and) 146b Dry GUY, still in desperate
need of H2O.

—
BONNIE
Bunny is back, baby, and turning her back on her clientele.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#936’, doesn’t state what their next cheap knock-off and often
made-up item is made from; obviously from spit-filled paper pulp, but
not sure what the small pointy objects might be. Regardless, for the
size, the $1,000 asking price + roughly $20 in
comics (at 5¢ a piece) does not feel like money well spent, nor
get you another step closer to your black belt level of karate.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 397a Cleaned Up CLINT & 397b Sucked Up STEFAN FEATURES
the OS3
character for cards 118a Half-NELSON and 118b Glandular ANGELA, seen
in split screen and split personality.
NOTE: the story only needs one character
for the ‘FEATURING‘ section since both
twin names are used.

—
The
boy & girl dichotomy, played out so well within comic panels, is
fleshed out further with both characters having there own telephones
in the very same room—also in blue & pink.
Naturally, unless you’re looking into a mirror, your unable to “SEE
EYE TO EYE” with your own face.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#3939’, the so-called model kit, must be to scale since 1 inch
equals one inch. Were old liquor bottles made out of plastic? Would
the plastic model glue adhere with glass? It’s most likely your old
man’s empty and broken bottle. The $4,000 + roughly $350 in
comics (at 5¢ a piece) would burn through your saved up weekly
allowence fast.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 398a Skiin’ IAN & 398b Sheared SHERWOOD FEATURES
the OS2
character for card 76a BONNIE Bunny (and 76b Pourin’ LAUREN), being
stalked by a customer,
curtly conversing with the OS5
character for card 181a CLIFF Hanger (and 181b Neck TY), still administering
self-asphyxiation.
NOTE: Lynch may have been smitten with this charater,
me thinks, it’s her third appearance!

—
BONNIE
Bunny is back yet again and back talking her clientele.
To ‘WALK ON AIR‘ means to be or feel elated; and
the three little words with a big meaning that he was hoping to hear
was ‘I LOVE YOU‘, naturally.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#325’, pushes false advertising to an extreme; a biologist
might mistake it, but hopefully not a zoologist. No muzzle included
means you are most likely going to get bit; the proverb ‘once bitten,
twice shy’ comes to mind. The $500 price tag + roughly $150 in
comics (at 5¢ a piece) is staggering for a pet rat, grapefruit
& crazy-glue that might cost $30.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 408a Lickin’ LEON & 408b Rat-Sucker RANDALL FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 134a Hip KIP (and 134b WALT Witless), seen
without his bongos, cooly conversing with the OS5
character for cards 170a RICHIE Retch and 170b LUKE Puke,
barfing once again, ad nauseam. NOTE: this is
the character’s second appearance and the second time the character’s
name was not present within the ‘FEATURING‘ section.
Not memorable, I can relate.

—
Would
finding out someone bit there toenails be vomit-inducing? Possibly.
Especailly the state of toes open to the elements. Toenail fungus might
be tasty.
—
The novelty product, premium ‘#4109’, is poking fun at poorly written
comic strips; a bit of self deprecation and ridicule is harmless, and
funny. I’m not sure ‘TWO WEEKS AGO‘ qualifies
as ‘THE GOOD OLD DAYS!‘, but one has to push sales
on overstock. The $700 + roughly $250
in comics (at 5¢ a piece), feels quite pricey for old news, but
the headliner is quite catchy, ‘MOB SLOB ROBS SNOB‘.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 411a VAN Pire & 411b BUD Sucker FEATURES
the OS1 character for card (35a Wrinkly RANDY and) 35b Rockin’ ROBERT,
seen without his rocking chair but still sitting, casually conversing
with the OS2
character for card (78a Wrinkled RITA and) 78b Ancient ANNIE,
without her poodle. NOTE: even without the cigarette
holder, both character’s are highly detailed, especially compared to
the OS8 comic strip (card #320) with the same characters, which had
the same three panels but had a different punch line, “DOES
THIS TRAIN STOP AT 36TH PLACE?“

—
To
further emphasize the slow passage of time, the comic panels are quite
static, without a lot of activity.
It says a lot without saying much.
—
The novelty product, premium ‘#3433’, is a surefire way to somehow backfire…
removing that much tartar build up would only prolong your dentist visit,
and discomfort, so whom would have the last laugh? The $700 + roughly
$200 in comics (at 5¢ a piece),
is a very expensive dental visit smile.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 412a Mixed-Up TRIXIE & 412b Doughy CHLOE FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 136a Swollen SUE ELLEN (and 136b Bloated
BLAIR), still seen with bloated cheek flaps, quietly conversing with
the OS7
character for card (251a Barfin’ BARBARA) and 251b VALERIE Vomit,
seen without her kitchen pan. NOTE: this is the
second of only two comic strips that contains four panels rather than
the ‘regular’ three panels.

—
VALERIES
Vomit is seen vomiting into a box of popcorn and referencing her friend
(or boyfriend?) ‘LUKE’, a shout out to fellow barfer LUKE
Puke (OS5
#170b),
who’s not thoroughly mentioned here or within the ‘FEATURING‘
sections.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#2038’, would really have to feel and smell like an actual
croissant to fool anyone, especially to the point of biting into something
that’s rubbery in texture. Usually you would state changing something
from and an art to a science, but they are going for the rhyme of fart,
the end result of a whoopie cushion. The $9,000 + roughly $37.40 in
comics (at 5¢ a piece) feels and falls a bit flat, even for flatulence.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 413a Barnyard BARNEY & 413b DICK Hick FEATURES
the OS4 character for card 136a Swollen SUE ELLEN (and 136b Bloated
BLAIR), still seen with bloated cheek flaps, inquisitively conversing
with the OS5
character for card 205a Hot ROD (and 205b BUD Buggy),
with a flat tire. NOTE: this is the second time
the OS4 character is back for the OS10 comic strips, back-to-back, with
card #412.

—
The OS5 character references a glass milk bottle, hidden behind a kid’s
back; at some point, the kid must have thrown it into the road, at the
hot rod (and character), in order to be ran over to cause the tire to
go flat.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#674’, would be PETA approved, and be very ineffective in killing
pesky house flies. But it looks like you’d still have a 50% chance if
you missed, and they missed that cut-out circle. The $200 + roughly
$250 in comics (at 5¢ a piece)
is pretty pricey for a useless product, wasting a lot of time and energy.
To swat or not to swat…

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 414a Umbilical COURTNEY & 414b Yo YOLANDA FEATURES
the OS2 character for card (75a Off-the-Wall PAUL and) 75b ZACH Plaque,
seen just
hanging around,
getting teased by the OS3
character for card 84a JOE Blow (and 84b Wad ROD),
and the unannounced OS4 character for cards 140a Mouth PHIL and 140b
Tooth LES. NOTE: the OS4 baseball player character
is not featured within the ‘FEATURING‘
section, but acts as another team member and as the bully’s buddy.

—
As seen before, Lynch has a tendency
of spelling ‘okay’ as ‘O.K.’, an abbreviation taken from the slang ‘oll
korrect’, meaning ‘all correct’ (as far back as 1839).
—
The novelty product, premium ‘#2901’,
mentions ‘“X” MARKS THE SPOT‘, which
denotes an exact location, usually associated with maps that indicate
where treasure is located. The quotes around the ‘X’ negates the meaning,
so the postman wouldn’t know where to find your location, especially
an address of ‘X’. Not to be confused with an X-mark signature, made
by an illiterate or disabled person in lieu of an actual signature.
Going down this trail, an ‘XX’ signifies kisses when ending a message,
whereas ‘XXX’ is a much more friendlier sign-off, and highly
suggestive. Since Publishers Clearing House sends free address labels,
I have a hunch the $3K + roughly $75 in comics (at 5¢ a piece),
is not worth the paper it’s stamped on. NOTE:
the ‘$’ symbol is absent from the dollar amount and has a ‘#’ (pound/no.)
next to it instead.

—
The comic back for OS10
reverse card 415a Erased ERICA & 415b Wiped Out WINNIE FEATURES
the OS2 character for card (55a Hairy GARY and) 55b Brutal BRAD, seen
clubbing his girlfriend, and attempting to converse with the OS2
character for card 56a Hairy CARRIE (and 56b Brutal BRIDGET),
who’s not even fazed. NOTE: it is unknown what
his jibberish would translate to, but it doesn’t necessarily look tender
hearted.

—
Not
sure if he’s making any sense, or knocking any sense into her, but love
is blind at times.
—
The novelty product,
premium ‘#97834’, shows a bald man with fake hair on his armpit and
attemping to ‘style’ it, which feels like another hairy situation and
scheme. The $9,005 + roughly $100
in comics (at 5¢ a piece) price tag feels like a hair-raising experience
(disturbing), and highway robbery. Scams are always too good to be true.