The music-based
GPK ‘Battle of the Bands’ 2017 Series 2 (aka 2017S2) yearly thematic set announcement
was released by the Topps Company, Inc. on Tuesday May 9th, 2017—roughly
three and a half months after the ADAM-Geddon 2017S1 set release—with hobby
and retail electronic sell sheets breaking down the source material with mock-up
promotional images. The tune turf-war parody set was scheduled to be released
on October 18, 2017 and stated that “the Garbage Pail Kids are invading your
headphones! Battle of the Bands features all-new art, parodying bands, singers
and musicians, broken down into genre-specific subsets”.

The GPK series includes all-new artwork and contributions
by artists Brent Engstrom, Joe Simko, David Gross, Neil Camera, “Smokin’
Joe” McWilliams, JungHwa Im, Colin Walton (editor, art director, writer)
and Mark Von Ohlen (brand manager); most individuals involved submitted their
own concepts and nomenclature. The set also includes ‘Classic’ artwork by artists
John Pound, Tom Bunk, James Warhola, David Burke and Mae Jeon. For the first print
run, each foil or plastic pack, with a suggested retail price of $1.99, contains
eight sticker cards, except for the Hobby Collector Edition box with exclusive
premium content packs that contain eight stickers per pack or may contain seven
stickers per pack with a special insert.

WRAPPER
ARTWORK : JOHN POUND
BOX ARTWORK : JOHN POUND + TOM BUNK
LAYOUT DESIGN
: COLIN WALTON

180 A+B CARD SET :
SUBSETS BASE CARDS
SUBSETS : 20 Alternative + 40 Classic + 18 Hard Rock +
20 Metal + 20 New Wave & Punk + 42 Pop + 20 Rap & R&B

BASE
+ CHASE INSERT CARDS
1,450 Total Cards = 180 Base Card Stickers + 180 Puke
Splatter Parallel (R+H) + 180 Phlegm Splatter Parallel (Target gravity feed) +
180 Spit Splatter Parallel (HC) + 180 Bruised Splatter Parallel (HC) + 180 Bloody
Nose Splatter Parallel (HC) + 180 Fool’s Gold Parallel + 20 Classic Rock Cards
(R fat pack) + 20 Classic Rock Patches (HC) + 10 GPK Album Covers & Concert
Posters (H) + 6 Gross Bears bonus (Wal*Mart/Topps Online value box) + 6 Bathroom
Buddies bonus (Target value box) + 1 Standard Sketch (R) + 1 Panoramic Sketch
(R fat pack) + 1 Double Artist Panoramic Sketch (HC) + 1 Shaped Sketch (H+HC)
+ 1 Loaded Puzzle Sketch (R value box) + 1 Artist Autograph + 1 Printing Plate
+ 1 Promo

*

PRODUCT
RELEASE SHEETS
SALE e-SHEETS + PROMOTIONAL
PICS : HOBBY PAGES 1-4 + RETAIL PAGES 1-4

‘CLICK’ PIC TO VIEW

*

HOBBY
PRODUCTION RUN

HOBBY
+ RETAIL BOX ODDS
BASE PARALLELS
splatter borders: green Puke – 1:1 (H + R) + Fool’s Gold (50 per
subject) – 1:98 • PRINTING PLATE card – 1:1,234 • SKETCH card (H
& R exclusive): Standard – 1:261 • ARTIST AUTOGRAPH card (25 per
subject) – 1:192

DISPLAY
BOX — PKG006471 — UPC 8-87521-06557-8 — 24 PACK : NO ‘H’ ON BOX
NOTE:
GPK ALBUM COVERS INSERTS
CARDBOARD CASE BOX — PKG006472 — FGC002706
or 2708 — UPC 8-87521-06558-5 — 8 BOX / 24 PACK CT
FOIL PACK —
PKG006470 — 8-87521-06556-1 — NO ‘H’ ON WRAPPER : $1.99 SRP

*

HOBBY
COLLECTOR PREMIUM BOX ODDS
BASE PARALLELS
splatter borders: blue Spit (99 per subject, HC exclusive) – 1:5,
Fool’s Gold (50 per subject) – 1:98,
black Bruised (HC exclusive)
– 1:1, red Bloody Nose (75 per subject, HC exclusive) – 1:6 • PRINTING
PLATE card – 1:1,206
SKETCH cards: Shaped (HC exclusive) – 1:79 + Double
Artist Panoramic (HC exclusive) – 1:395 • ARTIST AUTOGRAPH card (25
per subject) – 1:192 • GPK ALBUM COVERS + CONCERT POSTER cards (1 per box,
HC exclusive) – 1:24 • CLASSIC ROCK PATCH cards (99 per subject, HC
exclusive) – 1:41

DISPLAY
BOX — PKG006474 — UPC 8-87521-06560-8 — ’24 PACK’ + ‘H’ ON BOX
NOTE:
GPK ALBUM COVERS + CLASSIC ROCK PATCH INSERTS
BOX ART INLAY — PKG006475

CARDBOARD CASE BOX — PKG006476 — FGC002707 — UPC 8-87521-06561-5
— 8 BOX / 24 PACK COUNT
FOIL PACK — PKG006473 — UPC 8-87521-06559-2
— ‘EXCLUSIVE PREMIUM CONTENT’ ON WRAPPER

*

RETAIL
PRODUCTION RUN

RETAIL
BOX ODDS
BASE PARALLELS splatter
borders: green Puke – 1:1 (R + H), yellow Phlegm (R exclusive;
Target gravity pack) – 1:8,
Fool’s Gold (50 per subject): retail/gravity/value
pack – 1:98 + fat pack 1:49 • PRINTING PLATE (4 per subject): retail/gravity
pack – 1:1,234 + value pack – 1:1,235 + fat pack – 1:610 • SKETCH cards:
Standard (R & H exclusive); retail/gravity pack – 1:261 + value pack
– 1:262 + fat pack – 1:131 • Panoramic (fat pack exclusive) – 1:548
+ Loaded (value box exclusive) – 1:71 • ARTIST AUTHOGRAPH card (25
per subject): retail/gravity/value – 1:192 + fat pack – 1:96 • GROSS BEARS
cards (Wal*Mart value box SE; online) – 3:1 • BATHROOM BUDDIES cards
(Target value box exclusive) – 3:1 • CLASSIC ROCK cards (fat pack
exclusive) – 2:1

GRAVITY
FEED BOX — PKG006478 — UPC 8-87521-06563-9 — 8 CARDS PER PACK :
TARGET
CARDBOARD CASE BOX — PKG00? : FGC00? — UPC 8-87521-? —
?
PLASTIC PACK — PKG006477 — UPC 8-87521-06562-2 — $1.99 SRP

VALUE
‘FAT’ PACK — PKG006481 — UPC 8-87521-06565-3 — $4.99 SRP :
NOTE:
CLASSIC RADIOACTIVE CHASE CARDS
CARDBOARD CASE
BOX — PKG00? — FGC00? — UPC 8-87521-? — 1/108 COUNT

BLASTER
VALUE BOX — PKG006485 — UPC 8-87521-06567-7 — ‘5 PACKS’ + : TARGET
: $9.99 SRP
NOTE: 3 BATHROOM BUDDIES
CARDBOARD CASE BOX — PKG006486
— FGC002711 — UPC 8-87521-06568-4 —
16/5+1 COUNT
FOIL PACK — PKG006483 — UPC 8-87521-06574-5

BLASTER VALUE BOX — PKG006487 — UPC 8-87521-06569-1
— ‘5 PACKS’; WAL*MART; TOPPS ONLINE : $9.99 SRP
NOTE: 3 GROSS BEARS STICKERS

CARDBOARD CASE BOX — PKG006486 — FGC002712 — UPC 8-87521-06570-7
— 16/5+1 COUNT
FOIL PACK — PKG006483 — UPC 8-87521-06574-5

GRAVITY
FEED BOX : PKG006489 : UPC 8-87521-06572-1 — 4 CARDS PER PACK : SPECIALTY
STORE
CARDBOARD CASE BOX : PKG006491 : FGC002713 : UPC 8-87521-06573-8 —
?
PLASTIC WRAPPER : PKG006488 : UPC 8-87521-06571-4 — $.99 SRP

—
In mid-March, the art director at Topps requested Concepts
for the next GPK retail release revolving around musicians be submitted. Collectors
have had a taste of the musical theme through various exclusive online sets sold
over the past fews years poking fun at music awards shows. Concepts were turned
in over the next few weeks and the ones approved were painted from mid-April and
throughout the month of May 2017. The company has started to give lengthier deadlines
allowing the freelance artists the time to turn in tighter images. Unfortunately,
since the theme deals with celebrities a lot of surnames used within the nomenclature
can be found across the checklist.

—
It has been several series and several years since
Topps has released a promotional card for one of their GPK sets. A ‘Krazy KATY’
Promo Card, titled ‘NYCC-2017’ on the backside, was
handed out at the 2017 New York Comic Con at the Topps booth #454 to help promote
the upcoming ‘Battle of the Bands’ retail set being launched later in the month.
For one hour on Saturday, Oct 7th, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, convention goers could
meet GPK artist Joe Simko and have him sign one of the exclusive cards at the
Topps booth. Simko took to the older Topps Trash Can Trolls set for inspiration
for the parody of Katy Perry whose pyro-filled live shows often include flashy
fireworks for the Pop Music subset cards 14a Krazy KATY and 14b Scary PERRY. The
artwork for TCT cards 29a Pyrotech NICK and 29b Independence DAISY was painted
by artist Pat Pigott.

—
Several of artist Brent Engstrom’s Concept
pieces were changed during the pre-production stage at the request from the art
director at Topps. For the ‘Hard Rock’ subset for cards 3a Asphyxiated ALICE and
3b Choking COOPER the original concept showcased the aging performer as a geriatric
person with the suggested names of ‘Aging ALICE’ and ‘Pooped COOPER’, but Topps
requested that Alice Cooper’s boa (named ‘Julius Squeezer’ and its replacement
‘Angel’) constrictor be placed in the concept.

The
original concept for ‘Metal’ subset cards 4a Nine Inch NEIL & 3b Tacked TRENT
showed the lead singer of NIN, Trent Reznor, in a Matrix-like movement
but Topps requested a more stoic stance. The character was also updated from an
older look between the second and final concept; all three had the suggested names
of ‘Nine Inch NEIL’ & ‘Transfixed TRENT’.

The original concept for ‘Metal’ subset cards
9a Phantom FORGE and 9b Ghostly GOORE the often symbolic, ornamental septre (or
septer) had only a capitol ‘G’ at the top of the staff but Topps requested the
complete GPK acronym; perhaps so it wouldn’t be confused with ‘God’ or the like.
The concept had the suggested names of ‘Ghostly GABE’ and ‘Spoo KEY’.

The original concept for ‘Pop’ subset cards
10a Can’t See SIA and 10b Furry FURLER showcased the singer with a bust portrait
and a much larger bow, whereas Topps requested a full body shot with floor length
hair instead — which slightly minimized the smiling bow. The concept had
the suggested names of ‘Can’t See SIA’ and ‘BONNIE Bow’.

The
original concept for ‘Rap & R&B’ subset cards 3a Beastie BOYD and 3b Mixed-Up
MIKE displayed the conjoined band members looking ‘chill’, throwing some gesticulated
street signs and decked out in a GPK hood ornament chain/bling, but Topps requested
that the character(s) to be more literal, so Engstrom added some extra monster
scowls, claws, horns and a tail to the concept.

The
‘Metal’ subset cards 6a MARILYN Oh No and 6b “Handsome” MANSON include
two OS1-inspired bats within the artwork. The concept for the ‘Rap and R&B’
subset cards 4a Vile JAY and 4b Stinky SHAGGY ws created around the 2016S1 Apple
Pie period and resubmitted for this release.

—
The Mock-Up images created by
Topps for social media usually have the nomenclature on the nameplate found in
black font, however, two images posted on October 3rd and on October 11th for
cards 6a Daft PAUL and 9a Fall
Out BOYD, respectively, were found with red ink. The former being painted
by artist David Gross and the latter being painted by artist Joe Simko for the
‘Pop’ subset.

—
A majority of artist JungHwa Im’s Artwork
stems from previously released parody material; the layout stems from either the
same concept or partial imagery. For the Alternative music subset card #1 is taken
from the OS5 set for cards #173, card #2 from the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Lame
set for cards #5 (by Brent Engstrom), card #3 from the political Dis-Grace set
for card #147 (by Im) that stems from an unpuglished ‘Presidential Losers’ concept
by Engstrom and #8 is also taken from OS5 for cards #185. For the Classic Rock
music subset card #2 the face is taken from OS6 for cards #215, card #6 is taken
from the Presidential April Primaries for cards #5 (by Im) based off of a Brent
Engstrom concept and card #12 from the political Dis-Grace set for card #118 (by
Im) that is also based off of a Engstrom concept. See the ‘ART Work’ section for
additional tribute pieces.

—
Artist Brent Engstrom took the familiar Hairstyle
piece from the online Dis-Grace card #29 Toupée TRUMP and applied it to
the ‘Pop’ subset character for cards 15a HARRY Style and 15b JUAN Direction, a
parody of Harry Styles and the band One Direction. Both names were submitted for
the set by the arist. The former tress deals with Donald Trump’s sweeping comb-over
and the latter deals Harry Styles stylish classic comb over and sideburns.

—
The product release sheets announced the continuation
of the Chase Cards for the Gross Bears subset, numbering
16-20 + L4, and the Bathroom Buddies subset, numbering 10a/b – 12a/b along with
a Classic Rock subset (value fat pack exclusive), Classic Rock patch cards
(HC exclusive), Album Covers & Concert Posters subset (HC exclusive)
plus the regular inserts including sketch cards, printing plates and a plethera
of parallel cards.

Forty-nine
artists contributed to the Sketch cards for the 2017S2 set — listed alphabetically
by last name: Bryan Abston, Simone Arena, Mike Arnold, Ro Garcia Astorga, Michael
Barnard, Bobby Blakey, Dan Burn-Webster, Sean Bolger, John Brewer, Pat Chaimuang,
Neil Camera, Daniel Contois, Jasmine Contois, Sobot Cortez, Jason Crosby, Vincenzo
“Chenduz” D’Ippolito, Dave Gacey, Patrick Giles, Josh Ginter, Cecilia
Granata, Kelly Greider, Joseph Grotesque, Jason Heil, Marisol Henriquez, Lowell
Isaac, Robert Jimenez, Matthew Kirscht, Kevin Lea, Paul Mangione, Mike McHugh,
Rory McQueen, “Smokin” Joe McWilliams, Lily Mercado, Rich Molinelli,
JM Monserrat, Victor Moreno, Barry Nygma, Darrin Pepe, Steve Potter, Cathy Razim,
Chad Scheres, Brent Scotchmer, Anthony Skubis, Matt Steffens, Floyd Sumner, Gregory
Tilson, Magnus Von Robotsson, Matthew White and Gavin Williams.