PRODUCTION
ARTWORK — BITS & BOBS BACKSTORY —ANNOTATED NOMENCLATURE
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125a
HOLLY WOOD — Nomenclature = Hollywood (aka Tinseltown); the superficially glamorous world it represents. def’n: Hollywood — The city and location of the U.S. motion-picture industry. def’n: Wood — The tough fibrous material beneath the bark of trees and shrubs. 125b WOODY ALAN — A name parody on the actor, screenwriter and director Woody Allen. def’n: Woody — Consisting of or containing wood. Suggestive of wood. 125b OAK KAY — Nomenclature = Okay. def’n: Okay (or O.K.) — Approval; agreement def’n: Oak — The hard, durable wood of the oak tree.
& BOBS: — Pound’s wooden doll gag was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. The clever concept puts a spin on the CPK-doll model, instead of being made of cloth (and plastic) the character is carved from wood; very reminiscent of Dutch peg wooden dolls or the Italian wooden puppet Pinocchio (a name variant of pinolo meaning ‘pine seed’). Besides the one wood screw, wood saw, wood boring hand drill and nine visible common nails, the gag humourously includes a wood knot on one foot that has fallen out, the shape of a wooden diaper, and a woodpecker perched on the character’s upright thumb that’s producing sawdust. — Due to cease and desist letters, Topps felt pressured to change the names of four card characters within the set to avoid any further lawsuits or complaints. The first and second production runs had the original name Woody ALAN, similar sounding to the eccentric movie producer Woody Allen, and the third and fourth production runs had the name variant of Oak KAY. Although the later numbered fifth production run was produced in Canada with the original names, it may have been printed prior to the name change occurance. The nomenclature name change feels like, “You’ve asked us to change the name, fine, OKAY.” — In September of 2011, Gallery1988 exhibited a GPK-inspired art show that showcased a piece by artist Andrew DeGraff the built upon the original Woody ALAN card that included a wooden handheld film camera, limbs with twigs, a different species of woodpecker and a beaver chipping away at the torso of the character. |
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126a
ARMPIT BRITT — Rhyme; the name Britt (short for Brittany, etc.) with the word ‘armpit’. def’n: Armpit — The hollow under the arm at the shoulder. def’n: Underarm hair — (aka axillary hair) The hair in the underarm area; the pit. 126b SHAGGY AGGIE — Rhyme; the name Aggie with the word ‘shaggy’. def’n: Shag — A tangle or mass of matted hair. def’n: Shaggy — Having long, rough hair. Bushy. Poorly groomed. Shag rug.
& BOBS: — Pound’s ‘HAIRY ARMPIT‘ gag was the second concept approved by Topps that John executed for the OS4 set. The flat-chested, no-cleavage CPK concept is a parody of pin-up models, especially swimsuit models, where the character is proudly displaying her post-pubescent (pubes+scent) unshaved axillary hair. The image sucks you in with low-lidded, seductive blue eyes that showcase two lavish, yarn-like eyelashes, a smirk-like smile with only one signature cheek dimple, a lush field of long underarm locks, navel button, and a rarely seen underdressed CPK-doll with slight thighs and a peek of the nether regions (aka buttocks). The two flies with contrails and two wavy lines suggest a stench-like scent from the pungent pubic areas. Per Pound’s website: “[The] left side [of the tight pencil artwork] shows erasure marks of hair (hair from the head that would have confusingly looked like more armpit hair); hence, the revision to the artwork and why the character has short hair. — In May of 1986, the Topps company also produced and released the Garbage Pail Kids Poster set which was initially planned to be the GPK Giant Series 2 card set, per art director Mark Newgarden. The poster girl was one of the two concept designs for the box and wrapper, but the NPD Department went with the OS3 character Snooty SAM whose iconic image had been previously released in January of that same year. The OS1 character Graffiti PETEY can be seen spray-painting the one patch of armpit hair with a clothespin on his nose and his tongue sticking out in disgust within the colour rough (images above). Artwork by artist Tom Bunk. |
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127a
TRAVELLIN’ TRAVIS — Travis; similar sounding name to go with the word ‘travel+ing’. def’n: Travel — To go from one place to another; journey. To move quickly (especially of a vehicle). def’n: Vehicle — A car used for transporting people or goods. 127b FLAT TYLER — Nomenclature = Flat tire. def’n: Flat — deflated, as a tire. def’n: Tire — A rubber covering, usally inflated, placed around a wheel to form a flexible contact with the road.
& BOBS: — Pound’s roadkill gag titled ‘WRAPPED AROUND AUTO TIRE‘ was the seventh approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. Technically not a hit-and-run, per se, but more of a hit-and-runover incident with the character attached to the tread of the tire. The trodden into the tire-tread victim didn’t go through any revisions, but it did have some subtle changes; in the first colour rough the vehicle is bright red and the character has a green shirt with blonde hair, but the NPD Department had Pound switch the car colour to a dark green and the character’s shirt to red and the hair colour to orange; these last two colours drawing the onlooker’s eye around the dark colour of the tire. The second colour rough was painted over a colour copy of the first colour rough. The final artwork image shows an abundance of ABC (already-been-chewed) gum attached to and under the character which also brings the eye to the character and shows movement. — There is a run over, flattened concept character within the OS1 release for cards 31a Run Down RHODA and 31b Flat PAT; the casualty of a steamroller, but the tread marks are a nice added touch to this new victim, so you know he has travelled a few blocks at least. — The first 0S4 GPK image with a single ‘TOOTH’. |
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128a
SLOSHED JOSH — Rhyme; the name Josh with the word ‘slosh+ed’. def’n: Slosh — To splash or flounder, as in water or another liquid. def’n: Bottle — A container, typically made of glass, with a narrow neck used for storing drinks like soda pop. 128b LOW CAL — Nomenclature = Low calorie. def’n: Low — Of small value or quantity. def’n: Calorie — The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water.
& BOBS: — Pound’s bottled-up gag titled ‘G.P.KOLA – KID IN BOTTLE‘ was the eleventh approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. This is the first miniaturized CPK character stuffed into a drinking bottle—from bottom to top, a small tuft of hair, smashed head with lopsided eyes within the neck of the bottle, squeezed shoulders and knocked-kneed (the condition in which the legs curve inward so that the feet are apart when knees are touching). — Not so much the star of the card, but the secondary character, the old-style vintage bottle, can be located within the 1986 GPK Poster set found on poster #1 Drink All-Natural Garbage Pail Kola… written in blue instead of red with a dead rat inside; ‘X’-eyed. This would be considered extremely bad luck. — The image can be found on the backside of 2015S1 Wacky Packages card #46 Snoot Loops as an Absolut Sweedish Vodka ad parody; close to how the final artwork appears with no GPK logo. |
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129a
SECOND HAND ROSE — A parody song title of a tune by singer Barbra Streisand. def’n: Secondhand — Previously used; not new. def’n: Rose — A frangrant and beautiful petaled flower. 129b TRASHED TRACY — Tracy; similar sounding name to go with the word ‘trash+ed’. def’n: Trash — Worthless or discarded material or objects. def’n: Garbage — A thing that is considered worthless or meaningless.
& BOBS: — Pound’s garbage gag was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. The character consists of various limbs attached to a hodgepodge of miscellaneous hardware that’s attached to a vegetable can as its torso. The can of ‘CORN’ (whole kernal, sweet or cream) is reminiscent of the Del Monte brand that uses green, yellow and red in their packaging. The character’s head impaled on a stick, the right hand attached with lumber, wire & string and the left foot attached by steel bar & rope appears to be the original doll. The left plunger leg attached with rope & nails and right arm attached with bolt & mount are apparently trash-pickin’ replacements. The dilapidated doll has seen better days, but is still delighted, believing things will be rosy, viewing the world through rose-colored glasses. — The character was part of the song intro for the cancelled 1987 CBS Garbage Pail Kids cartoon of 13 episodes; later released by Paramount on DVD in 2006. The cartoon cells were created by artist Geof Darrow. Eleven or so figurine prototypes were modeled after the cartoon characters and created by Galoob Toys but never released. Both characters have a rubber rain boot rather than the CPK-like shoe and the one hand is now a white or red kitchen glove. — The first 0S4 GPK image with a ‘CORN CAN’. |
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130a
NICKY HICKEY — Rhyme; the name Nicky with the word ‘hickey’. def’n: Hickey — informal. A suction-like kiss that breaks the capillaries underneath the skin causing bruising. def’n: Kiss — A touch with the lips in kissing. 130b HANK E. PANKY — Nomenclature = Hanky panky. def’n: Hanky panky — slang. Devious or mischievous activity. def’n: Lipstick — Coloured cosmetic applied to the lips with a solid stick.
& BOBS: — Pound’s pucker-up parody (def’n: to contract one’s lips in preparation for a kiss) was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. One of the rarer instances where a GPK character is disgusted rather than smiling with a furrowed brow and scowl, but it sells the gag since boys tend to ward off being kissed by their aunties, et cetera. The nomenclature is a slight misnomer since the painting portrays the planting of kisses and only one questionable hickey can be seen on the character’s right elbow. The victim has been pecked visibly at least forty-two times. — Beginning in 1986 the Topps company began releasing and later licensing the GPK name internationally through a plethora of releases throughout various countries, oftentimes translated and printed in different languages initially with the Garbage Pail Kids name and later a translation of The Garbage Gang after the 1987 lawsuit settlement; including the popular, Italian ‘Sgorbions’ cards. — The first 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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131a
STUFFED STEPHEN — Stephen; a similar sounding name to go with the word ‘stuff+ed’. def’n: Stuff — The material out of which something is made or formed. To pack tightly. def’n: Stuffing — Any material or padding used to stuff furniture, soft toys, pillows, et cetera. 131b RUTHERFORD B. HAY — Nomenclature = Rutherford B. Hayes. A parody of the name Rutherford Birchard Hayes, 1822 – 93, our 19th U.S. President. def’n: Hay — Grass or other forage plants cut and dried for fodder; feed for livestock.
& BOBS: — Pound’s frighten-bird gag titled ‘SCARECROW‘ was the tenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The character remained pretty much the same from the tight pencil to the colour rough, through to the final artwork. However, the checkered lines in the long sleeve flannel shirt was switched from black to white to make the character pop off the page/painting and colour-separate himself from the black crows. Detasseling season (the removal of the pollen-producing flowers; the tassel at the top) starts around July 10th, give or take, and lasts between two to three weeks; the season is most likely still early summer—the scarecrow’s ‘hay’days. Obviously, the crows are not scared off by the stuffed stick-man standing in the cornfield and are seen removing his hay stuffing and plucking out an eyeball. Dark wings, dark words. Winter is coming. — The second 0S4 GPK image with a single ‘TOOTH’. |
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132a
BONY TONY — Rhyme; the name Tony with the word ‘bony’. def’n: Bony — slang. A thin person. A big-boned person. def’n: Bone — The hard, dense, calcified tissue that forms the skeleton of most vertebrates. 132b UNZIPPED ZACK — Zack; Z name to go with the word ‘un-zip+ped’. def’n: Zip — To fasten or unfasten with a zipper. def’n: Zipper — A fastening device with parallel rows of metal teeth that are interlocked by a sliding tab.
& BOBS: — Pound’s pull tab parody (def’n: the part of the zipper slider that is held and slid up or down) was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. The trick (and subtle twist) to this tried-and-true concept is the human skull—rather than a GPK skull, hidden within, just under the skin. The onlooker wonders how the cranium was cracked while getting a glimpse of the gruesome grey matter inside and envisions the character’s face being zipped. — The character was used as the OS4 sets sole puzzle as well as the box side profile artwork that further lured kids into buying packs. What character chosen to be used for the packaging artwork was usually jotted down on the back of the final artwork for the Art Department to create the packaging. — There contains four OS4 characters and sticker write-ups within the 2013 and 2014 MiniKins releases of resin figures that are reminiscent of the 1986 Cheap Toys characters. Text by Pat Barrett and Colin Walton. — The character became one of Funko’s “Mystery Minis” sculpted vinyl figures in 2015; thirty years after its card release to help celebrate the 30 year anniversary of GPK. The prototype mockup portrayed the character without hair. |
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133a
FURRY MURRAY — Rhyme; the name Murray with the word ‘fur+ry’. def’n: Furry – Consisting of, covered with or resembling fur or a fur-like coating. def’n: Fur – The pelts of fur-bearing animals used for clothing, trimming, et cetera. 133b FOXY FRANCIS — Frances; F name to go with the word ‘foxy’. def’n: Foxy – informal. Sensually attractive; sexy. def’n: Fox – The fur of a fox (a mammal related to dogs or wolves).
& BOBS: — Pound’s fur stole and frock gag (def’n: Stole – a shawl or scarf, especially fur, worn loosely over the shoulders) was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. The non-GPK character, the older lady, steals the show for this image since she’s front and center, almost overpowering it with a glamourous, albeit garrish, low-cut gown and gaudy accesories and make-up. Closed eyes on the GPK character may have made it appear asleep rather than dead, so comic book-like X’s have been placed over the eyes and the tongue stuck out for good measure, to further symblize this death. The image was painted on a larger, longer sized canvas board. — Since the All-New Series (ANS) 4 set, released in 2005, most GPK sets now contain several different chase and parallel cards to collect, including artist sketch cards (pictured above). — The second 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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134a
HIP KIP — Rhyme; the name Kip with the word ‘hip’. def’n: Hip — Aware of the most recent developments or trends. Cognizant; wise. def’n: Hipster — One who is hip; cool. def’n: Beatnik – a young person in the 1950s/1960s belonging to a subculture of the beat generation. 134b WALT WITLESS — Nomenclature = Walt Whitman A name parody of the American poet; 1819-1892. def’n: Wit — Understanding; intelligence. def’n: Witless — Lack of understanding; intelligence.
& BOBS: — Pound’s maverick gag was one of many concepts that John executed for the OS4 set. The beatnik character is bedecked with the stereotyped beret, rounded sunglasses, Vandyck beard, turtleneck sweater, pair of sandals, set of bongo drums, a coffee mug, and a lit rolled cigarette (or joint). A well used bottle with candles sits next to the character reading a ‘Zen Poems’ book (aka Buddhist poetry) that’s humourously upside-down; a genre of literature that forms a part of Buddhist discourse that played a big part of the beat generation that revered zen—a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition. Enlightenment. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die-cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured at the bottom of the page). — The comic strip Nancy ran a strip where the character Sloggo was so bored he became a beatnik (pictured above). |
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135a
ROCK E. HORROR — Nomenclature = Rocky Horror. A parody of the Dr. Frank N. Furter character from the motion picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show. def’n: Horror — An intense feeling of fear, shock or disgust. A bad or mischievous person. 135b MARTY GRAS — Nomenclature = Mardi Gras. def’n: Mardi Gras — aka Shrine Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday is often celebrated by Carnival parades. Celebrated in New Orleans, LA, starting on Epiphany and ending before Ash Wednesday.
& BOBS: — Pound’s garrish gag titled ‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW; GPK‘ was the nineteenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The image is a character parody of Dr. Frank N. Furter (played by actor Tim Curry), the main protagonist from The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie released in 1975, down to a tattoo on his right arm; although, Dr. Frank N. Further has a heart with a dagger through it and the GPK character has a sailor anchor tattoo. Two notations at the bottom of the tight pencil and colour rough question: ‘FUR AROUND NECK?‘ and ‘SMILE or SNEER?‘; both questions stemming from actions and characteristics of the Dr. Frank N. Furter role. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die-cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured at the bottom of this page). |
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136a
SWOLLEN SUE ELLEN — Semi-rhyme; the name Sue Ellen with the word ‘swollen’. def’n: Swollen — Distended; bulging. 136b BLOATED BLAIR — Blair; B name to go with the word ‘bloat+ed’. def’n: Bloat — To make or become swollen or inflated. def’n: Cheek — The area of skin to either side of the face, below the eyes.
& BOBS: — Pound’s gluteus maximus mouth-like gag simply titled ‘BIG CHEEKS‘ and looks more like ‘Butt cheeks’ or an ‘ass face’ was the twentieth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The benign growths of skin-folds completely cover the character’s mouth (like a walrus) so the focus goes to the character’s eyes due to the empty negative space, but the warts and cheek hairs brings you back around the face. The upper cheek lines under the eyes have been removed from the concept after the tight pencil rough which emphasizes and lengthens the cheek area and shows the eyes and eyebrows in the forehead region of the face right next to the hairline. def’n: Butt cheeks – the two rounded prominences on the human torso that are posterior to the hips and formed by the gluteal muscles and underlying structures; the rear pelvic area. The buttocks. An ‘ass face’ is a person who behaves in an offensive or pompous manner. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die-cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured at the bottom of the page). |
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137a
MAX AXE — Rhyme; the name Max with the word ‘axe’. def’n: Axe — A chopping tool with a bladed head mounted on a handle. 137b DEADLY DUDLEY — Dudley; same sounding name to go with the word ‘deadly’. def’n: Deadly — Causing or capable of causing death. def’n: Executioner — An official who carries out a sentence of death on a condemned person; hangman.
& BOBS: — Pound’s headsman humour gag titled ‘AXEMAN‘ was the seventeenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The artwork is based off of the Warren Magazine publication for Creepy #17 comic cover from October 1967 created by artist Frank Frazetta titled ‘EXECUTIONER‘ that advertises ‘HAUNTED FEAR AND SHEER TERROR ILLUSTRATED!‘; 40¢. In comparison to Frazetta’s artwork (flipped mirror image), the hood was drawn to be more revealing to show off the CPK-like facial features, the axe position and arm stance remained the same and the dagger remains tucked into a belt, but vest removed with a tuft of yarn-like chest hair added. The chopping block was removed and replaced with a head basket and a token skull still remains, along with the blood dripping from the blade. — “[The artwork] was meant to stand on it’s own and wasn’t meant to be an explicit parody but we both knew it well. I was eight when I bought this off the newsstand!” — per Mark Newgarden (art director of NPD Department at Topps during the ’80s and early ’90s). — The third 0S4 GPK image with a single ‘TOOTH’. |
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138a
ALIEN IAN — Ian; a similar-sounding name to go with the word ‘alien’. def’n: Alien — science fiction. A creature from outer space. def’n: Extraterrestial — aka E.T. Of or from outside the earth; a fictional being from outer space. 138b OUTERSPACE CHASE — Rhyme; the name Chase with the words ‘outer space’. def’n: Outer space — Space beyond the limits of a celestial body or system. def’n: Martian — A hypothetical or fictional inhabitant of the planet Mars.
& BOBS: — Pound’s science fiction gag titled ‘MARS ATTACKS‘ was the fifthteenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The image is a parody of the Topps trading card set Mars Attacks released in 1962 featuring artwork from artists Norm Saunders and Wallace Wood. A notation at the bottom of the tight pencil and colour roughs state ‘HAS DIAPER OUTSIDE SUIT‘ that helps sell the CPK-image and distinguishes it along with the CPK shoes. — Although there were no revisions for the concept, the original colour rough had a purple, nighttime sky background; a colour copy was created and painted over with a blood red night sky (right). Topps employer Gary Gerani created the concept drawing for the Mars Attacks GPK parody and Mark Newgarden added the sneakers. — The OS4 set contains several slightly and heavily reduced GPK header sizes that don’t reach all the way under the ‘PEEL HERE‘ arrow; card #138 is slightly reduced just reaching to the arrow. — There contains four OS4 characters and sticker write-ups within the 2013 and 2014 MiniKins releases of resin figures that are reminiscent of the 1986 Cheap Toys characters; text by Pat Barrett and Colin Walton. |
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139a
DOUBLE IRIS — Nomenclature = Double eyes/irises. def’n: Double — Twice as much in number. Composed of two parts. Twofold. def’n: Iris — The pigmented, round, contracting membrane of the eyeball. 139b 4-EYED IDA — Rhyme; the name Ida with the words ‘four-eyed’. def’n: Four-eyes — deraogatory. For people who wear eyeglasses, spectacles. def’n: Eye — An organ of vision or of light sensitivity.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a facetious gag concept for OS4 which ended up being the first horizontally displayed character on card for the set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. The style, compared to Pound and Bunk, is slightly off, but somehow still works and the nine images he completed for the set remain iconic. — The clown-like attire with polka-dots and ruffled cuffs and neckline brings a comedic element to the concept, along with the prop glasses that hold four lenses. Burke’s characters’ digits are a bit longer than a CPK-doll and the highlights in the hair and under the chin are very distinctive; almost too much white/light highlights in the hair and an orange colour is used for the chin. Some of the darker facial brushstokes, especially on the hand, almost look furlike. The underchin and jawline are heavier in scope and the skin tends to have a redder tint for his pieces. |
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140a
MOUTH PHIL — Nomenclature = Mouthful. def’n: Mouthful — To have your mouth full of something (usually food). def’n: Mouth — The opening in the lower part of the face, surrounded by the lips. def’n: Mouthy — Inclined to talk a lot, especially in an impudent way. 140b TOOTH LES — Nomenclature = Toothless. def’n: Toothless — Lack of teeth. def’n: Tooth — One of a set of hard, bone-like structures rooted in the sockets of the jaws.
& BOBS: — Pound’s baseball gag titled ‘MOUTHFUL OF BASEBALLS‘ was the sixteenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. A baseball is roughly 2.9 inches in diameter, so the character’s mouth is stretched 14.5 inches; longer than a foot in length. The wooden bat most likely has a cupped end; the end of the barrel is hollowed out to remove a bit of weight. Art director, Mark Newgarden’s original rough concept sketch had the bat on the other shoulder and the character’s head as the baseball; which eventually became an OS7 concept. — The first of only two card characters with a pink Garbage Pail Kids header. The only other card with a pink header can be located within the 1st Series set for cards 12a Furry FRAN and 12b Hairy MARY; also painted by John Pound. The pink outlined star on the player’s baseball cap within the color rough became a yellow outlined star for the final artwork; perhaps this is where the GPK header took it’s pink logo color from. — The image was used as one of two OS4 characters out of ten for the 2nd Series U.S. Cheap Toys figurine line released in 1986 throughout French Canadian territories by the Novo BonBon company; #2 Mouth PHIL checklist art where the bat has been turned on end (extreme right right). |
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141a
ASHLEY CAN — Nomenclature = Ashcan. def’n: Ashcan — A metal receptacle for trash or ashes. def’n: Trash — Worthless or discarded material or objects; junk. def’n: Can — A metal container. 141b GRETA GARBAGE — Greta; G name to with the word ‘garbage’. A similar sounding name to the ’30s/’40s actress Greta Garbo. def’n: Garbage — Waste material. Worthless matter; trash.
& BOBS: — Bunk’s trash-pickin’ parody went through a few changes before the final product. The homeless woman looks like a Russian immigrant during the cold war, elbow deep in a NYC trashbin. The background contains Bunk’s signature cityscape outline and all versions contain a different coloured kerchief. The uncomfortable direct eye-contact was replaced with the character’s gaze looking into the garbage can instead, and the cigarette butt eventually removed from the image and replaced with a single tooth; the sleeping bag and extra shopping bag of the bag-lady was also bagged for the final artwork. A plethora of other Bunk props also made the painting; apple core, false teeth (in the form of a chattering teeth toy), and a mouse. Stench and odor fumes were also added to the final piece. — The fourth 0S4 GPK image with a single ‘TOOTH’. |
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142a
BRUCE MOOSE — Rhyme; the name Bruce with the word ‘moose’. def’n: Moose — A very large deer of northern North America having broad, flattened antlers. def’n: Antler — One of the branched horns on the head of an adult deer (usually male). 142b HUNTED HUNTER — Hunter; same sounding name to go with the word ‘hunt+ed’. def’n: Hunt — To pursue game for food or sport. The act or sport of hunting. def’n: Hunter — One who hunts; a huntsman.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a game gag concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. GPK cards #142 through 147 run a streak of seven Burke pieces in a row. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers and toes are a bit longer compared to the other artists and it’s interesting to note that the victim’s eyes contain no colour or pigment, and are white, since the character has been shot dead. The underchin and jawline are heavier in scope and the skin tends to have a redder tint for his pieces. The scattered leaves hint at an autumn hunt. — The card sticker can be found with an incorrect die-cut for card 142b, swapped with card 160b. This phenomenon can occur when the printing press is laid out for a new production run (true die-cut pictured near bottom of page). — The nomenclature for card 142a BRUCE Moose is a slight misnomer; the antlers pictured within the painting are for deer antlers with 11 tines, but moose antlers are broad and flattened (extreme right image). — The third 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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143a
MELBA TOAST — Nomenclature = Melba toast. A name parody of toasted chips named after Dame Nellie Melba (1861 – 1931). def’n: Melba toast — Very thinly sliced crisp toast. 143b HY RYE — Rhyme; the name Hy with the word ‘rye’. def’n: Rye — A widely cultivated cereal grass. def’n: Rye bread — Bread made wholly or partly with rye flour, typically with added caraway seeds.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a burnt-toast gag concept for OS4 set on a very long canvas board. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. GPK cards #142 through 147 run a streak of seven of nine of Burke’s pieces in a row for the set. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers and toes are a bit longer and not quite as defined compared to the other artists. — The character name ‘HY Rye’ is one of the shortest GPK nomenclature containing only five letters, along with the name change of card 158b Ig LOU. — The OS4 set contains several slightly and heavily reduced GPK header sizes that don’t reach all the way under the ‘PEEL HERE‘ arrow; card #143 is heavily reduced not even reaching the arrow. — The fifth 0S4 GPK image with a single ‘TOOTH’. |
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144a
HORNY HAL — Hal; an H name to go with the word ‘horn+y’. def’n: Horn — A wind instrument made of brass; a trumpet. def’n: Horny — informal. Feeling sexually aroused or excited. 144b RUDY TOOT — Nomenclature = Rooty toot; a musical expression. A potential name parody of the 1951 dark-comedy animated short film Rooty Toot Toot. def’n: Toot — To sound a horn or whistle in short blasts. The act or sound of tooting.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a burnt-toast gag concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. GPK cards #142 through 147 run a streak of seven of nine of Burke’s pieces in a row for the set. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers are usually a bit longer, but are quite plump for this character compared to his other work; the skin tone still has a very red tint. The nose isn’t quite CPK-like and it is unknown whether the ‘forehead wrinkle’ below the hairline was intentional or not, or a flaw in printing; both legs has a slightly awkward stance and/or positioning. The character is supporting tuxedo-striped pants and a bow tie. It is interesting to note that none of the character’s stubby fingers are covering any of the “instrument’s” holes, so the vocal chords must still be intact. — The fourth 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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145a
DALE SNAIL — Rhyme; the name Dale with the word ‘snail’. def’n: Snail — An aquatic or terrestrial mollusk with a spirally coiled shell and a distinct head. 145b CRUSHED SHELLY — Nomenclature = Crushed shell. def’n: Crush — To break, pound, or grind into small fragments or powder. def’n: Shell — The usually hard outer covering that encases certain organisms.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a mollusk gag concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. GPK cards #142 through 147 run a streak of seven of nine of Burke’s pieces in a row for the set. This may be the most polished GPK character by Burke, at least face-wise since it’s not a CPK-doll, per se. The underchin and jawline are heavier in scope and the skin tends to have a redder tint to his pieces, in general. — The OS4 set contains several slightly and heavily reduced GPK header sizes that don’t reach all the way under the ‘PEEL HERE‘ arrow; card #145 is heavily reduced not even reaching the arrow. — There contains four OS4 characters and sticker write-ups within the 2013 and 2014 MiniKins releases of resin figures that are reminiscent of the 1986 Cheap Toys characters; text by Pat Barrett and Colin Walton. The human’s foot (shoe & pants) has been removed from the artwork for the sticker image (right image). |
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146a
BAKED JAKE — Rhyme; the name Jake with the word ‘bake+d’. def’n: Bake (1) — To cook with continuous dry heat. The act or process of baking. def’n: Bake (2) — slang. The act of frying. To bake, to fry as in the sun. 146b DRY GUY — Rhyme; the name Guy with the word ‘dry’. def’n: Dry — Free from liquid or moisture. Needing drink; thirsty. To make or become dry.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a heat exhaustion humour gag concept for OS4 which ended up being the second horizontally displayed character on card for the set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. The style, compared to Pound and Bunk, is slightly off, but somehow still works, and the nine images he completed for the set remain iconic. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers are a bit skinnier and not quite as plump compared to the other artists; almost too much dark colour/shadow in the hair. The draggin’ feet in the sand is such a subtle, albeit, great finishing touch to the image. The underchin and jawline are heavier in scope and the skin tone tends to have a redder tint for his pieces; naturally so for this particular painting, due to the severe sunburn. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (picture near the bottom of the page). — The fifth 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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147a
AMAZIN’ GRACE — A parody of the song title Amazing Grace. def’n: Amaze — To fill with wonder; astonish. def’n: Grace — A virtue or gift granted by God. 147b MUSCULAR MOLLY — Molly: a M name to go with the word ‘muscular’. def’n: Muscular — Having well developed muscles.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a professional bodybuilding parody concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. GPK cards #142 through 147 run a streak of seven of nine of Burke’s pieces in a row for the set. The super-small hands and feet add to the juxtposition of the large muscle mass. The dimples of the character are so deep there is shadow and light surrouding the area of the skin and look like blackheads. — The OS4 set contains several slightly and heavily reduced GPK header sizes that don’t reach all the way under the ‘PEEL HERE‘ arrow; card #147 is slightly reduced just reaching the arrow. — The image is the female equivalent to the mass of muscle that makes up OS2 cards 51a RUSSELL Muscle and 51b BRETT Sweat. Although, the female version is in competition mode in a power pose stance with strained forehead and not sweating. The long pigtails and hair bows help add a bit of feminity to the piece. |
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148a
TURNED-ON TARA — Tara; a T name to go with the words ‘turned-on’. def’n: Turn — To start the operation of: Turn on the light. def’n: Turn on —slang. Something that brings great pleasure or excitement. 148b TIFFANY LAMP — Nomenclature = Tiffany lamp. A type of bedside light made with a (sometimes stained leaded) glass shade designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. def’n: Lamp — A device, equipped with an electric bulb, for providing light. def’n: Lampshade — A cover for a lamp used to soften or direct its light source.
& BOBS: — Bunk’s mouth-socket gag went through a few changes before the final product. The first tight pencil and colour rough shows the dresser facing forward where the switch cord is plugged in and then humourously unplugged (and remaining lit) with the pull-switch eventually removed from the concept. For the second tight pencil (and missing colour rough) the dresser was placed at an angle, a pattern suggested for the lamp shade and shirt—later removed and left plain, the alarm clock reinstated, and a on-and-off switch added to the base of the lamp. — A cut cord, spiderweb and dangling spider, buttons for the babydoll dress, ABC-gum and GPK cards were added to the dresser top and the dark shadow background removed for the final artwork. The alarm clock on the dresser top reads 12:55am which leaves the audience to believe the kid, out-of-frame, is up well past his bedtime; most likely sorting through his GPK collection. |
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149a
REESE PIECES — Nomenclature = Reese’s Pieces. A peanut butter candy in a candy shell (autumn colours) manufactured by the Hershey Co. The candy became popular after being featured in the movie E.T. after Mars/M & M’s turned down the cameo. def’n: Piece — To mend by adding a piece to. To join the pieces of. 149a PUZZLED PAUL — Paul: a P name to go with the word ‘puzzle+d’; double-meaning. def’n: Puzzle (1) — A toy, game or device that tests ingenuity. def’n: Puzzle (2) — To cause uncertainty and indecision. 149b INCOMPLETE PETE — Rhyme; the name Pete with the word ‘incomplete’. def’n: Incomplete — Not complete or whole. Not having all necessary or normal parts. def’n: Jigsaw — A puzzle containing a picture printed on cardboard and cut into various pieces and different shapes that need to be fitted back together to complete the image.
& BOBS: — Pound’s puzzle parody titled ‘JIGSAW PUZZLE GPK‘ was the sixth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. A notation at the bottom of the tight pencil and colour rough questions whether the character should be ‘BLACK?‘; which suggested diversity and all-inclusiveness within the character-doll population (and further sales). The character is not made out of cloth like a CPK doll, so the painting technique is quite different than Pound’s other Kids; it reads like a flat painting and colour sections have been outlined. The professional puzzler can be seen holding a piece of the puzzle and completing the jigsaw himself; visually, the puzzle can be completed by the viewer. — Due to cease and desist letters, Topps felt pressured to change the names of four card characters within the set to avoid any further lawsuits or complaints. The first and second print runs had the original name REESE Pieces, similar sounding to the candy confection Reese’s Pieces manufactured by the Hershey Co., and the third and fourth print runs had the name variant of Puzzled PAUL. Although the later numbered fifth production run was produced in Canada with the original names, it may have been printed prior to the name change occurance. The only ‘a’ name variation between the OS2 and OS4 name changes. One of two name changes with a yellow background and light blue nameplate that received a name in black text instead of white text. |
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150a
HAIRY HARRIET — Harriet; a similar-sounding name as the word ‘hair+y’. def’n: Hair — A fine, threadlike outgrowth from the skin of a mammal. def’n: Haircut — The trim or style in which a person’s hair is cut. 150b BUSHY BERNICE — Bernice: a B name to go with the word ‘bush+y’. def’n: Bushy — Growing thickly. Shaggy, unruly, bristly, et cetera. def’n: Bush — A dense, tufted growth.
& BOBS: — Bunk’s humourous hairy gag went through a few changes before the final product. The middle two pictured colour roughs are petty close to being the same, except for the color of the hair bows and combs are different and the mouse has changed locations. Both the eyelashes and eyebrows became bushier for the fianl artwork piece. The original colour rough, pictured to the extreme left, was in portrait-style instead of sitting down. The hair-remover container is being held in a different hand and an escaped bat is in addition to the mouse character. For the final artwork, hair has been added to the hands and feet and the eye direction slightly changed. — There contains four OS4 characters and sticker write-ups within the 2013 and 2014 MiniKins releases of resin figures that are reminiscent of the 1986 Cheap Toys characters; text by Pat Barrett and Colin Walton. — The sixth 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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151a
LOSING FAITH — Nomenclature = Losing faith. A popular saying; Losing one’s faith or religion; As in a trust or belief. def’n: Lose — To be unable to keep. To result in the loss of. def’n: Faith — A religion. The belief in God; religious conviction. 151b DYIN’ DINAH — Dinah: a similar-sounding name as the world ‘die+ing’. def’n: Dying — About to die. Drawing to an end; declining.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a humourous ‘hostage situation’ gag for the OS4 set. The image background depicts Bunk’s signature cityscape outline along with an unvolunteered suicide bomber. There are several subtle changes that occured between the colour rough stage and the final artwork; an airplane has been removed from the right and replaces the startled bird to the left of the picture. The more archaic styled ASM (air-to-surface missle; a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft at targets on land or sea) has been replaced with a newer model with a longer tail and a rounded nose with only one red stripe. From top-to-bottom: green hair ties have been added to the pigtails, the victim is now sweating-bullets profusely, a taped-mouth is replaced by a tied purple kerchief, a pattern has been added to the green dress, the character’s arms and hands are no longer bound behind her back and the brown dress shoes have been replaced with CPK-like runners. |
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152a
WHISPERIN’ WOODY — Nomenclature = Whispering wood; meaning, talking trees. def’n: Woody – consisting of or containing wood. def’n: Whisper — To speak or utter softly; without full voice. To make a soft rustling sound, as leaves. 152b VAN TRILOQUIST — Nomenclature = Ventriloquist. def’n: Ventriloquism — The art of practice of producing vocal sounds so that they seem to come from a source other than the speaker.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a humourous ‘happy puppet’ gag for the OS4 set. This image is the second wooden concept for the set after Pound’s opening cards 125a HOLLY Wood & 125b Woody ALAN (& 126 Oak KAY), one being a carved doll and the other having articulation and intended for ventriloquism. The smoking ventriloquism doll has a human businessman sitting upon his stiff leg; the businessman is seen with tightly closed body language, crossed arms and legs. A corporate businessman is thought to be easily controlled by others, told what to say, conforming to pointless ideals set by others and protecting them vehemently. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
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153a
JACK O. LANTERN — Nomenclature = Jacko’lantern. def’n: Jacko’lantern – A lantern made from a hollowed pumpkin with a carved face. 153b DUNCAN PUMPKIN — Rhyme; the name Duncan with the word ‘pumpkin’. def’n: Pumpkin – A large, round fruit with a thick orange yellow rind and numerous seeds. def’n: Gourd – A large, fleshy fruit with a hard skin growing from tendril-bearing vines that includes the family of cucumbers, melons, squash and pumpkin.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a gourd gag concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers are a bit longer and not quite as plump compared to the other artists. The self-carved character is holding a knife for pumpkin carving with skewered eye pieces impailed upon the blade. The nose and mouth pieces can be seen on the ground below the character and he’s holding a candle often placed within the gourd to light up the cut-out pieces. Eyebrows, dimples, ears, rosey cheeks and the cavity between the nose and mouth have been added to the jacko’lantern to give it CPK-like characteristics. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
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154a
BASKET CASEY — Nomenclature = Basket case. def’n: Basket case — informal. One who is in a completely hopeless or useless condition. def’n: Basket — A hoop with an open-ended net suspended from it, serving as a goal. 154b DRIBBLIN’ DEREK — Derek: a D name to go with the word ‘dribble+ing’. def’n: Dribble — The act of dribbling a ball. Repeated light bounces.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a humourous ‘basbekball’ got-game?-gag for the OS4 set where the player uses his own noggin as the dribbling ball. Compared to the colour rough, several changes took place for the final artwork stage. A number was added to the jersey shirt; the first GPK set to have the acronym located within the artwork. The CPK-like shoes acquired red stripes and shoelaces, the character was no longer Caucaisan and the backboard was changed to a green colour. The character’s head accumulated many more bumps and band-aids, the total number of plasters was raised from three to a staggering number of eleven for the final artwork piece. — Art director Mark Newgarden’s original GPK notebooks contained one-liner ideas and rough sketches. Later releases had ideas and concepts written on a large wall chart. The thumbnail, pictured to the left, shows the character bouncing his own head; the arrow labeled the drawing ‘baseketball head’ and the suggested name was ‘Dribbling DAVE’. — The seventh 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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155a
SPIKEY MIKEY — Rhyme; the name Mikey with the word ‘spike+y’. def’n: Spike — A large, heavy nail to impale, pierce or injure with a spike. def’n: Spiky — Having many spikes or sharp projecting points. informal. Easily offended. 155b NAILED NEIL — Neil; a similar-sounding name as the word ‘nail+ed’. def’n: Nail — A pointed piece of metal. def’n: Bed of nails — A board with nails pointing out of it, as lain on by fakirs and ascetics.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a ‘bed of nails’ (aka – a problematic or uncomfortable situation) gag for the OS4 set where the fakir or ascetic is unsuccessful at laying on the said bed of nails. In this case, the individual is a snake charmer holding onto a musical flute, called a pungi; both Hindu are characterized by the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence (usually for religious reasons). The character is covered in no less than fifteen band-aids and eight old scars. The image background depicts Bunk’s signature cityscape outline, of a South Asian town or sity, and a snake that has humourously swallowed a nail. — A similar first aid bandage box is found alongside the OS1 John Pound characters 15a Ailin’ AL and 15b Mauled PAUL. |
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156a
WARRIN’ WARREN — Warren: a similar-sounding name as the word ‘war+ring’. def’n: Warring — To wage or engage in war; to fight. def’n: Warfare — The engagement in or the activities involved in war or conflict; guerilla warfare. 156b BRETT VET — Rhyme; the name Brett with the word ‘vet’. def’n: Vet — informal. A war veteran. def’n: Veteran — A former member of the armed forces.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a spot-on ‘Rambo’ concept for the OS4 set that’s a direct parody of the ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ movie poster starring Sylvester Stallone (pictured to the right); the GPK image depicts an orange and yellow dusk setting rather than an explosive background. The colour rough had an art director notation with the word ‘MUSCLES‘, instructing Bunk to add larger chest and arm muscles to the character to match the poster; Bunk also matched the scarring on the movie character. The colour rough had darker hair, that more closely matched the Rambo character, but was changed to short red hair instead, but still contains the iconic bandana. Besides the picture-esque rocket launcher with added eye scope the colour rough slightly downsized the gear amount but the final artwork still displays an abundant amount of weapons including four grenades, three arrows, two blades (a katana and hunting knife), one M60 bullet belt and a lit stick of dynamite between the character’s chompers. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
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157a
LARRY LIPS — Larry: a L name to go with the plural word ‘lip+s’. def’n: Lip — The fleshy, muscular folds of tissue surrounding the mouth. def’n: Lip plate — aka lip plug or disc. A form of body modification with the insertion of increasingly-sized discs made of clay or wood into the pierced hole in either the upper or lower lip, or both and stretching it. 157b DISTORTIN’ MORTON — Rhyme; the name Morton with the word ‘distort+ing’. def’n: Distort — To twist out of a proper or natural shape.
& BOBS: — Pound’s lip plate parody titled ‘UBANGI WHITEBOY GPK‘ was the eighteenth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. Both lip and neck stretching are both forms of body modifications in parts of Africa (Ubangi) and other locations traditionally for women as a sign of beauty. Caucasian male equality outcry? The ‘giraffe women’ of eastern Burma wear brass rings around their necks to make them appear longer—the neck itself is not stretched, but the brass pushes down on the muscles around the collarbones and compresses the ribs which gives the allusion that the neck is longer. ‘White boy’ is slang for a favoured or privileged Caucasion male having special rights, advantages and/or immunities. — The character is sporting a polo shirt that’s a possible parody of the Lacoste crocodile clothing emblem which plays off on the long lips of the distorted character. |
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158a
MELTIN’ ELTON — Rhyme; the name Elton with the word ‘melt+ing’. def’n: Melt — To change from a solid to a liquid state. def’n: Snowman — A representation of a human being figure created with compressed snow and objects. 158b CRYSTAL GALE — A name parody on the famous country singer Crystal Gayle. def’n: Crystal — something similar to crystal, as in transparency. def’n: Gale — A very strong, gusty, usually chilly wind. 158b IG LOU — Nomenclature = Igloo. def’n: Igloo — An Eskimo house, sometimes built of blocks of ice or hard snow.
& BOBS: — Bunk executed a rhinoplasty ‘snowjob’ (aka – snowman with a nose job) gag for the OS4 set where the character is attempting to warm up by roasting itself over an open fire. The first colour rough had a frontview and the second had a sideview; the second colour rough contained an arrow from the art director for the artist to angle the character more to the left. The final artwork with a long nose was shortened, by and at the NPD department’s behest, to appear more CPK-like. The original long-nosed version strangely appears within the 2012 GPK Abrams book, the 2013 holiday Greeting Cards set sold by Topps online, and the later 2022 OS Chrome 4 set. — Due to cease and desist letters, Topps felt pressured to change the names of four card characters within the set to avoid any further lawsuits or complaints. The first and second print runs had the original name CRYSTAL Gale, similar sounding to the country singer Crystal Gayle, and the third and fourth print runs had the name variant of Ig LOU. Although the later numbered fifth production run was produced in Canada with the original names, it may have been printed prior to the name change occurance. |
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159a
CATTY KATHY — Kathy; a similar-sounding name as the word ‘cat+ty’. def’n: Catty — Subtly malicious. def’n: Cat — A carnivorous mammal domesticated as a pet. 159b KITTY LITTER — Nomenclature = Kitty litter; a product used for the disposal of feline waste material. def’n: Kitty — A kitten or cat. def’n: Litter — Carelessly scattered scraps of waste material. def’n: Litter box — A box or tray containing granular material into which a feline can urinate and defecate.
& BOBS: — Burke executed a ‘Garfield’ gag cat character concept for OS4 set. Relatively little, if not nothing, is known about artist David Burke who was tested out by the NPD Department to start working on GPK during the OS4 release. Burke’s characters’ CPK-doll fingers feel a bit longer and not quite as plump compared to the other artists. A clump of orange-yellow hair has been placed on the top of the character’s head to humanize the feline parody and excessively long cat whiskers added to the rosy cheek area. The Garfield comic strip was created by Jim Davis and has been published since 1978; like the GPK image, the feline is known for his laziness, obsessive eating and his disdain for diets. — The image was used as one of two OS4 characters out of ten for the 2nd Series U.S. Cheap Toys figurine line released in 1986 throughout French Canadian territories by the Novo BonBon company; #6 Catty KATHY checklist art where the food dish has been removed from the image and the rat raised along with the front leg/arm. A full tail cat tail can now be seen (pictured above). |
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160a
DECAPITATED HEDY — Nomenclature = Decapitated head. def’n: Decapitate — To behead. def’n: Head — The anterior bodily extremity containing the brain. 160b FORMALDE HEIDI — Nomenclature = Formaldehyde. def’n: Formaldehyde — A colorless gaseous compound (HCHO), used in an aqueous solution as a preservative (science lab critters) and as a disinfectant.
& BOBS: — Pound’s bodiless gag titled ‘HEAD IN LAB JAR’ was the fifth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. An ‘Isolated Brain’ is a brain kept alive in vitro (meaning in the glass.) by either perfusion by a blood substitute—the passage of fluid through the living tissue or submerging the brain in oxygenated artificial CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). The GPK concept is more of a ‘head transplant’ situation, keeping the head alive with two oxygen connections (nose and trachea), at least two for the nervous system, two for the transfer of blood and two for sensory connections. It is unknown what the revision was for the concept but the only change from the tight pencil and colour rough to the final artwork is the inclusion of air bubbles coming from one of the character’s nostrils; a nice added touch. — The card sticker can be found with an incorrect die-cut for card 160b swapped with card 142b. This phenomenon can occur when the printing press is laid out for a new production run (pictured above; the actual die-cut image is picture further below near the bottom of the page). |
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161a
SHORNED SEAN — Sean: SH sounding name to go with the word ‘shorn+ed’. def’n: Shorn — Past participle of shear. def’n: Shear — To remove by cutting with a sharp instrument. def’n: Shave — To cut the hair off one’s face with a razor. 161b HY GENE — Nomenclature = Hygiene. def’n: Hygiene — Practices and conditions for the promotion of health and the prevention of disease.
& BOBS: — Pound’s shaving nick gag titled ‘SHAVING GPK‘ was the forth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The character may have cut himself on the forehead and on the cheek bone area; a shaving nick can be caused by a disposable razor, straight razor, et cetera. Falling whiskers and dripping blood from the wounded area can be seen collecting and pooling on the reflective countertop. The image also contains a generic shaving cream can and foam that softens the facial hair and readies the skin for shaving. The character is seen holding a styptic pencil (aka nick stick) which is a medicated substance, often alum; a colorless astringent compound, that stops bleeding when applied to a wound and treats small cuts. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
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162a
YICCHY MICKEY — Rhyme; the name Mickey with the made up word ‘yicchy’. A combination of ‘yucky’ and ‘icky’. def’n: Yucky — informal. Messy or disgusting. def’n: Icky — informal. nasty or repulsive; distasteful. 162b BARFIN’ BART — Bart; a similar-sounding name as the word ‘barf+ing’. def’n: Barf — informal. To throw-up, puke, upchuck, vomit. def’n: Vomit — To eject the contents of the stomach.
& BOBS: — Pound’s garbage gag titled ‘EATS GARBAGE‘ was the eighth approved and revised concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The character is sporting a protective bib garment and dressed in a nice suit which hints that the place is considered a fine dining establishment—a formal style of eating at an expensive restaurantl juxtaposed with the plate of trash. The word ‘dispose’ is located on the tight pencil where the character is acting as a human disposal; items that have been discarded, jettisoned, scrapped, junked, etc. The plate of delicacies include green slime, a black beetle, a human finger, tentacles, a snake, no less than seven eyeballs, a chicken leg, a nail, a tin corn can, a set of false teeth, a land snail (aka escargot), a lizard—with an embedded pocket-knife and a cigarette butt. Stench aroma and a garbage fly polish off the painting. — The second 0S4 GPK image with a ‘CORN CAN’. |
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163a
TRISH SQUISH — Rhyme; the name Trish with the word ‘squish’. def’n: Squish — A solf squelching sound. def’n: Squash — To press, squeeze, or flatten to a pulp; crush. 163b RUBY CUBE — Nomenclature = Rubix cube. A name and shape parody of a popular 80’s puzzle toy. def’n: Cube — A solid having six congruent square faces. Something shaped like a cube.
& BOBS: — Pound executed a trash compactor concept for the OS4 set; an appliance that comresses trash and rubbish for the ease of disposal into small convenient bundles. The image is composed of the cubed character along with a half-eaten fudgsicle, a bone, an apple core, a can of corn, a banana peel, blue watery substance, pink gum-like sludge and green goo. Stench aroma and garbage flies polish off the painting. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). — The third 0S4 GPK image with a ‘CORN CAN’. — The eighth 0S4 GPK image with a ‘TONGUE’ sticking out. |
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164a
TEDDY BEAR — Nomenclature = Teddy bear. Teddy: nickname of Theodore Roosevelt; past U.S. President. def’n: Teddy bear — A child’s toy bear. def’n: Bear — Any of various large mammals having a shaggy coat and a short tail. 164b SALVATORE DOLLY — Nomenclature = Salvador Dalí; a Spanish surrealist artist born in 1904. def’n: Dolly — A child’s word for a doll. def’n: Doll — A small model of a human (et cetera) used as a child’s toy. 164b BATTERED BRAD — Brad; a B name to go with the word ‘batter+ed’; battered bad-ly. def’n: Batter — To pound or damage with heavy blows.
& BOBS: — Pound’s stuffed animal parody titled ‘BATTERED TEDDY-BEAR GPK ‘ was the twenty-first approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. The later revised concept, seen in pencil with no ink, had the teddy bear holding onto a miniature sized CPK doll in tandem, which added to perpetual parody, in order to play off the human holding onto the stuffed animal—a toy animal made of fabric stuffed with a soft filling…not to be confused with a dead animal that has been stuffed by a taxidermist. Pound also questioned the ‘EARS?‘ on the concept and the character’s right ear has been mostly removed for the final artwork. The heavily battered teddy bear has numerous stitched scars, a missing eye, soiled spots and stains, a missing ear, lost stuffing, mulitiple snags and a button-nose falling off. The human is wearing a pair of black Converse high-tops with CPK-shoe stripes. — Due to cease and desist letters, Topps felt pressured to change the names of four card characters within the set to avoid any further lawsuits or complaints. The first and second print runs had the original name SALVATORE Dolly, similar-sounding to the surrealist Salvador Dalí, and the third and fourth print runs had the name variant of Battered BRAD; ‘Battered’ taken from the concept title. Although the later numbered fifth production run was produced in Canada with the original names, it may have been printed prior to the name change occurance. One of two name changes with a yellow background and light blue nameplate that received a name in black text instead of white text. |
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165a
DANA DRUFF — Nomenclature = Dandruff. def’n: Dandruff — Small white scales of dead skin shed from the scalp. 165b FLAKEY FAY — Fay; F name to go with the word ‘flake+y’. def’n: Flake — To come off in flakes and thin pieces. def’n: Flaky — Made of flakes, forming flakes.
& BOBS: — Pound executed a dandruff concept for the OS4 set with an excessive amount of flakes; a snowfall amount. Do you remember the scene in 1985’s The Breakfast Club where the outcast character Allison, played by Ally Sheedy, makes it snow on the library table with her dandruff? Flakes are a good indication of a dry scalp or other skin condition and dandruff can have several causes: not cleaning or scrubbing enough, seborrhoeic dermatitis, cleaning too often, psoriasis, sensitivity to hair care products, exzema, yeast-like fungus, et cetera. The character is maddeningly combing and brushing her head in order to comb or brush out the excessive amount of dandruff to the point of sufficient hair loss. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
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166a
GORED GORDON — Gordon; a similar-sounding name to go with the word ‘gore+d’. def’n: Gore – To stab with a horn or tusk. 166b NO WAY JOSÉ — Rhyme; the name José with the words ‘no way’; slang. def’n: No – Used to express refusal. Not at all. def’n: No way (aka no-wise) – In no way, manner, or degree; not at all.
& BOBS: — Pound’s matador gag titled ‘BULLFIGHTER‘ was the twenty-fifth approved concept that John executed for the OS4 set per his artwork notes. A bullfighter or matador is a person who participates in a bullfight; a traditional Spanish, Portuguese or Latin America spectacle in which a bull is fought by a matador—assisted by banderilleros and picadors. Usually the bull is killed through repeated stabs attempting to find the heart; but the matador can be injured or killed by being gored with the bull’s horns or, in this case, by getting a ‘hole in one’-self. — Most of the original GPK cards had very unique die cuts for their sticker pattern—adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise (pictured near bottom of page). |
Definitions taken in part from The
American Heritage Dictionary.
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The original GPK sets all had unique die-cuts for their sticker outline,
adopted from the Wacky Packages franchise.
