The
NPD department would create the revised 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. The later
interation of GPK comics would be titled The Garbage Gang.

“The 6th I did. I did the
roughs and drew the final art. I think I did all the backs of this series. Those
comic strips on the GPK backs … in the mid ’70s we did a series of wax
paper comic strips that went in the Bazooka gum called BAZOOKA JOE PRESENTS
Lil’ Monsters [Creeps]. These were comics that I wrote and drew
of child versions of Frankenstein, Wolfman , Mummy, Dracula, etc. This series
was released as the wax paper bubblegum comics … around ’76 or ’77, I think.
Anyway … when we did the comic backs of the GPK cards, we just used the gags
from the Lil’ Monsters series.”
circa 2003, JAY Lynch.

—
The comic back for OS6 reverse
card 208a JOEL Hole and 208b Teed-Off TOM FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 14a Potty SCOTTY (and 14b JASON Basin), seen sitting
on a chair rather than in a commode, conversing with the OS2 character for card
78a Wrinkled RITA (and 78b Ancient ANNIE), seen without her poodle pup and complete,
colourful dress; she plays the parental voice-of-reason for several comic backs
(including cards #218, #219 and #226), while sporting her pearls-of-wisdom. NOTE:
necklace seen uncoloured in the second comic panel.

—
The character is holding a generic box of cornflakes and asking if he can pour
himself a ‘BOWLFUL‘, thus, the gag double wordplay meaning
a ‘toilet’ bowl and not technically a ‘cereal’ bowl. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
line hints about friends smiling to your face but (in a literal sense) backstabbing
you with a sharp instrument. The novelty product ‘#90849’ facially, and somewhat
‘swimmingly’ pokes fun at Sea-Monkeys (aka brine shrimp), novelty aquarium
pets, that always made the anthropomorphic female characters appear dolled-up
with make up.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 211a See More SEYMOUR and 211b Coy ROY FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 45a Leaky LINDSAY (and 45b Messy TESSIE), seen with
only a little leakiness, conversing with the OS1 character for cards 8a ADAM Bomb
and 8b Blasted BILLY, seen without his iconic mushroom cloud. The same characters
can also be found on the comic back for OS6 reverse card #239 where the ‘FEATURING
LEAKY LINDSAY’ is the only name listed on the comic strip
for both trading card backs. For some unknown reason, the ‘ADAM BOMB‘
nomenclature is missing.

—
The ADAM
Bomb character is holding a picket sign (for picket lines) reading ‘NUKES
FOR NERDS NOW!‘ that pays tribute to his atomic-bomb upbringing and is
the antithesis to most anti-war demonstrations that outcry for ‘PEACE
NOT WAR‘ and ‘LOVE NOT HATE’. The Leaky LINDSY character
is of course showcasing the maneuver for picking your nose, “PICKET!”
and the homophome meaning “Pick it!” NOTE: ADAM
Bomb has the same end-result reaction for both of his comic strips.
The ‘FORTUNE:‘
pokes fun at two entirely different definitions for the word ‘pick’. The novelty
product ‘#39604’ is the opposite of the infamous Snake-in-a-Can prank where a
snake jumps out of the can and are not salted nuts.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 212a Upliftin’ CLIFTON and 212b Air-Head JED
FEATURES
the OS2 character for card (68a OLIVER Twisted and) 68b Dizzy DAVE, seen in his
exact likeness, conversing with the OS2 character for card (47a Disgustin’ JUSTIN
and) 47b Vile KYLE, seen without his motorcycle; he plays the ‘playground’ bully
for two comic backs, while sporting his infamous ‘BEER‘
can. You’re not able to see his Viking ring, but the skull and crossbones symbol
seen on his motorcycle is also a tattoo on his right shoulder.

—
It’s humorous
to see the Dizzy DAVE character in an even bigger predicament than he is in his
original card image, ‘playing’ the spinning game while having his foot nailed
to the floor, with Vile KYLE having a hammer in hand, this really increases the
funny factor. The ‘FORTUNE:‘ hints at possibly being
bullied at school, doing poorly gradewise, or you’re being sent to the principal’s
office. The novelty product ‘#48907’ is a non-powered, old-fashioned sundial—an
instrument showing the time by the shadow of a pointer cast by the sun onto a
plate marked with the hours of the day; the ‘power’ of the sun. WARNING:
no sun = no time.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 213a OTTO Whack and 213b ELLIOT Mess FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 2a Junkfood JOHN (and 2b RAY Decay), seen without his
plethora of confectionery and sitting in a big-boy chair, conversing with the
OS2 character for card 76a BONNIE Bunny (and 76b Pourin’ LAUREN), seen waitressing
& serving, naturally, but without her trusty serving tray and baby bottle
cocktail concoction.

—
It’s slightly
ironic that a pig-boy character was indeed released within the OS2 set as we witness
the BONNIE Bunny character checking her body-shaming feet. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
may hint at the fact of a young prepubescent kid watching a pubescent young adult
taking off their clothes, hinting at the subtle undressing of the comic “strip”.
Or, trying pigs feet for the first time. The gag for novelty product ‘#10986’
is that a boomerang is supposed to return to the thrower, but also that
the buyer is getting a very used and banged up product. Limited quantity!

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 215a Gnawing NORA and 215b Nervous NELLIE FEATURES
the OS3 character for card (122a Broad MAUD and) 122b Large MARGE, seen smeared
with a plethora of confectionery stains and somehow standing erect, conversing
with the OS1 character for card 30a New Wave DAVE (and 30b Graffiti PETEY), still
seen spray-painting but also standing in a nice frontal profile like his Cheap
Toys figurine.

—
There
may be a large enough sugar content in the orange fruit to sidetrack Large
MARGE from the color orange and her original poll; the character is seen in a
new dark pink dress, instead of her purple dress, wtih a split down her left side
(panel 3) with the same green ice cream and yellow frosting spills. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
is a fear-instilling premonition to keep you on your toes for whatever reason,
especially if you’re caught defacing and damaging private property. The humor
for the novelty product ‘#40632′ is attempting to pull the wool over kids’ eyes
selling square marbles; they could be used as mini-blocks and I have a hunch the
“rat hide” (instead of rawhide — stiff untanned leather usually
from a cow) pouch would be more fun than the non-circular marbles.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 217a Trashy TRUDY and 217b ROSE Dispose FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 2a Junkfood JOHN (and 2b RAY Decay), seen holding one
piece of candy-cane confection and ABC gum whilst standing upright, conversing
with the OS3 character for card 84a JOE Blow (and 84b ROD Wad), seen without his
popped gum bubble and with his arms to his sides, non-CPK-esque style.

—
There
must’ve been enough sugar and flavor within the ABC (already been chewed) gum
for it to still rate highly with JOE Blow; the phonetically spelled ‘PTUI’ text
seen within panel #3 is traditionally spelled ‘PTOOEY’, an imitation noise for
the sound of spitting. The ‘FORTUNE:‘ is the comic
publication actually stating that its product is junk and the buyer is warping
themself. The gag for the novelty product ‘#80192’ is that it was obtained within
a school cafeteria setting, possibly out of a lunchlady’s hands. Chicken meat
is considered a ‘cheap’-er price than most meat, a low poultry sum.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 218a TOM Thumb and 218b BRIDGET Digit FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 78a Wrinkled RITA (and 78b Ancient ANNIE), seen without
her poodle pup and her patterned dress with purple flowers; she plays the parental
voice-of-reason for several comic backs (including cards #208, #219 and #226),
while sporting her pearls-of-wisdom, conversing with the OS1 character for card
(3a Up CHUCK and) 3b Heavin’ STEVEN, seen spewing vomit without toys, ‘BARF!‘,
and holding his baby bottle.

—
The barfing
character is missing his toy collection of a green truck, gold fish, building
block (that contains his card number ‘3A’) and house or car key. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
is also another fear-instilling threat that leaves the reader wondering what they’re
not supposed to do, trouble may ensue; perhaps making unnecessary messes. The
novelty product ‘#16843’ would only be funnier if it contained fecal matter; ‘A
BRIEF(s) [legless underpants] MOMENT OF FUN—A LENGTHY
PRISON SENTENCE.‘ Perhaps that’s what you’re not supposed to do pertaining
to the ‘FORTUNE‘.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 219a GEORGE Washingdone and 219b Pressed PRESTON
FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 20a Swell MEL (and 20b Dressy JESSE), outside his bedroom
sporting a new matching accoutrement, conversing with the OS2 character for card
78a Wrinkled RITA (and 78b Ancient ANNIE), seen without her poodle pup; she plays
the parental voice-of-reason for several comic backs (including cards #208, #218
and #226), while sporting her pearls-of-wisdom. NOTE: necklace
not colored correctly in the 1st & 2nd comic panels.

—
The fashionista
is also wearing a pair of knock-off pearls, or cheap yellow beads, that matches
his new purse; brick not included. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
hints that the reader will most likely be peed on at some point by a poodle or
other type of canine; aka a “golden shower”… perhaps by Wrinkled
Rita’s missing poodle. The novelty product ‘#40319’ promises to be another used
and discarded item for sale; comes with a free pile of ‘BAG-O-ASHTRAY
DUMPINGS‘ (#40847) and not to be confused with the ‘BURNED-OUT
TULIP BULBS‘ (#40318) premium. There must be one HUGE inventory of novelty
items.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 223a Lolly POPPY and 223b LILY Popped FEATURES
the OS1 character for card 10a Tee-Vee STEVIE (aka ‘T.V. STEVIE’ and 10b
Geeky GARY), circled by only four extra TV sets rather than eight, conversing
with the OS1 character for card (31a Run Down RHODA and) 31b Flat PAT, seen inside
without her gum remnants. No gumption, this one!

—
The card
back adds some shocking information to the GPK canon, that the two characters
are siblings; they’re at least from the same ‘litter’ or series. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
hints that the collector will most likely get doubles … most likely for the
comics, but also, possibly for the sticker trading cards. And, as completists
know, if trying to complete a set will most likely get triples before doing so.
The novelty product
‘#10785’ promises a ‘VENUS FLY TRAP‘, instead of a venus’s-flytrap
— a plant named after a flytrap, a trap to catch flies … not a ‘fly’, slang
for pants zipper. The section pays tribute to The Garment District (aka
the Garment Center, the Fashion District or the Fashion Center), a neighborhood
located in the borough of Manhattan in New York City and other cities.

Original
Final Artwork: JOHN POUND

Original Series
— two Puzzle Preview cards: 207 + 242 —
twenty-one Puzzle Piece cards: 209, 210, 214, 216,
220, 221, 222, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 234, 236, 237, 240, 244, 246, 247, 249
+ 250

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 224a MONTE Zuma and 224b Pagan MEGAN FEATURES
the OS1 character for card (122a Broad MAUD and) 122b Large MARGE, sporting her
new dark pink dress again, but with dark pink ice cream and drips (no yellow or
green for this comic), conversing with the OS1 character for card (47a Disgustin’
JUSTIN and) 47b Vile KYLE, seen without his chopper. You’re not able to see his
Viking ring, but the skull and crossbones symbol seen on his motorcycle is also
a tattoo on his right shoulder, slightly colored in the first two panels.

—
Waste
not, want not. This is the second time a female character is referenced as a ‘PIG‘
for the OS6 comic backs. The ‘BURP‘ is from Vile KYLE’s
infamous ‘BEER‘ can side affects. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
could be the possibility that their house is on fire, someone has died, they’re
in trouble, or worse, their GPK collection has been stolen. The
novelty product ‘#9993’ is a gag on plastic ‘FAKE BARF‘
often seen for sale as a prank item in joke shops/sections, much like ‘FAKE
POO‘. The dry ice mentioned is a cold dense white mist, produced
by solid carbon dioxide in the air; unlike regular solid ice, dry ice vapor would
not hold the product or contents in place. This only adds to the subtle
humour.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 226a Pierced PEARL and 226b Cheap JEWEL FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 78a Wrinkled RITA (and 78b Ancient ANNIE), seen without
her poodle pup and with her [complete] patterned dress, but with purple flowers;
she plays the parental voice-of-reason for several comic backs (including cards
#208, #218 and #219), while sporting her pearls-of-wisdom, conversing with the
OS2 character for card (52a Dirty HARRY and) 52b ROB Slob, still seen within his
natural environment and wading in his own filth.

—
Out of
the four comics starring Wrinkled RITA, this is the most detailed dress with complete
flowers (purple instead of blue) and the pearl necklace not painted over. A brick
and board with nail replaces the corncob and ‘POP‘ can within
ROB Slob’s pigsty/pigpen. The ‘FORTUNE:‘ comic reader
has a open-handed slap across their face coming to them; a parody of the older
‘slap on a smile’ phrase; one can be slapped silly. The novelty product ‘#30241’
is a picture parody of go-kart racing and radio-controlled cars in one. The ‘CHOPPED
LIVER‘ expression stems from the fact that the acquired taste of this organ
plate of food was traditionally served as a side dish rather than a main course.
The phrase, therefore, is meant to express a feeling of being overlooked, as a
“side dish”, as in “What am I, chopped liver?” In this case,
the oddball flavor is the odd man out and the least favourite.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 228a CASPER Gasper and 228b Uncool CARL FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 79a Sewer SUE (and 79b MICHELLE Muck), seen wallowing
in sewage, conversing with the OS2 character for card (52a Dirty HARRY and) 52b
ROB Slob, still enveloped in his own filth, as seen in the previous comic (#226).
All five flies, and then some, can be seen within the comic from both of the trading
card images,collectively (panel 4).

—
Although
ROB Slob’s nether regions is always out of the picture, Sewer SUE is still sporting
her diapers; her detail is quite nice except the pink item (plastic bag?) within
the trading card image remains uncoloured for the comic. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
states the obvious. The trope, seen ad nauseum within pop culture, is an anvil
= a heavy steel or iron block with a flat top, concave sides, and typically a
pointed end on which metal can be hammered and shaped. The novelty product ‘#50863’
is simply a wrapped box. One cannot refund an invisible item.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 230a MANUEL Labor and 230b Handy ANDY FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 77a Ghastly ASHLEY (and 77b Acne AMY), seen as a picture-perfect
spitting image as her trading card, conversing with the OS2 character for card
(65a Shrunken ED and) 65b Cheeky CHARLES, seen with the same small facial features
and holding a ‘DICTIONARY‘ that’s hiding his striped shirt.

—
The dictionary
defines ‘GROSS‘ as the informal definition in this
case: Very unpleasant; repulsive. But the ‘imagery joke’ is a classic, especially
for an encyclopedia that often has pictures. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
instills a false sense of hope, planting the seed for narcissism and grandiosity.
The novelty product ‘#30418’ cannot be heard because it doesn’t work, hence ‘SILENT
WHISTLE‘; it’s either broken or missing it’s cork ball. Selling real estate
in wetlands is difficult, you may have seen houses up on stilts? Swampland is
below the water table—the upper level of an underground surface in which
the soil or rocks are permanently saturated with water. It’s usually expensive
to insure.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 235a Ugly HANS and 235b JAN Hand FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 62a Greaser GREG (and 62b CHRIS Hiss), without his
chain links and switchblade, but still with a cigarette, conversing with the OS2
character for card (67a Pony LISA and) 67b MONA Loser, seen with an array of different
facial expressions and her same hand positions in all three panels, as if still
posing and attempting to hold still for the painting.

—
Mold (or
mould) and mildew damage is a real concern for restoring and preserving old works
of art paintings. The old smell is often referred to as a ‘musty odor’. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
is a blantant ‘hint’ since the reader has been too stupid to realize this themselves;
danger, danger! The novelty product ‘#67413’ has holes in it like swiss
cheese; rust is the oxidation of metal, especially in the presence of moisture.
Swiss cheese is a style of cheese originating in Switzerland, typically containing
large holes; this term is often used figuratively to refer to something that is
full of holes, gaps or defects. Offer void in ‘NEUTRAL COUNTRIES‘
… Swiss neutrality is one of the main principles of Switzerland’s foreign policy;
not to be involved in armed conflicts between other states. The ‘SWISS
CHEESE ARMY KNIFE‘ would most likely not be available in Switzerland.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 238a MARC Spark and 238b CHERRY Bomb FEATURES
the OS3 character for (card 95a Grim JIM and) 95b BETH Death, without her trusty
spider and hourglass, conversing with the OS2 character for card 5a Dead TED (and
5b JAY Decay), seen with slightly less deterioration than his card image and a
brand spanking new striped shirt without his ribs showing.

—
Of course,
to ‘COMPOSE‘ is to write or create poetry or music, whereas
the play on words ‘DECOMPOSING‘ means (in reference to a
dead body) to make or become rotten; decay or cause to decay. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
is the prepubescent’s facial nightmare going through puberty and those awkward,
formative teen years. The novelty product ‘#7734’ introduces ‘battle royale’ to
your neighborhood block; basically, what kid can be the last one bitten and outlast
the other kids? You are able to mail some bugs through the U.S. Postal Service,
but mainly for medical purposes and research; this particular creature may be
prohibited by law.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 239a JERRY Atric and 239b ABRAHAM Wrinklin’ FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 45a Leaky LINDSAY (and 45b Messy TESSIE), seen with
nary a leak, but a hard booger instead, conversing with the OS1 character for
cards 8a ADAM Bomb and 8b Blasted BILLY, seen without his iconic mushroom cloud.
The same characters can also be found on the comic back for OS6 reverse card #211
where the ‘FEATURING LEAKY LINDSAY’ is the only name
listed on the two comic strips. For some unknown reason, the ‘ADAM BOMB’ nomenclature
is missing.

—
The ADAM
Bomb character is holding a hard piece of snot, which is the antithesis of Leaky
LINDSAY’s parody of constantly having a runny nose (including within the GPK Movie),
but then again, ADAM’s head isn’t exploding either. The ‘FORTUNE:‘
pokes fun at the fact that you have no lucky number, you’re unlucky. Zero
is more of a concept than a number, a placeholder, if you will. The novelty product
‘#8686’ raises the answer to the problem of toxic landfills and chemicals leaking
into the environment, don’t bury it, sell it! Of course the offer is ‘VOID‘
in New Jersey, at the time, that’s where the GPK cards were created and produced,
in Lower Manhattan, NY, right across the Hudson River.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 243a LEE Tree and 243b SHERWOOD Forest FEATURES
the OS2 character for card 80a Tattoo LOU (and 80b ART Gallery), seen with all
ink pretty much intact, conversing with the OS2 character for card (67a Pony LISA
and) 67b MONA Loser, seen with several of different facial expressions and her
same hand positions in two of the three comic panels, as
if still posing and attempting to hold still for the painting.

—
Unlike
the card character, a few of the head tattoos are actually colored in; The ‘HD’
shield with wings tattoo on his chest is most likely a shout-out to Harley Davidson
choppers. The ‘FORTUNE:‘ is a win-win… a win for
Topps, any stupid person knows this, plus, it sells more Bazooka chewing gum for
the company. The novelty product ‘#20321’ is not the plastic SHERRIF’s badge of
old, this one could land you in prison with a custodial sentence! The ‘VOID
WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW‘ caveat, for impersonating a police officer, is
pretty much inforced internationally.

—
The comic
back for OS6 reverse card 245a Shish K. BOB and 239b BARBIE Q. FEATURES
the OS2 character for (card 80a Split KIT) and 81b Mixed-Up MITCH, seen without
his trusty pistol, conversing with the OS2 character for card 76a BONNIE Bunny
(and 76b Pourin’ LAUREN), seen serving and waitressing but without her trusty
serving tray and baby bottle cocktail drink; very similar poses to comic back
#213.

—
Unlike
the card character, Mixed-Up MITCH has red and pink-dyed hair instead of pink
and green. The ‘FORTUNE:‘ is more of a demand and
a blatant outcry to mouth-breathers, meaning—informal for a stupid
person; either catching flies or drooling. Another holey item, novelty product
‘#91037’ would not get you to the World Series unfortunately, hence the ‘NOT
RECOMMENDED FOR MAJOR LEAGUE‘ warning. If you’re from the town of ‘LOSERVILLE‘,
your’e a loser for life. It’s batty to have a “hole in one”,
that’s golf, not baseball!