#Garbage pail kids series#

Other characters from the original series who were unpublished were also included in this set. Flashback cards: After the All New sets, Flashback cards were largely reprints of original characters with updated artwork on glossier, sturdier cardstock.In addition, these cards included codes that could be used online for bonus features. All New cards: In 2003, renewed interest in the unique trading cards and stickers brought back new characters and former ones that had not made it in the original 1980s prints.A 16 set was planned for production but never released. Original Series 1-15: Started by the Topps Company in 1985, 15 card sets were published during their Original Series run, which ended in 1988.How many series of Garbage Pail Kids cards are there? While the Garage Pail Kids pictured on the face were die-cut stickers that could be peeled from the cardstock, the backs of the cards were often pieces of a puzzle, comic, or other printed media. It would be similar to the way kids enjoy horror movies and roller coasters.'Д«ut if the cards do seem to be sanctioning children to be mean to one another, Parke said, 'that's not something you want to encourage.How to Select Garbage Pail Kids Trading CardsДЄs a parody of other popular doll brands at the time, the Garbage Pail Kids stickers and trading cards became known for their comedic gross-out factor, wacky puns, and creepy artistic design. 'The simplest explanation,' Berkowitz said, 'is that the entertainment comes from being revolted, which causes arousal and subsequent tension reduction. Leonard Berkowitz, a social psychologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, said the appeal of such figures as Smelly Kelly, Wrinkled Rita, Virus Iris, Greaser Greg and Foul Phil could be linked to 'an underlying tension' produced by the children's insecurity about how they look, whether they fit in and all the disagreeable things that life may hold in store for them. The Garbage Pail Kids have yet to become a subject of scientific study, but Ross Parke, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois in Urbana, said that 'kids are really confronted with a lot of violence and grotesqueness and a lot of things they don't understand and have trouble coping with - this is something on their level that they can manipulate and have some control over.' His mother, Fran Bassett, said that while she was not amused by the Garbage Pail Kids, she was not about to make an issue out of it either, an assurance that appeared to hearten her son.ДЄt the same time, Bassett and a few other parents tentatively suggested the cards might encourage children to read, even if the subject matter is Leaky Lindsey, with her runny nose causing a minor flood, or Digustin' Justin, who rides a motorcycle, swills beer and wears an Iron Cross on his chest. Ken Bassett, 8, who lives in Massapequa, said the cards are 'awfully gross,' but added that he enjoyed them anyway. There is the 'short memory award,' for being so absent-minded that 'you get hit by a truck and forget to get hurt.' And the 'punked-out award' goes for having 'the greenest hair, the purplest lips, the spikiest spikes, the hottest leather.' On the back of the cards are a variety of citations.ДЇor example, there is the 'permit to eat between meals,' which confers 'full legal right to gorge yourself' with all the 'junk food you can get your hands on between meals.' The Garbage Pail Kids themselves, which can be peeled off the cards for use as stickers, are not the only source of potential entertainment and controversy. We're in the business of providing entertainment for children. 'Take a look at comic books, movies, it's no different. 'We're reflecting the times with our products,' he said.

Questioned about these criticisms, Liss said he did not see what all the fuss was about. Peterson said the cards give children 'license to make fun of a child.' And Rob Peterson, principal of the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Conn., said he and his staff were troubled by 'the value system' Garbage Pail Kids seem to convey.

Garbage pail kids