THE GARBAGE GANG : NORWAY



* RELEASE REVELATION, SPECIFIC DETAILS + IMAGES SUPPLIED BY COLLECTOR HENRY MORA *
** ADDITIONAL IMAGES + CODES PROVIDED BY NOEL O'REGAN **










RELEASE PERIOD : 1990 + 1991


Although The Garbage Gang title brings to mind the New Zealand and Australian sets released throughout some of the Commonwealth realms within the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, and Finland in 1989 by Regina LTD — where international releases by the Topps Company could no longer bear the Garbage Pail Kids moniker after the 1987 lawsuit. The cards have a closer relationship to the UK releases that were manufactored and distributed by Topps Ireland LTD as far as packaging goes, but the cards definitely have a AU/NZ feel; the UK cards were developed from the U.S. release and the AU/NZ sets were further rendered from these UK releases, so the Norway cards contain a combination of both. Similar card sets are also rumored to be released in South Africa, close to the Australian continent, both with a large British colonization.

The card layouts were most likely produced at The Topps Company and the template sent to Regina LTD and Topps Ireland LTD back in the day for production, manufacturing and distributing with subtle changes including, but not limited to, name changes, checklist manipulation, et cetera. The 2nd and 3rd Series sets were released in 1990 and 1991, after The Garbage Gang '91 UK test set and Cheap Toys release, within the Kingdom of Norway (a unitary sovereign state), with only a few minor changes from their UK counterparts released in 1986. At this time, it is unknown if Norway had ever seen an earlier 1st Series release or a later 4th Series release. The bottom of the packaging, much like the wrapper, has text in Finnish and Swedish, covering several national languages in the area, so isn't necessarily a Scandinavian release, which only covers Norway, Sweden and Denmark (Denmark had a test set in 1986), but also covered Finland.











86 2ND SERIES TOTAL CARDS = 84 BASE + 2 VARIATIONS : ADDITIONAL VARIATIONS UNKNOWN
88 3RD SERIES TOTAL CARDS = 82 BASE + 6 VARIATIONS : ADDITIONAL VARIATIONS UNKNOWN



*


2ND SERIES DISPLAY BOX
CODE : 1-254-0-0 — UPC : 5-011053-003370
TOPPS IRELAND LTD.
ARTWORK : JOHN POUND


**

2ND SERIES WRAPPER
CODE : 0-254-0-0 — UPC : 5-011053-003363
TOPPS IRELAND LTD.
ARTWORK : JOHN POUND

~ NOTES OF INTEREST ~
UK PRINTING CHARACTERISTICS: SLIMMER WRAPPER THAN AU/NZ RELEASE, LAST '0' = 1990 PRODUCTION, 'TOPPS' INSIGNIA, ADAM Bomb CHARACTER, SMALLER 'ALL NEW!' WINDOW THAN AU/NZ RELEASE — EXCLAMATION MARK ADDED.


*

3ND SERIES DISPLAY BOX
CODE : 1-490-0-0 — UPC : ?
TOPPS IRELAND LTD.
ARTWORK : JOHN POUND


**

3ND SERIES WRAPPER
CODE : 0-490-0-0 — UPC : 5-011053-001581
TOPPS IRELAND LTD.
ARTWORK : JOHN POUND

~ NOTES OF INTEREST ~
UK PRINTING CHARACTERISTICS: SLIMMER WRAPPER THAN AU/NZ RELEASE, SAME UPC# AS UK CODE '0-490-0-7', 'TOPPS' INSIGNIA, ADAM Bomb CHARACTER, SMALLER 'ALL NEW!' WINDOW THAN AU/NZ RELEASE — EXCLAMATION MARK ADDED.











1. The Norweigan release follows the AU/NZ Template, based off of the UK/U.S. sets, with the banner placed over artwork on certain cards, cards 92a and 92b for the 3rd Series having a red nameplate instead of yellow compared to the U.S. release, cards 93a and 93b for the 3rd Series having a green nameplate instead of blue compared to the U.S. release, et cetera.


*

2. Although the UK GPK and AU/NZ TGG 2nd Series releases contained no nomenclature differences from the U.S., the UK 3rd Series release had three name changes (for cards 105a, 115b and 119a) and the Norway 3rd Series had a Name Change for card 101b Melting MATILDA (from the regular Basking ROBIN nomenclature).


**

3. Similar to the AU/NZ releases, the Norway 2nd Series set includes both the Leaky LINSDAY and Live MIKE puzzles, whereas the UK GPK release only contains the Live MIKE puzzle. However, the sequence is flipped, the A-name cards are Live MIKE Puzzle Pieces and B-name cards are Leaky LINSDAY puzzle pieces.


*

4. The UK GPK title was removed from the 2nd Series Checklist template for the AU and NZ sets (also without a trademark line), pictured below, but stays intact for the 3rd and 4th Series TGG releases. The GPK moniker also remains on card back for the 2nd Series TGG Norwegian release. This was most likely overlooked while changing the set from GPK to TGG.


**

5. Like the UK and AU/NZ 3rd Series releases, cards 118a Half-NELSON and 118b Glandular ANGELA have White Numbers, but the U.S. version has black numbers.


*

6. Although the 3rd Series AU and NZ releases erroneously contain the GPK title for the checklist card backs, the 3rd Series Checklist for the Norwegian release was properly updated and correctly displays 'THE GARBAGE GANG™' title. The font size for 'MELTING MATILDA' is slightly larger than the rest of the nomenclature card type.


**

7. It is unknown at this time if a 1st Series was released in Norway, but the UK TGG '91 set was released as a possible test set before the Norwegian 2nd and 3rd Series sets. The only Scandinavian releases with English Language text; not translated.











2ND SERIES
V = VARIATION

#
NAME
ARTIST
42a
PATTY Putty : V
JOHN Pound
42a
PATTY Putty : V
JOHN Pound
42b
Muggin' MEGAN : V
JOHN Pound
42b
Muggin' MEGAN : V
JOHN Pound
43a
Smelly KELLY
JOHN Pound
43b
DOUG Plug
JOHN Pound
44a
SY Clops
JOHN Pound
44b
One-Eyed JACK
JOHN Pound
45a
Leaky LINDSAY
JOHN Pound
45b
Messy TESSIE
JOHN Pound
46a
Rappin' RON
JOHN Pound
46b
RAY Gun
JOHN Pound
47a
Disgustin' JUSTIN
JOHN Pound
47b
Vile KYLE
JOHN Pound
48a
Tongue Tied TIM
JOHN Pound
48b
MARTY Mouthful
JOHN Pound
49a
Double HEATHER
JOHN Pound
49b
FRAN FRAN
JOHN Pound
50a
Mad DONNA
JOHN Pound
50b
Nutty NICOLE
JOHN Pound
51a
RUSSELL Muscle
JOHN Pound
51b
BRETT Sweat
JOHN Pound
52a
Dirty HARRY
JOHN Pound
52b
ROB Slob
JOHN Pound
53a
Jolted JOEL
JOHN Pound
53b
Live MIKE
JOHN Pound
54a
Fryin' RYAN
JOHN Pound
54b
Charred CHAD
JOHN Pound
55a
Hairy GARY
JOHN Pound
55b
Brutal BRAD
JOHN Pound
56a
Hairy CARRIE
JOHN Pound
56b
Brutal BRIDGET
JOHN Pound
57a
TOMMY Gun
JOHN Pound
57b
Dead FRED
JOHN Pound
58a
Cracked JACK
JOHN Pound
58b
Soft Boiled SAM
JOHN Pound
59a
Clogged DUANE
JOHN Pound
59b
Bye Bye BOBBY
JOHN Pound
60a
Prickly RICK
JOHN Pound
60b
Cactus CAROL
JOHN Pound
61a
Jolly ROGER
JOHN Pound
61b
Pegleg PETER
JOHN Pound
62a
Greaser GREG
JOHN Pound
62b
CHRIS Hiss
JOHN Pound
63a
Spacey STACY
JOHN Pound
63b
JANET Planet
JOHN Pound
64a
Hot SCOTT
JOHN Pound
64b
LUKE Warm
JOHN Pound
65a
Shrunken ED
JOHN Pound
65b
Cheeky CHARLES
JOHN Pound
66a
MATT Ratt
JOHN Pound
66b
RACHEL Rodent
JOHN Pound
67a
Phony LISA
JOHN Pound
67b
MONA Loser
JOHN Pound
68a
OLIVER Twisted
JOHN Pound
68b
Dizzy DAVE
JOHN Pound
69a
JENNY Jelly
JOHN Pound
69b
SARA Slime
JOHN Pound
70a
Bad Breath SETH
JOHN Pound
70b
Foul PHIL
JOHN Pound
71a
Odd TODD
JOHN Pound
71b
Bent BEN
JOHN Pound
72a
Mad MAX
JOHN Pound
72b
Brainy BRIAN
JOHN Pound
73a
Gorgeous GEORGE
JOHN Pound
73b
Dollar BILL
JOHN Pound
74a
MARK Bark
JOHN Pound
74b
Kennel KENNY
JOHN Pound
75a
Off-The-Wall PAUL
JOHN Pound
75b
ZACH Plaque
JOHN Pound
76a
BONNIE Bunny
JOHN Pound
76b
Pourin' LAUREN
JOHN Pound
77a
Ghastly ASHLEY
JOHN Pound
77b
Acne AMY
JOHN Pound
78a
Wrinkled RITA
JOHN Pound
78b
Ancient ANNIE
JOHN Pound
79a
Sewer SUE
JOHN Pound
79b
MICHELLE Muck
JOHN Pound
80a
Tattoo LOU
JOHN Pound
80b
ART Gallery
JOHN Pound
81a
Split KIT
JOHN Pound
81b
Mixed-Up MITCH
JOHN Pound
82a
Slain WAYNE
JOHN Pound
82b
Ventilated VINNIE
JOHN Pound
83a
Ugh LEE
JOHN Pound
83b
Sumo SID
JOHN Pound
#
NAME
ARTIST



3RD SERIES
V = VARIATION
* = NAME CHANGE


#
NAME
ARTIST
84a
JOE Blow : V
JOHN Pound
84a
JOE Blow : V
JOHN Pound
84b
ROD Wad : V
JOHN Pound
84b
ROD Wad : V
JOHN Pound
85a
Stuck CHUCK
JOHN Pound
85b
Pinned LYNN
JOHN Pound
86a
Horsey HENRY
JOHN Pound
86b
Galloping GLEN
JOHN Pound
87a
Hot Head HARVEY
JOHN Pound
87b
ROY Bot
JOHN Pound
88a
DINAH Saur
JOHN Pound
88b
FARAH Fossil
JOHN Pound
89a
Hurt CURT
TOM Bunk
89b
PAT Splat
TOM Bunk
90a
Stoned SEAN
TOM Bunk
90b
Thick VIC
TOM Bunk
91a
BLAKE Flake
TOM Bunk
91b
Hippie SKIPPY
TOM Bunk
92a
MARVIN Gardens
JOHN Pound
92b
Spittin' SPENCER
JOHN Pound
93a
DREW Blood
JOHN Pound
93b
Bustin' DUSTIN
JOHN Pound
94a
Bruised LEE
TOM Bunk
94b
Karate KATE
TOM Bunk
95a
Grim JIM
TOM Bunk
95b
BETH Death
TOM Bunk
96a
Distorted DOT
JOHN Pound
96a
Mirror IMOGENE
JOHN Pound
97a
Punchy PERRY
JOHN Pound
97b
Creamed KEITH
JOHN Pound
98a
CHARLOTTE Web
JOHN Pound
98b
DIDI T.
JOHN Pound
99a
Beaky BECKY
JOHN Pound
99b
Picky MICKEY
JOHN Pound
100a
ALI Gator
JOHN Pound
100b
Marshy MARSHALL
JOHN Pound
101a
Mushy MARSHA
JOHN Pound
101b
Melting MATILDA *
JOHN Pound
102a
Mugged MARCUS
JOHN Pound
102b
Kayo'd CODY
JOHN Pound
103a
Wriggley RENE
TOM Bunk
103b
Curly CARLA
TOM Bunk
104a
Silent SANDY
JOHN Pound
104b
Barren AARON
JOHN Pound
105a
Juicy LUCY
JOHN Pound
105b
Green DEAN
JOHN Pound
106a
Fowl RAOUL
JOHN Pound
106b
MACK Quack
JOHN Pound
107a
Totem PAULA
JOHN Pound
107b
TATUM Pole
JOHN Pound
108a
Smelly SALLY
JOHN Pound
108b
Fishy PHYLLIS
JOHN Pound
109a
Toady TERRY
JOHN Pound
109b
Croakin' COLIN
JOHN Pound
110a
Snooty SAM : V
JOHN Pound
110a
Snooty SAM : V
JOHN Pound
110b
U.S. ARNIE : V
JOHN Pound
110b
U.S. ARNIE : V
JOHN Pound
111a
Target MARGARET
TOM Bunk
111b
Bullseye BARRY
TOM Bunk
112a
FRANK N. Stein
TOM Bunk
112b
Undead JED
TOM Bunk
113a
ALICE Island : V
JOHN Pound
113a
ALICE Island : V
JOHN Pound
113b
Liberty LIBBY : V
JOHN Pound
113b
Liberty LIBBY : V
JOHN Pound
114a
Starin' DARREN
JOHN Pound
114b
Peepin' TOM
JOHN Pound
115a
Warmin' NORMAN
TOM Bunk
115b
Well Done DON
TOM Bunk
116a
Eerie ERIC
TOM Bunk
116b
Berserk KIRK
TOM Bunk
117a
ROCKY N. Roll
MAE Jeon
117b
LES Vegas
MAE Jeon
118a
Half-NELSON
MAE Jeon
118b
Glandular ANGELA
MAE Jeon
119a
TED Head
JOHN Pound
119b
Still JILL
JOHN Pound
120a
Babbling BROOKE
JOHN Pound
120b
Jelly KELLY
JOHN Pound
121a
Apple CORY
TOM Bunk
121b
DWIGHT Bite
TOM Bunk
122a
Broad MAUD
TOM Bunk
122b
Large MARGE
TOM Bunk
123a
Glooey GABE
JOHN Pound
123b
Sticky RICK
JOHN Pound
124a
HUGH Mungous
TOM Bunk
124b
King-Size KEVIN
TOM Bunk
#
NAME
ARTIST