FUN FACTS & TIDBITS

1. The third and final GPK Flashback set has done away with the checkerboard and 8-bit borders of the FB and FB2 sets, respetively; the set can be found with a Solid Yellow Border that does not take away from the artwork. The set is very reminiscent of the 2nd Sgorbions Italy release with the yellow theme. It can also be pointed out, by comparison, that the tone adjustment for the Flashback 3 set is several times better than the original Flashback set - and the unbusy border really helps keep the eye on the subject matter.

2. The newly introduced Autographed ADAM Bomb Card, a rare and signed card by John Pound, is the original ADAM Bomb character from the OS 1st series without a card number (or "peel here" arrow); the updated GPK banner header is used. Original series artwork by John Pound is found on the backside as well; with the signature spot (see below) blank on the frontside. The card is inserted one out of every 7,700 packs.


3. The Where Are They Now? subset puts several original GPK characters into nowaday scenarios, twenty-five years later as young adults. This is the only all-new artwork created for the Flashback, throwback set; artwork created by Tom Bunk, Joe Simko, Brent Engstrom, Mark Pingitore, Layron DeJarnette, Jason Edmiston and Dave Gross. The card set has the original character card images on the backside (although both card backs only have the "A" names; no "B" names).

4. Although there is no hobby box poster for this release, there are 5 Collectable Posters that come folded and packaged within the new GPK Value Packs ($4.99 / 24 Cards + Poster); these packs are very reminiscent of the original series 2nd, 3rd and 4th series Rack Packs (minus the poster). The posters measure 12in X 14in and can be found with the following characters with nameplates: Up CHUCK, Fryin' RYAN, Snooty SAM, ALICE Island, and SALLY Suction. It seems more practical to remove the nameplates and have the GPK header instead.

5. The 3-D Trading Cards for this GPK set (and FB2 set) are a step above the previous hologram motion cards. A total of five 3-D cards can be found for the set; the cards can be found 1 out of every 12 packs at random, but the ADAM Boom 3-D card can only be found 1 out of every 85 packs.

6. The set also features Four Levels Of Parallels to collect that mirrors the yellow border, 160 base card set. These chase card parallel sets can be found in either a 'green gross' border card inserted 1 out of every 2 packs, a 'punk pink' border inserted 1:3 packs, a silver border card inserted 1 out of every 6 packs or a gold border set inserted 1:62 packs. The ADAM Mania Level Of Parallels is a bit rarer as follows: green 1:24 packs, pink 1:48 packs, silver 1:96 packs, and gold 1:990 packs. For each different parallel, the color of the border, logo background and name bar are always the same.


7. Card characters 12a "Gorgeous GEORGE" and 12b "Dollar BILL" No longer have a different sized, Stacked Name Bar nor a smaller GPK header to accommodate the die cut sticker as the OS 2nd series cards (73a and 73b); the die cut was oval in shape, matching the actual U.S. dollar bill shape. However, more of the ruffled shirt can now be seen for the artwork.


8. Card 22b "Hy GENE" has the word 'hy' in big letters and placed in bold ("HY Gene"), whereas the name 'Gene' is not in bold and in small letters. Card 36a "BUCK Puck" has the Name 'Buck' in small letters and Not In Bold Lettering, whereas the word 'puck' is placed in bold with big letters.

9. The second Prestigious GPK Flashback Award goes to the character card "Toothie RUTHIE" which can both be found as a base card twin in the original Flashback set (numbers 40a and 40b) as well as in the Flashback 3 set (bonus card number B3). However, since the character was used as a Where Are They Now? topic, it is traditional to find these same characters as the bonus cards within the Flashback realm. (It can also be pointed out, by comparison, that the tone adjustment for the Flashback 3 set is several times better than the original Flashback set - and the unbusy border really helps keep the eye on the subject matter.)

10. The set contains Two Separate Checklists, one specifically for the 'A' cards, and another for the 'B' cards. As with ANS6, ANS7, and the FB and FB2 sets, this is the fifth release that has a checklist outlined by the color blue. The other blue phenomenon, the GPK logo is always blue in the set, there is no red GPK card logo on ANY card fronts. The ADAM Mania subset are the only cards with the GPK banner header in light blue of yesteryears (as well as the ADAM Bomb Autograph card).

GPK HISTORY SECTION

1. GPK veteran Tom Bunk contributed three Final Artwork pieces for the GPK Flashback 3 Where Are They Now? subset. Below are a few pencil/pen and color rough sketches found in some of their earliest stages for cards 71a "Stormy HEATHER" and 71b "APRIL Showers" (accompanied by Mark Pinigitore's concept), 78a "CHRIS Mess" and 78b "SANDY Clod", and 80a "BERN-Out" and 80b "Dim-Bulb BOB" (this version has the characters eyes open with a different mouth formation). Art director Colin Walton wanted to get rid of the wrinkled-skin characters of the previous two Flashback releases. More images can be seen within Tom Bunk's "Bunk Sale" Flashback section.




2. GPK newcomer Jason Edmiston, a commercial illustrator, contributed one Final Artwork piece for the GPK Flashback 3 WATN? subset. Below is the original tight pencil sketch for cards 73a "Phony LISA " and 73b "MONA Loser" based off of Mark Pingitore's original concept piece (to the right); the piece in general speaks volumes of society's over-scrutinizing behaviour and an individual's lack of privacy.


3. GPK artist Mark Pingitore sketched out several concept pieces for the WATN? subset that did not make it into the series, including the following image showcasing OS 2nd series 74a "MARK Bark" and 74b "Kennel Kenny" (after being neutered wearing An Elizabethan collar, also known as an E cone, or just plain cone). Besides supplying several concepts for other artists to complete, Mark also completed two of the WATN? titles himself, 72a "Jolted JOEL" and 72b "Live MIKE" (the concept can be seen on the FB2 page) and 79a "Scalped RALPH" and 79b "Bone-Head FRED" (pictured below).


4. ANS GPK artist Brent Engstrom contributed one Final Artwork piece for the GPK Flashback 3 set which can be seen on the Artwork Images page (link above). Below is the original tight pencil sketch for cards 76a "JACK O. Lantern" and 76b "DUNCAN Pumpkin" from the Where Are They Now? base card subset; it's nice to see these older GPK characters with five fingers. Brent also worked on all 10 themes and digital work for the 10 ADAM Mania cards for this release.


5. The previously unpublished artwork for the Lost GPK cards 67a/b through 70a/b were pulled from various sets within the GPK universe:

Cards 67a "Prickly PETE" and 67b "Thorny BARB" stem from a rejected concept piece by Tom Bunk in late 1985 and intended for the OS3 set (released early in 1986) - one of the first pieces Tom completed after switching from a card-back artist to a card-front artist. This same concept was later reworked and used within the Trash Can Trolls pardy card set released in the summer of 1992 - painted by Pat Pigott that became cards 25a "Prickly PETE" and 25b "Thorny BARB". Coming full circle in 2011, the twin cards now share the same name.

Cards 68a "Arach NED" and 68b "Web JEB" is an unpublished Tom Bunk GPK character that was painted in 1986 and was intended for the 4th series release - it is very reminiscent of the John Pound artwork for OS3 cards 98a "CHARLOTTE Web" and 98b "DIDI T." Unknown whether the selected names were on the original artwork. A scan of Bunk's original photograhic slide from the 80's was used with the character having a bald head; the painting was touched-up later at Topps, in-house, where they added the yellow hair for the final product; which was never published.

Cards 69a "Shadowy SHELIA" and 69b "Vaporized VAL" is a previously unpublished piece painted by John Pound in 1986 and also intended for an earlier GPK release. The image can be found in Mark Newgarden's 2006 book "We All Die Alone" which pays a very small tribute to his time working at Topps. The single word above the painting states "OUT"; it would not make the cut. As a nice happy ending (minus the image of the painting), the selected names for the 2011 published cards are the first two asterisked names below the original artwork. Another cool name listed was "Megan Megaton".

Cards 70a "Dunkin' DUNCAN" and 70b "WILL Hung" also keep the same names from their original intended release. The 1989 unreleased OS16 GPK image was painted by John Pound as card number 651 (a/b) and did not find its way within the published 2003 All-New Series 1 card set; but is fortunately seeing the light-of-day in 2011.