RELEASE
PERIOD: FEBRUARY 15THMARCH 15TH, 2017 The exclusive Jay Lynch Tribute set was posted to the Topps online shop on February 15th, 2017 and sold for 28 days as a fundraiser to cover medical bills and offer some relief. Per Topps: "The tribute set includes 11 sticker cards featuring classic Jay Lynch jokes newly repainted by 11 different Topps veteran artists! All profits go to Jay Lynch to help with his health expenses." The limited edition release contained six Garbage Pail Kids characters (no twin cards) and five Wacky Packages products, painted by the GPK and WP artists and based off of original Jay Lynch concepts. The cartoonist is well known in the undergound comix movement with his Bijou Funnies title, among others, was the main writer for Bazooka Joe comics from the years 1967 to 1990, has contributed to MAD and Playboy magazine and was a major contributor to Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids brands within the NPD department at Topps. NOTE: Jay Patrick Lynhc was born on January 7, 1945, and passed on March 5, 2017. |
Card
#1 JAILHOUSE RICK by artist TOM BUNK Nomenclature = Jailhouse Rock. The 1957 song title performed by Elvis Presley and also a 1958 film. def'n: Jailhouse A prison. def'n: Prison A building in which people (prisoners) are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed or while awaiting trial. def'n: Rock (music) A form of popular music that evolved from rock and roll and pop music during the mid- and late 1960s. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by Tom Bunk has a pin-up poster of Jayzey Lynch's "Nard n' Pat" undergound comix image (Patrick) with Jay Lynch's initials, bed, coffee cup and a prisoner number that starts with "176", a Bugle Boys shout-out; similar to Pound's tag for OS1 card #4. The original concept by Jay Lynch has a viewpoint from the jail cell door showing the interior of the cell room with a pin-up picture, bed and coffee cup. The character had the suggested name of 'Jailhouse RICK' that was eventually used for the tribute piece. The re-interpreted sketch by Tom Bunk shows the prisoner from a jail window viewpoint and focused more on the Escher-like optical illusion. A prisoner within one's own head. The OS9 card image for 343a Con VIC and 343b AL Catraz painted by Tom Bunk. Card #2 SCRAP BROOKE by artist JAMES WARHOLA Nomenclature = Scrapbook. def'n: Scrapbook A book of blank pages for sticking clippings, drawings, pictures, et cetera in. def'n: Scrap A small piece or amount of something discarded. A fragment, bit, snippet, shred. def'n: Boot A bound set of blank sheets for writing or keeping records (or items) in. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by James Warhola follows more closely to Jay Lynch's original concept but also incorporates the cut off hand of Cebolloero's concept. Warhola also includes a butcher knife, a pair of scissors, the actual cut off hand along with drops and pools of snot and blood. The original concept by Jay Lynch is the only image with the character's second hand intact and holding the pair of scissors. The suggested name of 'Scrap BROOKE' is used for the tribute card; other names indcluded Scrapbookin' SALLY, Crafty CARLA, Acid-Free DEE and Archival ANNIE. The re-interpreted sketch by John Cebollero shows the character with a self amputated hand and no longer holding a pair of scissors. The 'Ears' page has been changed to 'Eyeball'. The ANS6 bonus card image for b19 Scrapped BROOKE painted by John Cebollero. Card #3 TOE JAM JAN by artist BRENT ENGSTROM Nomenclature = The name Jan to go with the words 'toe jam'. def'n: Toe-jam The common slang term used to describe the gunk that accumulates between the toes. It is a combination of dead skin cells, sock debris, dirt, body oil residue, fungus and bacteria. def'n: Toe any of the five digits at the end of the human foot. def'n: Jam (a substance) Squeezed or packed tightly into a specified space. def'n: Jam a sweet spread or preserve made from fruit and sugar boiled to a thick consistency; jelly, marmalade, fruit spread, etc. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by Brent Engstrom captures the feel and layout of Jay Lynch's original concept and keeps the artwork in a vertical format. Engstrom took to Facebook to ask what color 'toe-jam' would be if painted. Engstrom's final and concept pictured within the 'Final ART' section below. The original concept by Jay Lynch and John Pound's pencil and color rough all have the term 'toe jam' spelled as 'toe-jam' with the hyphen but the printed card for both cases does not. The character had the suggested name of 'Toe Jam JAN' that was eventually used for the tribute piece. The re-interpreted sketch and final artwork (not pictured) by John Pound shows the layout in a horizontal presentation and forced perspective to keep the eyeline at the character's feet. The widened view added to the kitchen environment and some movement to the compostion. Pound added a bow to the character's head and chose a purple-ish grey for the toe-jam color. The ANS2 card image for 34a Toe Jam SAM and 34b Jammin' AMBER painted by John Pound. Card #4 ROOTIN' RUBEN by artist LAYRON DEJARNETTE Nomenclature = The similar-sounding name Ruben to go with the word 'root+ing'. def'n: Root To encourage a team or contestant by cheering or applauding enthusiastically; to cheer, cheer on, shout for, applaud, clap, et cetera. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by Layron DeJarnette pays honor to the original concept by Jay Lynch by bringing back the popcorn and keeping the snot to the character's nose and to the point of the foam finger. DeJarnette also adds a "#1" to said foam finger, changes Pound's 't' (for Topps) on several hats to the 'GPK' acronym and gives the character a new sports jersey and jean color as well as hair and eyes. The original concept by Jay Lynch keeps the concept simple and clean. The jersey number 'O' survives throughout all of the concepts and final artwork images. The re-interpreted sketch and final artwork by John Pound draws out the gag by connecting the snot strands to the foam finge and to the hotdog -- that replaced the bucket of popcorn. Pound added a 't' for the Topps team. Although Pound added more spectactors, he kept them shaded purple so that the main antagonist (or protagonist) stood out... while sitting. The ANS1 card image for 35a Rootin' RUBEN and 35b Booger BRIAN painted by John Pound. Card #5 BOOGER KEN by artist JOE SIMKO Nomenclature = Burger King. Burger King An American global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants (that was founded in 1953). def'n: Burger (short for 'hamburger') A particular variation of a hamburger with additional ingredients. def'n: Booger A piece of dried nasal mucus. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by Joe Simko pays is a direct representation of Jay Lynch's original concept with four onlookers in horror at the character's actions. Simko added a beard and a full set of teeth to make the character more closely resemble the Burger King mascot as well as embelishing the crown and coat with more ornamentation. The evironment remains a generic open space. The original concept by Jay Lynch is very basic, showing the half-lidded king picking his nose in front of witnesses without care ... since he is the king. The re-interpreted sketch by John Pound was revised where the height-challenged king is found standing on a snot covered, 'whopper'-sized burger. Pound also added a fast-food environment, a second strand of snot, 18th century shoe buckles and a gold medallion necklace with a GPK face. Pound's artwork does have four onlookers, but one of them is cropped out of the card image. The ANS6 card image for 31a Booger KEN and 31b Whopper WYATT painted by John Pound. Card #6 BIRDBRAIN WAYNE by artist JEFF ZAPATA Nomenclature = Rhyme the name Wayne with the word 'birdbrain'. def'n: Birdbrain An annoyingly stupid and shallow person. def'n: Bird A warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, a beak and (usually) flight. informal A person of a specified kind or character. def'n: Brain Intellectual capacity. LYNCH-PIN POINTS (OF INTEREST): The tribute artwork by Jeff Zapata contains the same head-shape (Jay Leno-esque) and pigeon-sized bird as Jay Lynch's original concept piece but also incorprates bits of Pound's re-interpreted concept that may have been discussed with Zapata who was art directing at Topps at this time -- such as the similar lamp post, same buildings, the inclusion of bushes and zombie-like arm position. Zapata takes a different direction and places the character into a nighttime scenerio. The original concept by Jay Lynch shows the hypnotized character as more wobbly and dis-oriented instead of the zombie-like walk of Pound's more steady gate. The name 'Birdbrain WAYNE' was chosen for the tribute card; other names, such as the poignant name JAY Obey, also included Subjuga-TED, Controled JOEL / WILL, Compliant Bryant, ZACK Zombie and Mindless MARTIN. The re-interpreted sketch by John Pound, as pointed out above, adds bushes to the cityscape and a more purposeful walk. The biggest departure is adding a large black crow to the braincase and a bandage covering the hard plastic cracking skin of the character. The ANS3 card image for 20a Birdbrain BRIAN and 20b Cuckoo CHRIS painted by John Pound. Card #7 FLUNK by artist DAVID GROSS WACKY PACKAGES BRAND CONCEPT: JAY LYNCH ARTWORK: NORM SAUNDERS Card #8 SHRUNKEN DONUTS by artist SMOKIN' JOE MCWILLIAMS WACKY PACKAGES BRAND CONCEPT: JAY LYNCH ARTWORK: NORM SAUNDERS Card #9 PUPSI by artist FRED WHEATON WACKY PACKAGES BRAND CONCEPT: JAY LYNCH ARTWORK: NORM SAUNDERS Card #10 SCHNOZMOPOLITAN by artist JUNGHWA IM WACKY PACKAGES BRAND CONCEPT: JAY LYNCH ARTWORK: NORM SAUNDERS Card #11 DELINQUENT SPINACH by artist NEIL CAMERA WACKY PACKAGES BRAND CONCEPT: JAY LYNCH ARTWORK: NORM SAUNDERS |
Lynchs history
with the hobby and Topps go back decades. He was also an instrumental figure in
the underground comix scene in the 1960s. His influence continues to be felt today thanks to his mentoring and friendship with other artists. I was introduced to Jay when I was an editor at Topps and we became good friends, said Jeff Zapata. We worked on several GPK and Wacky Packages series together. He would stay over at mine or his childhood pal Art Spiegelmans house when he visited the city. It was those times when we would draw and doodle together that I really got to soak in Jays style of drawing and most of all, his sense of humor. Although I worked with him as an editor, theres nothing like spending afternoons with a cartooning legend, drawing and trying to make the other laugh. Those sessions in my old apartment are etched in my mind and shows in my art. How could it not? Hes been a cherished friend and a mentor ever since. Brent Engstrom echoed a similar sentiment, Jay is on a short list of artists who have had a huge impact on me for as long as I can remember. From his underground comix work to his Wacky Packages and GPKs, hes always been at the top. The first GPK I ever painted was a Jay Lynch concept. Ive gotten to know Jay over the years and hes a comic genius and all around nice guy. Ive always felt lucky to know him in any capacity. I dont think many artists get the chance to work with their heroes. Jay
Lynch has brought such a humorous wit and intelligence to underground comix,
said Joe Simko, who contributed the Booger Ken card to the tribute set. Being
able to know him through the Topps Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages family,
I can only hope that a fraction of his hilarious writing skills rub off on me. WWW.BECKETT.COM |
CARD #1 JAILHOUSE RICK CARD #3 TOE JAM JAN (FINAL + CONCEPT) CARD #4 ROOTIN' RUBEN CARD #7 FLUNK CARD #8 SHRUNKEN DONUTS CARD #11 DELINQUENT SPINACH |
# |
UPDATED NAME |
UPDATED ARTIST |
ORIGINAL NAME(S) |
ORIGINAL ARTIST |
1 | JAILHOUSE RICK | TOM BUNK |
CON VIC & AL CATRAZ |
TOM BUNK |
2 | SCRAP BROOKE | JAMES
WARHOLA | SCRAPPED
BROOKE | JOHN
CEBOLLERO |
3 | TOE JAM JAN | BRENT
ENGSTROM | TOE
JAM SAM & JAMMIN' AMBER | JOHN
POUND |
4 | ROOTIN' RUBEN | LAYRON
DEJARNETTE | ROOTIN'
RUBEN & BOOGER BRIAN | JOHN
POUND |
5 | BOOGER KEN | JOE SIMKO |
BOOGER KEN & WHOPPER WYATT |
JOHN POUND |
6 | BIRDBRAIN WAYNE | JEFF ZAPATA |
BIRDBRAIN BRIAN & CUCKOO
CHRIS | JOHN
POUND |
7 | FLUNK (WP) | DAVID GROSS |
(SAME) |
NORM SAUNDERS |
8 | SHRUNKEN DONUTS (WP) | JOE
MCWILLIAMS | (SAME) |
NORM SAUNDERS |
9 | PUPSI (WP) | FRED WHEATON |
(SAME) |
NORM SAUNDERS |
10 | SCHNOZMOPOLITAN (WP) | JUNGHWA
IM | (SAME) |
NORM SAUNDERS |
11 | DELINQUENT SPINACH (WP) | NEIL
CAMERA | (SAME) |
NORM SAUNDERS |
# |
UPDATED NAME |
UPDATED ARTIST |
ORIGINAL NAME(S) |
ORIGINAL ARTIST |