PRODUCTION ARTWORK — BITS & BOBS BACKSTORY — CARD ANNOTATION

Topps art directors Art Spiegelman and Mark Newgarden, both from the NPD (New Product Development) department, created the card-type for the OS5 Garbage Pail kids card backs while artist Tom Bunk sketched and painted the reverse 'FILE' card artwork images using watercolours. Due to the introduction of completed puzzles to the GPK franchise the amount of reverse card artwork is greatly reduced and follows the same layout as the OS3 and OS4 sets. Twenty known backs were completed for the OS5 set, not including an unpublished piece (pictured at the bottom of the page); this is at least two additional artwork card backs more than OS3 and OS4, due to repeated titles and additional puzzle pieces, respectively—and OS5 having only one checklist pair. The 'FILE' backs depict a manila folder with typed facts about the characters and a paperclipped picture. The 'FILE' cards do not appear to be rendered from any previous Topps release. The NPD Department would create the revised artwork and card type, but the Art Department was in charge of the overall design 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. The mock-up for the 'FILE' cards, reminiscient of G.I. Joe character file cards, contain two main sections. The first section containing the character's name plus ALIAS, current ADDRESS and their PERMANENT RECORD. The second section contained their FAVORITES that each included the topics of FOOD, SONG (or ALBUM), BOOK (or MAGAZINE), MOVIE (seen on comp as 'MOVIES'), T.V. SHOW and QUOTE. The NPD Department would give feedback at a later stage and eventually give the final 'okay'.

Card No. 167 — Reverse card artwork for characters 167a MICK Dagger and 167b Slayed SLADE. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Watercolor Final + Color Rough; artwork labeled #8: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number three: '12/6/86 - Removed shoes, thousands cried'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 52a Dirty HARRY and 52b ROB Slob submerged in a slop-filled pigpen, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character's bottom half (seen for the first time) removing one of his CPK-like shoes and whose odor is causing post-apocalyptic, catastrophic devastation clear up past the ozone layer: aeroplanes and satellites are dropping like flies, wilted trees & the environment void of plant or animal life, and a man in a fighting hole with a precautionary gas mask peeking out like a groundhog can be seen. — The dying trees in the background of the color rough have been reduced in size, focusing more on the character, a banana peel has been added to the left foot of the character, and the red color has been removed from the shoes.

Card No. 170 — Reverse card artwork for characters 170a RICHIE Retch and 170b LUKE Puke. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #3: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number one: '11/14/82 - Sneezed in class. School was out for a month'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 45a Leaky LINDSAY and 45b Messy TESSIE (spelled 'Messy TESSY' on ALIAS) playing cat's cradle with her heavy-flow runny nose surrounded by tissue box, used tissies and sinus relief spray, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows a seismic sneeze from the character covering three of her classmates and allegedly closing the school down for a month; possibly a one-room schoolhouse. S'not the most hygienic.

Card No. 172 — Reverse card artwork for characters 172a NAT Nerd and 172b CLARK Can't. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #12: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The file card image for OS5 reverse card 172 depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number one: '6/26/85 - Nabbed for making counterfeit doilies in her basement'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 78a Wrinkled RITA and 78b Ancient ANNIE in a Boca Raton-like setting in Florida with a poodle and palm tree, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character in a dark dungeon-like basement running a one-person sweatshop mass-producing cheap doilies (def'n: Doly – a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper in a lace pattern, found in various sizes, usually placed on a plate or under sweets or knick-knacks). Bunk made her indentity incognito with sunglasses.

Card No. 173 — Reverse card artwork for characters 173a Menaced DENNIS and 173b Wormy SHERMY. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Watercolor Final + Color Rough; artwork labeled #14: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number one: '9/12/80 - Held up a Pizzeria - made off with 65 pies and a sausage hero'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 26a Slobby ROBBIE and 26b Fat MATT sitting upon a bathroom scale and pulverizing it whilst eating an ice cream cone and holding a box of candy, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character slowly meandering in a heavy-footed stampede from a Pizzaria with said stolen pies and a sausage hero to boot (def'n: Hero sandwich – a large sandwich consisting of a long cut roll containing cooked sausage and other meats, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes).

Card No. 174 — Reverse card artwork for characters 174a FRED Thread and 174b Repaired REX. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Watercolor Final & Color Roughs; artwork labeled #17: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image doesn't necessarly depict any PERMANENT RECORD bullet point that's listed straight out. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 33a Mad MIKE and 33b Savage STUART in a full-on killing attack mode with weapons in hand, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character emerging from a seized town or city leaving the destruction in fire and ruin with a dead chicken impaled upon his broken sword. A skull shows up in both renditions, but Bunk's skull is cracked down the middle. Bunk has also taken the liberty of adding a bone piece to the warrior's ear ornamentation. — For the original concept, the color rough depicted the character running through the town/city rather than the outskirts; a dead rooster was later added skewered onto the sword.

Card No. 177 — Reverse card artwork for characters 177a Meltin' MILTON and 177b Lazy LOUIE. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Watercolour Final & Color Rough; artwork labeled #13: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number one: '9/10/80 - Tried to auction self off as human bookends'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 49a Double HEATHER, 49b Schizo FRAN (non-ALIAS) and 49b FRAN FRAN in a full on bare knuckle fistfight with oneself... err... twoself, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character holding six assumed cookbooks between their noggins and holding a potential weapon in the form of a wooden mixing spoon utensil and a wooden rolling pin. The former used to 'dish out' and the latter used to 'flatten', well chosen. Bunk has added a Band-aid plaster to head #2.

Card No. 178 — Reverse card artwork for characters 178a NAT Nerd and 178b CLARK Can't. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #11: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image doesn't necessarly de-'pick' any PERMANENT RECORD bullet point that's listed on the backside. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 77a Ghastly ASHLEY and 77b Acne AMY in a bust portraying portrait showing off metal-mouth train tracks and an unclear complexion (acne, blackheads, whiteheads, comedones, etc.), while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character at a high-class garden party with palm shrubs in the background along with waitstaff and unclogged pores spurting out zit-goo from popped zits. Bunk has changed the dress and hair ribbon to pink to show off the yellow pimple pus and added a red tie to the dress. The color rough has the character in a green dress and tie.

21-Piece Completed Puzzle — Original Series GPK cards: 168a Handy RANDY and 168b JORDAN Nuts. Original Final Artwork: JOHN POUND Original Series — two Puzzle Preview cards: 179a and 193a — twenty-one Puzzle Piece cards: 168a (v), 168a (v), 169a (v), 169 a (v), 171a, 175a (v), 175a (v), 176a, 178a (v), 183a, 186a, 187a, 188a, 192a, 194a, 197a, 198a, 199a, 200a, 203a and 205a.

Card No. 180 — Reverse card artwork for characters 180a Haunted HOLLIS and 180b Batty BARNEY. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Watercolour Final & Color Rough; artwork labeled #15: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for either bullet point number one or three: 'Spray painted New Jerse Pink/Blue', however, the character is holding a yellow and purple spray can. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 30a New Wave Dave and 30b Graffiti PETEY spray painting an inner-city wall with pink and white spray paint cans, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character standing on a pile of empty spray paint cans spraying himself after tagging a whole city. Bunk's character has a forward-facing profile so shows off the character sporting a blue t-shirt and belted pants. The color rough has an 'AIRBRUSH!' notation from the art director to have the artist use the method for the spraypainted area.

Card No. 181 — Reverse card artwork for characters 181a CLIFF Hanger and 181b Neck TY. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #10: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number one: '9/5/82 - Stole 200 color T.V.'s with remote control from Radio Shack'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 10a Tee-Vee STEVIE (spelled 'T.V. STEVIE' on ALIAS) and 10b Geeky GARY surrounded by a circle of woodgrain T.V.'s and a video camera, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character with a tower of stolen teevees behind him. The character is pushing the 'ON' button on the remote and in Bunk-fashion the TV is unplugged but still working. The spiderweb attached to the character's foot shows he's been squatting for some time. The character is missing his watch-face. The color rough depicts the character with a yellow shirt and holding the TV remote towards his body.

Card No. 182 — Reverse card artwork for characters 182a Sprayed WADE and 182b Tagged TAD. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Roughs Artwork; artwork labeled #5: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number two: '11/9/82 - Robbed Acme Weight Co. Got away with 607,000 lbs. and a truss' (def'n: Truss – a framework consisting of rafters, posts and struts supporting a roof). Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 51a RUSSELL Muscle and 51b BRETT Sweat lifing a heavy weight bar and sweating profusely, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character lifting an entire weight lifting building as weights and professional weightlifters topple out and free fall. Bunk has placed popping veins on the character and two faces to check comedically whether the coast is clear. — The original color rough concept had the character in a mobster suit holding up a liquor store with bottles toppling off of the shelves; picture notes to the left from the art director had the artist change the concept to shop-lifting a weight lifting building and to add a burgler mask.

Card No. 184 — Reverse card artwork for characters 184a Upside Down DONALD and 184b HUGH Turn. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Watercolour Final & Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #18: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for either bullet point number one: '5/10/81 Recreated the bombing of Pearl Harbor in his bathtub, 8000 perished'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 41a Mean GENE and 41b Joltin' JOE standing in an all-out assault mode holding a semi-automatic rifle (still smoking) and a bundle of dynamite, two ammo belts, an army knife in between teeth, arrows, combat boots and a grenade, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character holding a bazooka and aforementioned dynamite, a grenade replaced knife between teeth (knife stuck in floor next to hand bomb) and box of dynamite still intact. Note: dead rubber ducky. No bullet hole found in the rubber ducky for the color rough.

Card No. 185 — Reverse card artwork for characters 185a FRAN Furter and 185b Hot DOUG. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Roughs Artwork; artwork labeled #7: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image depicts the PERMANENT RECORD for bullet point number three: '3/15/86 - Wrapped duct tape around heads of terminal acne patients. Then removed slowly'. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS2 cards 62a Greaser GREG and 62b CHRIS Hiss in full-on street fight mode holding a chain and pocket knife (broken bottle at his feet), while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character still with a cigarette in his mouth but also 'whistling while he works' at removing duct tape from victims acne-scarred faces, to gruesomely reveal the skull and eye sockets underneath. Bunk has added a skull ring to the hand holding the 'TAPE' dispenser. — For the original color concept, the character was just whistling with no cigarette in his mouth and the victims tongue is sticking out, no star added for 'pain' and less skin and blood attached to the ripped off tape.

Card No. 189 — Reverse card artwork for characters 189a BRENDA Blender and 189b Juicy LUCY. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #4: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS1 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image doesn't necessarly depict any PERMANENT RECORD bullet point that's listed on the backside. Pound's original piece shows the character for OS1 cards 3a Up CHUCK and 3b Heavin' STEVEN innocently sitting on a baby blanket and barfing his toys out along with lunch, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the infant sitting in a similar position on top of a house vomiting and causing the town, or small city, to flood. Instead of toys (truck, goldfish, building block, house key) as seen in Pound's piece, Bunk has a dead fish, a teevee set and a tin can spewing out of the character's mouth. A shark fin can be seen in the background to add to the humour level.

Card No. 190 — Reverse card artwork for characters 190a Gory RORY and 190b GIL Grill. Artwork: TOM BUNK — Original Color Rough Artwork; artwork labeled #9: order approved. Reverse Card Type: MARK NEWGARDEN and ART SPIEGELMAN Based off of OS2 artwork by JOHN POUND — The OS5 file card image doesn't necessarly depict any specific PERMANENT RECORD bullet point that's listed on the backside, but the character is belligerently swearing as stated in bullet point number one. Pound's original piece shows the wildwoman character for OS2 cards 50a Mad DONNA and 50b Nutty NICOLE in a playpen biting on the head of a chicken and holding what looks like a human femur bone, while Bunk's rendered artwork shows the character flipping off of the handle, and her feet, still holding onto the terrorized chicken and an alleged human bone, but is also seen verbally spewing cuss words. Bunk's character does not have quite as long of hair as Pound's. The original concept for the color rough had the broken and escaped from playpen and the plant replaced with a human skull.