Curious about the worth of your Garbage Pail Kids collection?
As an avid collector, I understand the excitement of uncovering the value of these iconic trading cards.
In this guide, I'll shed light on how much are Garbage Pail Kids worth and provide you with insights to help navigate the fascinating world of GPK valuation.
Let's dive in and discover the hidden treasures within your collection!
15 Rare 1985 Garbage Pail Kids Cards & Their Estimated Worth
1. Nasty Nick: #1a
Estimated Worth: Around $7,500
Nasty Nick was technically the first Garbage Pail Kid ever released. He is a vampire holding up a life-size Barbie doll, his fangs coated in blood.
Its 1a denotation meant that they were the first card in the first series ever printed -- this is noticeable in the way the sticker die cuts were slightly off-center.
2. Adam Bomb: #6a
Estimated Worth: Around $4,000
Estimated Worth: Around $4,000
Adam Bomb is probably the most popular Garbage Pail Kid, as his image was used most frequently in marketing materials.
The sticker trading card features a child in uniform, with his brains “bombed” in a nuclear explosion. He is highly sought after by collectors.
3. Evil Eddie: #1b
Estimated Worth: Around $2,200
Evil Eddie features the same artwork as Nasty Nick, but you’ll notice that Evil Eddie is 1a on the printing list, versus Nasty Nick’s 1a.
Based on our research, there are two versions to each card in a Garbage Pail Kids set, with the card backing differing among a checklist, writeup, or mock award.
If you can’t get your hands on Nasty Nick, Evil Eddie will do just fine.
4. Schizo Fran: #49b
Estimated Worth: Around $1,000
Adults found Schizo Fran extremely outrageous and offensive. It featured a little girl with two heads beating the hell out of the other.
Mental health professionals thought that it made a mockery out of schizophrenia, a very real illness plaguing the lives of many.
Topps quickly changed the card’s name to Fran Fran instead, making the first Schizo Fran run extremely rare.
5. Junky Jeff: #22a
Estimated Worth: Around $1,000
You can see Junky Jeff chilling amidst a pile of garbage in his sticker trading card. A cat is enjoying a meal out of his sawed-off head.
For us, the message of this card can almost be symbolic: it could mean that little kids’ minds were brimming with garbage due to what they see on television… or it could simply be the morbid cartoon style of the entire franchise.
6. Jay Decay: #5b
Estimated Worth: Around $900
Jay Decay was way ahead of its time -- he made zombies cool before they were even a thing! This sticker trading card featured a zombie child who had just clawed its way out of his grave under the pale light of a full moon.
My parents weren’t such big fans, though -- they thought the grotesque imagery would be traumatic to any child.
7. Nerdy Norm: #24b
Estimated Worth: Around $900
While the other Garbage Pail Kids’ names didn’t leave much to the imagination when associated with their image, Nerdy Norm might leave you scratching your head.
We see a child drinking way too much Coca-Cola and coffee in this card, with four lit cigarettes in his mouth.
We can assume that the child was stressed from being a nerd, studying too much, and using these addictive substances as a coping mechanism. But then again, we can only assume.
8. Blasted Billy: #8b
Estimated Worth: Around $850
Blasted Billy is Adam Bomb’s cousin. They feature the same artwork, but even we’re unsure why he seems to sell for a lot less.
We think that his name doesn’t have that same ring to it as Adam Bomb does.
9. Brutal Brad: #55b
Estimated Worth: Around $750
Had Brutal Brad been released today, it would not hear the end of those campaigning to end domestic violence against women.
Brutal Brad is a caveman who appears to have just struck the brains out of a cavewoman, and is dragging her along by her hair. Harry Gary, the 55a card, is his counterpart.
10. Slobby Robbie: #26a
Estimated Worth: Around $750
Slobby Robbie addresses an issue that’s present in both children and adults alike: obesity. We see this Garbage Pail Kid happily licking away at an ice cream cone while his other hand holds a box of candy on standby.
The scale he’s sitting on explodes helplessly beneath him, his weight too much for it to handle.
11. Leaky Lou: #23b
Estimated Worth: Around $700
Leaky Lou reminds us of Spongebob… as a human version. We see a young child drinking a glass of water, but the water pours out of the sizable holes all over his body.
We’re not sure about the message this card is trying to tell as health professionals always tell us to drink more water, right?
12. Mean Gene: #41a
Estimated Worth: Around $700
Mean Gene looks like a one-person army. A roll of dynamite is strapped onto his head, and a grenade on standby at his hip.
He is wielding a machine gun with the ammunition wrapped around his body like a belt.
His black boots have spiked heels. Similar spikes are seen on his arm cuffs. The 41b version is named Joltin’ Joe, but Mean Gene is undeniably more popular.
13. Electric Bill: #4b
Estimated Worth: Around $700
The name Electric Bill made us chuckle, but the image did just the opposite. A child prisoner is strapped onto an electric chair, and we can see his agonized state as he gets fried to a crisp.
Unlike the other kids, he’s not smiling on this sticker. The 4a counterpart, Fryin’ Brian, is just as popular as Electric Bill.
14. Sumo Sid: #83b
Estimated Worth: Around $650
Sumo Sid isn’t nearly as controversial as the other kids in the lineup, considering how brutal other Garbage Pail Kids can go.
We assume that the child in a sumo wrestler costume has just jumped, so the ground cracked beneath him.
15. Bad Breath Seth: #70a
Estimated Worth: Around $600
Bad Breath Seth is so plagued by a serious dental problem that not only do birds drop dead and plants wilt as soon as he opens his mouth, even his own nose has to be plugged in, so he doesn’t suffer the same fate!
Another child in a protective gas mask is seen climbing his form on the right side.
Perhaps good dental hygiene [1] is the message of this particular sticker trading card?
FAQS
How many Garbage Pail Kid original series was released?
A total of 15 original series were released by Garbage Pail Kids in the United States, but other countries released other sets. Other collectibles include a set of fold-out posters and two large-format card editions.
What is the rarest Garbage Pail Kid?
Adam Bomb, Nasty Nick, and Schizo Fran are the rarest Garbage Pail Kids today.
How many different Garbage Pail Kid cards are there?
Based on our research, there are a total of 88 different Garbage Pail Kids cards out there.
Where to sell Garbage Pail Kids cards?
You can sell Garbage Pail Kids on eBay [2] because most of the sales come from this platform, even at a higher price.
So, How Much Are Garbage Pail Kids Worth?
The average value of Garbage Pail Kids is around $5.39 and can range from $0.99 to $207.75 each.
However, there are rare Garbage Pail Kids that is worth more than $7,500.
Determining the value of Garbage Pail Kids cards can be an exciting yet complex endeavor.
It's essential to consult experts, consider market trends, and assess the condition of your cards to get an accurate valuation.
If you’re a pop culture collector, check out our Garbage Pail Kids listings here!
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/sanfordstein/2023/05/07/ebay-leads-secondhand-luxury-sales-adds-certified-by-brand-program/?sh=137feeab2d4c
