1980s Gross-Out Icons Clash In July’s ‘Madballs Vs. Garbage Pail Kids’
by Erik Amaya
In the mid-1980s, toy manufactures began to move away from Japanese robots to gross-out novelties. The trend began with Garbage Pail Kids, the trading card parody by Topps of a more benign children’s toy. Many products emerged in the wake of Garbage Bail Kids‘ 1985 debut, but one of the most fondly-remember were Cloudco Entertainment’s Madballs, foam balls with ghastly faces, grotesque names, and ghoulish attitudes that children collected and, well, threw around. Both brands endured the often-fickle mood of the children’s market and now they will clash in Dynamite’s upcoming comic book, Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids.
Written by Sholly Fisch with art from recent Garbage Pail Kids artist Jason Crosby, the story may see the gross characters uniting in their ickiness or destroying the world. “Let’s just say that, no matter which side you’re on, you’ll find stuff to make you laugh. And, if you’re not careful, you may get splattered with slime or toxic waste, too,” Fisch said in a statement.
“I try to have my work full of energy, movement, and splattered goop, so honestly, drawing these two franchises is right up my alley,” Crosby added. “My work isn’t subtle, and I hope it explodes off the page.”
Crosby also contributes a cover for the first issue, as does legendary GPK artist Joe Simko — who brings his style to a main cover, a variant based on the original trading cards, and a wraparound cover (above) co-created with James Groman.
“We can’t wait for fans to get their hands on this crossover bursting with energy,” Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher said. “We promise the comic book doesn’t drip with slime, but maybe we should figure out how to make that happen!”
Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids arrives in shops this July.
