The Garbage Pail Kids are back and better than ever in a new book trilogy by Goosebumps author R.L. Stine. R.L Stine is bringing back the nostalgia of the 1980s Garbage Pail Kids by creating a series based off of the rambunctious kids. The first book set to publish is called Welcome to Smellville and is lovingly based off of the original Garbage Pail Kids cards. Welcome to Smellville is speculated to be published on October 6th for the public. This trilogy is set to feature characters such as Brainy Jane, Adam Bomb, and Jack Splat, along with six additional characters.
The artist for the cover of Welcome to Smellville, Joe Simko, has already taken to Twitter to show off the cover of the new book. Both the author and artist can be found on Twitter to follow along with updates on the book’s progression and artwork. Joe Simko can be found under @JoeSimko, and the author R.L. Stine can be found at @RL_Stine. Following the creators is a must for any Garbage Pail Kids enthusiasts who cannot wait to see their childhood brought back to life in these new and hilarious tales.
The cover art features several Garbage Pail Kids in their house creating an absolute mess. The picture exudes all of the staples of the Garbage Pail Kids: grossness, humor, fun, and absolute chaos. Snot and grime are splattered on the walls, cracks in the walls are patched with tape, liquids are spilled, and the Kids are having an absolute ball. Adam Bomb takes up the forefront with his iconic exploding head. A sign in the house says all you need to know about the Garbage Pail Kids, Home Gross Home, and that is exactly what we are here for.
What Are the Garbage Pail Kids?
The Garbage Pail Kids are sticker trading cards that first made their debut in 1985. The stickers featured kids with striking resemblances to Cabbage Patch Kids, if not for every child having a tragically comedic twist. One classic character, Adam Bomb, appeared on his card with an explosion erupting from his head. The cards are meant to be humorous with clever wordplay regarding the character’s names. The stickers featured grotesque and twisted renditions of children who fit their comedic names perfectly. The Garbage Pail Kids received so much success that schools often banned the merchandise due to how enthralled kids became over their stickers!
The Garbage Pail Kids gained so much traction that they even had a TV show in 1987 that aired in countries outside of the United States. The TV show followed beloved characters such as Terri Cloth, Split Kit, and Clogged Duane as they worked to help those around them by using their Garbage Pail personas. The show focused on controversial themes and also poked fun at classic films and TV tropes. CBS had picked up the show and ordered an entire season, and companies such as McDonald’s and Crayola promoted advertising. Ultimately, the show was pulled from debuting in the U.S. just days before its screening day, having received backlash from numerous children associations. This did not stop the widespread love of the Garbage Pail Kids though; they are regarded as the 80s and 90s mash-up of pop culture at its finest!
What Will Welcome to Smellville Be About?
Welcome to Smellville is set to feature nine Garbage Pail Kids living together in one house. The trilogy intends to follow their interactions while living together, their day-to-day lives at middle school, and all of the childlike hijinks and shenanigans that ensue. The Garbage Pail Kids will face off against their arch-rivals, Penny and Parker Perfect, and anyone else who stands in their way. The story is set to feature slapstick comedy with the goal of getting children to love reading by having fun. Not only that, but the books come with four sticker cards as well. A great way to start your child’s new collection, or even add to your own!
The story will show how the Garbage Pail Kids face any hurdles that may stand in their way in ways. The Garbage Pail Kids will be nasty, immature, and funny, allowing their younger audiences to immerse themselves into the world of the Garbage Pail Kids. The trilogy is set to be appropriate for children from ages 8 to 12. Given the fun and mischievous nature of the Garbage Pail Kids, young readers are sure to have a blast and relate to the characters. In years to come, the series will become just as nostalgic for them as the collector’s stickers were for those in the 1980s when the Garbage Pail Kids were all the rage. Welcome to Smellville will be a trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with our favorite characters, and a way to bond with our kids who will be connecting to our childhood memories.
Which Characters Do You Wish to See in Welcome to Smellville?
Growing up in the height of the Garbage Pail Kids obsession, we were able to discover many interesting characters who would soon own a place in our hearts. Which characters do you hope to see reintroduced in Welcome to Smellville? Several crowd favorites have already been approved, but who else will we see? Perhaps Snotwich Sandra who wowed and disgusted kids and parents alike with her sticker displaying her making a sandwich out of her snot? Or maybe Molly Pop who was shown licking her gouged-out eye as if it were a lollipop, stick included. In an aim to poke fun at the new adaptation of “It”, maybe R.L. Stine will bring back the Pennywise parody character Plungin’ Penny? Morbidly obese and adorably lovable Slobby Robbie could make a comeback yet as well! Whoever the new characters may be, we know that the audience will love how creepy and gross the characters are, just as we all did when we were kids.
