If you were a kid or teenager during the 1980s, chances are you loved Garbage Pail Kids cards.
If you were a parent during the 1980s, chances are you did not...
Like the Mars Attacks cards that Topps released during the 1960s, their Garbage Pail Kids product line was met with an equal amount of disgust from outraged parents.
So much so that many parents and even some teachers wanted them banned altogether.
But why so much fuss over these little pieces of cardboard?
Well, those pieces of cardboard contained artwork and themes that weren't exactly the most kid-friendly or positive in nature.
In fact, they were intended to parody the incredibly popular toy line Cabbage Patch Kids produced by Coleco at the time that actually were positive.
By contrast, the imagery on the Garbage Pail Kids cards and accompanying messaging were/are considered too grotesque, aggressive, violent and self-destructive for children.
And you'll see why as we run through the list of the 15 most valuable.
Let's jump right in!
Note: Topps originally printed these cards with a matte finish but it is thought they eventually ran out of that card stock and had to switch to a glossy paper instead.
Those glossy versions are rarer and therefore carry a premium to them versus their matte counterparts.
Prices quoted in this article are estimates and I will make special note if they are in reference to the glossy versions.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #8a Adam Bomb (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $15,000
When people think of the Garbage Pail Kids franchise, this is usually the first image that pops into their heads.
Why?
Because this was the image that was used on the original boxes and packs in which the cards were distributed for the first five series.
It's a similar effect seen with how Charizard was elevated to be one of the most expensive first edition Pokémon cards in part because it was on the cover art of one of the original video games.
With Adam Bomb's increased exposure on boxes, this card is enormously popular and collectors are willing to pay big bucks for a copy in high grade.
Adam is pictured pressing a detonator as a mushroom cloud (remember how prevalent the threat of nuclear war was during the 1980s) explodes from his head.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #1a Nasty Nick
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $14,000
First on the list is "Nasty Nick", the very first card of the very first series released in 1985.
Because it was the first card, it was positioned in the upper left of the printing sheet which meant it was often cut in such a way that the centering would be off from left to right.
That's why finding these in top grade can be so difficult and why they're so expensive in PSA 10 condition, as a result.
The artwork features Nick, dressed as a vampire, ready to bite the neck of a female doll.
I've always thought it would be interesting to learn how the original checklist was derived and why this card was chosen as the number one card in the set.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #8a Adam Bomb
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $7,500
Even the non-glossy version of the Adam Bomb card can be worth thousands of dollars when graded in PSA 10 condition.
Again, much of the price premium for this card stems from the fact that Adam Bomb served as the cover art on the original boxes.
Therefore, it holds increased notoriety among fans and collectors.
For the super collector, having both a glossy and non-glossy version of this card in PSA 10 condition as well as an original, unopened box of 1985 first series Garbage Pail Kids cards could be considered quite the accomplishment.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #1a Nasty Nick
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $7,500
Like Adam Bomb, the Nasty Nick card is among the few in the set that can be worth thousands whether glossy or not.
Even after the glossy cardstock ran out, this card remained in the upper-left position of the printing sheet.
That, mixed with the fact that kids would often stack or organize these cards in numerical order left it open to much more potential damage than others in the set.
Not to mention, many kids simply peeled off the stickers and posted them on any number of surfaces, as intended.
So, when you consider how few examples of this card exist that survived all of those potential hurdles after all these years, it starts to make sense why they're worth so much.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #1b Evil Eddie (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $6,000
You'll immediately notice that the artwork on the Evil Eddie card is the exact same as that on the Nasty Nick card.
This is because for the first series, there are 41 "a" and "b" cards, for a total of 82 cards where the only difference between the "a" and "b" cards is the name of the character that was portrayed.
At least that's the case concerning the fronts of the cards as there are some "a" and "b" cards that do have variations on their reverse sides where some will display a mock "award" while the others will contain a checklist.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #1b Evil Eddie
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $5,000
Like its Nasty Nick counterpart, the non-glossy version of Evil Eddie also carries a significant price tag when found in high grade.
It's nearly as difficult to find an example of this card in a PSA 10 holder.
As of this writing, there are 23 copies of the non-glossy Nasty Nick that have achieved PSA 10 status compared to 20 non-glossy Evil Eddies.
It's slightly rarer than than non-glossy Nasty Nick, but not quite as iconic given it's the "1b" in the set sequence.
Still, the $5,000 price point is impressive.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #4a Fryin' Brian (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $4,000
#4a Fryin' Brian and #4b Electric Bill are arguably two of the most cringe-worthy and disturbing cards in the first series.
A young boy is shown in prisoner attire being shocked in an electric chair.
Somehow this card is even more violent in appearance than the Adam Bomb / Blasting Billy cards and the nuclear explosion, one of the most violent acts of all, that occurs on them.
Perhaps its the image of extreme agony on the boy's face.
Whatever the case, if by now you cannot understand why parents wanted these cards to be banned then I'd say these cards are pretty good examples.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #14a Potty Scotty (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $4,000
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #8b Blasted Billy (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $3,500
Blasted Billy is Adam Bomb's cousin, as we've seen this image before much earlier in this article.
Although it carries the same exact image of Adam Bomb along with the boxes and wax packs themselves, it just seems to sell for less.
It could be simply because the name "Blasted Billy" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "Adam Bomb."
Call it a poor man's Adam Bomb, if you will.
But be prepared to pay thousands of dollars for this card if you are lucky enough to find a PSA 10 example come up for sale.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #29a Bony Joanie (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $3,000
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #22b Stinky Stan (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,750
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #27b Jenny Genius (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,750
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #5b Jay Decay (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,600
Jay Decay is one of those cards whose back can be found with one of two variations: either a checklist or a mock award/certificate.
The checklist backs appear to get a bump in value, especially if the checklist is in its original, unchecked form.
On the front, a zombie kid is shown rising from the grave while a full moon shines brightly in the background.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #22a Junky Jeff (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,500
Next up we have card #22a or Junky Jeff that features a boy having his garbage-riddled head raided by a starving alley cat.
The likely messaging here is that many kids' heads can be filled with "garbage" in the form of any kind of useless information or interests.
Which is kind of funny when you think about it as this entire series of trading cards was only working to further that notion.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #39a Buggy Betty (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,500
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #8b Blasted Billy
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,250
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #49b Schizo Fran (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,750
Part of the second series release, #49b Schizo Fran depicts a girl doll with two heads that appear to be fighting with each other.
The name "Schizo Fran" is a pun on schizophrenia.
The card's counterpart, #49A Double Heather, is a pun on "double header".
Obviously, the theme with these cards is poking fun at mental disorder.
But even Topps thought that using the word "schizophrenia" or at least poking fun at it would be too controversial and so they later printed this card with the name "Fran Fran" on it instead.
As a result, card #49b can actually be found with two names but the "Schizo Fran" card carries a premium.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #30a New Wave Dave (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,400
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #5a Dead Ted (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,300
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #24b Nerdy Norm (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,300
Many times it's easy to associate the names on these cards with their accompanying images.
However, in this case, I am not quite sure what being a nerd has to do with smoking a plethora of cigarettes and consuming large amounts of caffeine.
I guess I can understand the finger in the nose and the stigma that surrounds it and being a "nerd".
It's a stretch, though...
But, when you consider card #24a Nervous Rex, then it becomes much more clear that the topic with these two cards is anxiety and how many people can deal with that in the form of smoking and/or drinking caffeine.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #23b Leaky Lou (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,000
This next card is just flat out weird.
Leaky Lou shows a young boy drinking a glass of water flowing right through the numerous holes that cover his body and he couldn't care less.
Some of the holes have corks in them but not nearly enough to prevent the disaster that's occurring here.
And there's no need for a diaper if all that liquid is bypassing your bladder anyway, Leaky Lou.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #31a Run Down Rhoda (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,100
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #19b Crater Chris (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $900
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #26a Slobby Robbie (Glossy)
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $900
Slobby Robbie shows a morbidly obese boy eating ice cream and candy while the scale he sits on explodes beneath him.
If there's any helpful or positive messaging to be found with these cards, then this is at least one good example: don't eat a lot of junk food.
1985 Garbage Pail Kids #41a Mean Gene
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $900
When I look at this card, I instantly think of movies like "Rambo" and "Commando" that were huge hits during the 1980s and portrayed these types of one man armies dishing out mass destruction.
This kid has everything: a machine gun, loads of dynamite, a grenade, arrows, and even spiked boots.
The sunglasses are a nice touch, too.
Along with its counterpart, #41b Joltin' Joe, this card is the last in the first series and is therefore also highly condition sensitive.
Garbage Pail Kids Cards In Review
Whether Garbage Pail Kids cards make you uncomfortable or not, there's no debating how popular they once were and how they've made a comeback in recent years.
Back in the 80s, these cards were so hot that many other spin-off products like t-shirts, lunchboxes, school gear, and even a cartoon on television were produced to capitalize on the hype.
These days, many young kids who had, or couldn't have, them back in the 80s have now become stricken by the nostalgia bug as adults and will pay large amounts of money for them in top grade as you can see.
Full, unsearched, original boxes can even sell for thousands of dollars.
And the five-card wax packs marked with the $0.25 cents price tag on them can sell for hundreds of dollars.
Say what you will about these cards, they definitely had their time and place.
And when people think of the 1980s, they'll likely think of the Garbage Pail Kids right alongside big hair bands, arcades, cheesy action movies, and all the other pop culture icons of that magical decade.