The reintroduction of Topps gross-out Garbage Pail Kids collector cards and stickers is getting major marketing support through public relations, advertising, and promotions in the lead-up to release. 

On the PR front, the new GPK line has had more than 100 placements in newspapers, TV, and radio stations throughout the country.  Even CNN has gotten in on the action, running two stories on the new GPK line in the last three weeks.  The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsday, and NBC are among other heavy-hitters that covered the new line.  A second PR campaign to be accompanied by samples of the product will be launched around the time the new cards go on sale, and additional news coverage is expected at that time.

Advertising will run throughout August and September when the DC Comics 'Kids Group' will be carrying full-page color ads as well as a free-sticker insert containing three of the new GPK stickers as well as a complete checklist on the flip side of the insert.   This promo will appear in over 500,000 copies of a variety of kid comics.  Furthermore, a full-page color ad will be run in the August issue of Mad Magazine, providing an additional 100,000 subscriber copies containing the free sticker promo insert. 

Topps will also be sponsoring a sweepstakes flagged on each outer foil wrapper that will award randomly selected winners with an original GPK painting from the new series.  Two paintings will be awarded to the Grand Prize Winners:  one painting by John Pound and the other by Tom Bunk, both GPK artists. Other prizes include autographed, uncut sheets and factory sealed boxes of product. 

The official street date for the new line is August 21st, with hobby shipments to go out first.  This will give pop culture stores about a two-week window before the product will be available in other channels.