Friends don’t lie and neither do we: The newest Garbage Pail Kids mashup from The Loyal Subjects is totally rad, totally ’80s, and a great way to get a Stranger Things fix as we await the Netflix series’ fourth season.
For those who may not be in the know, Topps’ Garbage Pail Kids (GPK) trading cards first launched in the ’80s and feature “gross” characters. The trading cards have also featured a variety of crossover collaborations, with well-known characters and people getting GPK-style makeovers. Thanks to its ’80s setting, Stranger Things was a great fit for one of these collabs, and a selection of Stranger Things x GPK characters launched as a sticker set back in 2018.
Now, four Stranger Things x GPK characters have taken the leap from trading cards to collector’s shelves, thanks to The Loyal Subjects. The company has four new figures on the way in its Stranger Things x Garbage Pail Kids collection, which are designed for kids ages 8 and up to collect and display.
The four figures in this release are “Demo Gordon” (the Demogorgon), “Devoted Dustin” (Dustin), “Stylin Steve” (Steve), and “WaffElle” (Eleven/Elle). Each of these collectibles stands about 4 inches tall atop a base that has the mashup character’s name on the front and the Stranger Things and Garbage Pail Kids logos on the back.
The figures themselves are fairly detailed and feature plenty of fun design elements that Stranger Things fans will enjoy. The “Stylin’ Steve” figure, for example, has a ridiculously full head of long, flowing hair in tribute to the character’s iconic hair in the show. WaffElle, meanwhile, is depicted with Elle’s favorite treat: a plate of waffles (which are being drenched by Elle’s nosebleed instead of syrup).
The biggest draw of these collectibles may be their price point, which is just $16.99. And even though they are budget-friendly, the figures’ paint quality, textures, and design are well done. On top of that, each of the figures comes with a collector card that features an illustration of the crossover character and its name.
Overall, these figures have quite a wide age appeal. Kids, tweens, and teens who love Stranger Things will surely enjoy these comical takes on characters they know, while the sturdy material and accessible price point make them a good option for younger collectors. However, adults who love Stranger Things, the ’80s, and/or Garbage Pail Kids will also find a lot to love in these collectibles!
Fans will be available to find these figures May 1 at Walmart and Target!
