Wacky Packages Old School and Series 5 Post Cards are Out Now!

After a long wait, the 1st Series of Wacky Package Old School stickers has finally been released!

I originally posted about the set back in June 2008 when word first came out about the set:


Unfortunately the targeted Summer 2009 release date was optimistic as the sketch cards took considerable time to complete and then there were some production issues that resulted in the set having to be redone after the initial printing which pushed back the release date until now.

The set is based around package designs from the 1970's - hence the "old school" reference. The set was designed and painted by Dave Gross who has contributed many titles to the recent run of All New Series Wacky Packages. Dave has done a great job with this set in capturing the packaging from those times, and has come up with some very funny parodies.

The stickers are only available through the Topps Online Store. Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing a box which contains 24 packs:

http://www.toppsonlinestore.com/servlet/the-537/Detail

Here is a look at the complete 33 sticker set:


I really like the Crappy Magazine Covers parody as first of all its great to see Topps poking fun at Fleer, especially since the product (Crazy Magazine Covers) was a direct knockoff of Wacky Packages. The other thing that makes it so good is that it is so true - the artwork on those stickers really was crappy!


Take a closer look at the Slopee sticker. Look familar? It should:

Dave Gross confirmed that Oscar Gamble was the inspiration for the Slopee player on the WackyPackages.org forum! It doesn't get much more 70's than an airbrushed cap trying to cover a monster afro!


Packs contain 3 stickers and a checklist card. The checklist is very similar to the checklist cards that came in the 1970s packs


and as the Original Series always did, features a Topps product for the puzzle:


The Wacky is based on the 1975-76 Basketball wrapper:


In addition to the 33 sticker set, the box also contains an envelope with a number of bonus items


including 1 of 3 different colored Wacky Packages Old School logo stickers:


In addition, each envelope contains 3 large stickers that measure 5" x 7" of some of the titles in the set. There are 9 different larger stickers in total as seen in this picture of the full set:


For comparison purposes, here is one of the 5" x 7" stickers beside the regular sized sticker:


The 5" x 7" stickers are great for having a better look at the artwork.

Also included is a promo sticker for Series 2 Old School, so it appears more will be on the way:


Each evelope also contains a unique 1/1 sketch card by legendary Wacky artist Jay Lynch featuring classic Wacky characters:


from vintage Wackys:


Almost all the sketch cards are black and white, but there are a few that have been done in color:


Also included is a promo poster for the set:


If you look closely at the poster, in the background it contains an image I've posted a few times from an old Topps annual report showing a sweet amout of Topps goodies from the 1970s:


Also included is a promo sticker for the Wacky Package Series 5 Postcards which were just released this week (although oddly enough the title on the sticker doesn't appear in the new postcard set):


Here is a look at the post card set:


The post cards are also only available from the Topps Online store at this link:

http://www.toppsonlinestore.com/servlet/the-546/2010-Wacky-Packages-Series/Detail

These two releases along with the Old School Series 2 promo show that Topps is still actively managing the Wacky Packages brand. It appears there may also be an All New Series 7 (or possibly a new name) later this year, so we can look forward to more Wacky releases down the road.

I'd like to say thanks to Dave for a fantastic Old School set and Jay for the great sketch cards!