Gross Bears

~ Print Run Paragraph ~
~ Series Overview ~
~ Fun Facts and Tid-bits and History ~
~ Artwork Images ~
~ Comprehensive Checklist ~

PRINT RUN PARAGRAPH

Tom Bunk's 1985 Topps parody button set poking fun at the "Care Bears" called the "Gross Bears" (Originally titled "Barf Bears") seemed to be shadowed by the success of the GPK craze. Several of the "Gross Bears" ideas can be seen throughout the GPK series' since a lot of parody material is reused. Too bad this wasn't a card set and called the "Scare Bears" or promoted a bit more, it contains some great material.

FUN FACTS, TIDBITS and HISTORY

1. The catch-phrase for button #4 Barf Bear was changed from the original sketch artwork "Let's Share Lunch" to the published final artwork "Ready for Lunch?".

2. The actual button size is about 1 1/2 inches in circular diameter, very similar to the GARBAGE PAIL KIDS buttons that were released with a catchy phrase.

3. The following Unpublished GROSS BEARS were slightly reworked, with subtle changes from the sketch artwork to the final artwork, and often could be found reworked and released as GARBAGE PAIL KIDS characters in later GPK sets.

"Have It Your Way Burger Bear" - The piece was an idea sketch that made it to the final stages and slightly reworked (minus the chef's hat). It was later painted as a 10th series GPK by James Warhola (below).

"Not All There Bear" - The piece made it to the final stages and was slightly reworked (change of bear sign on stomach). It was later reworked and painted as a similar idea for a 7th series GPK by James Warhola.

The piece was never published but was later reworked for a 5th series GPK by Tom Bunk. The character is in the same position, similar blender with added cord, and blood replaced with water.

"Deaddy Bear" - The piece was never published or released in another parody set. The stomach emblem was changed from a bear skull and cross bones to a human skull with no cross bones for the final artwork. It is similar to the 3rd series GPK character "FRANK N. Stein".

4. Two Gross Bears images found their way into the 1988 Topps T-Shirt Factory Iron-Ons set. The series consisted of 18 different Iron-Ons with artwork that seems to be taken from various, older Topps sets. The two Gross Bears images found within the set are #13 "Spiky Bear" and #28 "Butt Bear".

#4 Iron-On "HUG SOMEONE ELSE!"

#5 Iron-On "KISS ME!"

5.Like many Topps' humor and parody sets, the Gross Bears Big Bad Buttons theme came from the 1976 Topps release simply called Big Bad Buttons.

#4 "CHANGE YOUR DEODORANT!"

#18 "WHERE'S YOUR LEASH?"

ARTWORK IMAGES

4 SAMPLES OF TOM BUNK'S GROSS BEARS FINAL ARTWORK PAINTINGS

#1 FLARE BEAR

#3 FLAT BEAR

#10 RUG BEAR

#17 GO BEAR

TOM BUNK'S GROSS BEARS FINAL BOX ARTWORK PAINTING

BOX ART

BUTTON	CHARACTER NAME	ARTIST
1	FLARE BEAR	Tom Bunk
2	KILLER BEAR	Tom Bunk
3	FLAT BEAR	Tom Bunk
4	BARF BEAR	Tom Bunk
5	GOODBYE BEAR	Tom Bunk
6	PIG-OUT BEAR	Tom Bunk
7	HEADY BEAR	Tom Bunk
8	RAMBEAR	Tom Bunk
9	BIG SHIT BEAR	Tom Bunk
10	RUG BEAR	Tom Bunk
11	EVERYWHERE BEAR	Tom Bunk
12	BONKERS BEAR	Tom Bunk
13	SPIKY BEAR	Tom Bunk
14	TEAR BEAR	Tom Bunk
15	FRANKENBEAR	Tom Bunk
16	B.O. BEAR	Tom Bunk
17	GO BEAR	Tom Bunk
18	LOUSY BEAR	Tom Bunk
19	CYCLOPS BEAR	Tom Bunk
20	SCAR BEAR	Tom Bunk
21	PUNK BEAR	Tom Bunk
22	ZIT BEAR	Tom Bunk
23	MELTED BEAR	Tom Bunk
24	BONY BEAR	Tom Bunk
25	TRASH BEAR	Tom Bunk
26	BAT BEAR	Tom Bunk
27	BICEP BEAR	Tom Bunk
28	BUTT BEAR	Tom Bunk
29	BARE BEAR	Tom Bunk