2026 GPK Halloween: Ghastly Ashley, Scream Queens and Slime

Jolly Roger has dressed for Halloween with a pirate hat, a skeletal grin and a parrot that's looking a little worse for wear. The 2026 Garbage Pail Kids Halloween Orange Slime preview surrounds the whole scene with dripping orange, picking up the pumpkin in his hand and the bright stripes on his trousers. Even by GPK standards, he's committed to the evening.

Topps plans the release for October 22, 2026. Its 50-card base set is joined by alternate names, changed artwork, Scream Queens, artist autographs and original-art chases. The most useful distinction is between a card that changes its name, one that changes its border and one that changes the drawing itself.

Fifty base cards, with names doing part of the work

The official checklist lists 1A–25A and 1B–25B for the base set. Jolly Roger occupies #22A, paired by number with Pegleg Peter at #22B. Ghastly Ashley is #23A, with Acne Amy at #23B. Those A/B identities make the checklist a 50-card run without requiring 50 unrelated character concepts.

C Names adds a separate group of 25 inserts. The names include BILLY Bones at #22C and Tricky Trish at #23C. The letter matters: these belong to an insert group, rather than extending the ordinary base sequence from #51 onward. The odds sheet lists C Names at 1:3 single boxes, giving this alternate-name chase its own stated frequency.

There is also something to turn over after reading the gag. Base backs form puzzles, including Dead Ted, SY Clops and Ghastly Ashley; the later B cards include completed-puzzle backs. The checklist identifies those backs separately, making the reverse another part of the set's construction rather than an afterthought.

Ashley's artwork variation changes a small detail

Ghastly Ashley's two previews make the Artwork Variation idea easy to understand. The name and #23a remain, as do the red hair, glasses and braces. Her neck bow changes from orange to black. It's a small alteration within the illustration, which gives collectors a specific detail to recognize beyond a different foil finish.

In Topps' design interview, product manager Francis explains that these variations are intended as a spot-the-difference activity, with some changes more obvious than others. The checklist names ten variation subjects, including Ashley, Adam Bomb, New Wave Dave and Patty Putty. That creates a defined group to pursue within the larger base selection. Artwork Variations are listed at 1:12 single boxes.

Scream Queens gets the GPK treatment

Michelle Yeller #4A turns a frightened look in the mirror into a full GPK scene. Hair covers the floor, scissors lie beside it, and the character is left clutching the mirror beneath a small tiara. The large mound of yellow curls does much of the storytelling before the nameplate supplies the joke.

The checklist pairs her with Hairless Helen at #4B. Other Scream Queens names include Jamie Lee Hurtus, Nervous Neve and Heather Langentrapped. Topps' interview names Jamie Lee Curtis, Neve Campbell and Sarah Michelle Gellar among the actresses behind the subset's horror-film theme. These are illustrated GPK interpretations; the separately listed Artist Autographs are signatures from the card artists.

Slime borders and signatures from the artists

The base Slime parallel ladder runs Gold /50, Orange /25, Black /10, Red /5 and Foil Fractor /1. Jolly Roger's Orange Slime preview shows why the border suits this set: the drips join an already unruly illustration, while the dark nameplate stays legible underneath. The numbered ladder gives collectors several versions of the same base subject to follow.

The manufacturer odds sheet lists Gold at 1:7, Orange at 1:15, Black at 1:37, Red at 1:74 and Foilfractor at 1:360. Its column is labeled SINGLE BOX. These are rates for the parallel groups across boxes, rather than the odds of finding a particular named character.

Artist Autographs connect specific drawings to their creators. The checklist includes Joe Simko with Dead Ted and Mad Max, Neil Camera with Adam Bomb and Stormy Heather, and David Gross with Shrunken Ed and Tatoo Lou. Their group rate is 1:18 single boxes. Sketch Cards are listed at 1:12, while Final Artwork Redemption is a separate 1:692 chase. The distinction keeps an original sketch, a signed printed card and a redemption for finished artwork from becoming the same thing in the description.

Halloween gives these characters plenty to work with, but the collecting details are unusually approachable: find the A/B names, compare Ashley's bow, recognize the Scream Queens and follow a favorite drawing through the Slime colors. The gross-out jokes attract the first look; those specific differences reward the second.