Wacky Packages (Topps)

Take a fun look back at Quacker Oats, Blisterine, and more classic packaging parodies—plus an interview with creator Art Spiegelman! Known affectionately among collectors as "Wacky Packs," the Topps stickers that parodied well-known consumer brands were a phenomenon in the 1970s—even outselling the Topps Company's baseball cards for a while. But few know that the genius behind it all was none other than Art Spiegelman—the Pulitzer Prize–winning graphic novelist who created Maus. This treasury includes an interview with Spiegelman about his early career and his decades-long relationship with the memorabilia company—as well as a colorful compendium that will bring back memories of such products as Plastered Peanuts, Jail-O, Weakies cereal, and many more. Illustrated by notable comics artists Kim Deitch, Bill Griffith, Jay Lynch, Norm Saunders, and more, this collection is a visual treat, a load of laughs, and a tribute to a beloved product that's been delighting kids (and adults) for decades. Read more