History

How it started

The Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU) story begins with the dynamic partnership of Jim Andrews and John McMeel — two charismatic innovators who challenged convention to give voice to the groundbreaking comic storytellers and cultural commentators of the day.

In 1970, Jim and John joined forces to act on their long-held dream of establishing their own media enterprise. With the support and encouragement of their wives, Kathy and Susan, they launched Universal Press Syndicate (UPS).

From a modest beginning (the Andrewses, in a rented house in Leawood, Kansas, where Kathy, as the financial officer, pored over spreadsheets on the couple’s dining room table while Jim, the editorial department, toiled upstairs in a bedroom office; and the McMeels, running sales and marketing from a one-room sublet on Fifth Avenue in New York City), Andrews McMeel Universal has grown to be a global, independent and integrated media company.

Distinguished by a creator-first approach and an uncanny ability to tap into the zeitgeist of popular culture, AMU’s remarkable roster of talent — in newspaper syndication; book, calendar and greeting card publishing; digital consumer experiences and entertainment licensing — includes dozens of New York Times best-selling authors and winners of Pulitzer Prizes, Reubens and Emmy Awards.

Jim and John’s entrepreneurial vision, progressive business philosophy and steadfast commitment to the artistic goals of each creator continue to serve as the foundation of AMU’s culture.

1970s

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Highlights

  • Universal Press Syndicate (UPS) is founded and Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) is established three years later.
  • UPS syndicates Seymour Hersh’s Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé of the My Lai Massacre.
  • UPS launches Garry Trudeau’s revolutionary comic strip Doonesbury.
  • Ziggy, by Tom Wilson, launches in newspapers and merchandising to serves as the cornerstone of AMP’s calendar division, which is now recognized as the world’s premier calendar publisher.
  • UPS introduces Cathy, by Cathy Guisewite, and For Better or For Worse, by Lynn Johnston, giving groundbreaking voice to female perspectives in comics.
  • UPS syndicates venerated columnists James J. Kilpatrick, William F. Buckley Jr., Mary McGrory and James Beard.

1980s

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Highlights

  • Dear Abby, the world’s most widely syndicated column, and renowned political cartoonist Pat Oliphant join UPS.
  • AMP publishes the first collection of Gary Larson’s The Far Side® and UPS syndicates the strip. The Far Side® Off-the-Wall Calendar becomes the best-selling calendar in history.
  • UPS introduces Bill Watterson’s beloved Calvin and Hobbes and AMP publishes the first Calvin and Hobbes book.
  • AMP enters the gift and stationery market with greeting cards, postcards and posters.
  • Roger Ebert’s book A Kiss Is Still a Kiss is published and UPS begins syndicating his column.
  • Humor columnist Erma Bombeck joins UPS.
  • FoxTrot, by Bill Amend, launches in newspapers.

1990s

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Highlights

  • AMP begins publishing Mary Engelbreit books and calendars.
  • AMP publishes Scott Adams’ first Dilbert collection and a best-selling calendar. UPS later syndicates the strip.
  • UPS begins national syndication of Where I’m Coming From by Barbara Brandon-Croft, making Brandon-Croft the first nationally syndicated black female cartoonist.
  • The first Magic Eye book is released and sparks a pop-culture sensation.
  • Doonesbury character Andy Lippencott, the first openly gay character in a nationally syndicated comic strip, is diagnosed with HIV in 1989 and dies of AIDS in 1991. Andy’s story later results in Trudeau being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
  • UExpress becomes the company’s first consumer website.
  • Garfield, the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip, joins UPS.
  • For Better or For Worse character Lawrence Poirier, a close high school friend of one of the comic strip’s primary characters, Michael Patterson, reveals to Michael that he is gay. This resulted in creator Lynn Johnson being a “nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1994, citing that the strip “sensitively depicted a youth’s disclosure of his homosexuality and its effect on his family and friends.
  • UPS syndicates Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks, which enhances diversity in the comic pages through its satire of African-American culture and American politics.
  • Andrews McMeel Universal is established as the corporate identity for all divisions.