We distribute exceptional, entertaining and informational content to more than 400 international and 2,500 U.S. news outlets and are constantly mining and developing new talent. Our remarkable roster of diverse cartoonists and creators includes dozens of Pulitzer Prize, Reuben, Herblock and Emmy Award-winners.
Daily comics, editorial
features, puzzles and games
Stand-alone
puzzle books
Print, digital and
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Newspaper and e-edition pagination
from Andrews McMeel Pagination Service
1970s highlights
1970
Universal Press Syndicate (UPS) is founded by Jim Andrews and John McMeel
1970
Doonesbury debuts
1972
Ziggy debuts
1973
UPS establishes the book publishing division Andrews McMeel Publishing
1975
Garry Trudeau wins Pulitzer Prize for Doonesbury
1976
Cathy joins the funny pages
1979
For Better or For Worse debuts
1980s highlights
1980
Dear Abby and Pat Oliphant join the UPS family
1984
The Far Side comes to UPS
1985
Calvin and Hobbes arrives in newspapers
1987
Roger Ebert begins syndication with UPS
1988
Foxtrot, by Bill Amend, debuts to the delight of geeks everywhere
1989
News of the Weird joins UPS
1990s highlights
1992
Non Sequitur comes to the fold
1994
Garfield joins UPS
1995
Stone Soup begins syndication
1996
UPS creates Universal New Media, which becomes Uclick
1997
Company becomes Andrews McMeel Universal, parent to UPS, AMP and Uclick; Universal Crossword and The Motley Fool debut
2000s highlights
2003
AMUSE (Andrews McMeel Universal Syndicated Entertainment), the film and television division of AMU, is founded
2005
Universal Sudoku becomes top Sudoku Game
2006
Lio joins the UPS family and becomes an instant hit
2007
Cul de Sac debuts and becomes a family favorite
2008
AMU establishes headquarters in the historic Boley Building, in downtown Kansas City, MO; The Argyle Sweater arrives
2009
Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick merge to form Universal Uclick (UU)
2010s highlights
2010
Atlantic Syndication merges with Universal Uclick; Blockbuster strip Peanuts joins UU
2011
UU becomes syndication manager for United Feature Syndicate, bringing a host of award-winning content to UU
2013
WuMo, by Mikael Wulff and illustrator Anders Morgenthaler, enters syndication with the largest starting list of newspapers in company history
2015
Phoebe and Her Unicorn, by Dana Simpson, launches in syndication
2017
Universal Uclick becomes Andrews McMeel Syndication; Breaking Cat News, by Georgia Dunn, launches in syndication
2018
Wallace the Brave, by Will Henry, launches in syndication
2020s highlights
2020
Andrews McMeel Universal celebrates its 50th anniversary
2022
Baby Blues, Pickles, Loose Parts, Sherman's Lagoon and Mike du Jour join AMS; Crabgrass, by Tauhid Bondia, debuts in syndication
2023
Garry Trudeau is inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame
2024
Legendary comic panel The Lockhorns joins AMS
2025
All 6 cartoonists nominated for the 2024 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year came from our roster of creators; Mark Parisi of Off the Mark took home the prize
2026
Caroline Cash takes over as Nancy cartoonist
