Universal Uclick Celebrates 30th Anniversary of “Luann”

(March 3, 2015) -  Kansas City, Mo. 

Universal Uclick is excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary Greg Evans’ Luann comic strip this month.

 

“If time flies when you're having fun, then I've had a blast the past 30 years!” Evans said. “I feel lucky that I've been able to spend nearly half my life doing the thing I love most: creating the world of Luann. The strip has never been a task; I always look forward to working on it. And it continues to feel new and fun to me.”

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the beloved comic strip, GoComics, from Universal Uclick, and Greg Evans have teamed up to bring Luann fans a month-long celebration featuring social media experiences, interactive bonus content, giveaways and more throughout March.  

·      Social Media

o   The “Luann DeGroot” Facebook page (facebook.com/luanncomic) will be updated frequently with information relating to the anniversary celebration, including shareable videos from Greg Evans, giving behind-the-scenes glimpses into his drawing process.

o   GoComics will host a one-hour live Q&A session on Twitter with Luann herself! The Twitter session will take place on Fri., March 20 at 1:30 p.m. CT. Fans can submit questions to and follow the conversation using the hashtag #AskLuann.

·      GoComics Blog

o   The GoComics blog (blogs.gocomics.com) will feature guest-written blog posts by Greg Evans and daughter Karen Evans, as well the strip’s editor, Elizabeth Phelps. GoComics will also host a week-long Luann-themed giveaway on the blog.

·      Bonus Content

o   Interactive bonus content will be available each week in March, including an opportunity for fans to win a custom signed print. Visit gocomics.com/luann-bonus-content.

·      Kindle Daily Deals

o   Kindle Daily Deals will make Luann e-books available at discounted prices. To view all Luann e-books, visit andrewsmcmeel.com/books/comics-and-humor/udig/luann.

“Thirty years ago, Luann tentatively entered her teen years. Now she's tentatively entering her young adult years. So it's natural that my young adult daughter, Karen – the person who originally inspired the strip – is now helping me. Having her on board makes the job even more enjoyable.”

Making its debut on March 17, 1985, readers have followed along as Luann tackled the trials and tribulations of becoming a young adult. Known for its rich characters and intriguing “what will happen next” storylines, Luann enjoys a reader loyalty rare on the comics page, consistently ranking among the top five in reader surveys.

“I'm extremely appreciative of the newspapers and readers who have kept Luann going all these years,” Evans said. “The intensity and devotion of LuannFans is very gratifying to me. It's what motivates me to deliver my very best effort every day. I'm often asked if it's hard to keep coming up with fresh material. The answer is no. As the Luanniverse has evolved, I find I have a bottomless well of stories to tell. And we have some whoppers coming up!”

Evans was voted Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year in 2003 by the National Cartoonists Society, partly for his efforts in holding up Luann as a fine example of the positive power comic strips can have.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Evans attended California State University-Northridge. After graduating, he worked as a high school art teacher in El Centro, California. He married his wife, Betty, and they taught in Australia, then spent some time traveling through Asia and the Middle East before finally settling back in the United States and starting a family. Evans currently resides in San Diego. 

Luann is available at gocomics.com/luann or via the GoComics mobile app. Luann can also be read in Spanish at gocomics.com/espanol/luannspanish. In addition, LuannAgainn, which restarts Luann from the very first strip, is available at gocomics.com/luann-againn or via the GoComics mobile app.

About Universal Uclick

Universal Uclick is the largest independent content syndicate in the world and a leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, political cartoons and other content for print, Web and mobile devices. Universal Uclick provides editorial development, licensing and other distribution services for iconic brands such as Doonesbury, Dear Abby, Miss Manners and some of the most significant comics in history, including Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Peanuts, Dilbert, For Better or For Worse, Cathy and Ziggy. Recent standout successes include Lio, Cul de Sac, Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy, Big Nate and The Argyle Sweater. A full comic catalog can be found at GoComics.com or via its mobile/tablet app on multiple platforms. For more information on Universal Uclick, visit UniversalUclick.com. To stay informed about news pertaining to Universal Uclick, its content and creators, follow the company’s Twitter handle @UniversalUclick. 

 

About GoComics

GoComics, from Universal Uclick, is home to many of the most popular comics and cartoons in the world. GoComics.com is the Web's largest catalog of syndicated newspaper strips and webcomics, offering new, fresh and free content every day. Classic and iconic comics include Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Ziggy and Dilbert. Recent successes include FoxTrot, Get Fuzzy, Pearls Before Swine, The Argyle Sweater, The Boondocks and Cul de Sac. GoComics is also home to Comics Sherpa, the site where aspiring cartoonists can showcase their work and receive feedback from the comic community. With content from critically acclaimed comic creators, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists and the hottest up-and-coming talents, GoComics is guaranteed to have something that will make you smile. A full comic catalog can be found at GoComics.com or via its free mobile/tablet app on multiple platforms.

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Media Contact:

Julie Halper, Universal Uclick            

816.581.7658                                                             

jhalper@amuniversal.com