Universal Press Syndicate
The distributor that carried Calvin and Hobbes from desk to newsstand worldwide.
The Universal Press Syndicate (UPS) was the independent American press syndicate responsible for distributing Calvin and Hobbes from its launch in 1985 until its conclusion in 1995. Founded in 1970 by John McMeel and Jim Andrews, UPS became a major force in the industry, eventually merging with Uclick in July 2009 to form Universal Uclick (now Andrews McMeel Syndication). As the distributor for Bill Watterson's iconic strip, UPS handled the logistics of getting the daily and Sunday pages into over 1,400 newspapers internationally. The syndicate also established a notable policy in 1990 granting creators full rights to their works, a move that aligned with the unique artistic freedoms enjoyed by Watterson during his tenure.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Media
- Successor
- Andrews McMeel Syndication
- Founded
- 1970
- Founders
- John McMeel; Jim Andrews
- Defunct
- 2009
- Fate
- Merged with Uclick
- Headquarters
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Country
- United States
Lore & Background
Calvin and Hobbes ran within the UPS network for exactly ten years, debuting in 1985 and concluding its run in 1995. During this period, the strip was part of a flourishing era for the syndicate, which had previously launched successful strips like Doonesbury (1970), Ziggy (1971), and For Better or For Worse (1979). In 1997, UPS acquired Chronicle Features, adding The Far Side and Bizarro to its roster, but Calvin and Hobbes remained a flagship title until its natural end. The syndicate's decision in 1990 to give cartoonists full rights to their works likely influenced the strip's enduring legacy, as Watterson retained complete control over his characters. By the time of the July 2009 merger that dissolved UPS into Universal Uclick, Calvin and Hobbes had already been concluded for nearly a decade, standing as one of the most significant strips in the syndicate's history.
Reader's Guide
For historians of the comic strip, Universal Press Syndicate is best known for its 1990 policy change that gave cartoonists full rights to their respective works, a decision that empowered creators like Bill Watterson. The syndicate operated from its founding in 1970 until July 2009, when it merged with Uclick to form Universal Uclick (now Andrews McMeel Syndication). While UPS distributed many popular columns and strips including Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, and Roger Ebert, Calvin and Hobbes remains a standout title from their catalog. Fans should note that the strip ran exclusively under this banner from 1985 to 1995. The syndicate also acquired Chronicle Features in 1997, expanding its portfolio, but by then Calvin and Hobbes had already ended its run.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in Calvin and Hobbes
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