Editing King Features Syndicate

{{short description|American print syndication company}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = King Features Syndicate, Inc.
| logo = King Features new.png
| logo_size = 
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2016
| logo_padding = 
| image = 
| image_size = 
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| native_name = 
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| former_name = 
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Animation]]<br>[[Print syndication]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1914}}
| founders = {{plainlist|
* [[William Randolph Hearst]] 
* [[Moses Koenigsberg]]}}
| hq_location = 
| hq_location_city = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served = 
| key_people = 
| products = Comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons
| brands = 
| subsid = North America Syndicate<br />Cowles Syndicate
| services = 
| parent = [[Hearst Communications]]
| ratio = 
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| website = {{URL|https://kingfeatures.com/}}
}}
'''King Features Syndicate, Inc.''' is an American content distribution and [[animation studio]], consumer product [[License|licensing]] and [[print syndication]] company owned by [[Hearst Communications]] that distributes about 150 [[comic strip]]s, [[columnist|newspaper columns]], [[editorial cartoon]]s, [[puzzle]]s, and [[game]]s to nearly 5,000 [[newspaper]]s worldwide. King Features Syndicate also produces intellectual properties, develops new content and franchises (like ''[[The Cuphead Show!]]'', which it produced with [[Netflix]]), and licenses its classic characters and properties.

King Features Syndicate is a unit of Hearst Holdings, Inc., which combines the Hearst Corporation's [[Cable television in the United States|cable-network]] partnerships, television programming and distribution activities, and syndication companies. King Features' affiliate syndicates are North America Syndicate and Cowles Syndicate.

== History ==
[[File:King Features retro.png|thumb|200px|Historic logo, used until the 1960s]]
[[William Randolph Hearst]]'s newspapers began syndicating material in 1895 after receiving requests from other newspapers. The first official Hearst syndicate was called '''Newspaper Feature Service, Inc.''', established in 1913.<ref>Markstein, Don. [http://www.toonopedia.com/king.htm "King Features Syndicate,"] ''Toonpedia''. Accessed November 22, 2018.</ref> In 1914, Hearst and his manager [[Moses Koenigsberg]] consolidated all of Hearst's syndication enterprises under one banner (although Newspaper Feature Service was still in operation into at least the 1930s).<ref>''A Directory of Newspaper Syndicates in the United States'' (compiled from the ''Ayer Newspaper Directory'' for 1936 and ''Editor and Publisher International Year Book'' for 1936.)</ref> Koenigsberg gave it his own name (the German word ''[[wikt:König|König]]'' means ''king'') when he launched '''King Features Syndicate''' on November 16, 1915.<ref>[https://kingfeatures.com/about-us/king-features-history/ "King Features History: A Crowning Achievement,"] King Features website. Accessed January 15, 2019.</ref>
 
Production escalated in 1916 with King Features buying and selling its own staff-created feature material. A trade publication — ''Circulation'' — was published by King Features between 1916 and 1933. In January 1929, the world-famous [[Popeye]] character was introduced in King Features' ''Thimble Theater'' comic strip.

King Features had a series of hits during the 1930s with the launch of ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]'' (1930–present), ''[[Flash Gordon]]'' (1934–2003 Note: Relaunched again in October 2023 by Dan Schkade as a daily and Sunday strip), ''[[Mandrake the Magician]]'' (1934–2013), and ''[[The Phantom]]'' (1936–present). In March 1936, a fictional, magical animal called [[Eugene the Jeep]] was added to Popeye, and trademarked.<ref>[https://www.allpar.com/threads/how-the-jeep-got-its-name-instead-of-peep-beep-or-seep.229807/ How the Jeep got its name instead of Peep, Beep, or Seep | Allpar, Nov 2020] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220228111911/https://www.allpar.com/threads/how-the-jeep-got-its-name-instead-of-peep-beep-or-seep.229807/ Archived)]</ref>

King Features remained a "powerhouse" syndicate throughout the 1950s and the 1960s.<ref>[[Rick Marschall|Marschall, Rick]]. [http://john-adcock.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-crowded-life-in-comics_19.html "Bob Weber, Forever the Cartoon Fan" ("A Crowded Life in Comics")], ''Yesterday's Papers'' (October 25, 2020).</ref> In 1965 it launched a children's comic and coloring page.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1965-04-17_98_16 | title=Editor and Publisher 1965-04-17: Vol 98 Iss 16 | date=April 17, 1965 | publisher=Duncan McIntosh }}</ref>

In 1986, King Features acquired the [[Register and Tribune Syndicate]] for $4.3 million.<ref>[http://www.lib.drake.edu/heritage/GardnerCowlesFamily/JohnCowles.html Strentz, Herb. "John Cowles"]</ref> Later that year, Hearst bought [[News America Syndicate]] (formerly Publishers-Hall).<ref name=Storch>{{cite news|author=Charles Storch|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-12-25-8604060301-story.html|title=Hearst To Buy Murdoch Syndicate|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref name="king">[http://www.hearstcorp.com/entertainment/property/ent_news_kfs.html King Features Syndicate profile.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029015730/http://www.hearstcorp.com/entertainment/property/ent_news_kfs.html |date=October 29, 2006 }} via Hearst Corporation</ref> By this point, with both King Features and News America (renamed [[North America Syndicate]]), Hearst led all syndication services with 316 features.<ref name="Superhero">{{cite news |page=34 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 14, 1987 |title= A Superhero For Cartoonists?|author=Katina Alexander |access-date=August 18, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/business/a-superhero-for-cartoonists.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm}}</ref>

In 2007, King Features donated its collection of comic-strip [[Comic strip#Newspapers|proof sheets]] (two sets of over 60 years' accumulation) to the [[Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum]] and the [[Michigan State University Libraries#Comic Art Collection|Michigan State University Comic Art Collection]] while retaining the collection in electronic form for reference purposes.<ref>Randy Scott. "The King Features Proof Sheet Collection." ''Insight''. [Fall 2009?] p.3</ref>

In November 2015, King Features released a book, entitled "King of the Comics: One Hundred Years of King Features Syndicate" to commemorate its 100th [[anniversary]]. The book features a compilation of strips and the histories behind King Features strips.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Squirek|first=Mark|title=a book review by Mark Squirek: King of the Comics: One Hundred Years of King Features Syndicate (The Library of American Comics)|url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/king-comics|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=www.nyjournalofbooks.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Clabaugh|first=Rich|date=November 13, 2015|title='King of the Comics' celebrates 100 years of classic comics|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2015/1113/King-of-the-Comics-celebrates-100-years-of-classic-comics|access-date=December 27, 2021|issn=0882-7729}}</ref>

As of 2016, with 62 strips being syndicated, Hearst was considered the second-largest comics service, second only to Uclick<ref>Dwyer, Ed. [https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2016/11/the-funny-papers/ "CULTURE: The Funny Papers: Newspapers may be in trouble, but the comic strip is alive and well — and flourishing online,"] ''Saturday Evening Post'' (November 7, 2016).</ref> (now known as [[Andrews McMeel Syndication]]).

In December 2017, King Features appointed CJ Kettler as president of the company. Kettler previously was CEO of [[Sunbow Entertainment]] and the executive producer of the [[Netflix]] series ''[[Carmen Sandiego (TV series)|Carmen Sandiego]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haring|first=Bruce|date=December 12, 2017|title=C.J. Kettler Named President Of King Features Syndicate, Will Focus On New Platforms|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/c-j-kettler-named-president-of-king-features-syndicate-1202223521/|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

== William Randolph Hearst's involvement ==
{{more citations needed|section of purported correspondence excerpts|date=August 2015}}
In 1941, King Features manager Moses Koenigsberg wrote an autobiographical history of the company entitled ''King News''. William Randolph Hearst paid close attention to the comic strips, even in the last years of his life, as is evident in these 1945–46 correspondence excerpts, originally in ''Editor & Publisher'' (December 1946), about the creation of ''Dick's Adventures in Dreamland'' — a strip that made its debut on Sunday, January 12, 1947; written by former ''Daily News'' reporter Max Trell and illustrated by Neil O'Keefe (who also drew for King Features a strip based on [[Edgar Wallace]]'s ''Inspector Wade of Scotland Yard''):<ref>[http://toonopedia.com/dicksadv.htm ''Dick's Adventures in Dreamland''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150404112133/http://toonopedia.com/dicksadv.htm |date=April 4, 2015 }} at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20150404112133/http://toonopedia.com/dicksadv.htm Archived] from the original on March 24, 2015.</ref>

: Hearst to King Features president J. D. Gortatowsky (December 28, 1945): "I have had numerous suggestions for incorporating some American history of a vivid kind in the adventure strips of the comic section. The difficulty is to find something that will sufficiently interest the kids… Perhaps a title — "Trained by Fate" — would be general enough. Take [[Paul Revere]] and show him as a boy making as much of his boyhood life as possible, and culminate, of course, with his ride. Take [[Betsy Ross]] for a heroine, or [[Barbara Fritchie]]… for the girls."

: King Features editor [[Ward Greene]] to Hearst: "There is another way to do it, which is somewhat fantastic, but which I submit for your consideration. That is to devise a new comic… a ''dream'' idea revolving around a boy we might call Dick. Dick, or his equivalent, would go in his dream with Mad Anthony Wayne at the storming of Stony Point or with Decatur at [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]… [This would] provide a constant character… who would become known to the kids."

: Hearst to Greene: "The dream idea for the American history series is splendid. It gives continuity and personal interest, and you can make more than one page of each series… You are right about the importance of the artist."

: Greene to Hearst (enclosing samples): "We employed the dream device, building the comic around a small boy."

: Hearst: "I think the drawing of ''Dick and His Dad'' is amazingly good. It is perfectly splendid. I am afraid, however, that similar beginning and conclusion of each page might give a deadly sameness to the series… Perhaps we could get the dream idea over by having only the conclusion on each page. I mean, do not show the boy going to sleep every time and then show him waking up, but let the waking up come as a termination to each page… Can you develop anything out of the idea of having Dick the son of the keeper of the [[Statue of Liberty|Liberty Statue]] in New York Harbor? I do not suggest this, as it would probably add further complications, but it might give a spiritual tie to all the dreams. The main thing, however, is to get more realism."

: Greene: "We do not have to show the dream at the beginning and end of every page… If we simply call the comic something like ''Dreamer Dick'', we would have more freedom… Some device other than the dream might be used… A simple method would be to have him curl up with a history book."

: Hearst: "If we find [the first series] is not a success, of course we can brief it, but if it is a success it should be a long series."

: Greene: "I am sending you two sample pages of ''Dick's Adventures in Dreamland'' which start a series about Christopher Columbus."

: Hearst: "In January, I am told, we are going to 16 pages regularly on ''Puck, the Comic Weekly''. That would be a good time to introduce the Columbus series, don't you think so?"

The last strips Hearst personally selected for syndication were [[Elliot Caplin]] & [[John Cullen Murphy]]'s ''[[Big Ben Bolt]]'' and [[Mort Walker]]'s ''[[Beetle Bailey]]'';<ref name=Warren>Warren, James. [https://www.poynter.org/news/grand-tribute-golden-era-cartoons "A grand tribute to a golden era of cartoons,"] ''Poynter'' (January 2, 2018).</ref> Hearst died in 1951.

== Editors ==
In the 1940s, [[Ward Greene]] (1893–1956) was King Features' editor, having worked his way up through the ranks. He was a reporter and war correspondent for the ''[[Atlanta Journal]]'' for four years (1913–17), moving to the ''[[New-York Tribune]]'' in 1917 and then returning to the ''Atlanta Journal'' as correspondent in France and Germany (1918–19). He joined King Features in 1920, became a writer and editor of the magazine section in 1925, advancing to executive editor and general manager.<ref name=NYTimes>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/01/23/86508845.html?zoom=16 "WARD GREEN DIES: A HEARST OFFICIAL,"] ''New York Times '' (January 23, 1956), p. 25.</ref>

Vice president Bradley Kelly (1894–1969) was a comics editor during the 1940s.

[[Sylvan Byck]] (1904–1982) was head editor of the syndicate's comics features for several decades, from the 1950s until his retirement in 1978. A King Features employee for more than 40 years and comics editor for 33 years, Byck was 78 when he died July 8, 1982. Comic-strip artist [[John Celardo]] (1918–2012) began as a King comics editor in 1973.

In 1973, Tom Pritchard (1928–1992) joined King Features, and became executive editor in 1990, overseeing daily editorial operations and the development of political cartoons, syndicated columns, and editorial services for King Features and North America Syndicate. Born in [[Bronxville, New York]], Pritchard arrived at King Features after work as a reporter at ''The Record-Journal'' ([[Meriden, Connecticut]]), as feature writer with ''The Hartford Times'', as editor-publisher of Connecticut's weekly ''Wethersfield Post'', and as executive editor of ''The Manchester Journal Inquirer'' in Connecticut. He died of a heart attack in December 1992 at his home in [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/09/obituaries/tom-pritchard-editor-64.html?src=pm "Tom Pritchard; Editor, 64", ''The New York Times'', December 9, 1992.]</ref>

In 1978, cartoonist [[Bill Yates]] (1921–2001) took over as King Features' comics editor. He had previously edited [[Dell Publishing]]'s cartoon magazines (''1000 Jokes'', ''Ballyhoo'', ''For Laughing Out Loud'') and Dell's paperback cartoon collections. Yates resigned from King Features at the end of 1988 to spend full-time on his cartooning, and he died March 26, 2001.

In 1988, Yates was replaced by [[Jay Kennedy]] — author of ''The Official Underground & Newave Comix Price Guide'' (Norton Boatner, 1982). Kennedy was King Features' lead editor until March 15, 2007, when he drowned in a riptide while vacationing in Costa Rica.<ref name=Heller>Heller, Steven. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/arts/19kennedy.html "Jay Kennedy, 50, an Editor and Scholar of Comic Strips, Is Dead,"] ''New York Times'' (March 19, 2007).</ref>

Brendan Burford, who attended the [[School of Visual Arts]], was employed for a year as an editorial assistant at [[DC Comics]] before joining King Features as an editorial assistant in January 2000. Working closely with Jay Kennedy over a seven-year span, he was promoted to associate editor and then, after Kennedy's death, to the position of comics editor on April 23, 2007.

In November 2018, Tea Fougner was promoted to editorial director for comics after working as an editor at King Features for nine years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Degg|first=D. D.|date=March 14, 2020|title=King Features Editorial Director TEA is Interviewed|url=http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2020/03/13/king-features-editorial-director-tea-is-interviewed/|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=The Daily Cartoonist|language=en-US}}</ref> She is the first [[Sex assignment|female-assigned]] and first [[Non-binary gender|genderqueer]] person to oversee comics editorial at King Features.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fitzsimons|first=Kate|title=More To Come 443: Tea Fougner King Features Interview|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?podcast=1105&channel=2|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== Comics editors ===
* 1940s: Bradley Kelly
* 1946–1956: [[Ward Greene]]
* 1956–1978: Sylvan Byck
* 1978–1988: [[Bill Yates]]
* 1988–2007: [[Jay Kennedy]]
* 2007–2017: Brendan Burford
* 2018–Present: Tea Fougner

== Strip submissions ==
When asked to speak in public, Byck made a point of telling audiences that King Features received more than 1,000 strip proposals annually, but chose only one each year. However, in [[Syd Hoff]]'s ''The Art of Cartooning'' (Stravon, 1973), Byck offered some tips regarding strip submissions, including the creation of central characters with warmth and charm and the avoidance of "themes that are too confining," as he explained: 
: Although characterization is the most important element of a comic, the cartoonist also must cope with the problem of choosing a theme for his new strip. What will it be about? Actually, it is possible to do a successful comic strip about almost anything or anybody if the writing and drawing are exactly right for the chosen subject. In general, though, it is best to stay away from themes that are too confining. If you achieve your goal of [[Print syndication|syndication]], you want your strip to last a long time. You don't want to run out of ideas after a few weeks or months. In humor strips, it is better to build around a character than around a job. For example, it is possible to do some very funny comic strip gags about a taxi driver. But a strip that is limited to taxi driver gags is bound to wear thin pretty fast. I'd rather see a strip about a warmly funny man who just happens to earn his living as a cabbie and whose job is only a minor facet of his potential for inspiring gags. Narrative strips can be and often are based on the central character's job. For example, the basis of a private eye strip is the work he does. But even here the strip will only be as successful as the characterization in it. The big question is: what kind of a man is this particular private eye?<ref>Hoff, Syd. ''The Art of Cartooning''. Stravon, 1973.</ref>

== Content distribution ==
King Features Syndicate's content distribution division distributes more than 150 different comics, games, puzzles, and columns, in digital and print formats, to nearly 5,000 daily, Sunday, weekly and online newspapers and other publishers. Comic properties include Beetle Bailey, Blondie, [[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]], [[The Family Circus]], [[Curtis (comic strip)|Curtis]], [[Rhymes with Orange]], [[Alex Hallatt|Arctic Circle]], [[Macanudo (comic)|Macanudo]], and [[Zits (comics)|Zits]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Plunkett|first=Jack W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yPLb0cA8Gv0C|title=Plunkett's Entertainment & Media Industry Almanac 2007|date=2007|publisher=Plunkett Research, Ltd.|isbn=978-1-59392-066-1|language=en}}</ref> The division additionally offers services for smaller publishers and community papers, including pagination and [[Colorist|colorization]] services through its sister company, RBMA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hearst and the History of Comics|url=https://afcp.pageflip.site/editions/AFCPI84178|access-date=January 31, 2022|website=Publish|page=26|language=en|edition=June 2021}}</ref>

In March 2018, to mark [[International Women's Day]], many King Features cartoonists included messages about [[Women's empowerment|female empowerment]] and other topics that resonated with them.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=March 8, 2018|title=Many cartoonists join forces to mark International Women's Day through art|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/03/08/many-cartoonists-join-forces-to-mark-international-womens-day-through-art/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref>

In April 2020, [[Bianca Xunise]] became the first black woman to join the team of female creators behind King Features strip [[Six Chix]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=April 20, 2020|title=Newspaper comics hardly ever feature black women as artists. But two new voices have arrived.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/04/20/steenz-heart-city-bianca-xunise-six-chix/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> Six Chix was first syndicated by King Features in May 2019, after King Features saw strip creator Maritsa Patrinos' work online.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=May 18, 2019|title=How the biggest new comic-arts festival reflects better representation for women|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/05/18/how-biggest-new-comic-arts-festival-reflects-better-representation-women/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref>

In June 2020, King Features started syndicating [[webcomic]] [[Rae the Doe]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leblanc|first=Philippe|date=June 1, 2020|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-olive-brinker-on-her-webcomic-rae-the-doe-comedy-and-plushes/|access-date=January 12, 2022|website=The Beat|language=en-US}}</ref> In the same month, cartoonists from King Features, along with artists from Kirkman's, [[Andrews McMeel Syndication]] and [[National Cartoonists Society]], hid symbols in their Sunday strips as a tribute to [[Key worker|essential workers]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 Pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=June 1, 2020|title=Comics will salute essential workers by hiding symbols in their Sunday strips|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/06/01/cartoons-essential-workers-loose-parts-dave-blazek/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 1, 2020|title=Comics will salute essential workers by hiding symbols in their Sunday strips|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/comics-will-salute-essential-workers-by-hiding-symbols-in-their-sunday-strips/|access-date=January 12, 2022|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2020, King Features relaunched comic strip [[Mark Trail]], originally launched in 1946, with cartoonist Jules Rivera, author of comic strip Love, Joolz, at the helm.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=September 25, 2020|title='Mark Trail' Jumps Into an Adventure With a New Cartoonist|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/arts/mark-trail-new-cartoonist.html|access-date=January 12, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Animation, comic books, and licensing ==
Many King characters were adapted to animation, both theatrical and television cartoons.<ref>[http://www.davemackey.com/animation/kingfeatures.html Mackey, Dave. King Features Syndicate TV Cartoons: A Complete Filmographic Guide]</ref> Strips from King Features were often reprinted by comic book publishers. In 1967, King Features made an effort to publish comic books of its own by establishing [[King Comics]]. This short-lived comic-book line showcased King's best-known characters in seven titles:

* [[Beetle Bailey]]
* [[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]
* [[Flash Gordon]]
* [[Jungle Jim]]
* [[Mandrake the Magician]]
* [[The Phantom|The Phantom]]
* [[Popeye]]

The comics imprint existed for a year-and-a-half, with titles cover-dated from August 1966 to December 1967. When it ended, the books were picked up and continued by [[Gold Key Comics]], [[Harvey Comics]], and [[Charlton Comics]].

In 1967, Al Brodax, then the president of King Features, pitched [[The Beatles]] manager [[Brian Epstein]] on turning their hit song "[[Yellow Submarine (song)|Yellow Submarine]]" into an animated movie. The [[Yellow Submarine (film)|film]] was widely considered to be the first animated film for adult audiences, despite its G-rating in United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Matt|date=July 17, 2018|title='The Simpsons' Wouldn't Exist Without 'Yellow Submarine'|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a22166363/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-influence-cartoons-the-simpsons-adventure-time/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Esquire|language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to extensive merchandising and licensing of such iconic characters as [[Betty Boop]], [[Felix the Cat]], and [[Popeye]], King Features has diversified to handle popular animation and TV characters (from "[[Kukla, Fran and Ollie]]" and "[[Howdy Doody]]" to "[[Mr. Bill]]" and "[[Mr. Magoo]]"), plus publicly displayed, life-sized art sculptures — "[[CowParade]]", "Guitarmania" and "The Trail of the Painted Ponies." King Features also represents David and Goliath, an apparel and accessories line popular with teenagers.

King Features additionally licenses outdoor apparel brand PURENorway,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2019|title=King Features to Rep PURENorway in N.A.|url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/apparel/king-features-rep-purenorway-na|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=licenseglobal.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Moomins]], [[Iceland]]ic lifestyle brand [[Tulipop]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hilgenberg|first=Josh|date=June 5, 2019|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/king-features-repping-moomin-tulipop/|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=The Beat|language=en-US}}</ref> [[ringtone]] character [[Crazy Frog]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=King Features welcomes Crazy Frog to its portfolio|url=https://www.licensingsource.net/king-features-welcomes-crazy-frog-to-its-portfolio/|access-date=January 9, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[South Korea]]n animated character [[Pucca|PUCCA]].

As a sales tool, the King Features design team created colorful strip sample folders resembling movie press kits. With rising paper costs and the downsizing of newspapers, the comic-strip arena became increasingly competitive, and by 2002, King salespeople were making in-person pitches to 1,550 daily newspapers across America. King was then receiving more than 6,000 strip submissions each year, yet it accepted only two or three annually. Interviewed in 2002 by Catherine Donaldson-Evans of [[Fox News]], Kennedy commented:
: It is difficult for cartoonists to break into syndication, but contrary to popular understanding, there's more new product being pitched now than 30 years ago. In that regard, there are more opportunities for new cartoonists. There's a finite amount of space to run comic strips—less now than 50 years ago. There are fewer two-paper cities and a lot of papers have shrunk their page size. New strips can succeed. The new cartoonists just have to be that much better.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,52095,00.html Donaldson-Evans, Catherine. "Taking Comics Back to the Drawing Board", Fox News, May 7, 2002.]</ref>

One of the first original animation projects of King Features Animation is ''[[The Cuphead Show!]]'' for [[Netflix]], an animated series based on the video game ''[[Cuphead]]'' by Studio MDHR, known for its use of fully hand-drawn characters and animations in the style of [[Fleischer Studios]]. The series had started development since July 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cuphead-animated-comedy-series-works-at-netflix-1223052|title=Netflix to Adapt 'Cuphead' Into Animated Comedy Series|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Patrick|last=Shanley|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> and was released on February 18, 2022.

In June 2019, [[20th Century Studios]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced the production of an animated film based on the comic strip [[Flash Gordon]]. [[Taika Waititi|Taiki Waititi]] was attached to [[Film director|direct]] and [[John Davis (producer)|John Davis]] was announced as the producer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=June 24, 2019|title=Taika Waititi To "Crack" 'Flash Gordon' As Fox/Disney Animated Film|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/taika-waititi-flash-gordon-animated-movie-thor-ragnarok-jojo-rabbit-fox-disney-1202637059/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 11, 2020, it was announced that a Popeye movie is in development at King Features Syndicate with [[Genndy Tartakovsky]] coming back to the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/genndy-tartakovskys-popeye-movie-afloat-with-king-features/|title=Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Popeye' Movie Afloat with King Features|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|date=May 11, 2020|work=Animation Magazine}}</ref>

In November 2020, a [[Hägar the Horrible|Hagar the Horrible]] animated series was announced, written by Eric Zibroski, who wrote and produced the ABC [[Sitcom|comedy]] ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=November 10, 2020|title='Hägar the Horrible': King Features & The Jim Henson Company Developing Animated TV Series Based On Comic Strip, Eric Ziobrowski To Write|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/hagar-the-horrible-king-features-the-jim-henson-company-animated-series-1234611870/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Digital platforms ==
=== DailyINK (2006–2013) ===
Confronted by newspaper cutbacks, King Features has explored new venues, such as placing comic strips on mobile phones. In 2006, it launched [[DailyINK]]. On a web page and via email, the DailyINK service made available more than 90 vintage and current comic strips, puzzles, and editorial cartoons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailyink.com/ |title=DailyINK |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013070106/http://dailyink.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The vintage strips included ''[[Bringing Up Father]]'', ''[[Buz Sawyer]]'', ''[[Flash Gordon]]'', ''[[Krazy Kat]]'', ''[[The Little King]]'', ''[[The Phantom]]'', and ''[[Rip Kirby]]''. King Features editor-in-chief [[Jay Kennedy]] introduced the service early in 2006, commenting:
{{cquote|Comics are consistently ranked among the most popular sections by newspaper readers. However, because of space, newspapers are not able to offer as vast a selection as many readers would like, and therefore millions of comic lovers are often not exposed to some of the most creative strips. In creating DailyINK, we wanted to ensure that fans had a destination where they could experience our complete lineup of award-winning comic artists and writers. DailyINK really sets the standard for comics online. By offering all of our current favorites updated daily, along with access to our archives of beloved characters as well as political humor and games, we have designed DailyINK.com as a destination fans will want to visit every day for something new.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kingfeatures.com/2004/11/king-features-syndicate-launches-online-subscription-service/|date=Nov 1, 2004|title=KING FEATURES SYNDICATE LAUNCHES ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE|website=KingFeatures.com}}</ref>}}

With 11,000 subscribers by June 2010, more vintage strips were added to DailyINK, including ''[[Barney Google and Snuffy Smith|Barney Google]]'', ''[[Beetle Bailey]]'', ''[[Big Ben Bolt]]'', ''[[Brick Bradford]]'', ''[[The Heart of Juliet Jones]]'', ''[[Jack Mendelsohn#Jackys Diary|Jackys Diary]]'', ''[[The Katzenjammer Kids]]'', ''[[Little Iodine]]'', ''[[Mandrake the Magician]]'', ''[[Office Hours (comic strip)|Office Hours]]'', ''[[Quincy (comic strip)|Quincy]]'' and ''[[Radio Patrol (comic strip)|Radio Patrol]]''. On November 15, 2010, a subscription rate increase to $19.99 was announced, effective December 15, 2010, with applications available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, plus a "new and improved" DailyINK in 2011. The redesign was by Blenderbox.<ref>[https://www.blenderbox.com/projects/daily-ink Blenderbox] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323151242/http://www.blenderbox.com/projects/daily-ink |date=March 23, 2012 }}</ref> Added features included original publication dates, a forum, and a blog, mostly promotional, but also with "Ask the Archivist" posts exploring comic-strip history. The "Last 7" feature enables the reader to see a week's worth of comics on one page.

On January 13, 2012, the DailyINK app was voted as the People's Champ in the Funny category in the 2011 Pixel Awards. Established in 2006, the Pixel Awards honor sites and apps displaying excellence in web design and development. Other nominees in the Funny category: JibJab Media Inc, Threaded, Snowball of Duty: White Opps and SoBe Staring Contest.<ref>[https://pixelawards.com/nom_win_2011.php 2011 Pixel Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711063233/http://www.pixelawards.com/nom_win_2011.php |date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2012, ''Jackys Diary'' was dropped from DailyINK, and the Archivist explained: "Unfortunately, we no longer have the rights to publish the strip."<ref>[http://blog.dailyink.com/2012/05/09/ask-the-archivist-the-code-of-comics/ "Ask the Archivist", DailyINK, May 9, 2012.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614233222/http://blog.dailyink.com/2012/05/09/ask-the-archivist-the-code-of-comics/ |date=June 14, 2012 }}</ref>

In December 2013, Daily INK was relaunched as part of King Feature's [[Comics Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicskingdom.com/blog/2013/12/09/welcome-to-comics-kingdom|title=Welcome to Comics Kingdom! - December 09, 2013 18:09|website=Comics Kingdom|date=December 9, 2013 |language=en|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicskingdom.com/blog/2013/12/10/questions-and-answers-about-our-new-site|title=Questions and Answers About Our New Site - December 10, 2013 09:35|website=Comics Kingdom|date=December 10, 2013 |language=en|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref>

=== Comics Kingdom (2008–present) ===
In November 2008, King Features introduced Comics Kingdom, a digital platform that newspapers can embed on their sites. Comics Kingdom splits advertising revenue with newspapers carrying the feature; those papers make local sales, while King handles national sales. During the 30-day period in which strips are made available on the newspaper sites, readers can post comments on local community forums.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-11-17-comics-king-features_N.htm|last=Lieberman|first=David|title=King Features mixes cash with laughs in Comics Kingdom|work=[[USA Today]]|date=November 18, 2008}}</ref>

In January 2019, to commemorate [[Popeye]]'s 90th birthday, multiple King Features cartoonists drew their own versions of the comic and published those strips on Comics Kingdom. One comic included the cast of [[Netflix]]'s ''[[Queer Eye (2018 TV series)|Queer Eye]]'' giving Popeye a makeover.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Acuna|first=Kirsten|title=Artists are drawing their own Popeye comics in honor of the character's 90th birthday — here's a first look|url=https://www.insider.com/artists-drawing-comics-popeyes-birthday-2019-1|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Insider|language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2019, Comics Kingdom launched a [[YouTube]] channel featuring classic cartoons from King Features archives.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Degg|first=D.D.|date=November 20, 2019|title=Comics Kingdom Video Channel|url=https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2019/11/20/comics-kingdom-video-channel/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=The Daily Cartoonist|language=en-US}}</ref> Before launching the channel, in December 2018, King Features launched a series of animated Popeye shorts to its primary YouTube channel, in celebration of the character's 90th "birthday."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=December 2, 2018|title=New Popeye Videos Show What 90 Years of Spinach Can Do for a Guy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/02/business/media/popeye-the-sailor-cartoon.html|access-date=January 7, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In July 2020, comic strip ''[[Rhymes with Orange]]'' launched a virtual [[Interactivity|interactive comic]] with digital drawing company Mental Canvas on Comics Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rhymes With Orange Interactive Mental Canvas - Comics Kingdom|url=https://www.sfgate.com/comics/rhymes-with-orange-interactive/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref>

As of January 2022, Comics Kingdom features comic strips and [[editorial cartoon]]s which can be accessed and read [[online]]. This [[website]] also features some interactive [[puzzle]]s. Comics are updated every day, plus a one-year archive is available. Older comics can be accessed by being a Comics Kingdom Royal (a paid member, subscribed to their premium subscription service). Comics Kingdom also features over 30 of comic strips in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicskingdom.com/about|title=About {{!}} Comics Kingdom|website=Comics Kingdom|language=en|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kingfeatures.com/digital/comicskingdom-com/|title=ComicsKingdom.com|date=December 10, 2013|work=King Features Syndicate|access-date=June 25, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== A la Carte Online Comics ===
King's A la Carte Online Comics offers syndication of specific strips aimed at "precisely defined audiences" of specialized websites. These are available in such categories as Animals, Environmental, Military, and Technology.<ref>[https://kingfeatures.com/a-la-carte-sales/ King Features: A la Carte Comics]</ref>

=== ''King Features Weekly Planet'' ===
''King Features Weekly Planet'' was created as an online newspaper of King's columns, comics, and puzzles.<ref>[http://packratter.com/en-us/weekly_planet/WP_Sample_Edition.pdf?sf_ses=7e0l1up3gq0ai3m02gkma4qnj1 ''King Features Weekly Planet'']{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== King Features strips and panels ==
===Current strips===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=King Features 2024 Directory by King-Features - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/king-features/docs/kfs_directory_2024_final_for_issuu_11-29-23 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth= 16em}}
* ''Alice'' by Andrea E. Beizer 
* ''Arctic Circle''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/08/on-world-oceans-day-the-arctic-circle-artist-explains-how-her-comic-takes-on-climate-change/|title=On World Oceans Day, 'Arctic Circle' artist explains how her comic takes on climate change|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Michael|last=Cavna|date=June 8, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190608091935/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/08/on-world-oceans-day-the-arctic-circle-artist-explains-how-her-comic-takes-on-climate-change/|url-status=live}} {{subscription required}}</ref> by Alex Hallatt
* ''[[Barney Google and Snuffy Smith]]'' by [[Billy DeBeck]], Fred Lasswell and John Rose (began 1919)
* ''[[Beetle Bailey]]'' by [[Mort Walker]], currently by Greg, Neal and Brian Walker (began 1950)
* ''[[Between Friends (comics)|Between Friends]]'' by Sandra Bell-Lundy
* ''Beware of Toddler'' by George Gant
* ''[[Bizarro (comic strip)|Bizarro]]'' by [[Dan Piraro]] and Wayno
* ''Break of Day'' by Nate Fakes
* ''[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]'' by [[Chic Young]], currently by Dean Young and John Marshall (began 1930)
* ''[[The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee]]'' by John Hambrock
* ''[[Carpe Diem (comic strip)|Carpe Diem]]''<ref>{{cite news |title=Digital Funnies | work=[[Editor & Publisher]] | url= http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Features/Article/Digital-Funnies|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715222910/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Features/Article/Digital-Funnies|archive-date=15 July 2015|date=13 July 2013|first=Rob|last=Tornoe}}</ref> by Niklas Eriksson
* ''[[Curtis (comic strip)|Curtis]]'' by Ray Billingsley 
* ''Daddy Day Daze'' by Jon Kovaleski
* ''[[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]]'' by [[Hank Ketcham]], currently by Scott Ketcham, Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand (began 1951, moved from News America Syndicate in 1986)
* ''[[Dustin (comic strip)|Dustin]]'' by Steve Kelley and Jeff Parker (began 2010)
* ''Dumplings'' by Victor van Acker
* ''[[The Family Circus]]'' by [[Bil Keane]], currently by Jeff Keane (began 1960, moved from Register and Tribune Syndicate in 1986)
* ''[[Flash Gordon]]'' by [[Alex Raymond]], currently by Dan Schkade (original run 1934—2003, relaunched in 2023)
* ''[[Gearhead Gertie]]'' by Mike Smith
* ''[[Hägar the Horrible]]'' by [[Dik Browne]] (began 1973)
* ''[[Hi and Lois]]'' by Mort Walker and Dik Browne, currently by Brian Walker and Eric Reaves (began 1954)
* ''[[Hocus-Focus]]''
* ''Insanity Streak'' by Tony Lopes
* ''Intelligent Life'' by David Reddick
* ''[[Judge Parker]]'' by Francesco Marciuliano and Mike Manley 
* ''[[Kevin and Kell]]'' by Bill Holbrook (online only)
* ''Legalization Nation'' by Box Brown
* ''Legend of Bill'' by David Reddick 
* ''Macanudo'' by Liniers (began 2002, syndicated in the North American market since 2016)
* ''[[Mallard Fillmore]]'' by Brad Tinsley and Loren Fishman (began 1994)
* ''Mara Llave: Keeper of Time'' by Alex Segura and Nickole J. Villiger
* ''[[Mark Trail]]''
* ''[[Marvin (comic strip)|Marvin]]'' by Tom Armstrong (began 1982)
* ''[[Mary Worth]]''
* ''[[Mother Goose and Grimm]]'' by [[Mike Peters (cartoonist)|Mike Peters]] (began 1984)
* ''[[Mutts (comic strip)|Mutts]]'' by [[Patrick McDonnell]] (began 1994)
* ''Never Been Deader'' by Tommy De Void
* ''Olive and Popeye'' by Erm Burdge and Randy Milholland 
* ''[[On the Fastrack]]'' by Bill Holbrook (began 1984)
* ''Pardon My Planet'' by Vic Lee
* ''[[The Phantom]]'' by [[Lee Falk]], currently by Tony DePaul, Mike Manley and Jeff Weigel (began 1936)
* ''[[Popeye]]'' by [[E. C. Segar|Segar]], currently by Randy Milholland (began 1919 as ''Thimble Theatre'', dailies in reruns)
* ''[[Prince Valiant]]'' by [[Hal Foster]], currently by Thomas Yeates and Jeff Schultz (began 1937)
* ''[[Rae the Doe]]'' by Olive Brinker
* ''[[Rex Morgan, M.D.]]''
* ''[[Rhymes with Orange]]'' by Hillary Price and Rina Piccolo
* ''Rosebuds''
* ''[[Safe Havens]]'' by Bill Holbrook 
* ''[[Sally Forth (Greg Howard comic strip)|Sally Forth]]''
* ''Shoe'' by Jeff McNelly, currently by Ben Lansing (began 1977, moved from Tribune Publishing Service in 2016)
* ''[[Six Chix]]''
* ''[[Slylock Fox & Comics for Kids]]'' by Bob Weber, currently by Bob Weber, Jr. and Scott "Diggs" Underwood.
* ''Take it from the Tinkersons'' by Bill Bettwy (began 2014)
* ''[[Todd the Dinosaur]]'' (began 2004)
* ''[[Tundra (comic strip)|Tundra]]'' by Chad Carpenter (international sales only)
* ''[[Zippy the Pinhead]]'' by Bill Griffith (began 1976, ran as a self-syndicated alternative comic until 1986)
* ''[[Zits (comics)|Zits]]'' by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman (began 1997)
{{div col end}}

===Former strips===
{{div col|colwidth= 16em}}
* ''Archie'' by [[Bob Montana]], [[Stan Goldberg]], [[Dan De Carlo]], Greg Scarpelli and Craig Boldman (1946—2011, moved from McClure Syndicate in c. 1955 and moved in c. 1995 to Creators Syndicate, currently in reruns)
* ''[[Abie the Agent]]'' by [[Harry Hershfield]] (1915—1931, 1935—1939)
* ''[[Spider-Man in other media#Comic strips|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' by [[Stan Lee]] (1977—2019, in reruns until 2023)
* ''[[Apartment 3-G]]'' (1961—2015, moved from News America Syndicate in 1986)
* ''Baby Blues'' by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman (1990—present, moved from Creators Syndicate in 1995 and moved in 2023 to Andrews-McMeel Syndicate)
* ''[[The Better Half]]''
* ''[[Betty Boop]]'' by [[Max Fleischer]], drawn by Roland Crandall and other artists (1934—1938)
* ''[[Betty Boop and Felix]]'' by Mort Walker (1984—1988)
* ''[[Big Ben Bolt]]'' by Eliot Caplin and John Cullen Murphy (1950—1978)
* ''[[Bleeker: The Rechargeable Dog]]''
* ''[[Boner's Ark]]'' by Mort Walker (1968—2000)
* ''[[Boob McNutt]]'' by [[Rube Goldberg]] (1915—1934)
* ''[[Brick Bradford]]''
* ''[[Bringing Up Father]]'' by [[George McManus]], Vernon Greene and Frank Johnson (1913—2000, currently in reruns)
* ''[[Buckles (comics)|Buckles]]''
* ''[[Buz Sawyer]]''
* ''Candorville'' by Darrin Bell (discontinued 2025)
* ''The Cisco Kid''
* ''[[Crankshaft (comic strip)|Crankshaft]]''
* ''[[Crock (comic strip)|Crock]]''
* ''[[Deflocked]]''
* ''Dick, el Artillero'' by José Luis Salinas (''Dick the Striker'', Argentine strip, distributed in Latin America only)
* ''[[Donald Duck (comic strip)|Donald Duck]]'' by [[Walt Disney]], drawn by [[Al Taliaferro]] and other artists (1938—1994, moved to Creators Syndicate in 1990, in reruns until 2014)* 
*''[[Doraemon]]'' by [[Fujiko Fujio]] (1969 – 1997, Asia only)*
* ''Dumb Dora'' by Chic Young, [[Paul Fung]] and Bil Dwyer (1924—1936)
* ''[[Edge City]]'' by Terry and Patty Laban (currently in reruns)
* ''Elmer'' by Doc Winner (1918—1956)
* ''[[Etta Kett]]'' (1925—1974)
* ''[[Felix the Cat]]'' by [[Pat Sullivan (film producer)|Pat Sullivan]], drawn by [[Otto Messmer]] and other artists (1923—1964)
* ''[[Flapper Filosofy]]''
* ''[[Franklin Fibbs]]''
* ''Freddie the Sheik'' by Jack Callahan (1922—1929)
* ''[[Funky Winkerbean]]'' by Tom Batiuk (1972—2022)
* ''[[Gil (comic strip)|Gil]]'' by Norm Feuti 
* ''[[Grin and Bear It]]'' (ended May 2015<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/columnists/josh-awtry/2015/04/24/street-musicians-deserve-support/26295479/|title=Street musicians deserve our support|last=Awtry|first=Josh|work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=April 24, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>)
* ''[[Happy Hooligan]]'' by [[Frederick Burr Opper]] (1900—1932)
* ''[[The Heart of Juliet Jones]]'' by [[Stan Drake]]
* ''[[Hazel (comics)|Hazel]]'' by [[Ted Key]]
* ''[[Henry (comics)|Henry]]'' by Carl Anderson and Don Trachte (1935—1995, in reruns until 2018)
* ''Hubert''<ref>[http://toonopedia.com/hubert.htm ''Hubert''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20160802132950/http://toonopedia.com/hubert.htm |date=August 2, 2016 }} at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20160802132950/http://toonopedia.com/hubert.htm Archived] from the original on July 12, 2015</ref> by Dick Wingert
* ''[[Inside Woody Allen]]'' (1976—1984)
* ''[[Jerry on the Job]]'' by Walter Hoban (1913—1931, second run by Bob Naylor 1946—1949)
* ''[[Johnny Hazard]]''
* ''[[José Carioca]]'' by Walt Disney
* ''[[Jungle Jim]]'' by Alex Raymond (1934—1954)
* ''[[The Katzenjammer Kids]]'' by [[Rudolph Dirks]], [[Harold Knerr]], Doc Winner, Joe Musial, Angelo DeCesare and Hy Eisman (1897—2006, currently in reruns)
* ''[[Krazy Kat]]'' by [[George Herriman]] (1913—1944)
* ''[[Laff-a-Day]]''
* ''[[Little Annie Rooney]]'' by Ed Verdier, Ben Batsford, Brandon Walsh, Darrell MacClure and Nicholas Afonsky (1927—1966)
* ''[[Little Audrey]]'' by [[Joe Oriolo]] and other artists 
* ''[[Little Iodine]]'' by [[Jimmy Hatlo]]
* ''[[The Little King]]'' by [[Otto Soglow]] (1933—1975)
* ''[[Mandrake the Magician]]'' by Lee Falk and Fred Fredericks (1934—2006)
* ''Merry Menagerie'' by Walt Disney (1947—1962)
* ''[[Mickey Mouse (comic strip)|Mickey Mouse]]'' by Walt Disney, drawn by [[Floyd Gottfredson]] and other artists (1930—1994, moved in 1990 to Creators Syndicate, in reruns until 2014)
* ''[[Moose & Molly]]'' by Bob Weber (currently in reruns)
* ''Mr. Abernathy'' by Frank Ridgeway and Ralston Jones
* ''[[My Cage]]''
* ''[[Norb (comic strip)|Norb]]''
* ''[[The Norm (comic strip)|The Norm]]''
* ''[[Oh, Brother! (comic strip)|Oh, Brother!]]''
* ''[[Ollie and Quentin]]'' (2002—2011, began syndication in 2008, reruns from January 9, 2012 to c. 2016)
* ''[[Ozark Ike]]''
* ''[[The Pajama Diaries]]'' by Terry Libenson (currently in reruns)
* ''[[Pete the Tramp]]''
* ''[[Piranha Club]]'' by Ernie Freeman (1988—2014, originally titled ''Ernie'')
* ''[[Polly and Her Pals]]'' by [[Cliff Sterrett]] (1912—1958)
* ''Quincy'' (1970—1978)
* ''[[Radio Patrol (comic strip)|Radio Patrol]]'' by Will Gould (1934—1938)
* ''[[Red Barry (comic strip)|Red Barry]]''
* ''[[Redeye (comics)|Redeye]]''
* ''[[Retail (comic strip)|Retail]]'' by Norm Feuti (2006—2020)
* ''[[Rip Kirby]]'' (1946—1999)
* ''[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]'' by various artists (1918—present, began syndication in 1929 and moved in 1989 to United Feature Syndicate)
* ''Room and Board'' by Gene Ahern (1936—1958)
* ''[[Rusty Riley]]''
* ''[[Sam and Silo]]'' by Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas (original run 1962—1964 as ''Sam's Strip'', revived run 1977—2017, currently in reruns)
* ''[[Secret Agent X-9]]''
* ''[[Sherman's Lagoon]]'' by Jim Toomey (1991—present, self-syndicated until 1992 and moved in 2022 to Andrews-McMeel Syndicate)
* ''Skippy'' by Percy L. Crosby (1925—1945)
* ''[[Steve Roper and Mike Nomad]]'' (1936—2004, originally ''Big Chief Wahoo'')
* ''[[Teena (comic strip)|Teena]]''
* ''[[They'll Do It Every Time]]'' by Jimmy Hatlo 
* ''[[Tiger (comic strip)|Tiger]]'' by Bud Blake (1965—2005, currently in reruns)
* ''[[Tillie the Toiler]]'' by Russ Westover and Bob Gustafson (1921—1959)
* ''[[Tim Tyler's Luck]]'' by Lyman Young
* ''[[Tina's Groove]]'' by Rina Piccolo (currently in reruns)
* ''[[Toots and Casper]]'' by Jimmy Murphy (1918—1956)
* ''[[Triple Take]]'' by Todd Clark and Scott Nickel (2005—2007)
* ''[[Trudy (comics)|Trudy]]'' by Dick Wingert 
* ''[[Tumbleweeds (comic strip)|Tumbleweeds]]'' by Tom K. Ryan (1969—2001)
* ''Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales'' by various artists (1950—1994, moved in 1990 to Creators Syndicate, reruns until 1997)
* ''[[Zane Grey]]'s [[King of the Royal Mounted]]'' by Romer Grey, Stephen Slesinger, Gaylord DuBois, Allen Dean, Charles Flanders and Jim Gary (1935—1954)
{{div col end}}

== Editorial cartoonists ==
* [[Jim Borgman]]
* Ed Gamble
* [[Alex Hallatt]]
* [[Jeff Koterba]]
* [[Jimmy Margulies]]
* [[Jim Morin]]
* [[Mike Peters (cartoonist)|Mike Peters]]
* [[Mike Shelton]]
*[[Darrin Bell]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chang|first=Ailsa|author-link=Ailsa Chang|title=Pulitzer-Prize Winner Darrin Bell On How Trayvon Martin's Death Inspired His Work|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/16/714073919/pulitzer-prize-winner-darrin-bell-on-how-trayvon-martins-death-inspired-his-work|access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=August 21, 2018|title=King Features Announces Darrin Bell to Join Editorial Cartoon Roster|url=https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2018/08/21/king-features-announces-darrin-bell-to-join-editorial-cartoon-roster/|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=The Daily Cartoonist|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Columnists ==
=== Commentary ===
* [[Stanley Crouch]]
* [[Amy Goodman]], "Breaking the Sound Barrier"
* [[David Hackworth]], "Defending America"
* [[Roger Hernandez]]
* [[Rich Lowry]]
* [[Marianne Means]]
* [[Dan Rather]]
* [[Charley Reese]]
* [[Maria Elena Salinas]]

=== Lifestyle and advice ===
{{no footnotes|section|date=December 2020}}
* Dana Block and [[Cindy Elavsky]], "Daytime Dial"
* John Bonne et al., "The Wine Chronicle"
* [[Helen Bottel]], "Helen Help Us!"
* Tad Burness, "Auto Album"
* [[Jack Canfield]] and [[Mark Victor Hansen]], "Chicken Soup for the Soul"
* Al and Kelly Carell, "Super Handyman"
* Harlan Cohen, "Help Me, Harlan!"
* Vicki Farmer Ellis, "Sew Simple"
* [[Arthur Frommer]], "Arthur Frommer's Travel Column"
* Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts, "Dear Teacher"
* Heloise, "Hints from Heloise"
* Ken Hoffman, "The Drive-Thru Gourmet"
* [[Rheta Grimsley Johnson]]
* Jeanne Jones, "Cook It Light"
* [[Ralph and Terry Kovel]], "Kovels: Antiques and Collecting"
* [[Tom Magliozzi|Tom and]] [[Ray Magliozzi]] from [[Car Talk]], "Click and Clack Talk Cars"
* Tom McMahon, "Kid Tips: Practical Solutions for Everyday Parenting"
* ''[[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen]]'', "Dear Seventeen"
* [[Debbie Travis]], "House to Home"
* Barbara Wallraff from ''[[Atlantic Monthly]]'', "Word Court"
* Allan Wernick, "Immigration and Citizenship"
* [[Terry Stickels]], "Wit and Wisdom", "Stickelers" column
* Phil Erwin, "The Card Corner"
* Eric Tyson, "Investors' Guide

=== Affiliated syndicates ===
* [[Torstar Syndication Services]] (King's distribution partner in [[Canada]])

== See also ==
* [[List of newspaper comic strips]]
* [[List of comic strip syndicates]]
* [[National Comics Publications]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

=== Sources ===
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=bpIpqK7__nQC&q=%22king+news%22 Koenigsberg, Moses. ''King News: An Autobiography''. New York: F.A. Stokes Company, 1941.]

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://kingfeatures.com/}}
* [https://kingfeatures.com/comics/comics-a-z/ King Features comic strips]
* [https://www.comicskingdom.com/ Comics Kingdom]
* [http://weeklyservice.homestead.com/KFWS_sample_2011comp.pdf King Features Weekly Service]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100729182533/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_feature_a_short_interview_with_king_features_brendan_burford/ Brendan Burford interviewed by Tom Spurgeon]

{{King Features Syndicate Comics|state=expanded}}
{{Hearst}}
{{Dynamite Entertainment}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American animation studios]]
[[Category:Comic strip syndicates]]
[[Category:Hearst Communications assets]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Mass media companies based in New York City]]