Andrews McMeel makes Kansas City comic strip central

Universal Uclick
Universal Uclick, a division of Kansas City's Andrews McMeel Universal, will begin distributing United Feature Syndicate properties in June.

Kansas City publishing powerhouse Andrews McMeel Universal has announced that its Universal Uclick division has agreed to become the full-service syndication partner of Scripps’ United Feature Syndicate properties. As of June 1, 2011, Universal Uclick will manage all aspects of syndication for United Feature Syndicate properties including Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy, Marmaduke, Frank & Ernest, The Born Loser, Big Nate and Miss Manners.

The new properties will join Universal Uclick’s stable of syndicated comic strips, including comic heavyweights Doonesbury, Garfield, Non Sequitur, For Better or For Worse and Ziggy. Universal Uclick has also recently announced agreements to syndicate Peanuts and Dilbert.

“We could not be more pleased to welcome the inspired creators represented by these features,” said John McMeel, co-founder, chairman, and president of Andrews McMeel Universal. “When we began this venture in 1970, and our office was on the 5th floor of a Manhattan walk-up, we would never have believed AMU would be in this position today. However, our goal has always been to represent the best. The addition of these features and creators to our outstanding lineup moves us further toward that goal, and establishes an extraordinary roster that is unmatched in the industry.”