Image:  J.S. Pughe. “IF – The Inaugural Dinner at the White House.” Puck, June 29, 1904.

This exhibition will examine the role William Randolph Hearst played in the birth of newspaper comics and trace the 100-year history of King Features Syndicate, the company he founded to develop and distribute comics, columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles, and games around the world.

Among the many King creations included in this exhibition will be:  The Katzenjammer Kids, Happy Hooligan, Little Jimmy, Bringing Up Father, Krazy Kat, Polly and Her Pals, Tillie the Toiler, Popeye, Blondie, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake  the Magician, The Little King, Henry, Prince Valiant, Buz Sawyer, Rip Kirby, Big Ben Bolt, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Juliet Jones, Hi and Lois, Family Circus, The Lockhorns, Tiger, Quincy, Hagar the Horrible, Zippy, Marvin, Curtis, Bizarro, Baby Blues, Mutts, Rhymes with Orange, Zits, Tina’s Groove, and Dustin. In addition to original drawings by the artists, related materials such as printed pages, photographs, correspondence, sales brochures, advertisements, and merchandise will dramatically demonstrate the impact that King Features has had on the evolution and success of newspaper comics.

King of the Comics will launch the centennial anniversary of King Features Syndicate. Brian Walker will be serving as curator for this historic exhibition.