King Comics

King Comics
Parent companyKing Features
Founded1966
Defunct1967
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationNew York City
Key peopleBill Harris
Publication typesComic books
Fiction genresAction, Adventure, Humor
ImprintsKing Paks

King Comics, a short-lived comic book imprint of King Features Syndicate, was an attempt by King Features to publish comics of its own characters, rather than through other publishers.[1] A few King Comics titles were picked up from Gold Key Comics. King Features placed former Gold Key editor Bill Harris in charge of the line.[2]

The line ran for approximately a year and a half, with its series cover-dated from August 1966 to December 1967.[3] The King Comics Flash Gordon title was well-received, winning three Alley Awards in 1966 and another in 1967.[2] The series had distribution problems throughout its run. Several distributors refused to take the King Comics because their first issues lacked a Comics Code Authority seal; King subsequently obtained a CCA seal on all later King Comics issues.[2] King Features tried to overcome the distribution problem by selling its titles in special "King Paks" of three to variety stores and supermarkets. [2] This tactic failed to gain more readers, and the King Comics line was discontinued. [2][3]

Many stories created for King Comics were later published in the continuation of most of King's titles by Charlton Comics.[4]

  1. ^ Grand Comics Database
  2. ^ a b c d e John Wells and Keith Dallas, American comic book chronicles: the 1960s,1965-1969 Raleigh, North Carolina : TwoMorrows Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781605490557 (p. 141-5, 150-2)
  3. ^ a b Batton Lash,"Introduction" to Flash Gordon Comic-Book archives:Volume 2. Milwaukie, Or. :Dark Horse Books, 2010. ISBN 9781595826190 (p.6-7).
  4. ^ Griffin, Bob and John. "The Phantom: A Publishing History in the U.S.A."