King Comics: Difference between revisions
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''(extracts...) The traditional channels of didtribution just don't not work anymore where comic books are concerned. Many "newsstands" have gone out of business... some just gone out of the comics business. And of those still carrying comics, probably none have all the titles available. ... they divorced themselves from the magazine wholesalers and their outlets in favor of toy wholesalers, jobbers and their outlets. By April 1. "Blondie", "Beetle Bailey" and "Popeye" will go on sale again, under a new marketing setup. The next month "The Phantom" "Mandrake" and "Flash Gordon" will be back, following a bi-monthly schedule. The numbering will continue from the newsstand issues. "King Comics" will be available only in packages of three, one with the humor titles and one with the adventure books.'' | ''(extracts...) The traditional channels of didtribution just don't not work anymore where comic books are concerned. Many "newsstands" have gone out of business... some just gone out of the comics business. And of those still carrying comics, probably none have all the titles available. ... they divorced themselves from the magazine wholesalers and their outlets in favor of toy wholesalers, jobbers and their outlets. By April 1. "Blondie", "Beetle Bailey" and "Popeye" will go on sale again, under a new marketing setup. The next month "The Phantom" "Mandrake" and "Flash Gordon" will be back, following a bi-monthly schedule. The numbering will continue from the newsstand issues. "King Comics" will be available only in packages of three, one with the humor titles and one with the adventure books.'' | ||
In an effort to increase sales of its "King Comics" King released their first "King Paks" with their humorous titles: "Beetle Bailey", "Blondie" and "Popeye". Boxes of cardboard with 24 "King Paks" were sold to sold to distributors, where the boxes were easily made into a display box. To increase sales time, King eliminated the cover date. Still, due to the subscribers the covers had a price tag. Interesting, there are | In an effort to increase sales of its "King Comics" King released their first "King Paks" with their humorous titles: "Beetle Bailey", "Blondie" and "Popeye". Boxes of cardboard with 24 "King Paks" were sold to sold to distributors, where the boxes were easily made into a display box. To increase sales time, King eliminated the cover date. Still, due to the subscribers the covers had a price tag. Interesting, there are two price tag variants on the covers from August ''(July ?)'' and on: 12¢ on the US comics and 10d on the UK comics. | ||
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Revision as of 13:13, 29 October 2017
| King Comics | |
| Biographical information | |
| Founded: | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Country: |  USA / English
|
| Website: | |
History
The publishing company King Comics was made by KFS in 1966 as an effort to publish comic books of its own.
Regular series
The comic book line showcased King's best-known characters in six titles.
Humorous titles
The first issues of the bi-monthly "Beetle Bailey", "Blondie" and "Popeye" series were released in August, 1967. In the first issue of "Blondie" are prices quoted for subscription, included Canadian and foreign subscriptions.
Beetle Bailey
The "Beetle Bailey" series continued the numbering from the publisher "Gold Key".
Beetle Bailey #54
Beetle Bailey #55
Beetle Bailey #56
Beetle Bailey #57
Blondie
The "Blondie" series continued the numbering from the publisher "Harvey Comics".
Blondie #164
Blondie #165
Blondie #166
Blondie #167
Popeye
The "Popeye" series continued the numbering from the publisher "Gold Key".
Popeye #81
Popeye #82
Popeye #83
Popeye #84
Adventure titles
The first issues of the bi-monthly "Flash Gordon", "Mandrake the Magician" and "The Phantom" series were released in September, 1967.
Flash Gordon
The three first issues of "Flash Gordon" has a short Mandrake story as back-up titles.
Flash Gordon #4
Mandrake the Magician
The Mandrake stories were all new non newspaper stories.
The Phantom
"The Phantom" series continued the numbering from the publisher "Gold Key". Issues 21-23 has a short Mandrake storie as back-up titles.
The Phantom #18
The Phantom #19
The Phantom #20
King Paks
"On the Drawing Board" vol. 2 issue 12 (April 1967) included a letter from Bill Harris describing their plans for their "King Comics" series:
(extracts...) The traditional channels of didtribution just don't not work anymore where comic books are concerned. Many "newsstands" have gone out of business... some just gone out of the comics business. And of those still carrying comics, probably none have all the titles available. ... they divorced themselves from the magazine wholesalers and their outlets in favor of toy wholesalers, jobbers and their outlets. By April 1. "Blondie", "Beetle Bailey" and "Popeye" will go on sale again, under a new marketing setup. The next month "The Phantom" "Mandrake" and "Flash Gordon" will be back, following a bi-monthly schedule. The numbering will continue from the newsstand issues. "King Comics" will be available only in packages of three, one with the humor titles and one with the adventure books.
In an effort to increase sales of its "King Comics" King released their first "King Paks" with their humorous titles: "Beetle Bailey", "Blondie" and "Popeye". Boxes of cardboard with 24 "King Paks" were sold to sold to distributors, where the boxes were easily made into a display box. To increase sales time, King eliminated the cover date. Still, due to the subscribers the covers had a price tag. Interesting, there are two price tag variants on the covers from August (July ?) and on: 12¢ on the US comics and 10d on the UK comics.
advertisements
sales box
sales box
first "King Pack"
first "King Pack"
Humorous titles
Beetle Bailey
Beetle Bailey #58
Beetle Bailey #59
Beetle Bailey #60
Beetle Bailey #61
Beetle Bailey #62
Beetle Bailey #63
Beetle Bailey #64
Beetle Bailey #65
The "Beetle Bailey" series continued the numbering (skipping #66 !) with the publisher "Charlton".
Blondie
Blondie #168
Blondie #169
Blondie #170
Blondie #171
Blondie #172
Blondie #173
Blondie #174
Blondie #175
The "Blondie" series continued the numbering with the publisher "Charlton".
Popeye
Popeye #85
Popeye #86
Popeye #87
Popeye #88
Popeye #89
Popeye #90
Popeye #91
Popeye #92
The "Popeye" series continued the numbering with the publisher "Charlton".
Adventure titles
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon #5
Flash Gordon #6
Flash Gordon #7
Flash Gordon #8
Flash Gordon #9
Flash Gordon #10
Flash Gordon #11
The "Flash Gordon" series continued the numbering with the publisher "Charlton".
Mandrake the Magician and Jungle Jim
The "Jungle Jim" issue reprinted issue 5 from the publisher "Dell Comics".
Jungle Jim #05
The "Jungle Jim" series continued with the publisher "Charlton" using Dell's numbering.
The Phantom
The Phantom #24
The Phantom #25
The Phantom #26
The Phantom #27
The Phantom #28
"The Phantom" series continued the numbering (skipping #29) with the publisher "Charlton".
Overseas
As mentioned, there are cover variants with the price tag for the UK market.
Flash Gordon #7
The Phantom #24
Mandrake the Magician #8
In older issues of Overstreet’s annual "Comic Book Price Guide" the two missing "King Comics" issues ("The Phantom" #29 and "Beetle Bailey" #66) were sold only overseas. But they were never published by King.
The Phantom #29
Giveaways
Complimentary
There are at least 3 "King Comics" labeled as Complimentary (copy), and released as military giveaways in 1968. The ads and some of the content have been replaced with the content of the military relevance. (note: not confirmed that one do find the Mandrake story in the "Flash Gordon" issue 1)
Flash Gordon #1
Beetle Bailey #56
Beetle Bailey #63
Supplementary Reading Program
The comic reading libraries (1973 and 1977) was part of a supplementary reading program in US, with vocabulary words defined to teach reading skills for the program. The student would read the comic and then work to answer the questions and solve problems related to the stories.
issue 1
issue 2
issue 3
issue 4
issue 5
issue 7
issue 8
issue 9
issue 10
issue 11
issue 12
issue 13
issue 14
issue 15
Other
Response cards
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To give a response to letters "King Comics" made several Response cards with printed text on the back:
- "It isn't possibile to answer every letter personally. But we appreciate your ideas and suggestions. Look for answer to questions like yours in the letter pages of future issues.
The Editors KING COMICS
Sources
First Comics News, Phil Latter: "The Charlton Comics Mystique part 1"