Macanudo

I’m still trying to process the 80th Annual Reuben Awards. For three days in Columbus, Ohio; cartoonists, illustrators, wirters, animators, editors, and fans came together to celebrate the people who make this art from so special. The National Cartoonists Society was founding in 1946, and there was something really meaningful about marking 80 years in a city with such a deep connection to cartooning history. Columbus was an amazing host. Between the National Cartoonists Society conference, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and the energy around Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, the whole weekend felt like a love letter to the craft. And honestly, I felt like a kid in the candy store! Working with King Features means I get to be around some truly legendary creators, but imposter syndrome definitely creeps in sometimes. Then you find yourself standing in a room with cartoonists whose work you’ve admired for years, talking shop, sharing a laugh, or watching them draw for a crowd, and it all becomes altogether rewarding. King Features was proud to be represented by an incredible group of nominees: Ricardo Siri, better known as Liniers (Macanudo), Ricardo Martinez (Goomer), […]

If you’ve ever stumbled across Macanudo, chances are you’ve been charmed by its penguins, witches, or a perfectly odd joke about Back to the Future. This week on Inside the Kingdom, we sat down with cartoonist Ricardo Liniers—fresh from winning his second Reuben Award for Best Newspaper Comic Strip—to talk about how his strip came to life, why he loves mixing pop culture into his comics, and what’s next for him. For Ricardo, Macanudo started back in 2002 with a simple idea: capture his best thought of the day. That daily practice turned into a strip that fans around the world connect with—whether it’s whimsical one day, poetic the next, or a wry commentary on everyday life. As Ricardo told us, sometimes there isn’t even a punchline: “If I have a good idea, I’m fine with just putting the idea out there.” Of course, fans know the strip’s cast is what keeps us coming back. The penguins are constant favorites, but Ricardo loves weaving in cultural touchstones too. One of the moments that hooked many readers (including our host!) was his Back to the Future gag that asked the all-important […]

Hi, all! I hope you are recovering from your Thanksgiving feasts if you celebrate! Today, Saturday, November 26, is a very important day for comics history: the 100th birthday of Charles “Sparky” Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, one of the most beloved comic strips of all time. Usually, we only post about birthdays related to King Features comics, but Mr. Schulz was such an inspiration and good friend to so many of our cartoonists and had so much influence on the direction of not just comics but pop culture in the 20th century that we wanted to celebrate his legacy. Patrick McDonnell, the creator of MUTTS, spearheaded this project in collaboration with the Charles M. Schulz Museum to celebrate this special birthday! As you look around Comics Kingdom today, you will see many of cartoonists have contributed to this celebration by honoring Mr. Schulz in their comic strips. Here is a collection where you can see them all together! Todd the Dinoaur by Patrick Roberts Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis Rhymes With Orange by Hilary Price & Rina PIccolo The Lockhorns by Bunny Hoest and John Reiner Daddy […]