See the Unions Timeline for a chronological review.
The Unions themselves
Originated as a handful of characters featured in stick-figured doodles in 1973. Gradual evolution throughout
the rest of the decade saw the cast of characters grow exponentially, with more anthropomorphically correct
physiques. The modern Unions era began with the streamlining of the character ensemble and a commitment
to the comic strip format in 1981. The Unions currently consist of 55 individual characters, who interact
among themselves and non-Unions characters (such as real-life figures). Approximately a dozen high-profile,
easily recongizable characters account for the gang's core.
The comic strip
After several short-lived experiments, the "Unions" comic strip was launched in mid-1981 as a daily cartoon
enterprise. The initial run lasted for a year; following a hiatus, a much-improved verson returned in November
1983 and continued on a daily basis through 1988, with sporadic strips drawn thereafter as time permits. A
traditional and consistent four-panel strip format is utilized except of Sundays, where the format varies as
needed.
The comic books
Anthologies of finished strips in book format are the most popular merchandise items among Unions fans. A
new book generally comes out with the completion of every six consecutive months' worth of strips. The
eleven volumes in existence today span from 1981 to late 1988, with work on subsequent years continually
in progress.
Other books
After being featured in numerous picture books during the 1970's, the Unions now appear on more
sophisticated pages (including this one). Supplementary books cover more ground in more detail than the
daily strip can; self-published works include short stories such as
the Unions and the Mystery of the BB Gun Bullet, Rover Jackson's 1987 autobiography
the Rover Papers, and the comprehensive
reference volume the Unions Phenomenon.
Student newspapers
"The Unions" appeared briefly in the now-defunct Kamiloiki Chronicle; later, it became a regular
feature in Ka Punahou, where it reached an audience of several thousand. Due primarily to
academic and administrative politics as dictated by Texas Student Publications, the strip did not succeed in
securing a spot in the Daily Texan, and not because of any lack of effort.
The UMC
Established in 1982 as an umbrella organization for fans and supporters of the Unions, the UMC has over two
dozen members throughout the country. Through its newsletter, the Satellite, and promotional
functions such as the Garfield Barbeque
and the Unions Seminar, the UMC keeps its members informed of the latest work
done on the Unions and of current storyline developments. Membership activities and enrollment are presently
suspended due to the enormous backlog of work, including the basic assembly of this site, but look for
publication of the newsletter and membership recruiting to resume in the future.
Merchandise
Besides books, various arms of the UMC also produce T-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, models, and many other
hand-crafted Unions items for sale on demand to the general public.
The Unions Web Page
You're looking at it! The website made its debut on June 19, 1995.