World of Krypton: The Murray Comics edition

Murray Comics' World of Krypton was published 17 March 1982:

The cover is modified from DC Comics' World of Krypton #2:

This issue reprints the three issue World of Krypton mini-series and also includes some instalments of The Fabulous World of Krypton and other related features. The details are on AusReprints. 

This Murray issue was compiled with some attention to detail - and some lapses.

For example, the splash page to the World of Krypton #1 begins with Superman's diary dated 23 September 1978:

The Murray edition amends this to 23 September 1981:

It's a shame this wasn't followed up on the third chapter which retains the original 17 May 1979 date:

The cover image from DC's World of Krypton #1 is also rather artfully included at the conclusion of the first chapter:

This works in context as the final page of the original printing left Superman in a wistful mood complete with ellipses...

The original final page of this chapter included a next issue blurb which is deemed superfluous given the cover-as-new-final-page:

I also note that the cover to DC's World of Krypton #3 was used by Murray on the cover of Superman the Comic NN/#5:

This issue dates to c.December 1980. This suggests Murray had the proofs for the World of Krypton mini series for well over a year before their World of Krypton one-shot was published. 

I have seen many copies of this issue with a 7 marked on the cover, designating a July 'use by' date by newsagencies. This would normally suggest an April publication date. However, I have seen a copy with a 17/3 date on a sticker on the cover, hence my confidence in designating the publication date 17 March 1982.

Thanks to Mark Cannon for the DC scans.

Dating Murray Comics: The Fightin' Five and Blackhawk one-shots

Murray Comics' The Fightin' Five was published c.July 1982:

This issue carries a full-page ad for the Blackhawk one-shot "next month":

And sure enough the Blackhawk one-shot was published August 1982:

 

The date is verified by a copy with 11 written on the cover by the newsagent. August 1982 was the date for the last of the $0.95 cover priced 96 page Murrays - they were $0.99 from September 1982.

I note I have seen two copies of this issue with 9 written on the cover by the newsagent. This doesn't tally with the above dates. My guess is this 9 refers to the September 1982 one month shelf date, possibly due to the pending price rise. Just a guess.

Update 8 September 2023: The Fightin' Five cover was also used on IPC's  Battle Picture Library #312:

Kudos to Jeremy Macpherson for identifying this.

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #29

KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #29 was published September 1967:

The cover is slightly modified from the original appearing on Teen Titans #9:

The main features:

The Big Beach Rumble [Part 1], originally published in Teen Titans #9, May-June 1967

The Big Beach Rumble Part 2, originally published in Teen Titans #9, May-June 1967

The Big Beach Rumble Part 3, originally published in Teen Titans #9, May-June 1967

I Had To Spend A Million, originally published in My Greatest Adventure #6, November-December 1955

The Unknown Treasure!, originally published in Red Mask #54, September 1957

Zarox-13, Emperor of the Cosmos! [Part 1], originally published in The Doom Patrol #111, May 1967

[Zarox-13, Emperor of the Cosmos!] Part 2, originally published in The Doom Patrol #111, May 1967

The Space-Ship From Nowhere!, originally published in Strange Adventures #29, February 1953

Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Ex-Pal!, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #2, November-December 1954

Flight Into Fear, originally published in The Doom Patrol #109, February 1967

The Voice From 2.500 Years Ago, originally published in House of Mystery #42, September 1955

This issue also contains a number of short filler features: The Tree of Death!, originally published in House of Mystery #14, May 1953; Mysteries in Space!, originally published in House of Mystery #103, October 1960; Our Strange Universe!, originally published in The Atom #18, April-May 1965; and Voiceprint Clues!, originally published in Batman #179, March 1966.

Some of the stories in this issue were published in previous KG Murray issues.

The advertiser's date code on the rear cover is K.G.M TTC 967.

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #37

KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #37 was published May 1968:

The cover is from DC's Teen Titans #11, September-October 1967:

The main features:

Monster Bait! [Part 1], originally published in Teen Titans #11, September-October 1967

Monster Bait Part 2, originally published in Teen Titans #11, September-October 1967

Monster Bait Part 3, originally published in Teen Titans #11, September-October 1967

Honeymoon in Space, originally published in Mystery In Space #16, October-November 1953

How Many Times Can A Guy Die! [Part 1], originally published in Strange Adventures #208, January 1968

How Many Times Can A Guy Die! Part 2, originally published in Strange Adventures #208, January 1968

The Great Space-Train Robbery!, originally published in Mystery In Space #19, April-May 1954

Showdown Battle!, originally published in Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid #10, April-May 1951

The Riddle of the Four Clues, originally published in Blackhawk #186, July 1963

The Kid Who Was King of Crooks, originally published in The Doom Patrol #114, September 1967

There are a few short filler strips in this issue: Cap's Hobby Hints (Teen Titans #11, September-October 1967); Varsity Vic (Superboy #15, July-August 1951); and Casey the Cop (Detective Comics #183, May 1952).

There are also two full-page filler strips: Chief Hot Foot (Tomahawk #111, July-August 1967) and Varsity Vic (Leave It to Binky #52, January-February 1956).

The advertiser's date code on the rear cover is KGM TT 568.

Advertising KG Murray comics in-house: Get with the Action-Wonder Comic, World's Finest, All Favourites and Mighty

The following in-house advertisement, appearing in Tip Top Comic Monthly #37, promotes four of the titles in the KG Murray stable c.1968: Wonder Comic Monthly; World's Finest Comic Monthly; All Favourites Comic; and Mighty Comic:

The image of the super heroes is from a panel illustrated by Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs in the story Earth--Without a Justice League-- Part 3, originally published in DC's Justice League of America #37, cover-dated August 1965:

This scan is from the reprint in Justice League of America Archives Vol. 5, October 1999.

Incidentally, a portion of this image was used on the frontispiece of this Archives volume:

Of course this image previously appeared in KG Murray's Mighty Comic #51, February 1966 which reprinted the Justice League (sans of America) story Earth--Without a Justice League!

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #35

 KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #35 was published March 1968:

The cover is from DC Comics' Showcase #71:

The main features:

What Swings, Fiddle Strings?, originally published in Showcase #71, November-December 1967

Part Two, Act 1, of "Confederate Yankees!" Confused?, originally published in Showcase #71, November-December 1967

Act II -- Part III (or Should That Be Part III -- Act II?), originally published in Showcase #71, November-December 1967

An Eye for An Eye!, originally published in Strange Adventures #206, November 1967 

Waif of the Wilderness, originally published in The Doom Patrol #112, June 1967 

The Beautiful Witch, originally published in The Ghost Rider #11 [A-1 #75], March 1953 

The Do-It-Yourself Villains, originally published in Blackhawk #175, August 1962 

Liquid Larceny!, originally published in World's Finest Comics #50, February-March 1951

The Caveman Batman, originally published in Batman #93, August 1955

As there are no contemporaneous reprints of Liquid Larceny! and The Caveman Batman, I assume they are both recycled from their earlier appearances in Century The 100-Page Comic Monthly #2.

There are also a few filler gag strips: Private Pete (originally from Star Spangled War Stories #132, September 1952); Little Pocahontas (originally from Tomahawk #25, July 1954); and a couple of instalments of Cap's Hobby Hints (originally from Showcase #71, November-December 1967 and Strange Adventures #206, November 1967 - both of these are related to the main features above).

The advertiser's date code on the rear cover is KGM. TTC.368

Advertising KG Murray comics in-house

In late 1967 DC published a short-lived 2-issue magazine titled Teen Beat (and Team Beam).

This magazine was advertised in DC comics cover-dated December 1967:

This advertisement was modified by KG Murray to promote Super Adventure Comic:

This is a scan of the full-page advertisement appearing in Tip Top Comic Monthly #34.

Full-page in-house advertisements in this period were rare but they did occur occasionally, for example this advertisement from Tip Top Comic Monthly #2, .June 1965 promoting the three new series replacing The Hundred, Century Comic and Five-Score Comic Monthly:

However the norm for promoting comics in-house in this period was small advertisements inserted as filler at the bottom of the page at the end of a story or between chapters of a story. For example, this ad is from Tip Top Comic Monthly #32, December 1967:  

Note it still refers to Superman's Supacomic, which it had not been titled since 1959.

Another ad from this period, from Tip Top #32, promotes Mighty Comic:

Note that it promotes the Justice League with headshots of the Justice Society!

Update 26 August 2023: A Blackhawk variant of the Ban Gloom ad appears in Tip Top Comic Monthly #36:

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #33

KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #33 was published January 1968:

The cover is from DC Comics' Showcase #69:

The main features:

Poor Richard's Maniak! [Part 1], originally published in Showcase #69, July-August 1967

Part II... Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Dough!, originally published in Showcase #69, July-August 1967

Part III...  If You're Going to Trot Down the Bridal Path, You Need a Groom!, originally published in Showcase #69, July-August 1967

The Return of the Faceless Creature!, originally published in Strange Adventures #142, July 1962

Kor--the Conqueror, originally published in The Doom Patrol #114, September 1967

My Cargo was Death..., originally published in My Greatest Adventure #1, January-February 1955

Ambush!, originally published in Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid #26, November-December 1953

I Jumped From Eight Miles Up, originally published in My Greatest Adventure #4, July-August 1955

The Buildings That Went Berserk, originally published in Blackhawk #174, July 1962

The Building That Went Berserk is a Blackhawk story which is presented without the Blackhawk masthead:

Compare to the original page:

The KG Murray edition clearly had the space on the page to include the masthead but opted to omit it. It's possible this story was reprinted in a previous edition of KG Murray's Blackhawk series and the masthead was dropped to camouflage the recycled story. Just guesswork on my part.

There are a number of short filler strips in this issue including two instalments of Cap's Hobby Center (from Showcase #69, July-August 1967 and The Doom Patrol #114, September 1967), and the full-page Lucky (from Superboy #60, October 1957).

There are also three Little Pete strips. The first is from Challengers of the Unknown #40, October-November 1964. 

The second Little Pete strip is an 'advertorial' for Brandnu Custom Finish:

There are other variants of this strip advertising other brands such as Testor's Custom Finish.

The third Little Pete filler, original source unidentified:

Some of the stories in this issue were published in other KG Murray comics.

The advertiser's date code on the rear cover KGMTTC1 68

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #13

 KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #13 was published c.May 1966:

The cover is slightly modified from the original on DC Comics' Superboy #125:

The stories:

The Sacrifice of Kid Psycho!, originally published in Superboy #125, December 1965

The Fantastic Origin of Beast-Boy [Part 1], originally published in The Doom Patrol #100, December 1965

The Fantastic Origin of Beast-Boy Part 2, originally published in The Doom Patrol #100, December 1965

The Wizard of the Diamond World, originally published in Tales of the Unexpected #93, February-March 1966

The Witch of Metropolis, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1, March-April 1958

The Riddle of the Captive Astronauts!, originally published in Mystery In Space #105, February 1966

The Human Flame-Thrower!, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #33, December 1958

The Beast-God of Xochatan! [Part 1], originally published in Teen Titans #1, January-February 1966

The Beast-God of Xochatan Part 2, originally published in Teen Titans #1, January-February 1966

The Beast-God of Xochatan Part 3, originally published in Teen Titans #1, January-February 1966

Some of these stories were previously published by KG Murray, notably The Witch of Metropolis, which was cover-featured on Superman's Supacomic #2:

Superman Presents Tip Top Comic Monthly #8

 KG Murray's Tip Top Comic Monthly #8 was published c.December 1965:

The cover is modified from the original on Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #58:

The stories:

The Captive Princess!, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #58, July 1965

Billy the Kid, originally published in Badmen of the West #1 [A-1 #100], 1953 

The Mad Planet, originally published in Mystery In Space #19, April-May 1954

The Family with the X-Ray Eyes, originally published in Superboy #66, July 1958

The Three Signs of Evil!, originally published in The Phantom Stranger #2, October - November 1952

The Day The World Went Mad! Part 1, originally published in The Doom Patrol #96, June 1965

[The Day The World Went Mad!] Part 2 The Three Families of Fear, originally published in The Doom Patrol #96, June 1965

[The Day the World Went Mad!] Part 3 Whom the Gods Would Destroy, originally published in The Doom Patrol #96, June 1965

The Creature That Couldn't Exist, originally published in Tales of the Unexpected #65, September 1961

The Dream Detective!, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #51, March 1961

Some of these stories were reprinted in subsequent KG Murray issues.

The advertiser's date code on the rear cover is T.1/1/66.