Joker #10

Joker #10 is a digest-sized Page Publications issue with a cover signed by Keith Chatto:

This issue is not comic book but rather a collection of gag cartoons with a few 'girlie' pics as they were known in the day. Here's a sample two-page spread:

There are also two single-page text pieces which I assume are included for the issue to qualify as a certain type of periodical for distribution or other arcane reasons - someone more knowledgeable on these matters can chime in and educate me.

The 56 pages in this issue contain a vast variety of artists, and some of them have quite an attractive style, but I know little about them, and I haven't gone down that particular rabbit hole with the few samples of copies like this issue which I own. I see many of them in my rounds but I only pick up copies with covers by Chatto. 

Having said that, if this wasn't by Chatto I think I might have been interested in it for the references to the classic adult Australian tv shows Number 96 and The Box, and presumably a reference to Never on Sunday.

I have a few more such issues to present in future posts.

Superman Super Library #39

 KG Murray's Superman Super Library #39 was published c.August 1967:

As per the established pattern for this series, the cover is drawn from the splash page to the lead story:

Also as per the established pattern, the stories in this issue are reformatted for the digest-sized edition and recycled from previously published KG Murray issues. The three stories in this issue are as follows:

The Girls in Superman's Life!, originally published in Superman #78, September-October 1952, previously published in Super Adventure Comic #47.

Superman's Super Hold-Up!, originally published in World's Finest Comics #59, July 1952, and previously published in Super Adventure Comic #42.

Superman's Secret Workshop, originally published in Superman #81, March-April 1953, and previously published in Super Adventure Comic #46.

A one -page Casey the Cop filler strip appears on the inside rear cover which originally appeared in Superboy #109, December 1963. I have not identified an earlier printing of this in a KG Murray comic.

The date code on the rear cover advertisement is KGMSSL867. My copy is also stamped 22 SEP 1967.

Dating Terror Tales Album #13

This is the cover to my copy of Terror Tales Album #13:

If you look closely right between the eyes of the axe you can see it is date stamped 7 APR 1980. This publication date was reinforced by another copy I was privy to which had a 7 written on the cover.

This morning I spotted a copy of this issue listed on eBay which includes a closeup of the rear cover:

As you can see this appears to have two dates - a 7 circled, denoting July as the final on-sale date, and 21/3, presumably the on-sale date. This date is over two weeks earlier than the date on my copy. I assume this difference relates to a lag in distribution and newsagency processing.

I guess this means that even verified dates of such Australian reprint comics must, to some degree, always be deemed contingent on further information or data. It doesn't mean I'll stop trying to get this right, but it does remind me once again of the essentially Sisyphean nature of this project.

And so, to work.

Superboy #130

 KG Murray's Superboy #130 was published c.December 1959:

The cover is from DC Comics' Superboy #69:

There are two main features in this issue:

How Superboy Learned to Fly!, originally published in Superboy #69, December 1958.

This story was subsequently recycled by KG Murray in Tip Top Comic Monthly #9; Colossal Comic #50; and Giant Superboy Album #1, courtesy of Superboy Annual #1.

The Great Superboy Doublecross!, originally published in Adventure Comics #263, August 1959 

This issue also contains two full-page filler strips: Little Pete from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #29, June 1958 and Peter Puptent Explorer from Showcase #21, July-August 1959, which was also subsequently recycled by KG Murray in Colossal Comic #36.

A UK variant of this issue was also published.

This is the final issue of KG Murray's Superboy series.

Update 19 September 2024: As James has pointed out there is a UK Superboy #131, so it's quite possible there is an Australian edition too.

Summer Love

KG Murray's digest-sized Summer Love was published c.1982/83:

The stories:

Puppy Love!, originally published in Love and Romance #14, September 1973

Unloved!, originally published in Love and Romance #21, March 1975

The Perfect Date!, originally published in Teen Confessions #85, September 1974

Older Than I Look, originally published in My Only Love #2, September 1975

Do's and Don'ts of Dating, original publication unidentified 

I think all of these stories were previously published in other KG Murray comics, and I have identified the following: Puppy Love in Romantic Dreams Library #26; Unloved! in All Love Romantic Stories #20; and Older Thank I Look in Young Love #35.

This issue is one of a handful of such digest-sized romance issues published by KG Murray C.1982-83 such as Secrets of Young Brides and Summer Magic!. I note that unlike these two samples, Summer Love does not have the Murray Romance Library imprint.

Update 13 June 2024:. I was unaware that Do's and Don'ts of Dating is the title of a series of vignettes appearing in DC Comics. The instalment in the issue begins "Look, There's Carrie!", originally appearing in Young Romance #182, May 1972, and previously published by KG Murray in Heart to Heart Romance Library #174 and Heart to Heart Romance Library #190.

Update 27 June 2024: Kudos to Marcus Brazil for identifying the source of the cover image, Secret Romance #37: 

Marcus says he suspects Murray only had access to the cover, not the original painted art, hence the cropping to eliminate the various trade dress elements. 

Superboy #117

KG Murray's Superboy #117 was published c.November 1958:

The cover is from DC Comics' Superboy #61:

The main features:

The School for Superboys, originally published in Superboy #61, December 1957

The Luxury Limousine of Space!, originally published in Mystery In Space #45, August 1958

The Trial of Superboy, originally published in Superboy #63, March 1958 

This issue also contains three filler strips: a two-page Warden Willis feature from Mr. District Attorney #64, July-August 1958; and the single-page fillers Tricksy from Superman #119, February 1958 and Chief Hot Foot from Tomahawk #48, May 1957.

The three main features and the Warden Willis filler were recycled in Colossal Comic #34. The Luxury Limousine of space was reprinted in Super Heroes Album #5. The Trial of Superboy was reprinted in Giant Superboy Album #13.

There is also a UK variant of this issue.

Super Adventure Comic #104

KG Murray's Super Adventure Comic #104 was published c.February 1959:

The cover is unsigned but it looks like the work of Hart Amos.

The main features:

The Outlaw Who Played Batman, originally published in Detective Comics #232, June 1956

Second Warning!, originally published in Tales of the Unexpected #13, May 1957

The Super-Sergeant, originally published in Superman #122, July 1958 

This issue also contains a single-page Little Pete filler strip originally published in Action Comics #242, July 1958 - and I'm pretty sure this is not the reason this issue is collectible today.

Super Adventure Comic #87

 KG Murray's Super Adventure Comic #87 was published c.September 1957:

The cover is from DC Comics' World's Finest Comics #88:

The main stories:

Superman and Batman's Greatest Foes!, originally published in World's Finest Comics #88, May-June 1957

A Job for Super-Dog, originally published in Superboy #56, April 1957

The Junior Newsreelers!, originally published in Adventure Comics #206, November 1954 

Superman and Batman's Greatest Foes! has been reprinted a number of times by DC, and appeared in KG Murray's Giant Superman and Batman Album #1 and Colossal Comic #28. 

A Job for Super-Dog was reprinted in Tip Top Comic Monthly #3.

This issue includes two filler-strips: Lionel and his Friends from Superboy #55, March 1957; and Warden Willis from Detective Comics #242, April 1957.

There is a UK variant:

This cover scan is from AusReprints. I prefer the darker hues of the Australian print.

Superman's Supacomic #5

Superman's Supacomic #5 was published c.September 1959:

The cover is modified from DC Comics' Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #11: 

Apart from the speech balloon being omitted for the sake of the 100 Pages! blurb, the tree on the right hand side was replaced by scrub and ferns.

The main features:

The Leopard Girl of the Jungle!, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #11, August 1959

The MC of the Midnight Scare Theatre, originally published in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #38, July 1959 

Superman's Mystery Song!, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #9, May 1959

The Secret of the Fantastic Weapons, originally published in Detective Comics #263, January 1959

The Cry-Baby of Metropolis!,originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #10, July 1959

Superman's Super-Rival!, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #37, June 1959

The Most Hated Girl in Metropolis!, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #9, May 1959

The Town That Hated Superman!, originally published in Superman #130, July 1959

The Ugly Superman, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #8, April 1959

Super-Senor's Pal!, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #36, April 1959

Many of these stories were subsequently reprinted in other KG Murray issues, generally as a consequence of DC reprints in Annuals and 80-Page Giants. The Secret of the Fantastic Weapons and The MC of the Midnight Scare Theatre were selectively recycled in Colossal Comic #50.

This issue also contains a two-page Warden Willis filler strip from Detective Comics #269, July 1959.

After this issue the series was retitled Superman Supacomic. This coincided with the demise of the Superman series.

 

Super Adventure Comic #113

KG Murray's Super Adventure Comic #113 was published c.November 1959:

The cover is from DC Comics' World's Finest Comics #103:

The main features:

The Secret of the Sorcerer's Treasure, originally published in World's Finest Comics #103, August 1959 

Master of Doom!, originally published in Mystery in Space #4, October-November 1951 

This issue also contains a two-page Moolah the Mystic filler strip originally appearing in House of Secrets #22, July 1959, and a single page Casey the Cop feature originally appearing in Mr. District Attorney #57, May-June 1957.