Shoot Me An Epitaph! in Page Publications

MV Features' Secret Service Picture Library #9 was published in the mid-1960's:

The cover was adapted by Keith Chatto for the Page Publications edition Secret Spy Picture Library #1:

Shoot me An Epitaph! was subsequently reprinted by Page Publications in Mystery Suspense Library #2:

This story was recycled again by Page Publications under yet another Chatto cover in Terror Adventure #3:

Needless to say the cover misrepresents the genre and contents.

There may be further editions of Shoot Me An Epitaph! to be unearthed

Heart to Heart Romance Library #197

This is the cover to K.G. Murray's digest-sized Heart to Heart Romance Library #197: 

The cover image is adapted from the cover of Charlton Comics' Just Married #101:

This image is also on the splash page of the lead feature.

The contents:

He Turns Me On!, originally published in Just Married #101, July 1974 

Two Broken Hearts, originally published in Just Married #100, May 1974 

The Spell of Love, originally published in Secret Romance #24, April 1973 

Love Thesis, originally published in Love Diary #83, March 1973 

Let Me Cry Alone, originally published in Love Diary #88, June 1974 

AusReprints dates this issue to February 1975.

Most of these stories were subsequently recycled by K.G. Murray in other issues.

O Melhor de Batman #1

O Melhor de Batman [The Best of Batman] #1 is a bumper 228-page digest-sized collection of key Batman stories published in Brazil by Editora Abril in 1996:

This issue collates the following stories and story arcs:

Batman: Year Two, originally published in Detective Comics #'s 575-578 

Wanted: Santa Claus--Dead or Alive!, originally published in DC Special Series #21 

A Death in the Family, originally published in Batman #'s 426-429 

These stories are Portuguese translations and are presented in full colour. The covers of the original stories are not reproduced. A Death in the Family is introduced by a generic frontispiece, and the issue includes a full page of publishing credits/indicia. 

The cover image previously appeared on DC's Batman: Year Two trade paperback collection.

The rear cover advertises Batman Anual #5. 

Whilst I wouldn't personally nominate these three stories as the best Batman stories of the period they are nevertheless popular and key Batman stories and, in the case of Wanted, an oft-reprinted Frank Miller Batman story which originally appeared in an 'off-Broadway' issue. I suspect these stories were previously published by Editora Abril and subsequently curated for this volume. TBA.

Superman's Supacomic #1 and the various Supacomic series

Superman's Supacomic #1 was published c.September 1958:

I am not certain of the cover artist however some of the figures do look to me like the work of Hart Amos, and the design is similar to one of the Amos cover tropes for anthologies.

The contents:

The Rainbow Superman, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #3, July-August 1958

The Bombshell of the Boulevards, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1, March-April 1958

See The Wonders of Marine Life With this Underwater Telescope!, originally published in Superboy #21, August-September 1952

Clark Kent's Super-Dad, originally published in Adventure Comics #236, May 1957

The World Is Our Classroom, originally published in...?

Superman's Secret Sweetheart, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #2, May-June 1958

Lois Lane In Hollywood, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #2, May-June 1958

The Crime of Bruce Wayne, originally published in Detective Comics #249, November 1957

Don't Give Fire A Place to Start, previously published in comics cover-dated July 1954 

The Super-Gorilla From Krypton, originally published in Action Comics #238, March 1958

Lois Lane, Super-Chef, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1, March-April 1958

Make Yourself a Mask!, originally published in Superboy #24, February-March 1953

The Man Who Was Clark Kent's Double, originally published in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #3, July-August 1958

The World's "Heavy Weight" Champ, originally published in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #26, February 1958

[Begins "Chief Ugwa is here to smoke peace pipe with you!", originally published in Tomahawk #5, May-June 1951

The World is Our Classroom is a one-page PSA featuring Superman which likely appeared in various DC comics in 1957-58. TBA.

The first Superman series published by K.G. Murray was a monthly periodical which ran c.June 1947-October 1959. The format of this series was similar to other K.G. Murray series published during this period - thin pamphlet-sized editions printed in black and white, including a short stint of colour interiors.

The Australian Silver Age Experience was inaugurated by the publication of Century The 100-Page Comic Monthly #1 c.July 1956. Century Comic was a monthly series from inception, and other  similarly bumper-sized titles such as All Favourites Comic and Mighty Comic joined the fray. These two series were initially launched as Annuals in 1956 but became monthly or bi-monthly titles in 1958.

It is into this market that Superman's Supacomic was launched as a bumper sized 100-page quarterly series c.September 1958. The monthly Superman series was still in circulation as the primary Superman series, and Superman's Supacomic was a complementary premium product. 

The two Superman series ended in the final quarter of 1959. Superman's Supacomic #5 was published c.September 1959, and the monthly Superman series ended with Superman #147 c.October 1959. The possessive case was dropped from the series title with Superman Supacomic #6 which was published c.January 1960, and from thereon this became the primary monthly Superman title - indeed, it was likely regarded as the flagship title in the K.G. Murray stable. It was certainly the only eponymously titled monthly superhero series (the diminutive Superman Super Library digest-sized reprint series notwithstanding) from K.G. Murray in the 1960's until well into the 1970's.

So, whilst it is true that Superman Supacomic continued from where Superman's Supacomic left off in terms of series numbering and content, it is also evident that the two series had quite distinct roles and profiles in the Australian marketplace of the late 1950's.

Interestingly there was another Supacomic in this transitional period - Supacomic Summer Gift Book was a UK hardcover title published c.mid-1960. I assume this was licensed from K.G. Murray, and the cover certainly looks like it's drawn from the Murray anthology template.

Σπάιντερ Μαν: A few Greek Spider-Man comics

According to the GCD there have been a few ongoing Spider-Man series published in Greece but by far the longest-running series is Kabana Hella's Σπάιντερ Μαν 1977-1992.

I've dipped my toes into this series and have just a few issues. One of these is the Greek edition of the first Todd McFarlane Spider-Man comic.

This is the cover to Kabanas Hellas' Σπάιντερ Μαν #470:

This is from Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man #298:

Poor ol' Chance's head is covered by the Greek masthead.

The title of the story is, as per the cover, Chance Encounter! 

The Greek version literally translates as Death Collection:

The Chance story continues in The Amazing Spider-Man #299:

According to the GCD, the Kabanas Hellas edition - or at least, the cover - was published as Σπάιντερ Μαν #482:

Once again, poor ol' Chance's head is covered by the masthead.

I can confirm this story - Survival of the Hittest! - was published by Kabana Hellas a few issues earlier in Σπάιντερ Μαν #479:

This cover originally appeared on Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk #128:

This is the splash page to [Survival of the Hittest!] in Σπάιντερ Μαν #479:

The story title in this edition loosely translates as A Fearsome Surprise. This is closer to Chance Encounter rather than to Survival of the Hittest. Indeed, I suspect that the idiomatic pun of the latter proved too difficult to translate effectively, so it was replaced by a translation of Chance Encounter from the first part of the story, and that first part became Death Collection.

I also have a copy of Σπάιντερ Μαν #484:

The cover is from Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man #301. The lead feature is from Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #113.

These issues are digest-sized. They lead with a Spider-Man feature and also contain two other Marvel stories. Some issues include posters, letters pages and other assorted featurettes.

Liberated Lovers: A Murray Comics one-shot

Liberated Lovers is a one-shot romance comic published by Murray Publishers c.June 1982:

The cover is from Charlton's Love and Romance #21, March 1975:

The contents:

Call Me Ms., previously published in Love and Romance #21, March 1975
A Goddess Can Fall in Love, previously published in Hollywood Romances #58, April 1971
Fickle Heart, previously published in Romantic Story #85, November 1966
Just for Kicks, previously published in Teen-Age Love #74, January 1971
He'll Have to Do, previously published in Sweethearts #111, July 1970
The Game of Love, previously published in My Only Love #5, March 1976
He Turns Me On!, previously published in Just Married #101, July 1974
The Roll Calls For Kisses!, previously published in Sweethearts #136, October 1973
Stolen Love, previously published in Romantic Story #79, October 1965
Hurry Toward Love, previously published in Teen-Age Love #74, January 1971
Greener Grass, previously published in Career Girl Romances #64, August 1971
Freedom to Live, previously published in Teen-Age Love #92, April 1973
I'll Be Alone..., previously published in Secrets of Young Brides #5, March 1976 All of these stories previously appeared in Charlton comics from the 1960's-1970's. Some also appeared in other Murray comics. Murray's romance one-shots in this period appeared under the Murray Romance Library imprint. Oddly, this one is under the regular black Murray Comics logo which, for a time after March 1982, superseded the red Murray Comics logo. Indeed this issue contains two in-house advertisements for romance comics, one of which includes the Murray Romance Library logo, and the other - for Our Love Story - doesn't. The typeface for the masthead is one often used by Murray in this period, for example on Cowboy Adventures and Renegade Raiders, and is slanted to the left - evidently it was, y'know, liberated...

Our Love Story: The Murray Romance Library edition

 

Murray Publishers' Our Love Story is a one-shot issue published c.July 1982. It comprises stories mostly originating in Charlton comics in the 1960's-70's:

Everything But The Groom!, originally published in Love Diary #91, January 1975
Never Sell Your Dream, originally published in Sweethearts #126, July 1972
Find-A-Man, originally published in I Love You #121, December 1976
Boy Meets Girl, originally published in Sweethearts #89, October 1966
Untouchable Lips, originally published in Secret Romance #8, August 1970
The Walk, originally published in Young Romance #198, March-April 1974
No Man For Me, originally published in Teen Confessions #90, August 1975
The Hermit of Turtle Island, originally published in Three Nurses #23, March 1964
Stolen Kisses, originally published in For Lovers Only #84, April 1976
Made For Each Other, originally published in Sweethearts #99, August 1968
Two Loves Had I..., originally published in Romantic Story #81, February-March 1966
Go Seek Love, originally published in For Lovers Only #71, May 1973
Southern Exposure, Sweethearts #80, January 1965
Sagittarius in Search of Aries, Teen Confessions #65, December 1970 I believe the attributions above to be accurate, however I have not crosschecked each story with scans, so if there are errors, please advise. Our Love Story was advertised as an imminent release in another Murray romance one-shot: Our Love Story was published under the Murray Romance Library imprint, but note that the preproduction cover in the advertisement does not bear the Murray Romance Library logo. Indeed the  Murray Comics logo on the top right hand corner of the advertisement is also generic, which is odd because other inhouse ads for romance comics in this period displayed the Murray Romance Library logo rather prominently. This issue has no connection to the Marvel Comics series, however Yaffa did produce a single Our Love Story issue based on the Marvel series. And, if my dating is accurate, the Yaffa edition preceded the Murray issue by no more than a month. Surely a coincidence - and yet, the Murray advertisement was clearly rushed to the press...

Batman [#1]: The Murray edition

Murray Comics' Batman [#1] was published 10 September 1982:

This is a famous cover, originally appearing on DC Comics' Batman #194:

The story contents:

Night of the Savage, originally published in Detective Comics #498, January 1981

[Allies in the Shadows], originally published in Detective Comics #499, February 1981

Secret of the Sphinx Sinister!, originally published in Detective Comics #508, November 1981

Monster, My Sweet!, originally published in Batman 344, February 1982

A Caper a Day Keeps the Batman at Bay!, originally published in Batman #312, June 1979

All of the stories in this issue have been modified to some extent. 

Night of the Savage and Allies in the Shadows are presented as a single 33-page story. The 'next issue' blurb is removed from the end of Night of the Savage, as is the splash page - and hence title page - of Allies in the Shadows.

This is  a scan of the original splash page to Secret of the Sphinx Sinister!:

The art is extended in the Murray edition:

The 'next issue blurb is omitted.

The art is also extended - and elements removed - on the splash page to Monster, My Sweet!. Here's a scan of the original page:

Compare to the version in the Murray edition:

The modification to this page is benign compared to the crude modifications on the last panel of this story. Here's a scan of the final page from Batman #344:

The Murray edition not only removes the 'next issue' blurb but extends the art on the last panel thus:

Heh. [This version of the story was recycled 12 months later in Federal Comics' Batman #6 and indeed suffered even more extensive modifications in that iteration.]

The original splash page to A Caper a Day Keeps the Batman at Bay!:

And the modified Murray version with art extended top and bottom:

This version omits the 'next issue' blurb.

It's curious that a prominent vintage 1960's cover was used for this 1980's issue. It's related to the contents inasmuch as there is a Blockbuster story in the magazine, but it is not the 1967 story. 

When this issue appeared on the stands in September 1982 it slotted in amongst a number of one-shot unnumbered Murray Comics editions of DC material. However it also inaugurated a new and final ongoing Batman series which would transition through the Federal Comics era until its demise in 1986. The Superman series of the time similarly started with two unnumbered issues.

The date ascribed is courtesy of a newsagent's pencilled information on the rear cover.

Dating Murray comics: The Hubba Bubba Gumfighter Comes to Town advertisements

Dating Murray comics can be difficult, especially issues in the early-1980's - the era of the one-shot 100-page editions. These are more difficult to date than numbered issues in ongoing series for obvious reasons, such as benchmark dates being established within a series. 

As per my dating schema courtesy of the dates in the Tarzan series, I have a firm sense of the broad outline of the dates based on the cover price. The next step is to drill down further via other sources of information such as the advertisements.

One such ad is The Hubba Bubba Gumfighter Comes to Town advertisement. Murray issues carried two versions of this ad:

The Hubba Bubba Gumfighter Comes to Town [1] [New strawberry flavour] c.May 1981

The Hubba Bubba Gumfighter Comes to Town [2] [Four great flavours] c.August-November 1982

One of these ads is for a special or premium product, the other is generic. 

I originally assumed the generic ad came first, but this is not the case. 

It also makes sense that the ad for the premium product would appear for a relatively short period.

One-shot issues with Hubba [1] include Space Adventures, Superman and Sgt. Rock, Action Album and Bumper Western Album [77].

One-shot issues with Hubba [2] include Pow-Wow Smith, Masked Manhunter, War Stories, Texas Rangers in Action, All Star Heroes, Dr. Fate, Nemesis, Zatanna, and The Phantom Zone. Most of these are $0.99 cover priced issues - the $0.95 cover-priced issues can be deemed published August 1982.

Zatanna: The Murray edition

Murray Comics' Zatanna one-shot issue was published 15 September 1982:

The cover originally appeared on DC Comics' The Brave and the Bold #169, December 1980.

The contents:

Angel of Mercy, Angel of Death!, originally published in The Brave and the Bold #169, December 1980

The Night It Rained Magic!, originally published in DC Comics Presents #18, February 1980

The Song the Shrieker Sang, originally published in World's Finest Comics #274, December 1981

[Soul Shriek!], originally published in World's Finest Comics #275, January 1982

Zatanna [Untitled], originally published in World's Finest Comics #276, February 1982

[Doppelganger], originally published in World's Finest Comics #277, March 1982

Dog Day Afternoon, originally published in World's Finest Comics #278, April 1982

The Key Crisis of the One-Man Justice League!, originally published in Justice League of America #191, June 1981

The Song the Shrieker Sang and Soul Shriek! are presented as a single story. The splash page to Soul Shriek! is omitted, as is the 'next issue' blurb at the end of Shrieker Sang.

Similarly the two stories from World's Finest Comics #'s 276-277 are presented as a single story with only a proxy eponymous story title, the splash page to Doppelganger also omitted.

Dog Day Afternoon is modified differently. Here's scans of the first two pages of the story as per World's Finest Comics #278:

And here's the modified title page in the Murray edition:

The date designated above is based on a copy I spotted with a price sticker on the cover with 15/9 written on it. By my reckoning the $0.95 cover price Murray issues ended August 1982, so Zatanna would be among the earliest of the $0.99 issues.