1936 - 1982
Country:
Australia
Notes:
K.G. Murray is most known for its extensive DC reprint comics. Kenneth G. Murray published his first magazine, the quality MAN, in 1936, forming a publishing empire that dominated the Australian industry for decades. Murray's first comics in 1946 were original Australian work, but soon reprint material from the US (and later other countries) dominated. The organisation was initially composed of a range of jointly owned companies (such as Man Magazine Pty Ltd, Cavalcade Magazine Pty Ltd, and Australian House and Garden Magazine Pty Ltd), with comics primarily published by Colour Comics Pty Ltd. In 1951, all shares in the companies were acquired by Publishers Holdings Ltd, a name that never appears in the comics. On 1 February 1972, Kenneth Murray retired as Managing Director while remaining on the Board until 1974. On 30 June 1973, Australian Consolidated Press Ltd completed an acquisition and took control of the company. ACP continued producing comics until 1982, initially as The K. G. Murray Publishing Company and later as Murray Publishers Pty. Ltd.
Imprint Titles Issues
Colour Comics Pty Ltd (1-98); Planet Comics (99-127) 1 127
Colour Comics Pty Ltd (K. G. Murray Publishing Company Pty Ltd) 5 -3
Federal Comics (Federal Publishing Company) 5 5
K. G. Murray Publishing Company Pty Ltd 2 28
Murray Publishers Pty Ltd 4 47
Planet Comics 1 3
Planet Comics (3-13); Murray Publishers Pty Ltd (14-20) 1 18
Planet Comics (K.G. Murray Publishing Company Pty Ltd) 3 162
Planet Comics (Murray Publishers Pty Ltd) 1 20
Sport Magazine Pty. Ltd. 1 21