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Publisher: K. G. Murray
Years in Operation: 1936 - 1982
Disclose Detail
Country: Flag Australia Web Site: Brands: 11 Indicia Publishers: 14 Series: 457 Printings: 5482 (5287 Issues) Disclose 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.   Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Indicia Publisher Name Years in Operation Printings (Issues)
FlagAdam Magazine Pty Ltd 1946 - 1975 2 (1)
FlagColor Comics Pty. Ltd. Disclose
Note: This variation of the publisher name, with the U.S. spelling of 'color', was used only for a brief period in K. G. Murray's early period.
1948 - 1961 43 (41)
FlagColour Comics Pty Ltd ? - 608 (583)
FlagK. G. Murray Disclose
Note: This variation of the name (with out "Publishing Company") was one of a number of variations used early before company settled into its most common terms.
1947 - 1958 17 (25)
FlagK. G. Murray Publishing Company Disclose
Note: The indicia source for this publisher has "the" in lower case letters, unlike the usual "The" in "The K. G. Murray Publishing Company Pty. Ltd." It is also missing the "Pty. Ltd." This wording might suggest early transitional wording, before the more common company name and regular use of "Colour Comics Pty. Ltd."
1947 - 1975 33 (70)
FlagMan Junior Magazine Pty. Ltd. Disclose
Note: Man Junior Magazine Pty. Ltd is the division of K.G. Murray responsible for the magazine of the same name. Two series of Man Junior were published 1937-1953 and 1954-1974. However, the indicia publisher name was probably not used for the entire period and only a few comics were published by the company. Man Junior routinely included a single Devil Doone story by Hart Amos. These were collected and republished by K. G. Murray under a number of indicia publisher names between 1948 and 1972.
1937 - 1974 0
FlagMurray Publishers Pty Ltd ? - 277 (290)
FlagPro-Art Productions Disclose
Note: Pro-Art Productions shares an address with K. G. Murray (142 Clarence Street, Sydney, 2000).
1975 - 1985 2
FlagSport Magazine Pty Ltd Disclose
Note: Dates are estimates.
1967 - 1973 52 (53)
FlagSport Magazine Pty. Ltd. Disclose
Note: Sport Magazine was one of numerous "Proprietors" that were part of the Kenneth G Murray publishing empire, most of which were named after specific publications. The eponymous 'Sport Magazine' ran June 1954 to December 1963, when its title changed to 'Australian Sport and Surfriding' until the magazine ended sometime after 1964. The publisher's output also included a range of other sporting and car publications until about 1973. Between 1967/68 and 1973/74, a range of comics was also published by Sport Magazine. Some of these titles carried the "Colour Comics" cover branding, but most were unbranded. Sport Magazine represented a distinct portfolio of Murray's comics focused on non-DC reprints, including rare Marvel reprints and material from Europe (especially Spain and the UK).
1967 - 1973 9
FlagThe K. G. Murray Publishing Co. Disclose
Note: This slightly shorter variation of K. G. Murray's publisher name (with out Pty. Ltd.) seems to be used only on its earliest comics.
1947 - 1947 3 (4)
FlagThe K. G. Murray Publishing Company Pty Ltd ? - 278 (340)
FlagThe K.G. Publishing Co. Disclose
Note: This indicia publisher might be an error. "The K.G. Murray Publishing Co.", which was listed on other early comics, might have been intended. It is on "The Blue Ray".
1947 - 1
FlagTrue Romance Magazine Pty. Ltd 1947 - 1977 2

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