CGC Registry

Australian Editions of US Sci-fi comics


Set Type: Australian Editions Sci-Fi (1950 - 1970)
Owner: Dikko
Last Modified: 6/17/2024
Views: 113

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Set Description:

Australian reprint editions of some US Sci-Fi themed comics.

The Australian reprint editions do not have as many issues as the US counterpart, and there are a lot of inconsistencies with the numbering of the Australian Editions in relation to the original US version.

OUTER SPACE.
Printed in Australia by New Century Press 1958. Each price 1/- (1 shilling)
Only 4 Australian Editions : AUST #1 = US #17; AUST #4 = US #19
NB Outer Space #3 (Aust.) cover image does not match any US edition and as such cannot be listed here.

BLUE BOLT.
Printed in Australia by Jubilee Press 1952. Each issue priced 8d (8 pence)
Only 4 Australian Editions : AUST #1 = US #109; AUST #2 = US #110; AUST #3 = US #107

JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORLDS.
Printed in Australia by Jubilee Press 1953. Each issue priced 8d.
Only 6 Australian Editions : AUST #1 = US #2; AUST #4 = US #6

STRANGE ADVENTURES.
Published in Australia by Colour Comics Pty Ltd.
Issues: No.1 - 8 (Sept 1954 - April1955) priced 8d (8 pence)
Issues: No.9 - 22 (May1955- June 1956) priced 9d (9 pence)
Issues: No.23 - 43 (July 1957- April 1958) priced 1/- (1 shilling)
Only 43 Australian Editions.

Due to the post-WW2 ban on importing US comics into Australia, the Australian versions of "Strange Adventures" were created between 1954 - 1958. The numbering of the Australian editions do not follow the US versions precisely and are a varied mix of some of the US versions, mainly from the US issues #40 - #80 but again not in any logical or chronological order.

Most Australian reprints have similar cover images to the US versions of 'Strange Adventures' but some have covers from the US versions of 'House of Mystery' ( Aust. No. 25 [US #48] and Aust. No. 32 [US #53] ) or 'Mystery in Space' ( Aust. No. 43 [US #38]).

This anomaly can be seen in my CGC Graded issue No. 32 [AUST. Ed] {listed below as Strange Adventures 32 Australian Edition SN4411309011} where CGC have labelled the comic HOUSE OF MYSTERY # 53, but sub-titled Strange Adventures No. 32 in keeping with the CGC Foreign issues policy. Thankfully , there are only two other issues with this problem.

I have recently acquired Aust. No. 25 [US House of Mystery #48] and it will be CGC graded in 2025.

Printed in Australia 1954 -58 on newsprint paper and B/W inside. A rare series, and difficult to find quality copies after nearly 70 years.

PLANET COMICS.
Printed in Australia by H John Edwards Co. 1952 - 54
Issues: No.1 - 4 (Dec 1952 - Mar. l1953) priced 6d (6 pence)
Issues: No.5 - 24 (Apr. 1953 - Nov 1954) priced 8d (8 pence)
Only 24 Australian Editions : AUST #1 = US #60; AUST #2 = US #55.
Interestingly, 5 of the run of 24 Australian versions of Planet Comics have only PLANET as their title. This inconsistency is similar to the Australian CATMAN series where the title varies from The Adventures of CATMAN to just CATMAN.

Although most of the Australian cover images may look similar to its US original, there are often varying degrees of differences. Almost ALL Australian Editions are B/W inside. Printed on cheap newsprint, it is difficult to find good quality copies after 70+ years.

Apart from being listed in alphabetical order, within each title, the comics are listed in the US numbered order, with the exception of the comics that were graded before CGC changed its policy on labelling International comics. For example: Strange Adventures 1 Australian edition is in fact US #44 but was graded in 2017.

Four more AUST. editions of STRANGE ADVENTURES to be graded this year and four Australian Editions of PLANET COMICS.
comic_silver_age_sm 2024

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