Set Description
The Australian "CATMAN" series originally started in the Frew Series of comics called "SUPER YANK COMICS" 1950-52. Created, written and illustrated by Lloyd Piper.
Issue #1: No CATMAN nor Phantom story
Issues #2 - #19: Shows both CATMAN and the Phantom on the front cover.
Issues #10 - #17: Title changed to "SUPER YANK COMICS - CATMAN", showing CATMAN as main character on cover.
Issues #18 - 19: Title reverted back to "SUPER YANK COMICS", showing the Phantom as main character.
Interestingly, the reason Frew Publications choose Super Yank Comics as the title for their new Australian comic series was influenced by a tradition of Australian publishers (dating from the early 1940s) to label their black & white reprints of American comics with titles like Popular Yank Comics and Famous Yank Comics, in an effort to pass off their magazines as "genuine" American comic books. Lloyd Piper also created the character 'Kalar the Caveman' which ran stories in each issue.
SUPER YANK COMICS & CATMAN: Frew: Issues #1 - #19 1950-52 Priced 6d - 8d (6-8 pence)
N.B. Issue No. 4 (illustrated): My copy of No. 4 has been signed by writer and artist Lloyd Piper, inside the comic on two separate pages, and as such is not to be encapsulated. The comic is in NM+ condition.
The most noticeable difference about this Australian version was that the character's sidekick was changed to a young boy named Kit. This series of comics did not have the staying power of the more popular rivals, Superman and Batman, and disappeared with the cancellation of Super Yank Comics in 1952, only to reappear in 1957 in "The Adventures of CATMAN".
Of note: The cover of Issue No. 10, CATMAN's outfit is purple with the Phantom's (insert image) outfit is green.
Set Goals
To Complete the set. This set is Extremely RARE and very difficult to find any copies, let alone quality issues.
See also : AUSTRALIAN - The Adventures of CATMAN - Best Graded