The Sultan's TreasureA Climax Color Comic 10, 1948

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

I made up my mind to draw and write comics...

Back in late 2003, a copy of an old A !tralian comic datin" from t#e mid$1940! !old for nearly A%&3'0 on eBay A !tralia(1 )#ere*! not#in" n ! al a+o t t#i! in it!elf , t#e la!t five year! or !o #ave !een do-en! of vinta"e A !tralian comic! +ein" a ctioned online for !imilar amo nt!(

Jo (page !A !ample of Bertram*! Jo, an on"oin" feat re t#at fir!t appeared 194' .#at !et t#i! partic lar comic apart from compara+le eBay a ction! /a! t#at it /a! an extremely rare copy of 0lameman( )#e advent re! of t#i! ! per$po/ered 1"enie of t#e ! n2 /ere /ritten and dra/n +y a /oman con!idered +y many a! +ein" amon"!t t#e +e!t comic arti!t! of #er "eneration , 3oira Bertram( Born in 4ydney in 1931, 3oira Bertram /a! !t dyin" portrait paintin" nder t#e noted A !tralian painter Ant#ony 5attillo 6 ++o 71880$19''9 /#en !#e +e"an /ritin" and dra/in" comic +ook! for #er o/n am !ement(

"o # $er Magic Capeappeared in a ran"e of 0rank :o#n!on p +lication! d rin" 194'$4; <.#en = /a! at !c#ool>= made p my mind to dra/ and /rite t#em ?comic!@( = /a! al/ay! very ! cce!!f l(<2 4till in #er teen!, Bertram*! fir!t p +li!#ed /ork /a! t#e fanta!y$!tyled advent re !trip, Jo, /#ic# de+ ted in 4ydney*! 5aily 3irror ne/!paper in :an ary 194'( A?= #ave +een dra/in"B/ritin" comic!@ !ince = /a! fo rteen , = told t#e p +li!#er! = /a! !ixteen for fear t#ey /o ldn2t p +li!# t#em(C

$ead%$unters ("o and $er Magic Cape!+y 3oira Bertram in Triumph Comics 70rank :o#n!on, A !tralia9(

Jo /a! a +ea tif l dancer /#o, /it# t#e aid of #er ma"ic cape, fo "#t off :apane!e !oldier! and ot#er /artime villain! alon"!ide #er American fi"#ter pilot +oyfriend( )#e !trip D ickly e!ta+li!#ed Bertram2! rep tation a! a vivid and ima"inative cartooni!t, #er /ork c#aracteri-ed +y #er "ranite$Ea/ed #eroe! and vol pt o !, "lamoro ! /omen( %nlike many of #er male co nterpart! of t#e time, Bertram from t#e o t!et "ra!ped t#e dynamic !torytellin" po!!i+ilitie! of t#e comic +ook pa"e( F "e panel!, inventive compo!ition! and di--yin" per!pective! dominate #er pa"e layo t! 7many of /#ic# /ere prepared +y #er !i!ter, Kat#leen9, /#ile #er !e of over$t#e$top !o nd effect! anticipate! t#e comic +ook paintin"! of 19;0! 1Pop2 arti!t! like 6oy Gic#ten!tein( 1&34'

' Clima( Comic )&* +irate's ,old1948 7KH 3 rray, A !tralia9(

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

Most of comics were one%shots

The -ed +rinceA Climax Color Comic 8, 1948 Jo only la!ted a fe/ mont#! in t#e Daily Mirror, + t ! c# /a! Bertram2! o+vio ! talent t#at it /a!n2t lon" +efore t#e c#aracter +e"an appearin" in !everal one$!#ot comic +ook! p +li!#ed +y 4ydney2! 0rank :o#n!on P +lication!, !ome appearin" nder t#e company2! famo ! 13a"pie Comic2 imprint( P +li!#ed d rin" 194'$4;, Jo & Her Magic Cape 7a! t#e !trip /a! no/ kno/n9 appeared in ! c# title! a! Modern Comics, Dandy, Fearless, Triumph, Universal, Wizard and Wonder(

)#e I4. Book!tall one$!#ot comic, Tokyos ecre! Weapon, i!! ed in t#e mid$1940!, feat re! anot#er Jo & Her Magic Cape !tory( Bertram2! "lamo ro ! #eroine al!o appear! in "aci#ic $andi!s 7C 4erie!BC99, a one$!#ot comic p +li!#ed +y Jff!et Printin" Company to/ard! t#e end of .orld .ar )/o( A3o!t of my comic +ook! p +li!#ed /ere one$!#ot!( )#ey piled p on t#e ne/!a"ent! and my !i!ter and = al/ay! "ot a "reat kick o t of !eein" t#em( = did cover! and all(C

+irate's ,old% Clima& Comic ?2@, 1948 7KH 3 rray, A !tralia9(

=f ever an arti!t2! /ork de!erved to appear in colo r, it /a! 3oira Bertram2!( )#ankf lly, comic +ook fan! "ot to enEoy !everal f ll$colo r Bertram comic!, /#ic# /ere p +li!#ed in t#e KH 3 rray P +li!#in" Company2! "ro nd+reakin" Climax Color Comic !erie!, /#ic# appeared in 1948$48(

Clima( Color Comics .&1948, incl din" Bertram*! <Advent re in 4i+eria< /it# Captain B ck 7KH 3 rray, A !tralia9(

)#e!e /ereK Pirate2! Hold 7Io( 29, )#e 6 na/ay 6ocket 7Io( '9, )#e 6ed Prince 7Io( 89, )#e 4 ltan2! )rea! re 7Io( 109, .#o 4tole t#e 3a#araEa#2! Cro/nL 7Io( 119 and Captain B ckK Advent re in 4i+eria 7Io( 129( Bertram2! exa""erated and expre!!ive art !tyle i! tailor$made for t#e!e "a dy fo r$colo r comic!, /#ic# are a! !t nnin" to +e#old today, a! t#ey no do +t /ere to t#e kid! /#o !#elled o t t#eir !ixpence for t#em in t#e 1940!( A!ide from Climax Color Comic! and #er one$!#ot Flameman comic, Bertram2! ot#er !erie! for t#e KH 3 rray P +li!#in" Company /a! Miss Career 'irl, /#ic# appeared a! a +ack$ p !trip in !ome i!! e! of 3 rray2! f ll$colo r 4 perman comic( 12/4'

0athleen and Moira Bertramcirca 1982

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

I went to another pu1lisher

After KH 3 rray a+andoned A !tralian comic! in favo r of c#eaper over!ea! reprint!, 3oira, to"et#er /it# #er !i!ter Kat#leen took t#e +old !tep of p +li!#in" t#eir o/n comic +ook, an advent re !erie! called (ed Finnegan 74 i!! e!Bc(19499(

The Thrilling 'd2entures of 3an 4agleGike t#e earlier <Captain B ck<, 5an Ma"le dealt /it# t#e exploit! of an aviator$advent rer( A3y !i!ter Kat#leen ?/a! my !in"le +i""e!t infl ence@( 4#e /a! a very "ood !c#olar and very, very clever a! /ell a! +ea tif l( = !aid !ome+ody /ill #ave to do all t#e letterin"( 1= daren2t2, !#e !aid, + t !#e did( .e al/ay! /orked to"et#er and mo!t of t#e lay$o t! /ere prepared +y #er(C 4tarrin" t#e over!i-ed, m !c lar A !tralian 4ecret 4ervice a"ent 6ed 0inne"an, t#e !erie!2 po!t/ar :apane!e !ettin" rivaled American !trip! like Terry & !he "ira!es and Johnny Hazard for it! cr el villain!, let#al femme fatale! and exotic land!cape!(

42erything But a $eartBertram*! cover for a collection of %4 reprint!, pro+a+ly all from Farvey p +lication! 7Calvert P +li!#in" Co( Pty( Gtd, A !tralia9 c(19';( )#e Bertram !i!ter!2 fa!cination /it# A!ia no do +t !temmed from t#eir fat#er2! /ool !#ippin" + !ine!!, /#ic# #ad office! aro nd t#e /orld( )#e t/o !i!ter! apparently vi!ited Fon" Kon" !ome time in t#e 1940!, /#ere t#ey prod ced !ilk de!i"n! for :apane!e companie!N A= /ent from one p +li!#er to anot#er /it# a !#ort !ynop!i! and a /ell$dra/n pa"e, +lack and /#ite or colo red( )#ey al/ay! accepted my /ork, never t rned me a/ay( Ie/!paper !trip!, too( A.#en one p +li!#er petered o t, = /ent to anot#er, al/ay! /it# ! cce!!( 1.#o /rite! t#e !torie!L2 one !aid( = replied 1= do(2 1.ell,2 #e !aid, 1yo 2re not only a top$cla!! ill !trator, yo 2re a very fine !toryteller(C

Two 5o2esc19';$'9 7Calvert P +li!#in" Co( Pty( Gtd, A !tralia9 A!ia /a! once a"ain t#e !ettin" for 3oira Bertram2! next maEor comic +ook !erie!, )#e )#rillin" Advent re! of 5an Ma"le 7' i!! e!Bc(19'49, p +li!#ed +y )#e =nvinci+le Pre!!, 4ydney( Gike t#e Bertram !i!ter!2 earlier 1Captain B ck2 !torie! for t#e Climax Color Comic !erie!, Dan )agle dealt /it# t#e exploit! of an aviator$advent rer and #i! cre/( )#e comic2! n ! al layo t, /it# t#e title appearin" in t#e top panel of eac# pa"e, ! ""e!t! it may #ave +een ori"inally conceived a! a /eekend ne/!paper !trip( 23 ';

-i2als in 5o2ec19';$'9 7Calvert, A !tralia9(

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

' natural for romance

)#e mid$19'0! !a/ Bertram /orkin" for t#e Calvert P +li!#in" Company, /#ic# /a! operated +y 4ydney acco ntant 5enny .#ite d rin" t#e 19'0! and 19;0!, and /a! primarily kno/n for it! ran"e of /ar, crime and romance 1p lp fiction2 novelette!(

-i2als in 5o2efrom t#e comic of t#e !ame title, c19';$'9 7Calvert, A !tralia9( Bertram /rote and dre/ a /ar comic for Calvert !imply called %rmy 74 i!! e!Bc(19';9( =t! fir!t i!! e !tarred an American !olider named H(=( :oe 7N9 /#o fo "#t off t#e Iort# Korean 6ed 3enace in t#e lead !tory, 1Mnemy Coa!tlineN2 )#i! /a! follo/ed +y a !trin" of one$!#ot romance comic p +li!#ed +y Calvert d rin" 19';$'9, /#ic# incl ded ! c# title! a! $ring $ack My *ove, Four Tragic Hear!s, (ivals in *ove, Campus no+s, My *ove #or !he ,ukon Hero and "uppe! (omance( A= did romance !torie!, done in t#e !ame ?comic !trip@ form( = did many of t#o!e for a lon" time, ntil = t rned to ot#er art/ork(C My 5o2e for a 3arede2ilfrom (ivals in *ove c19';$19'9 7Calvert, A !tralia9(

Bertram /a! a nat ral for t#e romance comic "enre, /it# #er torrid !toryline! !tarrin" doe$eyed #eroine! and eD ally #and!ome leadin" men( 4#e apparently contri+ ted comic !trip! to t#e ilhoue!!e (omance *i+rary, a !erie! p +li!#ed +y 6ei"ate Pty( Gtd( 7a comic!2 imprint of t#e Cleveland P +li!#in" Company9 d rin" t#e late 19'0!$early 19;0!( Bertram i! al!o !aid to #ave prod ced cover ill !tration! for !everal Carter Bro/n my!tery novel! for t#e For/it- P +li!#in" Company( My 5o2e for a 3arede2ilfrom (ivals in *ove c19';$19'9 7Calvert, A !tralia9(

)#e late 19'0! appear! to #ave marked t#e end of 3oira Bertram2! comic +ook career, at a time /#en t#e era of ori"inal, A !tralian$made comic! /a! comin" to an end( 5 rin" t#i! time, !#e reportedly /orked a! a freelance ill !trator for A !tralian /omen2! ma"a-ine!( Bertram2! career in A !tralian comic! /a!, !adly, t#e exception and not t#e r le in a field dominated at mo!t level! +y men in po!t/ar A !tralia( Bertram #ad #er o/n t#eorie! a! to /#y t#i! /a! t#e ca!e(

3ainty Charmerfrom (ivals in *ove c19';$19'9 7Calvert, A !tralia9( 2346;

The 7anton % ' 8ew Carter Brown 9riginal)/o +ea tif l n de corp!e! leave .#eeler in t#e middle of a !ociety family*! !candal 7For/it- Io( 899

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

:The strength of her wor; showed in her personality:

A 4ydney 3ornin" Ferald article4 later ! ""e!ted t#at Bertram prod ced # ndred! of comic +ook! d rin" t#e po!t/ar year!( .#ile t#i! e!timate i! /ildly inacc rate, t#ere i! every po!!i+ility t#at Bertram2! /ork #a! appeared in more comic! t#an t#o!e di!c !!ed #ere(

3elilah was 3eadly # Meet Miss MayhemBetram*! cover for Carter Bro/n collector*! !erie! v1 Io( 2' 7For/it- P +lication!9 19'9 0or in!tance, 3oira Bertram did prod ce cover! for local reprint! of American romance comic!, !o it2! entirely po!!i+le t#at !#e dre/ +ot# cover! and filler !trip! for reprint title! t#at #ave ot#er/i!e +een overlooked, or remain n!een, +y today2! comic collector! and #i!torian!(

3arling <ou're 3oomed # 0iss life good1yeBetram*! cover for Carter Bro/n collector*! !erie! v1 Io( 28 7For/it- P +lication!9 19'9 By t#e early 1980!, Bertram2! ent# !ia!m for t#e comic!2 medi m remained ndimini!#edK A= am !till very intere!ted in t#e comic /ork and !till #ave !ome "ood !torie! p t +y( And a! !oon a! = can, = /ill ret rn to dra/in" and /ritin" comic!(C 4adly, t#i! /a! not to +e( : !t over a decade later, t#e noted A !tralian comic!2 #i!torian :o#n Clement! /rote of #i! o/n enco nter /it# t#e recl !ive 3oira BertramK'

Madam= you're mayhem # 5arceny was 5o2elyBetram*! cover for Carter Bro/n collector!* !erie! v2 Io( 2 7For/it- P +lication!9 19'9 A= met #er only once( 0ollo/in" :o#n 6yan*! deat#, = tried to contact arti!t! and fo nd #er addre!! in t#e 4ydney p#one +ook( At t#e time !#e /a! p!et t#at #er /ork appeared

in :o#n*! +ook ?Panel +y PanelK an =ll !trated Fi!tory of A !tralian Comic!@ and it took a lot of explainin" t#at no +ook on t#e ! +Eect co ld or !#o ld #ave i"nored #er $ and :o#n didn*t( 4#e later admitted t#at :o#n #ad +een in contact /it# #er +y mail for information from #er + t !#e #adn*t replied( A pity, a! my time /it# #er revealed !o m c#( <3oira /a! a pro d attractive per!on and t#e !tren"t# in #er /ork !#o/ed in #er per!onality( 4#e #ad never married and /#en t#e comic!2 !cene finally died, !#e did portrait! and ma"a-ine ill !tration! for a n m+er of p +li!#er!( <4#e ref !ed to +e intervie/ed /it# a tape recorder and over time = lo!t to c#( .#en t#e ACM 7A !tralian Comic! Mx#i+ition9 /a! !tartin" p from 3ona!# %niver!ity ?in 199'@, = tried to contact #er /it#o t l ck( <= /a! later informed +y a friend /#o looked #er p at #er addre!! t#at !#e #ad pa!!ed a/ay a fe/ year! previo !ly( Anot#er opport nity lo!t(C 6e"ardle!! of Bertram*! apparent am+ivalence to/ard! #er o/n /ork, t#ere cannot +e any do +t of 3oira Bertram2! place in t#e #i!tory of A !tralian comic! a! one of t#e mo!t dynamic and innovative /riter$arti!t! of #er era(;
23456

Australian LubraPainting by Moira Bertram

Moira Bertram: Queen of the Comics

By Kevin Patrick

Moira's stories for 0, Murray

3o!t of 3oira Bertram*! /ork for KH 3 rray /ere one$!#ot!, /it# many !torie! printed in f ll colo r +efore 3 rray reverted to +lack and /#ite comic!(

Stories

.. +irate's ,old
A Climax Comic nn, 1948 7)#e K( H( 3 rray P +li!#in" Company, A !tralia9 a! -"ira!e.s 'old-/

&. The -unaway -oc;et

A Climax All Color Comic ', 194; 7)#e K( H( 3 rray P +li!#in" Company, A !tralia9 a! -The (una0ay (ocke!-/

/. Miss Career ,irl

4 perman All Color Comic 9, 0e+r ary 1948 7KH 3 rray, A !tralia9 a! -Miss Career 'irl-/

. The -ed +rince

A Climax All Color Comic 8, 1948 7)#e K( H( 3 rray P +li!#in" Company, A !tralia9 a! -The (ed "rince-/

The Runaway RocketA Climax All Color Comic 5, 1947 (KG Murray, Australia)

6. The Sultan's Treasure

Climax Color Comic 10, 1948 7Colo r Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A !tralia9 a! -The ul!an.s Treasure-/

>. 7ho Stole the Mahara?ah's Crown@

A Climax Color Comic 11, 1948 7Colo r Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A !tralia9 a! -Who !ole !he Mahara1ah.s Cro0n2-/

A. 'd2enture in Si1eria
Climax Color Comic! 12, 1948 7Colo r Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A !tralia9 a! -%dven!ure in i+eria-/

B. Miss Career ,irl

4 perman Color Comic! 23, April 1949 7Colo r Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A !tralia9 a! -Molly !he Model-/
)#i! i! an amended ver!ion of t#e article /#ic# /a! previo !ly p +li!#ed online at Comic! 5o/n %nder on 29 : ly 2008( )#i!, in t rn, /a! +a!ed on t#e ori"inal ver!ion, /#ic# appeared in t#e 5ecem+er 2003 edition of Collec!ormania ma"a-ine( )#e a t#or /o ld like to t#ank Hraeme Cliffe for #i! re!earc# a!!i!tance in preparin" t#e ori"inal piece and )rina 6o++in! for "enero !ly !#arin" #er corre!pondence /it# 3oira Bertram for t#i! article( Fo/ever, any error! and omi!!ion! are t#e a t#or*! o/n( Additional art/ork !can! co rte!y of 3ick 4tone of Cam+er/ell Book! and Co+/e+ Connection!( Mxcerpt from *)#e Holden A"e of A !!ie Comic!* copyri"#t O :o#n Clement! 1998$2008( )ext copyri"#t O Kevin Patrick 2003$2008(