Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1950s

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In 1950 Victor Clapham drew "Sampie" or "Hee-Haw for President", in which a donkey and a horse-fly featured -   for The Forum.

Here is a sample strip from Hee-Haw for President:

In 1950 Albert Humble drew "So is die Lewe" for Die Suiderstem.

In 1950 Keith Stevens drew "Poochy" for Trigger Post. In 1951 he drew "The Adventures of Zambezie and Sir Mac" for The Outspan and Young Opinion. His most famous comic Strip "Ben en Babsie" first appeared in 1955.

For more information see:
Keith & Lorna Stevens

In 1951 Sean Coughlan drew "Sixpence", about the experiences of a domestic servant - for The Outspan.

Cover of Outspan magazine from 1951:

In 1951 Frank Purcell and his wife, Margaret, created "Van Riebeeck's Diary" which was published in eighty daily instalments in The Cape Argus, Diamond Fields Advertiser, Natal Tribune, The Star. This series was published in book form in 1951.

For further information see:
Frank Purcell

In the early 1950s Gerald Norton drew "Phaki" for Umteteli wa Bantu  and "Joey-Hulle" for Saamtrek.

Here is a sample strip from Phaki:
Here is a sample strip from Joey-Hulle:

In 1954 the first DC Comics were reprinted in South Africa - only five titles were produced:

Here is the cover of Mantelman 7:
For further information see:
Zebra Publications

Len Sak drew the comic strips "Vossie en Kieste" for Die Brandwag from 1956-1962 and "Mabel and Sagile" for Bantu World from 1956-1968 and "Tim Tuck" for The Cape Argus freom 1959-1960.

His most famous comic strip was "Jojo" which first appeared in Drum in February 1959.

For more information see:
Len Sak

In 1956 Bill Papas drew "Goombi - Private Detective" for Drum Magazine.  For further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 67-69.

Bill Papas illustrated the Book "Under the Tablecloth" in 1952:


In 1957 Conrad drew "Dick Hunter", a story with a South African boy and his love for the veld - for The Sunday Times.

In 1959 Alex La Guma drew "Little Libby: The Adventures of Liberation Chabalala" for New Age. For further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 67-69.

In 1959 Atlas Publications reprinted 2 DC Comics titles, Action Comics and Adventure Comics:

Here is the Cover of Action Comics 1:
For further information see:
Atlas Publications

Also in 1959 Mimosa Publications started reprinting numerous DC Comics and other titles:

Here is the cover of Batman 7:
For further information see:
Mimosa Comics

In the 1950s the Entertainments (Censorship) Act of this period in South Africa's history would have made it more difficult to import Foreign Comic Books. Only Humour comics, Dell "Life Story" and Classics Illustrated were distributed. 


In the early 1980s I found this comic at Tommy's Book Exchange, Long Street, Cape Town. At the time it was the oldest comic I owned, so it brings back good memories. Sometimes the price stamp on the cover is the only way of confirming where a comic book was distributed. The stamp is faint, but looks to say "The Late ..." - I wonder if this was a South African distribution stamp?

Here is the cover of this comic (DC Comics' Flippity and Flop 29 from 1956):
 If anyone reading this has further information on this period, this would be most valuable .

See Also:
Chronology Of South African Comic Books - 1920s to 1940s