Bertram, Moira

8/13/2019 Bertram, Moira

1/27

The Sultan's TreasureAClimax 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 fornearly A%&3'0 on eBay A!tralia(1

)#ere*! not#in" n!al a+ot t#i! in it!elf t#e la!t five year! or !o #ave !een do-en!of vinta"e A!tralian comic! +ein" actioned online for !imilar amont!(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1#FN4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1#FN4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416


2/27

Jo(page !A !ample of Bertram*!Jo, an on"oin" featre t#at fir!t appeared 194'

.#at !et t#i! particlar comic apart from compara+le eBay action! /a! t#at it /a! anextremely rare copy of lameman( )#e adventre! of t#i! !per$po/ered "enie of t#e!n /ere /ritten and dra/n +y a /oman con!idered +y many a! +ein" amon"!t t#e +e!tcomic arti!t! of #er "eneration oira Bertram(

Born in ydney in 1931, oira Bertram /a! !tdyin" portrait paintin" nder t#e notedA!tralian painter Ant#ony 5attillo 6++o7180$19'' /#en !#e +e"an /ritin" anddra/in" comic +ook! for #er o/n am!ement(
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/flammaoz.htmhttp://http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dattilo_Rubbohttp://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles?key=4&pic=4http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/flammaoz.htmhttp://http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dattilo_Rubbo


3/27

"o # $er Magic

Capeappeared in a ran"e of rank :o#n!on p+lication! drin" 194'$4;= made p my mind to dra/ and /rite t#em ?comic!@( = /a!al/ay! very !cce!!fl(


4/27

$ead%$unters ("o and $er Magic Cape!+y oira Bertram in Triumph Comics7rank:o#n!on, A!tralia(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?pages=676


5/27

Jo/a! a +eatifl 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 Dickly e!ta+li!#ed Bertram! reptation a! a vivid and ima"inative cartooni!t, #er/ork c#aracteri-ed +y #er "ranite$Ea/ed #eroe! and volpto!, "lamoro! /omen(

%nlike many of #er male conterpart! of t#e time, Bertram from t#e ot!et "ra!ped t#edynamic !torytellin" po!!i+ilitie! of t#e comic +ook pa"e( F"e panel!, inventivecompo!ition! and di--yin" per!pective! dominate #er pa"e layot! 7many of /#ic#/ere prepared +y #er !i!ter, Kat#leen, /#ile #er !e of over$t#e$top !ond effect!anticipate! t#e comic +ook paintin"! of 19;0! Pop arti!t! like 6oy Gic#ten!tein(

1&34'

Clima Comic )&*

+irate's ,old194 7KH rray, A!tralia(


By Kevin Patrick

Most of comics were one%shots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Lichtensteinhttp://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=3http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main?issue=33266http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=3http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Lichtensteinhttp://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=3http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5


6/27

The -ed +rinceA Climax Color Comic , 1948

Joonly la!ted a fe/ mont#! in t#eDaily Mirror, +t !c# /a! Bertram! o+vio! talentt#at it /a!nt lon" +efore t#e c#aracter +e"an appearin" in !everal one$!#ot comic +ook!

p+li!#ed +y ydney! rank :o#n!on P+lication!, !ome appearin" nder t#ecompany! famo! a"pie Comic imprint( P+li!#ed drin" 194'$4;,Jo & Her

Magic Cape7a! t#e !trip /a! no/ kno/n appeared in !c# title! a!Modern Comics,Dandy,Fearless, Triumph, Universal, Wizardand Wonder(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?pages=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792


7/27

)#e I. Book!tall one$!#ot comic, Tokyos ecre! Weapon, i!!ed in t#e mid$1940!,featre! anot#erJo & Her Magic Cape!tory( Bertram! "lamoro! #eroine al!oappear! in"aci#ic $andi!s7C erie!C9, a one$!#ot comic p+li!#ed +y Jff!et Printin"Company to/ard! t#e end of .orld .ar )/o(

o!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 ot of !eein" t#em( = did cover! and all(


8/27

+irate's ,old% Clima Comic?2@, 194 7KH rray, A!tralia(


9/27

=f ever an arti!t! /ork de!erved to appear in color, it /a! oira Bertram!()#ankflly, comic +ook fan! "ot to enEoy !everal fll$color Bertram comic!, /#ic#/ere p+li!#ed in t#e KH rray P+li!#in" Company! "rond+reakin" Climax ColorComic!erie!, /#ic# appeared in 194$48(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250


10/27

Clima Color Comics &1948, incldin" Bertram*!


11/27

)#e!e /ere Pirate! Hold7Io( 2, )#e 6na/ay 6ocket7Io( ', )#e 6ed Prince7Io(, )#e ltan! )rea!re7Io( 10, .#o tole t#e a#araEa#! Cro/nL7Io( 11 andCaptain Bck Adventre in i+eria7Io( 12( Bertram! exa""erated and expre!!ive art!tyle i! tailor$made for t#e!e "ady for$color comic!, /#ic# are a! !tnnin" to +e#oldtoday, a! t#ey no do+t /ere to t#e kid! /#o !#elled ot t#eir !ixpence for t#em in t#e

1940!(

A!ide from Climax Color Comic!and #er one$!#otFlameman comic, Bertram! ot#er!erie! for t#e KH rray P+li!#in" Company /a!Miss Career 'irl, /#ic# appeareda! a +ack$p !trip in !ome i!!e! of rray! fll$color permancomic(

12/4'

0athleen and Moira Bertramcirca 192


By Kevin Patrick

I went to another pu1lisher
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=33266http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=36928http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2413http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2413http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37793http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=100http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=100http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=2http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles?key=8&pic=8http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=2http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=33266http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=36928http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2416http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=2413http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37793http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=250http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?series=100http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=2http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5


12/27

After KH rray a+andoned A!tralian comic! in favor of c#eaper over!ea! reprint!,oira, to"et#er /it# #er !i!ter Kat#leen took t#e +old !tep of p+li!#in" t#eir o/ncomic +ook, an adventre !erie! called(ed Finnegan74 i!!e!c(1949(

The Thrilling

d2entures of 3an 4agleGike t#e earlier


13/27

42erything But a

$eartBertram*! cover for a collection of % reprint!, pro+a+ly all from Farveyp+lication! 7Calvert P+li!#in" Co( Pty( Gtd, A!tralia c(19';(

)#e Bertram !i!ter! fa!cination /it# A!ia no do+t !temmed from t#eir fat#er! /ool!#ippin" +!ine!!, /#ic# #ad office! arond t#e /orld( )#e t/o !i!ter! apparentlyvi!ited Fon" Kon" !ome time in t#e 1940!, /#ere t#ey prodced !ilk de!i"n! for:apane!e companie!N

= /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 colored( )#ey al/ay! accepted my /ork, never trned me a/ay(Ie/!paper !trip!, too(

.#en one p+li!#er petered ot, = /ent to anot#er, al/ay! /it# !cce!!( .#o /rite!t#e !torie!L one !aid( = replied = do( .ell, #e !aid, yore not only a top$cla!!ill!trator, yore a very fine !toryteller(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main?issue=44058


14/27

Two 5o2esc19';$'97Calvert P+li!#in" Co( Pty( Gtd, A!tralia

A!ia /a! once a"ain t#e !ettin" for oira Bertram! next maEor comic +ook !erie!,)#e)#rillin" Adventre! of 5an Ma"le7' i!!e!c(19'4, p+li!#ed +y )#e =nvinci+le Pre!!,ydney( Gike t#e Bertram !i!ter! earlier Captain Bck !torie! for t#e Climax ColorComic!erie!,Dan )agledealt /it# t#e exploit! of an aviator$adventrer and #i! cre/()#e comic! n!al layot, /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';
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15/27
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main?issue=44310


16/27

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


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 ydney accontant 5enny .#ite drin" t#e 19'0! and 19;0!, and /a!

primarily kno/n for it! ran"e of /ar, crime and romance plp fiction novelette!(


17/27


18/27

-i2als in 5o2efrom t#e comic of t#e !ame title, c19';$'9 7Calvert, A!tralia(

Bertram /rote and dre/ a /ar comic for Calvert !imply called %rmy74 i!!e!c(19';(=t! fir!t i!!e !tarred an American !olider named H(=( :oe 7N /#o fo"#t off t#e Iort#Korean 6ed enace in t#e lead !tory, Mnemy Coa!tlineN

)#i! /a! follo/ed +y a !trin" of one$!#ot romance comic p+li!#ed +y Calvert drin"19';$'9, /#ic# inclded !c# title! a!$ring $ack My *ove,Four Tragic Hear!s,(ivalsin *ove, Campus no+s,My *ove #or !he ,ukon Heroand"uppe! (omance(

= did romance !torie!, done in t#e !ame ?comic !trip@ form( = did many of t#o!e for alon" time, ntil = trned to ot#er art/ork(

My 5o2e for a 3arede2ilfrom(ivals in *ovec19';$19'9 7Calvert, A!tralia(

Bertram /a! a natral for t#e romance comic "enre, /it# #er torrid !toryline! !tarrin"doe$eyed #eroine! and eDally #and!ome leadin" men( #e apparently contri+tedcomic !trip! to t#e ilhoue!!e (omance *i+rary, a !erie! p+li!#ed +y 6ei"ate Pty( Gtd(7a comic! imprint of t#e Cleveland P+li!#in" Company drin" t#e late 19'0!$early19;0!( Bertram i! al!o !aid to #ave prodced cover ill!tration! for !everalCarterBro/nmy!tery novel! for t#e For/it- P+li!#in" Company(

My 5o2e for a 3arede2ilfrom(ivals in *ovec19';$19'9 7Calvert, A!tralia(

)#e late 19'0! appear! to #ave marked t#e end of oira Bertram! comic +ook career,at a time /#en t#e era of ori"inal, A!tralian$made comic! /a! comin" to an end(5rin" t#i! time, !#e reportedly /orked a! a freelance ill!trator for A!tralian/omen! ma"a-ine!(

Bertram! career in A!tralian comic! /a!, !adly, t#e exception and not t#e rle in afield dominated at mo!t level! +y men in po!t/ar A!tralia( Bertram #ad #er o/nt#eorie! a! to /#y t#i! /a! t#e ca!e(
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/cbrown.htmhttp://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/cbrown.htmhttp://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/cbrown.htmhttp://www.wolseleymedia.com.au/content.aspx?PageID=6http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/cbrown.htmhttp://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/cbrown.htmhttp://www.wolseleymedia.com.au/content.aspx?PageID=6


19/27


20/27

3ainty Charmerfrom(ivals in *ovec19';$19'9 7Calvert, A!tralia(

2346;

The 7anton % 8ew

Carter Brown 9riginal)/o +eatifl nde corp!e! leave .#eeler in t#e middle of a!ociety family*! !candal 7For/it- Io( 9

Moira Bertram: Queen of the ComicsBy Kevin Patrick

The strength of her wor; showed in her personality

A ydney ornin" Ferald article4later !""e!ted t#at Bertram prodced #ndred! ofcomic +ook! drin" t#e po!t/ar year!( .#ile t#i! e!timate i! /ildly inaccrate, t#ere i!every po!!i+ility t#at Bertram! /ork #a! appeared in more comic! t#an t#o!e di!c!!ed#ere(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=2http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=3http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5#FN8http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles?key=1&pic=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=1http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=2http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=3http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=4http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=6http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles/index.asp?apg=6&pg=5#FN8


21/27

3elilah

was 3eadly # Meet Miss MayhemBetram*! cover for Carter Bro/n collector*! !erie!v1 Io( 2' 7For/it- P+lication! 19'9

or in!tance, oira Bertram did prodce cover! for local reprint! of American romancecomic!, !o it! 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 today! comiccollector! and #i!torian!(
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles?key=10&pic=10


22/27

3arling


23/27

Madam=

you're mayhem # 5arceny was 5o2elyBetram*! cover for Carter Bro/n collector!*!erie! v2 Io( 2 7For/it- P+lication! 19'9= met #er only once( ollo/in" :o#n 6yan*! deat#, = tried to contact arti!t! and fond#er addre!! in t#e ydney p#one +ook( At t#e time !#e /a! p!et t#at #er /ork appeared
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/articles?key=11&pic=11


24/27

in :o#n*! +ook ?Panel +y Panel an =ll!trated Fi!tory of A!tralian Comic!@ and it tooka lot of explainin" t#at no +ook on t#e !+Eect cold or !#old #ave i"nored #er $ and:o#n didn*t( #e later admitted t#at :o#n #ad +een in contact /it# #er +y mail forinformation from #er +t !#e #adn*t replied( A pity, a! my time /it# #er revealed !omc#(


25/27

Stories

. +irate's ,old

A Climax Comic nn, 1947)#e K( H( rray P+li!#in" Company, A!tralia a!-"ira!e.s 'old-/

&. The -unaway -oc;et

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

/. Miss Career ,irl

perman All Color Comic 9, e+rary 19487KH rray, A!tralia a! -MissCareer 'irl-/

. The -ed +rince

A Climax All Color Comic , 19487)#e K( H( rray P+li!#in" Company,A!tralia a! -The (ed "rince-/
http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=33266http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=36928http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=120http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=33266http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=36928http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=120http://www.ausreprints.com/content/main/?issue=37792


26/27


27/27

The Runaway RocketA Climax All Color Comic5, 1947 (KG Murray,

Australia)

6. The Sultan's Treasure

Climax Color Comic 10, 19487Color Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A!tralia a! -The ul!an.sTreasure-/

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

A Climax Color Comic 11, 19487Color Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A!tralia a! -Who!ole !he Mahara1ah.s Cro0n2-/

A. d2enture in Si1eria

Climax Color Comic! 12, 19487Color Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A!tralia a! -%dven!urein i+eria-/

. Miss Career ,irl

perman Color Comic! 23, April 19497Color Comic! Pty( Gtd(, A!tralia 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 %nderon 29 :ly 200( )#i!, in trn, /a! +a!ed on t#e ori"inal ver!ion, /#ic# appeared in t#e 5ecem+er 2003edition of Collec!ormaniama"a-ine( )#e at#or /old 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# oira Bertram for t#i! article( Fo/ever, any error! and omi!!ion! are t#e at#or*! o/n( Additionalart/ork !can! corte!y of ick tone of Cam+er/ell Book!andCo+/e+ Connection!( Mxcerpt from *)#eHolden A"e of A!!ie Comic!* copyri"#t O :o#n Clement! 1998$200( )ext copyri"#t OKevin Patrick2003$200(
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Bertram, Moira