Mike Manly - Ivan Southall & Peter James - Woman's Day March 8 1954

3.jpg

Mike Manly - Miracle Man was serialised in Women’s Day during 1954. Written by Ivan Southall (1921 - 2008) and illustrated by Peter James, Mike Manly involved a young Australian scientist who creates a ray that enables him to do anything he wishes, this leads to conflict with evil government powers. Ivan Southall was a prolific and popular writer of young adult fiction and as far as I know this was his only contribution to Australian comics.

1.jpg

Mike Manly - Ivan Southall & Peter James

I suspect there is a largely undocumented history of Australasian comics featured in magazines and newspapers published during the 20th century. Australia in particular had many comic serials created by comics professionals that appeared solely in magazines and newspapers. Many of these strips were collected in comics form but I am constantly discovering many were not. Mike Manly was serialised in Women’s Day during 1954. Written by Ivan Southall (1921 - 2008) and illustrated by Peter James, Mike Manly involved a young Australian scientist who creates a ray that enables him to do anthing he wishes, this leads to conflict with evil government powers. Ivan Southall was a prolific and popular writer of young adult fiction and as far as I know this was his only contribution to Australian comics.