Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1970s

In 1970 Bob Connolly drew "Carnaby Threep's Golf Class" for Sunday Times, who later that year reprinted some of these strips in book form.

Here is a sample strip from Carnaby Threep's Golf Class:

In 1970 T.C. Robertson, Professor F.J. Potgieter wrote and Oswald Gerber illustrated "Die Verhaal van Water/The Story of Water" for various newspapers.

In 1970 Paul Lessing drew "Oupa en Buks" for Die Afrikaner and Ster. In the same year he also drew "Die Kaskenades van Koos van der Merwe" for Die Afrikaner.

Here is a sample strip from Oupa en Buks:

In 1970 Keith & Lorna Stevens drew "TJ" for The Star.

Here is a sample strip from TJ:

For more information see:
Keith & Lorna Stevens

In 1970 Johan Van Niekerk drew "Burgerleer" and "Sending vir 'n Voortvlugtige" (written by Cor Nortje) for Die Burger.

In 1970 Ivor van Rensburg drew "Toss the Coin", "King of the Circuit" and "True Murder Trials" for Sunday Times. He later drew "Black Heroes" & "Black Mamba" for New Dawn.

Here is a sample strip from True Murder Trials:

In 1970 N.E. Hefer (writer) and F.G. Roberts (artist) produced "Roepstem van die Horison" for Patrys.

Here is a sample strip from Roepstem van die Horison:

In 1971 Paul Lessing drew "Die Van der Merwes" in Eastern Province Herald and various other newspapers. Some of these strips were reprinted by Robinson printers, Durban in 1973.

Here is a sample strip from Die Van der Merwes:

In 1972 Peter Bayer drew "Hitlermania" for Scope.

In 1972 Dee & Robin Macdonald drew a colour comic "Then & Now", which was published for a few issues by Rodee Productions.

In 1972 F. Pozzi drew "Humph and Bobo" for Rand Daily Mail. 

Here is a sample strip from Humph and Bobo:

In 1972 Johan Van Niekerk drew "Slang van die Soutpanne", written by Pienaar Smit, for Landbou Weekblad.


Here is a sample strip from Slang van die Soutpanne:

For further information see:
Johan van Niekerk
In 1973 Bob Connolly drew "Connolly Quips" for Rand Daily Mail.

Here is a sample strip from Connolly Quips:

In 1973 David Gaskill drew "Moll Perkins" for Rand Daily Mail.

In 1973 Arthur Morris drew "The Witchways" for World Air News, later some strips were reprinted in book form in 1978.

In 1973 Johann Roos drew "Zabata the Great" for Bona, and in 1974 drew "Dolf Helman" for Die Brandwag.

Here is a sample strip from Dolf Helman:

In 1973 Richard Smith illustrated and David Barritt wrote "Smith & Abbot Ink" for Rand Daily Mail. These strips were released in book form as "Smith & Abbot's Greatest Hits" in 1974. After Barritt left, Richard Smith continued the strip as "Richard Smith Ink" until 1976.

Here is the cover and a sample strip from Smith & Abbot's Greatest Hits:

 

Visit Richard's Website:
Richard Smith Art

In 1973 Mike Valentine drew "Sending na die Noorde" for Pronk. He later drew "Happy, Appie & Frik" for a motoring magazine in 1975 and "Banana Boy" for Sunday Tribune in 1979.

Here is a sample strip from Sending na die Noorde:

In 1973 Richard Andrew drew  an underground self-published comic "The Ballad of Jeffrey's Bay". For further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 84-86.

In 1974 Rufus Papenfus drew "Skwela" for Hit.

In 1974 Walter Pichler drew "Bra Sam" for The Star (soccer theme).

In 1974 Wim Bosman drew  "Louis die Laeveld-Leeu" for various newspapers.

Here is a sample strip from Louis die Laeveld-Leeu:

For further information see:
Wim Bosman

In 1975 Frans Esterhuyse drew "Floors" for Oggendblad. He later drew "Ari Safari" for Op Safari, "Deur 'n Frans se bril" for Rapport & "Lesego says" for Mmabatho Mail.

Here is a sample strip from Floors:

In 1975 Dov Fedler drew "Jet Jungle" for Patrys.

Here is a sample strip from Jet Jungle:

In 1975 David Gaskill drew "The Wild Life" for Sunday Times.

Here is a sample strip from The Wild Life:

In 1975 Len Lindeque drew "Die Verhaal van die Afrikaanse Taal" for Foto-Rapport.

In 1975 T. Koenderman & J. Langen compiled, Darryl Lombard illustrated two "Van der Merwe" Joke books. Here are the covers and a sample page:

In 1975 Johann Roos drew "Sarel Seemonster" for Trompie, and "Karel Kraai" for Pronk. They later appeared in the same strip for TV Wonderland, Huisgenoot and Bollie. Butch Stoltz later assisted with these strips. "Karel en Sarel" later became famous puppet characters on the classic TV Series "Wielie Walie".

Here is a sample strip from Sarel Seemonster:

In 1976 Bob Connolly drew "Shirley Holmes" for Rand Daily Mail.

In 1976 Sean Latham drew "Lips Mapani" and "Shebeen Sarah" for Drum and "The Citizens" for The Citizen.

In 1976 Walter Pichler drew"Telly Tales" for Pretoria News.

Here is a sample strip from Telly Tales:

In 1976 J.A. Rio-Neuhof  (?Paul Venter) wrote and Johann Roos illustrated "Kommandant Kees" for Brandwag. 

Here is a sample strip from Kommandant Kees:

In 1976 Richard Schikkerling drew "Vrystaat" for The Citizen.

In 1976 Republican Press started reprinting American Comics, issued under the banner Supercomix:

For further information see:
Supercomix

In 1976 Afri-comics produced the titles "Mighty Man", "Tiger Ingwe":

For further information see:
Afri-Comics
Mighty Man
Tiger Ingwe

In 1977 Paul Lessing drew "Om die Kassie" for Radio en TV Dagboek.

In 1977 Frances Middleton drew "Bobby" for Family Radio & TV and Personality.

Here is a sample strip from Bobby:

In 1977 Geoffrey Watson drew "Tut" for Sunday Times. He later drew "Union Jack" for Natal Witness in 1978 and "Oom" for Die Transvaler, Oggendblad & Sunday Express in 1979.

Here is a sample strip from Union Jack:

In 1977 Niek Steyn drew "Kommando" and "Die Regter" and "Verhale uit die Diereryk" for Die Brandwag (in 1975 he drew the strips "Huismoles" and "Burgers van die Laeveld" for the same publication).

Here is a sample strip from Kommando:

In 1978 Richard Griffith drew "Kid Kanon" for Drum.

In 1978 Johan Stapelberg drew "Scotty" for Beeld.

Here is a sample strip from Scotty:

In 1978 Andy Mason drew "Vittoke in Azania" for Dome (Student Newspaper of the University of Natal) and Varsity (Student Newspaper of the University of Cape Town). He later drew "The Adventures of Alison in Wonderland" for National Student in 1979. For further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 86-87.

In 1979 Caltex Service Stations produced a Black Hole Wall Poster with stickers:

For further information see:
The Black Hole (1979)

In the late 70s Abe Berry drew "Auntie" for Drum, "Bennie" for Santa and "Day by Day" for The Star. For further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 64-65.

In the 70s Family Radio & TV and Personality printed free pull-out comics (such as Classics Illustrated, Asterix, Lucky Luke):

For further information see:
Personality & Family Radio TV Comics

Photo Story Magazines reached the peak in popularity in the 70s, the most popular publisher was Republican Press:

For further information see:
Photo Story Magazines

In the late 70s these Album & Card collections were popular: Disneyrama, Sciencerama, Naturama, Historic Battles:

In the late 70s Superman & Batman Jointed Giants were on sale:

For further information see:
Superman & Batman Jointed Giants

Tafelberg published Nine Volumes of legendary artist T.O. Honiball's classic strips "Oom Kaspaas", "Jakkals en Wolf" & "Adoons-Hulle":

For further information see:
Honiball

Imported comics were widely distributed. Intermag distributed comics (imported from USA) to newsagents eg. CNA. Cape Magazine Company (CMC) distributed comics (imported from UK) to corner cafes (small supermarkets). In those days there were many more Book Exchanges around. There are very few left today. Book exchanges carried numerous piles of second-hand comics for sale and exchange. Comics distributed in South Africa during the 70s still bear the price-stamps on the cover. Here are a few with price stamps "CMC", "INTERMAG", "CNA", "RSP" (?Roodepoort):

 

 

See Also:
Chronology of South African Comic Books 1920s-1940s
Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1950s
Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1960s