The magazine served as a vehicle for an aesthetic philosophy supporting "the literary and artistic traditions rejected by European modernists".

[9][10] Johnson also published a book of lino cuts by the Melbourne artist, Jim Flett, as well as works by prominent Australian authors, including Dale Collins, Les Haylen, Dulcie Deamer, Lennie Lower, Les Robinson, W. S. Power, Colin Wills, Kurt Offenberg and J.

[5] In 1937 Johnson launched Tempo, a monthly magazine devoted "to music, stage, screen and dance-band news".

[5] In July 1940 the Australian Government facing a US dollar shortage enforced a series of trade regulations and banned the importation of American comic material.

They continued to release a new comic each week, which in order were Star, Marvel, Magic, Thrilling, Super, Mighty, Master, Victory, Winner, Conquer, Hero, Hot Shot, Crash, Thunder, Terrific, Ace, Bullet, Corker, Startling, Modern and Monster.

[14] Most of the regular artists who worked for Frank Johnson Publications, were freelancers from The Bulletin, Smith's Weekly and other newspapers and included Unk White, Les Dixon, Norm Rice, Dan Russell, Bruce Cousins, Dick Alderton, Carl Lyon, Noel Cook, Frank Jessup, Rhys Williams, Ron Broadley, Phil Belbin, Stan Pitt, Gerard Lants, Moira Bertram, John Jensen, Peter Chapman, Lloyd Piper, Ralph Shelley and Emile Mercier.

[14] Unk White was responsible for not only drawing the cover of the first comic but also the first adventure strip, 'Blue' Hardy and Diamond Eyed Pygmies.

[14] Locally created comics, including Frank Johnson Publications, disappeared in the 1950s as a result of combined effect of import bans being lifted, a censorship campaign, and the introduction of television.