Established in 1936 in Sydney, Australia by Kenneth "K. G." Murray, the company was a family-owned and run business until its sale to Australian Consolidated Press in 1973.
It was printed on heavy art paper with thick, glossy card covers and squared spine.
Murray issued a pocket-sized magazine, Man Junior, a 96-page publication which sold for a shilling and contained no advertising.
When the war ended Man Junior and Cavalcade resumed publication, but The Insider fell by the wayside.
The magazine blossomed over time and became noted for its lurid painted covers – many by Phil Belbin[3] and Jack Waugh – featuring semi-naked women in various brands of peril.
[7][8] In the 1950s Man and its stablemates came under terrible pressure as American girlie magazines flooded the Australian market.
After the end of World War II, paper rationing was eased and US publication embargoes lifted.
Early issues of Climax included Zatara tales (from US Action Comics), Murray's first DC super-hero reprints.
Within two years, the Color Comic description became the legendary branding for Australian black and white DC reprints.
In 1959 the Australian government lifted import restrictions and US publications became available in Australia, resulting in the demand for locally produced American-style periodicals declining.
In 1983, Kerry Packer purchased back all of the shares in ACP and turned it into a private company, selling the comics division to Federal Publishers.