Bidgee Bob’s Brumby, 1947
Watercolour
on paper
PX*D
68/Vol. 03/316
Purchased 1965
Peter Chapman (1925–2016), one of Australia’s most
prolific graphic artists, made a successful career illustrating comic books,
crime novels, children’s books and greeting cards. Chapman taught himself to
draw while recovering from polio as a child, commenced at East Sydney Technical
College at 14 and was writing and illustrating his own comic books by the age
of 17. Working for Frank Johnson Publications, Chapman produced numerous book
covers, including those for the sporting themed, pulp-novel series Kings of the Turf.
In May 2016 Peter
Chapman was inducted into the Australian Comics Hall of Fame, recognising a
recognising his commitment to the comic book industry and his prolific output.
Kings of the Turf was a series of 64
page, cheaply produced pulp novels written by Bob Mackinnon and illustrated by
Peter Chapman. Each book focused on a fictional sporting hero, mostly horse
racers and footballers.
After producing
hundreds of comics and book covers over a two-decade period, Chapman went on to
work for John Sands, illustrating greeting cards, games and calendars. He spent
the later part of his career as a technical college teacher.
Peter Chapman was
the illustrator on the Australian versions of the much-loved comics The Phantom Ranger and The Shadow, produced by Frew
Publications.
The Australian
edition of The Phantom Ranger was
launched in 1948 and went on to become Australia’s longest running comic book
series.
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