Back in January 1959, D.P. Walsh Snr put the finishing touches on a crude 24 page colour monthly magazine. The simple but bold drawings, and the action-filled plots made the Adventures of Boss Beat an instant hit, and Australia's most successful comic book of the post-war era. Over the next fifteen years, Boss Beat evolved with the times, changing from a simplistic he-man, to a hero with depth. Walsh Snr was acclaimed for both his bold brush strokes and his bold portrayal of thoughts and issues deeper than mere super-hero punch ups. And remember, this is in the years before the world had heard of O'Neill, Miller and Moore. But in 1974 the reclusive creator dipped his brush into the inkwell for the final time. Although not one to talk publicly ("My work must speak for itself"), even in a time before comic books were respected, Walsh chose to make one final, very public comment in Issue #499. It read: "Over the many years, I've told thousands of stories to millions of readers. Now, I find that every tale that I've wanted to tell has been told. Each issue close to my heart has been covered. Yet, the world continues to spiral into an abyss from which I cannot dream that we will ever escape. There is nothing more for me to say. Boss Beat is no more." And with that final story (#499: A Hero No More!), Walsh ceased publication of his still hugely popular hero. Never did he speak of his creation again. Without the authorisation of reprints, without new ongoing adventures, Boss Beat disappeared from public consciousness, as a new generation more interested in extreme sports and video games took control. The youth of today were born years after that last (and extremely rare) issue hit the newsagents of Australia. So it was with some scepticism that I received a letter from someone claiming to be the great writer/artist. A letter from someone interested in my filmmaking talents, and the potential they had to release a force locked away for twenty five years. Despite my doubts, I ventured to the address on the letter (D.P. Walsh still refuses to have a telephone connected), and knocked on the door of the small house hidden on acreage in New South Wales' beautiful Southern Highlands. I immediately recognised the elderly frame that contained the still youthful spirit of the man whose work I had always loved and respected. "The time has come", he stated authoritatively, "for a new generation to understand what has been before. The time has come for the old to be new. The time has come for Boss Beat to live again!" I could almost swear I heard the crack of distant thunder in the clear blue skies, and I know I trembled as his scraping voice told me of his dream. "Why me?" I whispered, too nervous to enjoy the Devonshire tea he had thoughtfully prepared. Sure I understood the character, loved the comic books and would be faithful to his spirit. But would that be enough to live up to the legend? Walsh never answered me. Instead, he handed me a script, and sent me on my way. On the train journey home, I gasped as my trembling hands turned over page after page of wondrous magic. Clearly, the master had lost none of his gifts. One year later, we were to meet again. He had refused to view any of the work in progress, insisting on seeing only the finished project. He stood quietly at the back of the theatre, unnoticed by the executives and money men. When they had finished their righteous huffing and puffing, they filed out, leaving only the two of us in the empty room. "Well?" I asked nervously. He placed his hand on my arm in a fatherly gesture and smiled, "Thank you." With that he turned and left. That was the last I ever saw of him. The following day, exactly 40 years after the first issue of Boss Beat Adventures burst into the world, D.P. Walsh Snr died. Leonard P. Salty January 2006

Panel from Issue 1 of Boss Beat Adventures. Walsh Snr's style and abilities would progress rapidly, but even then, all the elements of the hero were present on his first appearance.

The first issue of Adventures of Boss Beat. Note the different appearance of Boss Beat to that featured inside. The cover was actually drawn by Walsh Snr's stablemate, Phil Cornell... (read more)