New Book Featuring Phantom Story Writer Claes Reimerthi

Currently available in Sweden is a new book devoted to the life and contributions of Fantomen story writer Claes Reimerthi.

Reimerthi’s association with the Phantom began in 1984. His first published story, ‘Gold Fever’, appeared in ‘Fantomen’ issue number 22 of that year. Interestingly, he wrote under the pseudonym ‘Michael Tierres’, an anagram of his own name.

Over the ensuing decades, Reimerthi became a cornerstone of ‘Team Fantomen’, the creative collective responsible for producing Phantom stories for the Swedish market. From 1984 until shortly before his death in 2021, he penned nearly 300 stories, making him one of the most prolific writers. His stories were characterized by intricate plots, deep character development, and a profound respect for the lore established by the original creators.

Titled ‘Claes Reimerthi – En Lågmäld Hjälte‘, which translates to ‘Claes Reimerthi – A Quiet Hero‘, the book is published by Seriearkivets Tryckeri who are based in Malmö, Sweden. The book contains 92 pages measuring 30cm x 20cm, and is printed in Swedish text.

The book is divided into 14 chapters:

Foreword: Claes Reimerthi In Our Hearts – By Fredrik Stromberg
Claes Reimerthi – A Life’s Work In Comic Art – By Thomas Storn
The Cartoonist Claes Reimerthi – By Qalf Thorsjo
A Literary Legacy – Malin Reimerthi Remembers Her Father – By Thomas Storn
Team Fantomen Presents: Claes R. – By Ulf Granberg & Hans Lindahl
The Conspiracy Of The Skulls – By Claes Reimerthi & Lennart Modig
91:an Meetings
The Unpublished Claes Reimerthi – By Janne Lundstrom
Claes Reimerthi At The Book Fair
Claes About Myrrdin – By Claes Reimerthi
Claes As A Comic Strip Character
An Inexplicable Attraction To Comics – By Erik Baumgarten
Tributary Editions
Claes Reimerthi Bibliography

A large number of personal tributes are included in the book, contributions by Häkan Fredriksson, Ulf Granberg, Martin Thomas Dahlstrom, Hanna & Fredrik Strömberg, Lennart Moberg, Joan Boix, Mikael Tegebjer, Seriearkivet, Kari Leppänen, Nicolas Krizan, Jimmy Wallin, Mikael Lyck, Hans Lindahl, Scandinavian Chapter, Per Gyllenor, Stefan Dios, Mikael Sol, Patrik Norrman, Johny Nordlund, Alf Woxnerud, Pidde Andersson & Joakim Gunnarsson, Krister Petersson, Gunnarsson, Janusz Ordon and Simon Bülow.

The front and back covers can be seen below, featuring a cover illustration by Henrik Sahlstrom which depicts Claes Reimerthi at a writing desk, accompanied by the Phantom and Devil at his side.

The book is described on the Seriearkivet website as:

Screenwriter and comic book historian Claes Reimerthi passed away too early, in July 2021. Claes was incredibly productive, one of Sweden’s most internationally distributed comic book creators and also a very nice and appreciated person – something that this well-filled tribute book is proof of.

The book collects texts about, by and with Claes, not least tributes in text and images to the many people who collaborated with Claes at some point during his long and varied career.

A sample of internal pages can be seen below.