Fantomen comic book 18–19, due for release on the 19th of August 2026, is an expanded 100-page double issue published in Sweden by Story House Egmont. Sporting a prominent gold badge on it’s front cover, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Phantom (1936–2026), this edition serves as a milestone release edition. The striking cover places the Phantom in a distinct local setting, standing atop the famous Arbetets ära (“Glory of Labour”) monument at Möllevångstorget in Malmö, Sweden, surrounded by sky-blue-clad supporters.

The issue’s headlining adventure is Spionernas hamn (“Harbor of Spies”), written by Mats Kejonen with art by Janusz Ordoń. Set in Cold War-era Malmö in 1953, the adventure brings the Phantom to Sweden to investigate a brutal attack on an old friend. His investigation quickly uncovers a high-stakes network of international espionage operating out of Malmö’s busy harbor, delivering an atmospheric thriller grounded in local Swedish history.

Adding a clever cultural twist to the main story, Spionernas hamn features a surreal guest appearance by legendary Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. In 1953, Bergman was actively directing at the Malmö City Theatre, making his inclusion historically fitting. His encounter with the Phantom weaves cinematic flair and playful thematic nods to classic Swedish cinema directly into the detective plot.

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Ernst Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007) was a monumental Swedish director, writer, and producer, widely recognized as one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he created an extraordinary body of work across film, theatre, and television, characterized by intense psychological depth and haunting visual style. His films famously wrestled with complex existential themes such as faith, mortality, emotional isolation, and the fractured nature of human relationships using stark cinematography and intimate character studies that fundamentally reshaped modern art-house cinema.

Bergman’s classic masterpieces, including The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Persona, and Fanny and Alexander, earned him global acclaim and numerous international honors, including multiple Academy Awards. Beyond the screen, he was a passionate and prolific stage director, serving as artistic director for major venues such as the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm and the Malmö City Theatre. Bergman remains a legendary titan of world culture, remembered for elevating cinema into a deeply personal, philosophical vessel for exploring the human soul.

Read more about Ingmar Bergman HERE.

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Complementing the lead feature is the first installment of a two-part western backup story titled Undertaker: Världen enligt Oz (“The World According to Oz, Part 1 of 2”). Crafted by writer Xavier Dorison and artist Ralph Meyer, this entry brings the acclaimed Franco-Belgian comic series into the issue, offering readers a gritty, action-packed change of tone alongside the superhero noir.

Rounding out the 100-page collection are two additional comic features that honor the history and humor of the publication. Pestsmittad (“Plague-Infected”) delivers a classic retro adventure from the iconic Team Fantomen duo Norman Worker and Jaime Vallvé, while Fantomen & Stackars Jimmy provides a lighthearted tribute short written and illustrated by popular cartoonist Jimmy Wallin.

Fantomen comic book 18–19 can be found on the Story House Egmont website HERE.

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