PratBubblan! (which translates to The Chat Bubble!) was published by Bra Böcker in Sweden in 1978. This reference book, written by Sture Hegerfors, offers a comprehensive list of comic book characters sorted by the years of their creation, ranging from 1889 through till 1977. The book not only catalogues each character but also delves into their significance within the comic book industry and culture, highlighting the evolution of storytelling and artistic styles over the decades.
PratBubblan! is a softcover publication comprising 144 color pages measuring 30 cm x 21 cm, and features text in Swedish. This book is replete with detailed information regarding creators and characters, accompanied by illustrations and samples of comic strips. The front cover is devoid of illustrations, presenting a solid gloss blue exterior that includes a comic strip speech bubble inscribed with ‘PratBubblan! – En Bok Om Serier Av Sture Hegerfors’, which translates to ‘ChatBubble! – A Book About Series By Sture Hegerfors’.
Found within the book are a large select of comic book characters and their creators including Adamson, Alfredo, Allan Kämpe, Asterix, Teddy, Barbarella – The Scandalous Space Girl, Biffen and Banana, Blondie Buck Rogers, Brick Bradford, Flash Gordon, Buster Brown, Dick Tracy, Felix the Cat, Ferd´nand, Fridolf Celinder, Fritz The Cat, Gaston, Gyllenbom, Kalle Anka, Karl-alfred Kerry Drake, Kilroy, Knoll and Tot, Krazy Kat, Kronblom, Lisa and Sluggo, Lucky Luke, The Leather Patch, Mad, Mandrake the Magician, Modesty Blaise, Micuse Pigg, The Mysterious 2, 91, Number 13 Wilmer (Knasen), Prince Valiant, Rip Kirby, The Snob, Spiderman, Superman, Iron Man, Tarzan, Tintin, The Wizard From Id and Tuffe Viktor.
The Phantom is featured in the book on pages 50 and 51, presenting detailed information concerning its creators, Lee Falk, Wilson McCoy and Sy Barry, who played pivotal roles in shaping the character’s rich legacy. These pages delve into the creative process behind the comic strip, shedding light on the artistic vision and collaborative efforts that brought the Phantom to life. Additionally, the illustrations included in the book, which are attributed to Ray Moore and Sy Barry, showcase the evolution of the Phantom’s visual representation over the years. These two pages can be seen below.
A detailed Contents Table is found at the front of the book, providing readers with a comprehensive list of the comic book characters covered throughout the book. In addition, there’s a Forward written by Sture Hegerfors, who shares valuable insights into his inspiration for writing the book, discussing his personal experiences and motivations, plus those who assisted in compiling the information.
The Forward written by Sture Hegerfors, translated to English reads:
The premise was: “It’s time for a happy book about comics!”
An exciting and stimulating challenge! During the immediately preceding six to seven years, I had studied the comic medium from sociological, pedagogical, political and linguistic points of departure. I was easily engrossed in scientific seriousness, narrow systematics and learned terms. The comic book had become a starting material for research, not a moment’s relaxation and entertainment. I hadn’t read comics the way the people around me read comics in years.
When I realized that, I picked unrestrainedly in my newspaper archive, let myself become refreshingly nostalgic and – enjoyed! Then it was fun to start writing.
This is a rudely subjective book. I have only included series that I myself, for one reason or another, became attached to and that I personally think have or have had a great impact on this particular entertainment genre.
Ultimately, the purpose of this book is to arouse curiosity. I hope, of course, that many people will be amused by getting history and facts about the comics and about the people who create them: hard-working cartoonists and writers. But I actually also have a hope that many will be attracted to study further, to penetrate deeper into the fascinating world of comics. Serial research is necessary, much remains to be done. In the bibliography at the back of the book, many are presented of food-useful material for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject of comics.
I have not had any major interventions made in the serial images that are published here. In cases where the text in the speech bubbles was in a foreign language, they have consequently been allowed to remain so. This is above all to avoid unnecessary demolition of the character of the originals.
In the preface, the author usually thanks people and organizations that helped with the book. I do them too. I bow deeply to Bo Karlsson, Stellan Nehlmark and Hans Sidén (who helped with the facts), to Gunnar Bunker and Jan Ahlsell (who photographed all the series images) and to Folke Müller and Hans Enblom (who designed the entire volume).
Furthermore, for various reasons, I ask to sing the praises of Kurt Björkman, Luis Gasca, Charlie Hafström, Jud Hurd, Inge Lantz, Sven Lidman, Ann-Marie Lund, Lennart Malmfält, Erik Mitle, Claude Moliterni, Arne Mossberg, Gunnar Månsson, Börje Nilsson, David Pascal, Jerker Persson, Philipp Plon, Wolf Schwenke, Kicki Schöön, Eugen Semitjov, Sven Gunnar Särman, Seved Söderström, Örnulf Tönsberg and Ebbe Zetterstad.
Finally, I salute all the comic creators, publishers (especially Atlantic, Bonniers, Carlsen/if, Hemmets Journal and Semic/Williams) and syndicates (especially Bull’s Presstjänst, Europa-Press and PIB), who generously provided images to disposal.
Sture Hegerfors – President of the Swedish Seric Academy
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