Fantomen Klubben

Fantomen Klubben (which translates to ‘Phantom Club’) was established in Sweden in 1951 by Semic Press (the publishers of Fantomen at the time). This club is considered to be the first Phantom club to be formed and is still running today.

Semic, Sweden’s prominent publishing house, holds the distinction of printing the Fantomen Comic Book series, boasting the longest-running European Phantom comic book series worldwide. Since its inception in 1950 and up to recent years, Semic has not only produced hundreds of comic books but has also offered a plethora of Phantom collectibles through its fan club and comic book publications.

Fantomen Klubben was first advertised in Fantomen comic book edition number 1, published in 1950, which can be seen below.

Fantomen Klubben certificates became available to readers in 1950, in Fantomen comic book edition number 3. The reader was required to complete a coupon and return it to the publisher in Stockholm, Sweden. The front cover plus the page advertising the club can be seen below.

Translated to English, the above advertisement reads:

THE PHANTOM CLUB: Starting now nationwide! All dashing boys and girls from all over Sweden who wonder about the Phantom man without fear – and his fight against crime and injustice are welcome as members. It costs nothing to register. Everyone can join and everyone is welcome. Just write your name and address clearly in the coupon at the bottom of page.

BETTER IS THE PICTURE OF THE PHANTOM THAT IS PRINTED IN FOUR COLORS ON THE MEMBERSHIP DIPLOMA. FILL IN AND SEND IN THE REGISTRATION COUPON TODAY: IF YOU DON’T WANT TO CUT THE NEWSPAPER, YOU CAN PRINT THE COUPON. Send this page and send it to the Fantomen club, PO Box 3317, Stockholm 35. Then you get, first of all, a truly stylish one and lavish diploma as proof that you be- white accepted as a member of the club. The diploma is among others a. provided with an image of the Phantom as well as your name and membership number. The name on the boys or girls who first entered more with their reports to the club, shall we introduce on this page in future issues of the newspaper. Please send a photo by yourself when you submit your application so shall we try to find room to put it in as well. All members will later on be able to obtain a nice Phantom badge which can be worn on top of the coat. Its also to become many truly fun prize competitions with state prizes and other goodies league surprises for the members of the club. Finally, red would like to thank all the nice letters that have flowed into the newspaper. We at the editorial office are pleased that the letter writers have said in all the letters that they think the Fantomen magazine is really good. The next issue of the Fantomen comic will be published on November 16.

Prior to receiving the Club membership Diploma, subscribers who had filled out the membership coupon from Fantomen comic book edition number 3, published in 1950, were sent a letter from Semic, which can be seen below.

Translated to English, the above letter reads:

THE PHANTOM CLUB

Mailbox 3317
Stockholm 3
Postal order 451858
Telephone 109966

You are hereby warmly welcomed as a member of the Fantomen Klubben. The legend of the Phantom is very old. It is said that over 400 years ago an exhausted man was washed ashore on the coast of Bengal. He was the sole survivor of a merchant ship hijacked by merciless pirates. He swore a sacred oath to dedicate his life to the fight against piracy, cruelty and injustice. That man became the first Phantom. His sons and their sons, in generation after generation, have kept the Oath of the Phantom. The natives of Bengal believe that he is always the same, the wandering ghost, the man who never dies. It is a proud tradition that the legend here has created and we hope that all members of the Phantom Club want to help keep it alive. We are hereby sending you your diploma, which shows that you have been accepted as a member of the Phantom Club. You should save the diploma carefully because on the number printed on the diploma, there will be many fun prize competitions and nice prizes will be drawn.

THE PHANTOM CLUB

The reader was then sent a Fantomen Klubben certificate plus a welcome letter from the publisher delivered in a brown envelope. Below we see the first certificate design issued in 1950, plus the accompanying welcome letter.

Translated to English, the above welcome letter reads:

THE PHANTOM CLUB

Mailbox 3317
Stockholm 3. Postgiro 151858. Phone 10 99 66
You are hereby welcomed as a member of the Phantom
The Club

The legend of the Phantom is very old. It is said that over 400 years ago an exhausted man was washed ashore on the coast of Bengal. He was the only survivor of a merchant ship, hijacked by merciless pirates. He swore a sacred oath to dedicate his life to the fight against piracy, cruelty, and injustice. That man became the first Phantom. His sons and their sons have, in line after generation, taken the oath of the Phantom. The natives of Bengal believe that he is always the same – the wandering man who never dies. It is a proud tradition that the legend here has created, and we hope that all members of the Phantom Club want to help keep it alive. We hereby send you your diploma, which shows that you have been accepted as a member of the Phantom Club. Diploma, should you save, carefully for the number printed on the diploma, many fun prize competitions will be made, and lottery prizes will be awarded.

THE PHANTOM CLUB

The Phantom Club consists of disk A-members and dagger Bundlem MALTA members mean active members, those of you: magazine Phantom and members including mothers are equally welcome in the club. If you want to become a member look through the comic for the seal card, then if you want to sell the magazine, just send in the requisition card.

The first 10 members names were published in Fantomen comic book edition number 5, published in 1950, as can be seen below. Brothers Nils-Göran and Kurt-Henry Carlsson were the first 2 to become members.

Various Fantomen Klubben certificates have been released over the years, a timeline can be seen below of how these certificates evolved and changed over the years.

Fantomen Klubben produced it’s first merchandise item in the form of a pin in 1952, with the first advertisement appearing in Fantomen comic book edition number 3. The pin would continue to be advertised in Fantomen comics in 1952, in edition numbers 5 and 6 (advertisement in Fantomen comic book edition number 5 shown below). The reader was required to complete the form and return it, with payment, to an address in Stockholm, Sweden. The pin was produced by Abe-Pust Stockholm.

Members of Fantomen Klubben don’t receive newsletters like we traditionally see with other Phantom clubs, instead, letters and pictures are sent in to the editor of Fantomen, with a section of the comic dedicated to these submissions. We see this aspect of Fantomen Klubben as early as 1952, in Fantomen comic book edition number 12 as seen below.

In 1990, Fantomen Klubben introduced a ranking system. New members began with the rank of ‘Novice’ and would advance in ranking by completing quizzes and puzzles. Each time a member would pass such a test they would be mailed a new achievement sticker (1.5” x 1”) to attach to their certificate that indicated their new ranking.

Novis = Novice
Aspirant = Aspirant
Kandidat = Candidate
Riddare = Knight
Mästare = Master
Stormästare = Grandmaster (the first Grandmasters were announced in 1991)

To commemorate the achievement of becoming a ‘Grandmaster’, the Club issued a special enamel pinback in 1991. This pinback was accompanied with a corresponding 5.5” x 4” document of award (which accurately illustrated the Grandmaster pinback), your new achievement sticker for your certificate, plus a newly designed 3.25” x 2” double sided ‘Blue’ membership card.

Club Kit Contents – 1973

The Fantomen Klubben member kit changed over the years, below is a member kit supplied to a new member in 1973.

Fan Club Kit original mailing envelope (12.75” x 9).

Fan Club Membership Diploma (11.5” x 8.25).

Original Fan Club No1 Pinback Button (1.25”).

Uncut Sheets of 6 stickers (7” x 5”).

Behover Form (Fan Club Stationary Request Form) (8” x 6”).

Specialerbjufdande Form (membership subscription Renewal Form) (8” x 6”).

Jag Prenumererar pa Fantomen Form (comic subscription Renewal Form) (7.25” x 3.25”).

Medlemsbok (fold-out membership card booklet/passport with cypher code) (9.5” x 5.5”).

6 x No.1 pieces of writing paper (11.5” x 8.25”) & 3 x No.1 envelopes (6.25” x 4.5”).

Varvalista #1 & #2 Uncut Sheet of 12 New Membership Fan Club Enrollment Forms (members would give to their friends) (11.5” x 8.25”).

Club Kit Contents – 1977

The Fantomen Klubben member kit changed over the years, below is a member kit supplied to a new member in 1977. We find an advertisement in Fantomen comic book edition number 8 advertising Fantomen Klubben and it’s contents.

The member kit was mailed in a large paper envelope, some of it’s contents can be seen below.

Fan Club Membership Diploma (11.5” x 8.25).

Key Ring.

Uncut sheet of stickers (12” x 8”).

Circular fabric sticker.

5 x letter head paper imprinted image (11.75″ x 8.25″) & 5 x blank envelope (9” x 6.25”).

Membership identification card with Cipher coding on the back (3.5” x 2”).

Uncut sticker sheet.

Club Kit Contents – 1983/84

The Fantomen Klubben member kit changed over the years, below is a member kit supplied to a new member from 1983. We find an advertisement in Fantomen comic book edition number 4 advertising Fantomen Klubben and it’s contents.

Fan Club Membership Diploma (11.75” x 8.25″).

5 x letter head paper imprinted image (11.75″ x 8.25″) & 5 x blank envelope (9” x 6.25”).

Uncut sheet of stickers (12” x 8”).

Enamel cloisonné stick/lapel pin (2” in length).

Inkpen (5.5” in length).

Iron-On Patch.

Membership identification card with Cipher coding on the back (3.5” x 2”).

Club Kit Contents – 1989

The Fantomen Klubben member kit changed over the years, below is a member kit supplied to a new member in 1989. The member kit was mailed in a large paper envelope and it’s contents can be seen below.

Original large unused mailing envelope (14.25” x 10”).

Fan Club Membership Diploma (11.75” x 8.25″).

Graduation letter & quiz (11.75” x 8.5″).

5 x blank envelope for Quiz’s to be returned (9” x 6.25”).

5 x letter head paper imprinted image (11.75″ x 8.25″).

Enamel cloisonné stick/lapel pin (2” in length).

Double sided keychain (2”).

Inkpen (5.5” in length).

1 x sheet of temporary tattoos (6” x 4”).

Membership identification card with Cipher coding on the back (3.5” x 2”).

Uncut sheet of stickers (12” x 8”).

Club Kit Contents – 1992

The Fantomen Klubben member kit changed over the years, below is a member kit supplied to a new member in 1992. We find an advertisement in Fantomen comic book edition number 13 advertising Fantomen Klubben and it’s contents.