The Fantomen Profile Image hat was produced by Bulls in Sweden from 1999. The hat is fully licensed by King Features Syndicate.
Bulls Press was founded by Cornelius Bull, nephew Einar Wyller and Bjarne Steinsvik in 1929, Norway. A year later the company moved to Stockholm, Sweden. In 1931 Bulls changed its name to ‘Bulls Presstjänst AB’. Originally a small staffed company, Bulls slowly became a very successful publisher of comic books and associated merchandise.
For over 70 years with few exceptions, ‘Bulls’ has been the sole licensee for such Phantom produced merchandise.
The Fantomen Profile Image two-toned baseball style hat features a black crown and a textured, tan-colored brim with an adjustable strap at the back. It showcases a round embroidered patch of the Phantom on the front. The Phantoms iconic cowled face featured at the front is rendered in a classic style, utilizing blue and yellow highlights that reflect the colors often associated with the Phantom in Scandinavian comic book appearances. No other images or text are displayed on the external of the hat.
Released in both 1999 and 2001, hats like this were typically produced as promotional items or officially licensed merchandise for exclusive purchase by readers of Fantomen comic book. The use of the blue cowl on the patch is a significant detail, as it aligns with the character’s traditional color scheme in Sweden and other international territories, distinct from the purple suit popularized in the United States.
A small white tag is meticulously stitched inside the hat, featuring black text that indicates ‘KFS/distr Bulls 1999’ or ‘KFS/distr Bulls 2001’.
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