The Phantom & Diana Poster was produced by Milano Libri Edizioni in Italy in 1967. The poster features the Phantom and his love interest Diana Palmer. The poster is fully licensed by the King Features Syndicate approved local rights holder of the Phantom in Italy at the time, Opera Mundi.
Milano Libri Edizioni was a historically significant Italian publishing house and bookstore, most renowned for its pioneering role in introducing high-quality international comics and graphic literature to the Italian public. Founded in 1962, the original “Milano Libri” was more than just a publisher; it began as a famous bookshop located near the La Scala opera house in Milan, quickly becoming a cultural landmark and a vital meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and comics enthusiasts. Its publishing arm soon began operations, dedicated to translating and distributing works that were often neglected by larger Italian houses.
The publisher’s greatest achievement was the launch of the magazine Linus in 1965, a publication that fundamentally changed the perception of comics in Italy, elevating them to a form of art and sophisticated culture. Linus was a cultural phenomenon that blended classic American strips with literary content, features, and political commentary. Milano Libri Edizioni was famously responsible for bringing Charles Schulz’s Peanuts to Italy, which ran in Linus, alongside other seminal works like Guido Crepax’s Valentina, Al Capp’s Li’l Abner, and the work of French cartoonists like Copi and Sempé. The house’s catalog included notable authors and works across various genres, emphasizing quality in content and design.
Although the publishing house was a cultural powerhouse, the original “Milano Libri” bookstore faced increasing difficulties in the 21st century due to irrecoverable accounts and rising rental costs, leading to its closure in 2015 after over fifty years of operation. The legacy of Milano Libri Edizioni, however, remains indelible in Italian publishing history. The house not only championed the art of comics but also expanded its focus in later years to include books on art, fashion, architecture, and photography, cementing its reputation as a publisher committed to contemporary visual culture and literary innovation.
The Phantom & Diana poster is one sided, printed in full color and measures 48.5cm x 69cm. It depicts the Phantom and Diana kissing, an illustration by Ray Moore from a comic strip story panel. A speech bubble is also seen, with the Phantom saying ‘Cosi’ in Italian, translating to ‘Like This’ in English. Copyright information is found on the left of the poster, towards the top, with the illustrators name also found on the poster, on the right at the top. The poster can be seen below.
Very little information is available regarding the poster. Phantom publications weren’t published by Milano Libri Edizioni; however, they did publish an article concerning the Phantom in Linus magazine, edition number 26, printed in 1967. The article, comprising nine pages, is titled ‘Che ne è di Diana Palmesi?’ translated to ‘What about Diana Palmer?’ (Diana Palmer is commonly known as Diana Palmesi in Italian stories) and was authored by S.G. Biamonte. The front and back covers of this edition can be seen below.
The Phantom & Diana poster was likely used in retail establishments to promote the aforementioned edition of Linus magazine, thereby highlighting the article contained within concerning the Phantom and Diana Palmer.
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