Biblioteka Nostalgija Fantom (which translates to Library Nostalgia Phantom) are comic books co-published by Beli Put and Makondo in Serbia in 2015. The series contains two high quality comic books reprinting Phantom Sunday stories originally published in US newspapers written by Lee Falk and illustrated by Ray Moore and Wilson McCoy, fully licensed by King Features Syndicate.
Beli Put is a prominent Serbian publishing house founded in 2005 in Belgrade by Milan Vuletić. It is best known for revolutionizing the Serbian comic book market by introducing high-quality “integral” formats and graphic novels, which compile multiple volumes or issues into single, luxury hardcover editions. While its primary influence is felt in the world of Ninth Art, the publisher also maintains a diverse catalog that includes children’s literature, educational books, and literary prose. Their mission has historically focused on providing the Serbian market with high-quality translations of world-renowned works in durable, collectible formats.
The publisher’s catalog is particularly notable for its impressive selection of international titles, ranging from European “bande dessinée” classics like Gaston Lagaffe (Gaša Šeprtlja), Thorgal, and Blacksad to influential American graphic novels and series such as 100 Bullets, Preacher, and Alan Moore’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Beyond comics, Beli Put has published popular children’s series like Robert Muchamore’s CHERUB (Deca špijuni) and beautifully illustrated editions of classics like Pinocchio and Sherlock Holmes. Although the company faced business challenges and a period of inactivity in the early 2010s, it remains a respected name among collectors and continues to be represented in major Serbian bookstores through its legacy titles and specialized releases.
Makondo is a prominent Serbian publishing house based in Belgrade, founded in 2012 by Bojan Bosnić and Miloš Kosovac. The publisher is primarily dedicated to “the ninth art”, comic books and graphic novels, operating under the philosophy of uncovering “nuggets of gold” still hidden within the vast global history of the medium. Since its inception, Makondo has quickly established a reputation for high-quality production values, earning several prestigious industry accolades, including the “Comic Book Publisher of the Year” from the NIN weekly and awards for best foreign editions at the Belgrade International Comics Festival.
The publisher’s catalog is diverse, ranging from meticulously restored classics to modern European and American masterpieces. They are well-known for their “Biblioteka Nostalgija” and “Biblioteka Kolt” collections, which feature iconic titles like The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Western epics such as Lance. Additionally, Makondo publishes acclaimed contemporary works like Blacksad, The Undertaker (Pogrebnik), and The Witcher graphic novels, often collaborating with other publishers like Beli Put or Phoenix Press. Beyond comics, they also produce beautifully illustrated editions of classic literary prose, maintaining a focus on visual storytelling and cultural heritage.
Biblioteka Nostalgija Fantom comic books contain hardcovers with approximately 160 full color pages in landscape format measuring 29.7cm x 21cm. The comic strip stories are translated by Bojan Bosnić (translating edition number 1) and Kristina Milošević (translating edition number 2) from English to Serbian. Edition number 1 contains comic strip stories originally published from 1939 thru till 1942, with edition number 2 containing comic strip stories originally published from 1942 thru till 1945.
The front covers of both editions can be seen below, containing an image of the Phantom illustrated by Sy Barry.
Besides containing Phantom comic strip stories, Biblioteka Nostalgija Fantom also contains several pages per edition dedicated to informative articles on the Phantom.
- Edition number 1 contains an extensive essay by Slobodan Ivkov titled “Tri četvrtine veka Fantoma…” (which translates to “Three quarters of a century of Phantoms…”), who describes the phenomenon of Phantom worldwide, as well as its publishing commencement in former Yugoslavia.
- Edition number 2 contains a biography style essay by Zoran Stefanović titled “Duh se vratio iz senke – O Rejmondu S. Muru, najnepoznatijem slavnom crtaču (svih vremena)” (which translates to “The Ghost Has Returned from the Shadows – About Raymond S. Moore, the Most Unknown Famous Cartoonist (of All Time)”), providing detailed information on the first artist to illustrate the Phantom, Ray Moore.
A sample of internal pages can be seen below.
The back covers gives us a small description of the Phantom comic strip stories found in the series. Translated to English, the description reads:
The Walking Ghost appeared in America in 1936, and here in 1937. The Phantom was created by Lee Fock, the author of The Magician’s Mandrake. The Phantom has been fighting evil for four centuries, with the mission being passed down from father to son.
Unlike other superheroes, he does not possess any “superpowers”, but instead uses his strength, intelligence, and exceptional reputation for immortality in this fight. He lives in a skull-shaped cave, with his wolf Devil and his horse Hero.
At the peak of his popularity, his adventures were followed daily by over 100 million people around the world. He is not only the forerunner of thousands of (super) heroic followers, but also an incomparable role model, who still lives today.
Let’s enjoy! Before us is a comic book that founded an entire mythology!
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