The Superman (سوبرمان) comic book series was published by Dar Rewayat Aljib (دار روايات الجيب) in Egypt in the 1970s. The series contains 30 editions with a mix of both Western and local comic strip characters published per editions, printed in Arabic text. These characters include Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and more.
Dar Rewayat Aljib (دار روايات الجيب), which roughly translates to “Pocket Novels Publishing House”, was an Egyptian publisher that carved out a distinct niche in the Middle Eastern comic book landscape during the late 1970s. Operating out of Egypt, the company sought to capitalize on the massive regional popularity of superhero and adventure fiction. While it shared the market with giant Lebanese publishers like Dar Al-Matbouat Al-Mousawara (which famously introduced Superman to the Arab world in the early 1960s), Dar Rewayat Aljib offered an alternative Egyptian-printed production run that targeted local and regional readers looking for accessible pulp and comic entertainment.
The publisher is most notable among comic historians for its unique translation and localization strategy. Unlike some contemporary publishers of the era that heavily Arabized character names—famously transforming Clark Kent into “Nabil Fawzi” and Bruce Wayne into “Subhi”, Dar Rewayat Aljib committed to a translation style that preserved the original Western names of the heroes and their supporting casts. This distinct approach gave their publications a slightly different flavor, appealing to readers who preferred a closer translation to the original American source material while keeping the text in standard, expressive Arabic.
Though its print runs were relatively brief compared to the decades-long empires of its regional competitors, the publisher remains highly valued by modern collectors for its scarce variants. Because their distribution was tighter and their operational lifetime was shorter, surviving issues from Dar Rewayat Aljib, such as their 30-issue Superman series, are considered rare pieces of Middle Eastern pop-culture history. Their legacy is defined by these short-lived, eclectic cross-over experiments that brought disparate Western comic strip heroes together under a single, distinctly Egyptian banner.
The Phantom makes a single appearance in edition number 29 in the series. This edition was published in 1979, the softcover comic is a unique regional variant that adapts the historic first crossover between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel from 1952’s Superman #76. Presenting the classic story “The MIGHTIEST TEAM in the WORLD!”, this collectible issue centers on high-stakes action and adventure as the two iconic heroes discover each other’s secret identities.
Beyond its core DC Universe roots featuring Superman, Batman, and nods to the broader Justice League, this specific publisher’s edition serves as an eclectic crossover hub. It incorporates diverse comic traditions by blending classic DC characters with Marvel elements, including the cosmic pairing of Spider-Man and the Silver Surfer, alongside an appearance by Doctor Doom.
Additionally, it features a rare guest appearance, the Phantom in a story titled “Nasiej Alankabout”, which translates to “The Great Web of Spidera”, the 65th Sunday story written by Lee Falk and illustrated by Sy Barry. The front and back covers can be seen below.
The front cover features a translated adaptation of a classic DC Comics Superman scene where Superman is flying past alien creatures inside a futuristic vessel or structure. The iconic Arabic stylized Superman logo (سوبرمان) is placed at the top left. The back cover serves as a promotional panel specifically highlighting the Phantom storyline to attract readers. It features classic Sy Barry line art showcasing the Ghost Who Walks intercepting modern jungle poachers/explorers with charging elephants in the background.
This front cover image is the original United States edition of Superman #367, published by DC Comics with a cover date of January 1982. The striking cover art, penciled by Ross Andru and inked by Dick Giordano depicts Superman descending into the alien “Hall of Hate” belonging to the villainous Superman Revenge Squad. The main story inside, titled “The Revengers Strike Back!”, was written by Cary Bates, with interior pencils by Curt Swan. This Bronze Age issue also features a backup story titled “…And Not A Drop To Drink” under “The Fabulous World of Krypton” banner, written by Martin Pasko and illustrated by Gil Kane. This original US printing is the exact comic that the Egyptian publisher Dar Rewayat Aljib later adapted and localized to use for the front of their rare 29th issue.
A sample of internal pages featuring the Phantom found in Superman comic book edition number 29 as published by Dar Rewayat Aljib can be seen below.
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