Héroes de Papel (which translates to ‘Paper Heroes’) is a series jointly published by Círculo de Lectores and Buru Lan, S.A. De Edicionnes in Barcelona, Spain from 1984 thru till 1985. The series contains 5 hardcover comic books, with the Phantom appearing in edition number 4. The other comic book characters found in the series are Flash Gordon, Asterix, Mortadel y filemón and Lucky Luke.
Buru Lan S.A. de Ediciones was a prominent Spanish publishing house based in San Sebastián, reaching its peak influence during the early 1970s. Founded by Luis Gasca and Javier Maria de Pascual, the company specialized in high-quality editions of classic adventure comic strips and horror anthologies. Buru Lan is perhaps best known for its ambitious efforts to rescue and curate “Golden Age” American newspaper strips for the Spanish market, often presenting them in large-format, meticulously colored editions that appealed to both children and adult collectors.
The publisher’s catalog was heavily anchored by iconic King Features Syndicate characters, most notably The Phantom (El Hombre Enmascarado), Flash Gordon, and Mandrake the Magician. Their 1970s runs are particularly celebrated for their production value; for instance, their Phantom series featured iconic cover art and utilized a chronological approach to reprinting Sy Barry’s definitive work. Beyond adventure heroes, Buru Lan was a pioneer in the horror genre with titles like Drácula, which showcased a blend of international and Spanish talent, helping to elevate the medium’s aesthetic standards during a transformative period for Spanish tebeos (comics).
Despite its creative success, Buru Lan’s later years were marked by erratic publishing schedules and financial challenges. An attempt to relaunch titles in the early 1980s, such as the 1983 El Hombre Enmascarado series, suffered from a quirky, non-linear numbering system and was prematurely cancelled after only a handful of issues. Nevertheless, the company’s legacy remains significant among enthusiasts of “pulp-era” heroes, as their editions served as a crucial cultural bridge that preserved the history of adventure illustration for a generation of Spanish readers.
Released in December 1984, edition number 4 contains the heading of ‘El Hombre Enmascarado’, featuring the Phantom. The album style comic book contains 94 full color pages measuring 29.5cm x 22.5cm. It contains 3 Phantom comic strip stories, The Singh Brotherhood by Lee Falk and Ray Moore, plus The Gray Gang and Bent Beak Broder by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy. The front and back cover can be seen below.
Héroes de Papel is actually a reissue of a special El Hombre Enmascarado ‘Extra’ edition released by Buru Lan, S.A. De Edicionnes in November 1983. It contains 2 of the 3 stories found within that comic book. The El Hombre Enmascarado ‘Extra’ edition can be seen below.
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