Le Fantôme L’Integrale Des Huit Histoires De Jean-Yves Mitton (which translates to The Phantom: The Complete Eight Stories by Jean-Yves Mitton) is a comic book published by Éditions Black and White in France in 2022. The hardcover comic book contains eight Phantom comic strip stories, all illustrated by the French cartoonist and screenwriter Jean-Yves Mitton.
Éditions Black and White is a specialized French publishing house based in Strasbourg that has established itself as a premier name in the world of high-end, collector-grade comic book editions. Founded originally from the roots of the Alsace Bande Dessinée association, the publisher focuses on “luxurious” reproductions of classic works, often released in oversized formats with extremely limited print runs. Their catalog is distinguished by a commitment to the “objet d’art” philosophy, where the physical quality of the paper, binding, and printing is given as much weight as the narrative content itself.
The publisher’s editorial strategy centers on the restoration and prestige presentation of iconic Franco-Belgian and international series. They are particularly well-known for their Tirages de Luxe (deluxe editions), which frequently feature original black-and-white line art, allowing readers to appreciate the raw detail of the artist’s ink work without the distraction of modern coloring. Their portfolio includes celebrated titles such as XIII, Lucky Luke, and Tex, as well as collaborations with legendary artists like Régis Loisel and Olivier Vatine. These editions often include exclusive supplements, such as author interviews, unpublished sketches, and signed bookplates, catering to a dedicated base of bibliophiles and comic art collectors.
Beyond their focus on European classics, Éditions Black and White maintains a significant presence in the community through events like the “Off de Ouf” salon in Strasbourg, which they co-organize to celebrate illustrated books and fine art prints. They frequently utilize crowdfunding platforms like Ulule to gauge interest and fund ambitious archival projects, such as their comprehensive “intégrale” collections. By maintaining a small, passionate team and a selective publication schedule, they have successfully carved out a niche as a reference point for “rarities” in the competitive French comic market.
Le Fantôme L’Integrale Des Huit Histoires De Jean-Yves Mitton comic book contains a hardcover with 320 pages in both color and black and white measuring 24cm x 32cm. The 320 pages are broken down into 2 distinct sections, 260 pages featuring the eight Phantom stories by Jean-Yves Mitton (created between 1989 and 1993) and 45 pages featuring a color graphic notebook containing illustrations (a selection of original plates translated by Thierry Mornet and new lettering). The front and back covers can be seen below.
The comic book was published in a limited edition of 800 numbered copies, the first 400 of which, reserved for online purchasers, include a special print signed by the author and a 4-page insert detailing the true origins of the Phantom. Each edition contains an edition number printed on page two. Le Fantôme L’Integrale Des Huit Histoires De Jean-Yves Mitton was sold in a custom-designed cardboard storage box, with an image of the Phantom seen on the top of the box.
A forward by Jean-Yves Mitton and Thierry Mornet are published at the commencement of the comic book. The titles of the Phantom stories found within the comic book can be seen below on the Index page, all published with French text.
A sample of internal pages can be seen below.
The printed details regarding the locations around the globe where comic strip stories illustrated by Jean-Yves Mitton have been published can be found on pages 274 and 275, seen below.
The forward written by Thierry Mornet, translated to English can be seen below.
THE PHANTOM
The Ghost That Cannot Die
A proto-superhero created in the mid-1930s by the prolific Lee Fall, also the creator of Mandrake the Magician, in collaboration with Ray Moore on art. The Phantom (known in some parts of the world as the Phantom of Bengal due to a quirk of translation) has captivated many generations of readers. The passing down of powers and responsibilities from father to son (or daughter), a character who survives through the centuries—if we are to believe his origins—could this explain his enduring success?
Let’s revisit the story of this hero who cannot die… especially in the hearts of fans.
THE VERY FIRST IN THE PHANTOM SERIES…
In 1526, Sir Christopher Standish Walker, a young English aristocrat, is sailing east when he is shipwrecked on an unknown shore after his vessel is attacked by pirates. Rescued and taken in by the Bandar pygmy tribe, he becomes their protector and vows to fight against injustice. A new kind of jungle lord, he passes on to his descendants the responsibility he has assumed, becoming virtually “immortal”. He wears a ring representing his seal, a skull, which marks his enemies indelibly, like a tattoo. His lair is the “Skull Cave”, where he lives with his wolf-dog, Satan (Devil in the original version).
WHICH INCARNATION?
The authors who have taken on the role of Phantom in the series have often returned to his origins, based on the transmission of the Phantom’s attributes from generation to generation.
Despite some attempts that may seem out of place, such as Phantom 2040 (which consisted of transposing the essence of a classic pulp character into a science fiction setting), one of these incarnations seems to be universally accepted, derived from the version created by Lee Falk in the 1930s.
At the end of World War II, the Phantom acquires a secret identity: that of Kit Walker, a UN agent. He meets Diane Palmer, an explorer. The writers thus ensure the future lineage. It is clearly difficult to imagine him as homosexual, childless, or dying before meeting his soulmate, who will allow him to procreate and give birth to his successor. A sign of the times, the hypothesis—plausible though it was—that the Phantom only fathered daughters was never addressed by the authors, at least not at that time.
A REMARKABLE PUBLISHING ADVENTURE
First published in the New York American Journal, under license from the King Features Syndicate agency, starting in February 1936, the Phantom strip was drawn by numerous artists while Lee Falk wrote the scripts. Ray Moore, its graphic creator, was the initial artist, followed in 1947 by one of his assistants, Wilson McCoy, until his death in 1961. A few pages were drawn by Bill Lignate, before Seymour (Sy) Barry took over.
In France, the strips were published as early as 1937 in Aventures et Mystère, Robinson, Paris Jeunes, Story, and L’Aurore. Numerous collected editions have been published by S.A.G.E., Hachette, Les Éditions des Remparts, Slatkine, and Futuropolis. A few episodes (reprints, in this case) were roughly re-edited for publication in the Akim (Mon Journal) comic book. The Phantom reappeared in another comic book, in 2003, in a single issue of Spécial Zembla (Éditions Semic), featuring a previously unpublished episode by Scott Goodall and Jean-Yves Mitton, which is included in this collection.
The work of Jean-Noël Saintrapt and François Dumont, micro-publishers under the Images Innées label, should also be acknowledged. They published four French-language albums containing all eight episodes drawn by the creator of Mikros and Epsilon.
The character continues to be regularly published in the United States, passing from one publisher to another for decades, including Gold Key, Charlton, DC Comics, Marvel, and Moonstone. However, it is in Scandinavia—and also in Australia—that the Phantom remains incredibly popular. His old-fashioned, pulp-era charm, like that of Doc Savage, Tarzan, or the Shadow, still works, even if younger generations probably prefer more complex, less monolithic characters or those from a less “colonialist” culture.
On the other hand, having all the episodes drawn by Jean-Yves Mitton collected in a single cover is a wonderful way to immortalize them, just like the Phantom himself.
Thierry Mornet
[Thanks to Patrick Gaumer for the information taken from his World Dictionary of Comics.]
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