The Phantom: Dood in Brugge (which translates to The Phantom: Death in Bruges) comic book was published by Saga Uitgaven in Belgium in September 2015. The single edition is written by Donne Avenell and illustrated by renowned French comic artist Jean-Yves Mitton, the story originally debuted as part of his work for the Swedish Fantomen (published by Egmont/Semic) comic book series in 1991.
Saga Uitgaven, often listed as Saga Ausgaben in German-speaking regions, is a prominent Belgian publisher specializing in Dutch-language comic books (stripboeken). Operating out of Flanders, the publishing house has built a strong reputation across Belgium and the Netherlands for producing high-quality physical editions tailored specifically for avid collectors, comic enthusiasts, and European comic art historians.
The publisher’s editorial catalog is heavily focused on Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées, classic European adventure stories, historical fiction, and comprehensive omnibuses (integralen). They frequently translate and publish works from iconic European artists and writers, such as Jean-Yves Mitton (Vae Victis!, The Phantom), Hermann (Comanche, Towers of Bois-Maury), and Jim, while also localizing acclaimed modern graphic novels and historical sagas that originally debuted in French or Scandinavian markets.
Saga Uitgaven is particularly distinguished by its commitment to premium production values. Most of their releases are issued as sturdy hardcovers printed on heavy paper stock, often accompanied by extensive background dossiers, archival material, creator interviews, and historical context essays. By preserving classic series in complete omnibus collections and bringing rare foreign-market stories to Dutch-speaking readers, Saga Uitgaven has established itself as a cornerstone publisher for European comic preservation and appreciation.
The Phantom: Dood in Brugge was released in both a soft and hard cover format, published with 40 black and white pages measuring 22cm x 30cm with Dutch text. Cover art for the comic book is illustrated by Jean-Yves Mitton and colored by Jean-Christophe Perrin, with the front and back covers seen below.
Set in the 17th century, the comic strip adventure follows an ancestral Phantom during a historic venture into the Flemish city of Bruges. In a dramatic blend of action and historical fiction, the Ghost Who Walks crosses paths with the legendary Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Mitton’s detailed, realistic art style brings the cobblestone streets and canals of historical Bruges to life as the Phantom navigates a dangerous web of intrigue and violence.
In addition to the main comic adventure, this edition features an extensive background dossier that explores Jean-Yves Mitton’s career in the superhero genre and details the long, storied publishing history of The Phantom. It stands out as a unique bridge between Franco-Belgian comic traditions and American superhero heritage, making it a notable release for European Phantom collectors.
A sample of internal pages can be seen below.
The back cover offers a concise overview of the contents of the comic book. In English, the description states:
Before Jean-Yves Mitton made a name for himself in the realistic historical genre, he had already navigated quite a few waters. His superhero comic production “made in France” in particular, is a lesser-known chapter for Dutch speakers. For five years, between 1988 and 1993, Mitton briefly returned to the superhero genre by drawing The Phantom, exclusively for the Swedish market, where the American comic series is an unparalleled success.
One remarkable story from The Phantom by Mitton deserved a translation for special reasons. It is set in 17th-century Bruges, where an ancestral Phantom runs into none other than the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn.
A background dossier provides an extensive introduction to Mitton’s comic activities and gives you a backstory of The Phantom.
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