Tintin is what you might call a celebrity among comic book characters. Just like Clark Kent, the Phantom and Donald Duck. These are comics that have been around for decades, but thanks to the skill of the creators, they can still be just as entertaining and exciting. For some, comics featuring superheroes, Disney characters and agents have become treasured collectibles. For others, comic books offer something new and fascinating to explore.
Comic books with action and adventure
Detectives, agents and superheroes in tights often characterize this genre. They include iconic comic book characters such as Läderlappen and Modesty Blaise. Many of these comics were immensely popular in Sweden for a long time, and some have also become highly collectible here on Tradera.
For whom is this type of comic book suitable?
– Comics in this genre are suitable for those who enjoy adventure in all its forms, be it comics, movies or games. But today, it is not so certain that these series will find their potential audience. This is simply because these types of comics have lost some of their former popularity. For example, Marvel heroes have become huge on the movie screen now, but it is a fairly small part of the movie audience that goes on to the comics where they came from, says librarian and artistic director of the Comics Center Ola Hellsten.
What are the classic comic books in the genre?
– This genre has been popular for a long time. Fantomen is perhaps the best known and most viable adventure magazine. From the 1940s to the 1980s, it was almost an icon among Swedish comic books. Today, Europe, led by Sweden, produces its own licensed version, and has done so since the 1970s when the American edition was simply not enough. That’s why The Phantom is still more popular in Sweden than in his home country.
– Another comic book that still lives on is the Swedish detective and agent magazine Agent X9, which includes Modesty Blaise. It was a series that started with strips in the British daily press. Sweden has a long tradition of collecting newspaper comics in magazine form. But today, the X9 mix also includes French and Belgian album series.
Popular adventure-themed series:
- The Phantom – the early editions are sought after by collectors here on Tradera!
- Agent Modesty Blaise
- Agent X9
- Superman
- Spider-Man – early Swedish superhero comics and Swedish Marvel editions from the 60s to 80s have high collector value.
Joke magazines and comics with humor
Many humor magazines in Sweden also have their origins in newspaper publications. The comic strips published were often simply drawn with easily accessible jokes, and became so popular that they were collected in their own magazines and comic books. Today, the humorous genre is widespread and there are many well-known titles for both the beginner and the comic connoisseur.
There are many different joke magazines – how do I find the right humor magazine for me?
– To put it simply, there are different types of humor comics, so it depends on what you’re looking for. We have a domestic Swedish comic tradition that has its roots in bush comedy and tends towards military humor. There are also elements of rural everyday life. They have been modernized to some extent today, but they still live on in their familiar context. Even though many have not served in the army, there are many who find security in and appreciate, for example, the 91st, says Ola Hellsten and continues:
– Then there are magazines for those who grew up reading the comics page in newspapers, where Knasen or Larsson! are good examples. These comics create a big dose of nostalgia with something that is accessible and simple. Another variant of humor comics is also satire and adult comics that started with Svenska Mad in the 60s.
– To find more contemporary comics, you can search for magazines like Galago or Herman Hedning – two very different publications, but there you will find a contemporary, and in my opinion, more engaging humor. Galago is not really a pure humor magazine, but also contains a lot of politics and autobiography, says Ola Hellsten.
Comics for both children and adults
For those looking for a combination of both excitement and humor, there are series that have both ingredients. Often this is a genre that can also be appreciated by different ages. Within this category there are many classics with great collector value and which can often be found here on Tradera.
What are the characteristics of these series?
– Many of these magazines have actually been most popular in book form, as comic books or albums. They are often “comic adventures”, that is, adventures mixed with different types of humor, slapstick for example. Then a characteristic is that it is not always so realistically drawn and that the magazines can contain mythical animals, such as Donald Duck, says Ola Hellsten.
Who are these newspapers for?
– These comics are aimed at a range of ages. Today, many collectors are interested in these magazines and Donald Duck, for example, is a magazine that many nostalgic people still appreciate. Bamse is probably the magazine within the genre that suits younger children. Among slightly older children and young people, manga comic books (Japanese comics) are also very popular, although they are hardly published in Swedish anymore.
Popular comics and comic books for both adults and children:
- Asterix
- Tintin
- Lucky Luke
- Bamse (mainly for children) – the earliest editions from the 70s are usually treasures!
- Donald Duck editions from the 50s and 60s are most sought after by collectors on Tradera!
- Swedish manga releases from the 00s (Dragon Ball, One Piece and Conan the Master Detective)
Text: Amanda Blennborn, freelance journalist
