One of the advantages of phan phav Fantomen cover artists Henrik Sahlström not drawing as many covers since 2022 is it has allowed Fantomen to spread the load of covers and trial several new artists. In 2023 and so far in 2024 (this interview published end of June 2024), there has been 12 artist combinations including three new artists.
One of these new artists is Henry Johannes and he spent some time with us answering some of our questions. You can follow him at his website and Instagram.
Chronicle Chamber: Thank you for joining us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? What country and region are you from?
Henry Johannes: My name is Henry Johannes, and I was born in Sweden. My parents however are from Finland.
CC: Where did you study art?
HJ: I studied a year at Konstskolan I Stockholm (the art school in Stockholm in 1979, then at the RMI-BERGHS advertising school. I started freelancing as an illustrator from 1986.
CC: What made you want to be an artist?
HJ: One of the reasons I wanted to be an illustrator was actually The Phantom, among other comic books I used to read. I started to read the Phantom at the age of eight which was all the way back in 1972.
CC: How did you get the role of the Phantom for Egmont?
HJ: I sent a few of my Phantom illustrations to the editors, and they liked my work.
CC: What are you enjoying about working with The Phantom? Do you have any past Phantom artists that you look up to?
HJ: I like the way Sy Barry and Jaime Vallvè drew him. They were masters. It is a challenge to draw the Phantom. I don't like the way he is drawn today.
CC: Do you work traditionally using pencils, inks on paper or do you prefer working on the computer?
HJ: Since I belong to the older guard, I master both the traditional way of painting and digital painting. Nowadays I prefer to paint digitally.
CC: Do you accept commissions and how can they contact you?
HJ: I do accept commissions. You can contact me via Instagram or my website.
CC: Do you have a place where phans can see and follow your work?
HJ: My website: https://www.tecknaren.nu and or Instagram @henryjohannesm
CC: Thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing more of your work on our Fantomen magazines.
