Moomin comic strips
Encyclopedia
Moomin is a comic strip created by Tove Jansson
, and followed up by Lars Jansson, featuring their Moomin
family of characters.
The first comic strip, entitled Mumintrollet och jordens undergång (Moomintroll and The End of The World) was a short-lived project for the children's section of the Finland-Swedish
leftist newspaper Ny Tid
. It was written between 1947 and 1948, at the request of the editor, a friend of Jansson's, Atos Wirtanen
. The series was published with two new strips weekly, and was mainly an adaptation of Comet in Moominland
. The series has been reprinted in book form under the name Jorden går under (The World is Ending) by the newspaper.
The main series of Moomin comic strips were made directly for the British market: they were spread by the British Associated Newspapers
comic strip syndicate and the original publisher was the Evening News
newspaper. The series originally appeared in newspapers from 1954–1975. At its peak, Moomin appeared in over 40 countries and about 120 papers, with over 20 million readers daily, making it the most successful Finnish comic strip ever published. Tove and Lars Jansson received the Finnish Comic Strip Association's "Puupää-hattu" award in 1980. .
In the 1990s, a comic book version of Moomin was produced in Scandinavia after Dennis Livson and Lars Jansson's Moomin animated series was shown on television. The Janssons had no involvement in these comic books. However in the wake of the comic books success, two new Moomin comic strips were launched under the artistic and content oversight of Lars and his daughter, Sophia Jansson-Zambra
. Sophia now provides sole oversight for the strips.
publisher Drawn and Quarterly
. The first 5 volumes collect the Tove and Tove/Lars strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip. The 6th volume collects the Lars strips, titled Moomin: The Complete Lars Jansson Comic Strip.
Tove Jansson
Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-Finnish novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. She is best known as the author of the Moomin books.- Biography :...
, and followed up by Lars Jansson, featuring their Moomin
Moomin
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses...
family of characters.
The first comic strip, entitled Mumintrollet och jordens undergång (Moomintroll and The End of The World) was a short-lived project for the children's section of the Finland-Swedish
Finland-Swedish
Finland Swedish is a general term for the closely related cluster of dialects of Swedish spoken in Finland by Swedish-speaking Finns as their mother tongue...
leftist newspaper Ny Tid
Ny Tid (Finland)
Ny Tid is a Swedish Green Leftist weekly magazine in Finland. It was founded in 1944 as Swedish political magazine for the Finnish left wing umbrella organization SKDL. The magazine has been independent from political parties since 1991, when its ownership was transferred to the reader owned...
. It was written between 1947 and 1948, at the request of the editor, a friend of Jansson's, Atos Wirtanen
Atos Wirtanen
Atos Kasimir Wirtanen was a Finnish left-wing intellectual, journalist, member of Finnish parliament and cultural critic. He was born in Saltvik. Wirtanen rose to parliament from the Social Democratic Party of Finland list, but in 1946 he defected to the Finnish People's Democratic League...
. The series was published with two new strips weekly, and was mainly an adaptation of Comet in Moominland
Comet in Moominland
Comet In Moominland is the second in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomin books, published in 1946....
. The series has been reprinted in book form under the name Jorden går under (The World is Ending) by the newspaper.
The main series of Moomin comic strips were made directly for the British market: they were spread by the British Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
comic strip syndicate and the original publisher was the Evening News
Evening News
Evening News may refer to:In television news:*CBS Evening News, an American news broadcast*ITV Evening News, a UK news broadcast*JNN Evening News, a Japanese news broadcastIn newspapers:...
newspaper. The series originally appeared in newspapers from 1954–1975. At its peak, Moomin appeared in over 40 countries and about 120 papers, with over 20 million readers daily, making it the most successful Finnish comic strip ever published. Tove and Lars Jansson received the Finnish Comic Strip Association's "Puupää-hattu" award in 1980. .
In the 1990s, a comic book version of Moomin was produced in Scandinavia after Dennis Livson and Lars Jansson's Moomin animated series was shown on television. The Janssons had no involvement in these comic books. However in the wake of the comic books success, two new Moomin comic strips were launched under the artistic and content oversight of Lars and his daughter, Sophia Jansson-Zambra
Sophia Jansson-Zambra
Sophia Jansson is the daughter of cartoonist Lars Jansson and the niece of the famous Finnish writer and painter Tove Jansson. Jansson has worked as a Spanish language teacher, creative/artistic director, chairman, and majority shareholder of Oy Moomin Characters, Ltd., and provided direct...
. Sophia now provides sole oversight for the strips.
Republication
The comic strips are, as of 2011, being republished in a set of hardback books, in original publication order, by CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
publisher Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
. The first 5 volumes collect the Tove and Tove/Lars strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip. The 6th volume collects the Lars strips, titled Moomin: The Complete Lars Jansson Comic Strip.
Comic strip stories
The strip was divided into series, each with distinct titles and storylines.Number | English name | Swedish name | Finnish name | Creator(s) | Date of appearance | Republication notes |
0. | Moomintroll and the End of the World | Mumintrollet och jordens undergång | Muumipeikko ja maailmanloppu | Tove | July 2, 1948 | - |
1. | Moomin and the Brigands | Mumintrollet | Muumipeikko | Tove | July 7, 1954 | Reprinted in Drawn and Quarterly Drawn and Quarterly Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s... 's Moomin Vol.1 (2006) |
2. | Moomin and Family Life | Muminfamiljen | Muumiperhe | Tove | February 9, 1955 | |
3. | Moomin on the Riviera | Mumin på Rivieran Familjen lever högt |
Muumiperhe Rivieralla | Tove | April 13, 1955 | |
4. | Moomin's Desert Island | Den ensliga ön | Yksinäinen saari | Tove | May 18, 1955 | |
5. | Moomin's Winter Follies | Den farliga vintern | Vaarallinen talvi | Tove | June 8, 1955 | Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) |
6. | Moominmamma's Maid | Låtsaslek | Kuvitteluleikki | Tove | February 22, 1956 | |
7. | Moomin Builds a House | Mumin bygger ett hus Att bygga ett hus |
Talonrakennus | Tove | May 2, 1956 | |
8. | Moomin Begins a New Life | Mumin börjar ett nytt liv Vi börjar ett nytt liv |
Aloitamme uuden elämän | Tove | June 27, 1956 | |
9. | Moomin Falls in Love | Mumin blir kär Mumintrollet blir förälskat |
Muumipeikko rakastuu | Tove | July 25, 1956 | Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) |
10. | Moomin Valley Turns Jungle | Mumindalen blir djungel Vi bor i en djungel |
Viidakkoelämää | Tove | September 12, 1956 | |
11. | Moomin and the Martians | Mumin och marsmänniskorna Mumintrollet och marsinnevånarna |
Muumipeikko ja marsilaiset | Tove | January 23, 1957 | |
12. | Moomin and the Sea | Mumin och havet Muminfamiljen och havet |
Muumiperhe ja meri | Tove | April 3, 1957 | |
13. | Club Life in Moomin Valley | Föreningsliv i Mumindalen Föreningsliv |
Yhdistyselämää Muumilaaksossa | Tove | July 24, 1957 | |
14. | Moomin Goes Wild West | Mumintrollet i vilda västern Mumin i Vilda Västern |
Muumipeikko villissä lännessä | Tove/Lars | August 14, 1957 | Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) |
15. | Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo | Snorkfröken i rokoko Snorkfröken i Rococo |
Niiskuneiti rokokoossa | Tove/Lars | 1958 | |
16. | Conscientious Moomin | Mumin och medborgarkänslan Mumin blir social |
Muumipeikko ja velvollisuudentunto | Tove/Lars | 1958 | |
17. | Moomin and the Comet | Mumin och kometen | Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti | Tove/Lars | 1958 | |
18. | Moomin and the Golden Tail | Mumin och den gyllene svansen Den gyllene svansen |
Muumipeikko ja kultainen häntä | Tove | 1958 | |
19. | Moomin Winter | Muminvinter | Muumitalvi | Tove/Lars | 1959 | Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.5 (2010) |
20. | Moomin under Sail | Mumin till sjöss | Muumipeikko merillä | Tove/Lars | 1959 | |
21. | Fuddler's Courtship | Klåttdjurets frieri | Hosulin kosinta | Tove/Lars | 1959 | |
22. | Moomin's Lamp | Mumins lampa | Muumin lamppu | Lars | 1960 | Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) |
23. | Moomin and the Railway | Mumin och järnvägen | Muumipeikko ja rautatie | Lars | 1960 | |
24. | Moomin and the Spies | Muminpappa och spionerna | Muumipappa ja vakoojat | Lars | 1960 | |
25. | Moomin and the Circus | Mumin och cirkusen | Muumipeikko ja sirkus | Lars | 1960 | |
26. | Moomin the Colonist | Mumin Nybyggaren | Muumit uudisasukkaina | Lars | 1961 | - |
27. | Moomin and the Scouts | Mumin och scouterna | Muumipeikko ja partiolaiset | Lars | 1961 | - |
28. | Moomin and the Farm | Mumin brukar jorden | Muumipeikko maanviljelijänä | Lars | 1961 | - |
29. | Moomin and the Goldfields | Mumin och guldgrävarna | Muumipeikko kullankaivajana | Lars | 1961 | - |
30. | Moomin Family Robinson | Robinson Mumin | Robinson Muumi | Lars | 1962 | - |
31. | Artists in Moomin Valley | Mumin och konsten | Muumipeikko ja taide | Lars | 1962 | - |
32. | Sniff's Holiday Camp | Sniff's badort | Nipsun kylpylä | Lars | 1962 | - |
33. | The Inspector's Nephew | Polismästarens brorson | Poliisimestarin veljenpoika | Lars | 1962 | - |
34. | Damsel in Distress | Dam i dilemma | Neitonen ahdingossa | Lars | 1963 | - |
35. | Fuddler and Married Life | Knappar och äktenskap | Nappeja ja avioliittoja | Lars | 1963 | - |
36. | Sniff's Sport Shop | Sniff's sportshop Sniffs sportaffär |
Nipsun urheiluliike | Lars | 1963 | - |
37. | Mymble's Diamond | Mymlans diamant | Mymmelin timantti | Lars | 1963 | - |
38. | Moomin and the Vampire | Mumin och vampyren | Muumit ja vampyyri | Lars | 1964 | - |
39. | Moomin and the TV | Mumin och TV | Muumipeikko ja televisio | Lars | 1964 | - |
40. | The Underdeveloped Moomins | De underutvecklade mumintrollen | Alikehittyneet muumit | Lars | 1964 | - |
41. | Moomin and Aunt Jane | Mumin och moster | Muumipeikko ja täti | Lars | 1964 | - |
42. | Moomin and the National Park | Mumin och naturparken | Muumit ja luonnonpuisto | Lars | 1965 | - |
43. | Moomin and the Good Old Days | Mumin och den Gamla Goda Tiden Den gamla goda tiden |
Muumipeikko ja vanhat hyvät ajat | Lars | 1965 | - |
44. | Moomin's Pet | Hundliv i Mumindalen | Koiranelämää Muumilaaksossa | Lars | 1965 | - |
45. | Moomin the Private Eye | Mumin detektiven | Muumisalapoliisi | Lars | 1966 | - |
46. | Spring in Moomin Valley | Vårkänslor | Kevättunteita | Lars | 1966 | - |
47. | Moomin Rescues a Princess | Mumin räddar en prinsessa | Muumipeikko pelastaa prinsessan | Lars | 1966 | - |
48. | Moomin and Agent 008 ½ | Mumin och agent 008½ | Muumipeikko ja agentti 008 ½ | Lars | 1966 | - |
49. | Moomin Lives Dangerously | Mumin lever farligt | Muumipeikon vaarallinen elämä | Lars | 1967 | - |
50. | Moomins in Torrellorca | Mumin på Torrelorca | Muumit Torrelorcalla | Lars | 1967 | - |
51. | Snorkmaiden Crashes Society | Snorkfröken i societeten | Niiskuneiti seurapiireissä | Lars | 1967 | - |
52. | Moomins in Ancient Greece | Redan de gamla grekerna | Jo muinaiset kreikkalaiset | Lars | 1967 | - |
53. | Sniff Goes Good | Sniff blir god | Nipsu parantaa tapansa | Lars | 1968 | - |
54. | Moomin the Journalist | Redaktör Mumin | Muumipeikko toimittajana | Lars | 1968 | - |
55. | Moomin and the Orphans | Mumin och de föräldralösa | Muumipeikko ja orpolapset | Lars | 1968 | - |
56. | Sir Moomin | Riddar Mumin | Ritarimuumi | Lars | 1969 | - |
57. | Horsey Moomin | Mumin till häst | Muumipeikko ratsailla | Lars | 1969 | - |
58. | Moomin and the Mermaid | Mumin och sjöjungfrun | Muumipeikko ja merenneito | Lars | 1969 | - |
59. | Emancipated Moomins | Missans återkoms | Miskan paluu | Lars | 1970 | - |
60. | Moomin and the Radicals | Mumin och Radikalerna | Muumipeikko ja radikaalit | Lars | 1970 | - |
61. | Moomin Christmas | Mumin-Jul | Muumijoulu | Lars | 1970 | - |
62. | Moomin in Ancient Egypt | Mumin i Egypten | Muumipeikko Egyptissä | Lars | 1971 | - |
63. | Sniff Falls in Love | Sniff blir kär | Nipsu rakastuu | Lars | 1971 | - |
64. | Moomin Engagement | Mumin förlovar sig | Muumipeikon kihlaus | Lars | 1971 | - |
65. | Moomin and the Flying Dutchman | Mumin och den flygande Holländaren | Muumipeikko ja Lentävä hollantilainen | Lars | 1972 | - |
66. | Snorkmaiden the Seer | Snorkfröken blir synsk | Niiskuneidistä tulee ennustaja | Lars | 1972 | - |
67. | Moomin and the Beach | Mumin och badstranden | Muumipeikko ja uimaranta | Lars | 1973 | - |
68. | Moomin Gets Rich | Mumin blir rik | Muumipeikko rikastuu | Lars | 1973 | - |
69. | Moomin and the Guru | Mumin och Gurun | Muumipeikko ja guru | Lars | 1973 | - |
70. | Moominpappa and Old Age | Muminpappan på ålderns brant | Muumipappa vanhuuden porteilla | Lars | 1974 | - |
71. | Moomin in Battle | Batalj i Mumindalen | Taistelu Muumilaaksosta | Lars | 1974 | - |
72. | Moomin in Neander Valley | Mumin i Neanderdalen | Muumipeikko Neanderthalissa | Lars | 1974 | - |
73. | Moomin and the Ten Piggy Banks | Mumin och de tio sparbössorna | Muumipeikko ja kymmenen säästöporsasta | Lars | 1975 | - |