Oh, hey, by the way… it’s Hei muuten
Introducing a Unique Comic Book Series from Finland
Comic book page from Happy Holiday by Riina Noro
The Hei muuten Story
Greetings reader! Please safely board the Quickest Flip boat as we travel for this article across the Atlantic Ocean to Northern Europe and the country of Finland. It is a land of beautiful forests and lakes, where hockey is a part of life and the winters are long. It is here in 2022 that an idea for a collaborative comic book project began to grow.
The series, Hei muuten ('Hey, by the way'), showcases debut comic books from eight artists with disabilities at progressive studios across Finland. These artists were brought together by Miissa Rantanen, a comic artist and art educator who mentors at these studios.
In Finnish, the word "muuten" also sometimes implies doing things differently - or something new sprouting up on the side. The project describes itself as "an invitation to look to the edges of the art field, where comics can be much more than what we are used to." And this collection is certainly that.
The series features work from the following artists:
Joannis Clementides: God of Fire
Rosa Haikarainen: Wind
Anna-Stina Helander: Flowers and Hobby Horses
Olli Kanninen: Cowboy Galloping Death and Landfill at the bottom of the Pond
Maija Möttö: Love Tour
Riina Noro: Happy Holiday
Elias Pylvänäinen: Life of Pekka
Kenneth Wallenius: Space Thoughts
We interviewed Miissa for this issue of Quickest Flip to hear more about how this project came to be, and to take a look at what the future may hold. You can read that interview below, followed by a showcase of the striking work from each of the eight contributing artists, giving a glimpse into the Hei muuten comic book series.
Comic book page from Happy Holiday by Riina Noro
Interview with Miissa Rantanen
Hello Miissa! Thanks for doing an interview with Quickest Flip and shining a light on this comic book series. To start, how did you get involved in mentoring at these supported studios, and how did the idea for Hei muuten first come about?
Hi! It’s a pleasure to do this interview, thank you for having me.
It all started when I worked briefly as a teaching assistant in a classroom for students on the autism spectrum. The way the students drew, wrote, and told stories was incredibly inspiring and captivating to watch.
I’m personally a fan of experimental comics, and I quickly realized that the storytelling of individuals requiring special support could translate beautifully into the comic book format. I felt it could result in some fascinating contemporary comics.
So, I reached out to three supported art studios. Together, we created an outsider-themed issue for the contemporary comics magazine Kuti (read online here). After that, I began dreaming of a more long-term comic project with artists who need special support, and that is how the idea for the Hei muuten book series started to take shape.
The underlying idea behind the series was to diversify the contemporary comics scene; artists needing special support often bring something completely unseen to the artistic conversation. On the other hand, I also wanted the book series to bridge the gap that often leaves artists requiring special support excluded from the mainstream comics community.
Comic book page from Flowers and Hobby Horses by Anna-Stina Helander
Comic book page from Flowers and Hobby Horses by Anna-Stina Helander
What was the selection process for which artists would be included in the series? Were the artists already creating narrative artwork but just not in comic book form, or were they already creating comics in the studio?
I wanted to include artists from different parts of Finland and from diverse backgrounds. Some of the artists had made comics before, some had read them, and for others, comics were a completely new territory. I collaborated with four supported art studios, which is where the artists were selected from. It was difficult to choose just eight artists, but the selection was limited by resources such as time and budget.
Comic book page from God of Fire by Joannis Clementides
Comic book page from God of Fire by Joannis Clementides
What was the process of working with the artists to complete their books? Were there any memorable moments during the creation process?
Oh, there are so many wonderful memories! The process was truly different with each artist.
Joannis Clementides was already a veteran comic maker—for him, I just sharpened pencils and encouraged him to draw larger panels so the text and characters would stand out more clearly. Maija Möttö’s story-driven animal drawings transitioned into the book exactly as they were. I would have preferred Maija to make slightly smaller drawings so they could be scanned, but she wasn’t having it, so the large drawings had to be photographed instead.
Elias Pylvänäinen drew the same way he always had—we just divided his paper into panels using masking tape. For Anna-Stina Helander, we achieved a comic-like feel by using colored drawing paper to make the pages feel like panels.
I turned Riina Noro's drawing paper from landscape to portrait orientation so that the images would fit the book layout. I also asked Riina to write out descriptions for her complex and action-packed drawings. Similarly, with Olli Kanninen, we looked for the right way to combine rich visual storytelling with equally rich text.
Kenneth Wallenius drew space-themed pieces, which we then tried to piece together into a linear story. Rosa Haikarainen would sometimes draw panels and characters in a comic style, but she also drew more freely, creating abstract images. Her comics became like short graphic poems.
We worked on the comics for two years. It was wonderful how well I got to know the artists during that time. Working with the Hei muuten comic artists was easy and fun. The atmosphere was always warm and sincere—even when Riina Noro wondered how I could have such poor general knowledge for not knowing the history of the Balkan region.
What has the public reception been for the Hei muuten comic series? Is it beloved in Finland, and was it well-received by the greater comic artist community?
The reception has been warm. My goal was for the Hei muuten series to become an integral part of the comics scene without being labeled as "outsider art." Because of this, I've been glad to see the press reviews, which have welcomed the books as a breath of fresh air in comic art. The Hei muuten series was also awarded the Book Act of the Year prize, as it was considered a significant contribution to book art.
What does the future hold? Do the artists continue to make comics in the studio, or have they moved on to other projects? And perhaps most importantly - is there a part two of Hei Muuten in the works?
The artists continue to work in the field of visual arts at art studios. Some of them have kept drawing comics, and all of them have many other wonderful projects underway as well. Most of the Hei muuten artists are skilled in multiple mediums, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, and more. They participate in group exhibitions and also hold their own solo shows.
For me, working with the Hei muuten artists has been a truly cherished project. It has given me a lot of new perspective on making comics and what comic art can be. I would love to continue the project in some way in the future—especially since I know there are many artists requiring special support who would be ready to create comic books. Right now, however, there is nothing concrete in the works just yet. That said, I will be hosting an outsider comics table at the Helsinki Comics Festival in September, where artists who need special support can bring their comic publications to be sold.
