Rights & Brands
Autumn 2023 Catalogue
Comics and Graphic Novels
Rights & Brands is a 360° licensing and literary agency bringing Scandinavian rights and brands to a global arena. Starting from a strategic base in literature, art and design, R&B’s platform is built on knowledge, passion and people. Using all aspects of character representation and branding, from publishing and PR to licensing, merchandising and digital development, with a worldwide network of sub-agents and over 800 clients, R&B’s international insight and business capacity is unique.
Rights & Brands represents iconic Nordic brands, artists and authors and is the worldwide master agent on behalf of Moomin Characters. Other representation includes Tove Jansson, Stig Lindberg, Carl Larsson-gården Sundborn, Ilon Wikland, Hello Ruby, Mauri Kunnas and many more.
With its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and local branches in Helsinki, Oslo and Tokyo, R&B was founded in 2016 by Moomin Characters and Bulls, combining over 70 years of licensing experience.
Forget-Me-Not
by Anne Muhonen
by Sami Makkonen
Moomin p. 4
Graphic novel p. 8
Children's comic p. 20
Contact p. 25
Lily
by Janne Kukkonen
The Horse God p. 10
p. 19
the Thief p. 20
The Moomin comics were originally created by Tove Jansson and her brother Lars Jansson for the Evening News in London, at the time the world’s biggest newspaper. The comic was commissioned in the 1950s and the creative siblings produced the daily adventures for over 20 years. By the end of its run in 1975, Moomin comics were syndicated to 120 newspapers in over 40 countries, reaching more than 20 million readers daily.
Edition 448 pages | Anthology in a slipcase | 2014
Tove Jansson’s whimsical tales of Moominvalley resonate with children for their lighthearted spirit, and with adults for their incisive commentary on the banality of everyday life. The comics were revived in 2005 by Drawn & Quarterly and published to widespread acclaim, sparking a new generation of devoted Moomin fans with international editions around the world. This Deluxe edition was published in 2014 to commemorate the artist’s centenary. The collecion celebrates the classic comics the world adores and features an essay about Tove’s work on the Moomin strip.
Deluxe Edition 448 pages | Anthology in a slipcase | 2019
This volume collects the Moomin comics created by Lars Jansson, Tove's brother. Lars had long been involved in the creation of the Moomin strips — he translated them into English for publication. Though he had little knowledge of drawing, Lars took over the daily comic strip. Tove taught him, and after two years of sibling collaboration, Lars authored the strips independently for fourteen years. This Deluxe edition collects Lars Jansson’s contributions to the series alongside rare details and tributes by cartoonists and writers.
The Complete Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson Comic Strip Collection, volumes
1-10
The comics were revived by Drawn & Quarterly in 2005 in these beautiful hardback editions of collected comics in black and white. Volumes 1-5 include comics by Tove Jansson and volumes 6-10 include comics by Lars Jansson.
Volume 1
96 pages | Moomin and the Brigands, Moomin and Family Life, Moomin on the Riviera, Moomin’s Desert Island
Volume 2
96 pages | Moomin's Winter Follies, Moominmamma’s Maid, Moomin Builds a House, Moomin Begins a New Life
Volume 3
104 pages | Moomin Falls in Love, Moominvalley Turns Jungle, Moomin and the Martians, Moomin and the Sea, Club Life in Moominvalley
Volume 4
88 pages | Moomin goes Wild West, Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo, The Concientious Moomins, Moomin and the Comet, Moomin and the Golden Tail
Volume 5
88 pages | Moomin Winter, Moomin Under Sail, Fuddler's Courtship
Volume 6
88 pages | Moomin's Lamp, Moomin and the Railway, Moominpappa and the Spies, Moomin and the Circus
Volume 7
112 pages | Moomin and the Colonist, Moomin and the Scouts, Moomin and the Farm, Moomin and the Goldfields
Volume 8
96 pages | Moomin Family Robinson, Artists in Moominvalley, Sniff's Holiday Camp, The Inspector's Nephew
Volume 9
112 pages | Damsel in Distress, Fuddler and Married Life, Sniff's Sport Shop, Mymble's Diamond
Volume 10
96 pages | Moomin and the Vampire, Moomin and the TV, The Underdeveloped Moomins, Moomin and Aunt Jane
Moomin Colour Comics
16 fantastic comic adventures of the Moomins are available as single story, colour comic books, published by Drawn & Quarterly.
Moomin and the Brigands
56 pages strip #1
The iconic first Moomin comic strip by Tove Jansson is a thrilling introduction to the vibrant inhabitants of Moominvalley.
Moomin and Family Life
40 pages | strip #2
The heartwarming tale of Moomin’s reunion with his parents.
Moomin on the Riviera
48 pages | strip #3
Moominpappa and Snorkmaiden, glamorized by the prospects of movie stars and gambling, insist the whole family take a trip down to the Riviera.
Moomin’s Desert Island
48 pages | strip #4
The Moomins picnic with their ancestors, a pair of pirates and, best of all, Mymble.
Moomin’s Winter Follies
48 pages | strip #5
Moomin wakes up one morning to find the pond frozen over, and rather than hibernate, the family decides to brave the winter weather.
Moominmamma’s Maid
48 pages | strip #6
With a maid to help around the house, will the Moomins become respectable?
Moomin Builds a House
48 pages| strip #7
The debut appearance of everyone’s favourte pest, Little My!
Moomin Begins a New Life
40 pages | strip #8
A travelling prophet may hold the key to happiness, but do the Moomins really need it?
Moomin Falls in Love
48 pages | strip #9
With Moominvalley underwater, will Moomin’s romantic tendencies get him into trouble?
Moominvalley Turns Jungle
48 pages | strip #10
Moomins are forced to prove once and for all whether or not they’re related to hippopotamuses.
Moomin and the Martians
40 pages | strip #11
A flying saucher crashlands in Moominvalley and hijinks ensue.
Moomin and the Sea
56 pages | strip #12
The Moomin family moves to a remote island for the sake of art.
Club Life in Moominvalley
40 pages | strip #13
Moominmamma joins a club of robbers, but will her unshakeable moral code betray her?
Moomin and the Comet
40 pages | strip #17
How will the beloved residents of Moominvalley survive a comet?
Moomin and the Golden Tail
56 pages | strip #18
Moomin’s tail gets its fifteen minutes of fame.
Moomin Winter
60 pages | strip #19
Nothing goes according to plan when several unexpected guests show up mid-winter.
Ville Ranta (b. 1978) is an internationally renowned graphic novelist and one of Finland’s best-known cartoonists. Ranta has authored several graphic novels and albums that have been translated into many languages, including Swedish, French, and German. His expressive style and satirical, contemplative narrative are distinctive and have been awarded numerous times.
Ranta’s works are particularly well known in France, where he has received the National Order of Merit of the French State. In Finland, his many accolades include the Finnish State Prize, the Puupäähattu Award, and the Finlandia Prize in comics.
How I Conquered France
(Kuinka
valloitin Ranskan)Age 16+ | 168 pages | WSOY | 2021 | Colours: 4/4
Ville is a young, ambitious comic book author who has just started a promising career, with a few books to his credit and a bit of notoriety in his home country. He only dreams of one thing: to see his work published in France, the promised land of comics, where happiness and success are within reach of any talented artist.
One day, Ville’s dream finally seems to come true: one of the most popular authors in France offers to collaborate with him on an album that will be published by a major French publisher. Success seems to be close at hand, and Ville rushes to Paris to seize the opportunity. But once there, things don’t go as he imagined, and Ville soon realizes that all that glitters isn’t gold.
Irony, humor, and a good dose of self-deprecation punctuate the pages of this strongly autobiographical tale. Ville Ranta depicts, with remarkable frankness, the adventures of an artist in the almost obsessive pursuit of success and fortune. Between the lines, Ranta doesn’t fail to evoke the difficult, and sometimes downright impossible, relationship between creativity and commercial success, while painting a vitriolic portrait of the world of publishing.
"Ranta’s narrative is comically effortless and flows very smoothly."
The Jury of T he Comi C s f inlandia Prize
The King Loses His Head (Kuningas menettää päänsä)
Age 16+ | 184 pages | WSOY | 2018 | Colours: 4/4
A castle in decay, a mother on the verge of death, three superficial daughters and a demanding mistress. This is the daily life of a king who spends all his time ruling his kingdom, just as his ancestors have done for centuries. The only problem is, nothing seems to work anymore!
The castle is crumbling to a ruin and, without any servants to help him, the king himself must fix the leak in the ceiling. His court has been slowly diminishing for years: now it consists solely of members of his own family, and even they don’t know how to behave. It’s not long before the king becomes overwhelmed by the feeling that no one respects him, and, worst of all, he is unloved. All this, however, must not prevent him from freeing princesses from vengeful dragons and from seeking metaphysical answers to his existential
Sami Makkonen (b. 1975) is an accomplished comic book artist who has also worked with American publishers for well over a decade. Makkonen is best known for his four volumes of the Eisner Award nominated Hatter M. series, which has made to The New York Times Best Seller list.
Makkonen has received the Sarjis Award for Best Fantasy Comic, and his work has also been recognized with multiple awards in the US and Finland. His version of the Finnish national epic Kalevala was released in two parts in 2019 and 2020. The Horse God was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in comics in 2023.
The Horse God (Hevosjumala)
166 pages | Like Publishing | 2022 | Colours: 4/4
When the descending evening surprises a group of young men on a skiing trip, they find shelter at a house in the countryside. Luckily, the family living there welcomes them to stay the night. As the men settle in at the cabin, they soon notice the strangeness about this family, about the place, that has them questioning if they can leave soon enough to get home for Christmas.
This mysterious horror comic blends striking illustrations with intriguing Nordic folklore. Tales of occultism intertwined with multi-layered narration deliver a spine-chilling story. Sometimes, what lies in the shadows should be left alone, for what is yearning to come out may be impossible to contain once invited out in the open.
H.P. Lovecraft meets Midsommar in a fantastic folk horror graphic novel by the talented comic book artist.
"Unequivocally a masterpiece"
"The Horse God is an impressively grim comic book. … The atmosphere is built very precisely, and it holds throughout the work. [The book] really succeeds as a work of horror."Kir Javin K i T
Kalevala (Kalevala)
298 pages | Like Publishing | 2019
A stunning comic adaptation of the Finnish national epic Kalevala, which inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings The story tells the adventures and fates of wizard Väinämöinen, warrior Lemminkäinen, black-smith Ilmarinen and and several other larger-thanlife characters looking for love, riches and magic in the far-away lands of the ancient North.
The world of Kalevala is lyrical, harsh and perfectly unique.
Kalevala: Sampo (Kalevala - Sampo)
142 pages | Like Publishing | 2020
The stunning comic adaptation of the Finnish national epic Kalevala continues.
Väinämöinen, Lemminkäinen and their companions set on a journey towards the North to steal Sampo, the magical object that brings fortune to its possessor. However, their arch-enemy Louhi, The Mistress of North, awaits them with her dark magical powers.
Janne Toriseva (b. 1978) is a comics artist and writer whose previous work includes the long-running comic strip Oswald, which has been sold internationally.
Toriseva’s graphic novel The Whale was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in comics in 2020.
The Whale (Valas)
Age 12+ | 198 pages | Arktinen Banaani | Colours 4/4
The Whale is a bold graphic novel adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic, Moby Dick. Like the book, the album tells a detailed story of the harsh life of a whaler in the 19th century and the sailors who lose themselves out on the open seas. When their continued misfortunes start to suggest the sailors are cursed, Ahab, blinded by his thirst for revenge, steers his ship toward disaster.
The Whale draws a strong analogy between the past and the present when it asks if men are ever capable of listening to nature’s warnings.
The J ury of T he Comi C s f
"A glorious retelling of Moby Dick! The Whale is a masterful book."
s uomen Kuvaleh T i magazine
"An interesting interpretation of a classic work. The style and colours fit the concept impeccably."
inlandia Prize
Avi Heikkinen (b. 1984) is an award-winning comics artist and a screenwriter. His graphic novel Aperture was nominated for the 2020 Finlandia Prize in comics for its clever concept and profound themes. Heikkinen is also an avid lover of cinema, whose goal is to capture that ‘movie magic’ in his comics.
Aperture (Valotusaika)
232 pages | Pokuto | Colours: Black and white
Jamo is a loser. Divorced and penniless, he lives his life as a small-time crook when he chances upon a camera that can be used to shoot the past. Struggling to forgive himself for the mistakes he has made in his life, Jamo uses the camera to search for a young woman who has recently gone missing. Finding unlikely allies in a halfdeaf ex-policeman and a sarcastic AI-enhanced pig plush toy, Jamo uncovers secrets that will forever change his life.
Aperture is a unique photo comic shot entirely on location and post-processed into a mind-bending graphic novel which pushes the boundaries of the medium. It is a buddy-cop adventure with a sci-fi twist that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever wished they could change the past.
"A cinematic story with a touch of humour. In addition to the clever concept, the themes include fatherhood, discrimination, and prejudice."
The J ury of T he Comi C s f inlandia Prize
Pekka Lehtosaari is a director and screenwriter whose films and tv-series have been sold to over forty countries. He has been working with Disney for twenty years and has also localized all Hayao Miyazaki movies to Finnish. He wrote his first published comic strip in 1974.
Hannu Lukkarinen is an artist with over forty years of experience in the field, and over seventy books to his credit. He started drawing graphic novels in 1995. Lukkarinen’s works have been published in France, Italy, Germany and China.
Frozen
Hell (Raatteen Tie)
66 pages | Otava
The battle at Raate Road was a battle fought during the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland in January 1940. The battle is also known as Frozen Hell, where Finland defended itself against the Red Army, the local military vastly outnumbered by its Soviet counterparts.
Using 'motti' (encircling) tactics, three Finnish regiments managed to cut off Red Army supply chains, destroy two Soviet divisions as well as a tank brigade trapped on the road in the freezing cold, with temperatures plummeting to -40 degrees.
'Frozen Hell' is a visual account of a memorable battle of David versus Goliath.
Mari Ahokoivu
a comic artist who loves to draw cute and scary things. She draws comics for both adults and kids and has been published in Finland as well as abroad.
Oksi
380 pages | Asema Publishing | 2018 | Colours: 4/4
A bear mother has given birth to her new cubs. One of them, however, is different. She looks more like a flame than a bear, and is bullied by her siblings. Even the mother is at a loss with the strange newcomer. But deep down, the mother has her own task to overcome: she has to grow out of the shadow of her own mother, the resentful goddess Emuu, mother of all animals.
Drawing references both to the deep layers of Nordic mythology and stories ranging from Prometheus, The Ugly Duckling, and Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, Oksi is a breathtaking magnum opus by an extraordinary Finnish artist.
Publishers Wee K ly (s Tarred)
Based on Finnish mythology that recognizes the bear as the king of the forest, 'Oksi' is a unique and epic graphic novel that has been hailed as a masterpiece.
"Fluidly rendered in inky black and white washes; accents of colour leap off the page as the translation by Aronpuro flows smoothly."
Edith Hammar (b. 1992) grew up in Helsinki, studied at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, and now lives in Gothenburg. They have participated in numerous collective and solo art exhibitions, and three of their works are included in the collection at Moderna Museet, Stockholm. In 2022, Hammar was awarded the Stella Parland Prize for their art. Hammar's interactive drama game "Sexiga byxor" received the award for the best digital audio project of the year at the Prix Europa festival. Portal is Hammar's second graphic novel. Their debut, Homo Line, was shortlisted for the Finlandia Prize for Comics.
Portal (Portal)
215 pages | Förlaget | 2023 | Colours: 1/1
When Elia goes ice skating, an antiquated Moskvich car appears. And then, it disappears in a puff of smoke, as if by magic. But the next evening, the car and its driver, Eki, return with an enticing 1950s vibe. When Elia neglects his friends' movie night and karaoke, they become worried – is Elia slipping into depression again? Elia sinks deeper into the relationship with Eki, who truly seems to come straight from the past. It is as if Elia is disappearing into fantasies of a lawless and freer time.
In a timely, rebellious, and warmly depicted narrative, Edith Hammar portrays a love story that transcends the boundaries of time. Portal is a captivating journey where past and present collide, and where love knows no limits. It is a fable about longing – how it can grow at the expense of one's real life and relationships, ultimately leading to the realization that the freedom one yearns for is created in the present, not the past.
A beautifully melancholic tale where fantasy and reality, the past and the present, skillfully intertwine to weave a story of longing for a bygone era.
Anne Muhonen (b. 1979) is an illustrator who likes to tell stories through different kinds of styles. Muhonen loves telling stories through pictures and has worked as a freelance illustrator for over 20 years. Besides comics and children’s book illustrations, she likes to broaden her visual boundaries with photography and mural paintings.
Monstera Deliciosa 1: Finders Keepers
(Löytäjä saa pitää – Monstera deliciosa 1)
64 pages | Hertta Kustannus | 2023 | Colours: 4/4
When Alaska and her friends Skippy and Moussa find a peculiar stone and a small monstera plant outside, no one can guess where their discovery will lead them.
During the night, a strange creature suddenly appears in Alaska's room, introducing itself as Monster Master NeyNey, the caretaker of monstera plants. When NeyNey notices the boys' discovery of the stone, it becomes horrified: it is a judgement stone from the court of snakes. It has gone missing from its terrifying owner, and it must be returned immediately –before things go really wrong for everyone.
This all-ages comic combines the ordinary with the magical, inspiring readers to see their surroundings with fresh eyes.
Forget-Me-Not
(Älä unohda minua)
70 pages | Avain | 2021
A beautiful tale about a florist who reluctantly takes a teenage intern to her flower shop. As they slowly get to know each other, they realise they may have more in common than they thought, and the florist has to confront her own past.
Hilla works in a flower shop. She enjoys her work amidst beautiful flowers and lets customers visit the flower shop like a library, sensing colors and scents. When her ex, who works as a school counselor, asks Hilla to take in Eero, one of his students, as an intern, she reluctantly agrees.
It looks like Eero’s life is not going anywhere. He hangs out with the wrong crowd and his parents don’t seem to care. However, him and Hilla develop a warm and meaningful bond between them when they begin to realise that they are not that different after all.
With beautiful art and careful nuances, Anne Muhonen is able to highlight the characters’ vulnerabilities. Forget-Me-Not is a beautiful story about the importance of being seen and noticed. Everybody needs someone to trust.
Janne Kukkonen (b. 1983) is an animation director who has also made music videos and short films. Lily the Thief, which came out in 2016, is his first graphic novel, and Kukkonen was awarded the 2017 Finlandia Prize in comics for his work. This began an exciting trilogy, and the writer and illustrator was nominated again in 2020 for the second novel.
Lily the Thief: The Treasure of the Three Kings (Voro - Kolmen kuninkaan aarre)
Age 9+ | 280 pages | Like Publishing | Colours: 4/4 or black and white
Brave and resourceful Lily dreams of proving her skills to the Guild of Thieves and being acknowledged as a master thief. By chance, she gets mixed up in a battle between ancient kings and forgotten gods. Lily must make a choice between risking the world as she knows it or trying to prevent the ruin. But isn’t saving the whole world from destruction asking a bit too much from a little thief?
Janne Kukkonen’s thrilling fantasy adventure will enchant children and adults alike.
The Legion of Brimstone (Voro 2 - Tulikiven armeija)
Age 9+ | 339 pages | Like Publishing
Lily the little thief is tasked with assembling the talisman of the Legion of Brimstone – a mythical and potentially dangerous item. But as war draws near, Lily soon learns that she isn’t the only one searching for the powerful talisman. The foolhardy thief and her master find themselves caught in another web of mysteries and adventure.
"A fluent union of image, word, and story, where all the elements complement each other. This is a classic and rich fairy tale featuring a great antihero, and a coming-of-age story all in one package."
Kalle Hakkola (b. 1971) is a Finnish author who has also worked as a director of the Helsinki Comics Festival. Kalle has also worked widely in different fields of culture and art. He lives and works in Finland.
Mari Ahokoivu (b. 1984) is a Finnish illustrator and a comic artist who loves to draw cute and scary things. She draws comics for both adults and kids and has been published in Finland as well as abroad.
Sanni & Joonas: Cousin Hugo (Sanni & Joonas – Hugo-serkku)
72 pages | Kumiorava | Colours: 4/4
Five-year-old Sanni and seven-year-old Joonas are siblings on holiday in Spain. They spend their days in the sun together with their cousin Hugo. While Sanni plays football on the beach, Joonas and Hugo roam the streets of Barcelona and sneak into the Park Güell, where they meet some famous people, go on an imaginary adventure, and discover a lost key to a treasure vault.
Sanni & Joonas is a children’s comic about sibling rivalry, and, ultimately, family and friendship. It is a warmhearted, diverse comic which celebrates the wonderful imagination of children and endless summer days.
Johanna Witick (b. 1982 ) is an artist, author and graphic designer from Helsinki. Witick has worked as a graphic designer since 2002 and become a prolific artist with her own unique style. Her love of art comes from her childhood when drawing became an important hobby, and this inspired her to create her own series of books with a quirky character, Ozzy the Squirrel. Witick’s inspiration for Ozzy comes from her childhood neighborhood with plenty of squirrels living and moving around nearby.
Stories from Squirrelvalley: Ozzy and Chirp (Oravalaakson tarinat: Ossi ja Titityy) Age 6+ | 48 pages | Otava | 2023
A colourful and quirky graphic novel, Stories from Squirrelvalley introduces small readers to Ozzy, a curious squirrel, who is adopted by a cautious snail. After finding an abandoned egg, Ozzy makes his way through Squirrelvalley to find a home for the egg, while meeting peculiar animals on the way. What makes this series stand out is the sweet but not saccharine style and humour with little jokes reminiscent of The Simpsons for a suitably young age group, and the world which expands beyond Squirrelvalley in the future books.
This is a delightful read with many meaningful questions of who you are and what you want to be, including ignoring all advice by carers and even a philosophical dilemma of whether a wolf should become a vegetarian.
Children's Comic / Martin Widmark and Helena Willis
The comic magazine was launched by Egmont in Sweden in 2020, with six issues planned yearly. Rights & Brands sells all material for the artwork used in the magazine, activity book albums and omnibus releases. Each magazine contains two new stories.
Book rights sold to Poland, Norway, Finland Germany and Denmark to date.
Martin Widmark (b. 1961) is a Swedish writer and teacher. He is considered one of the most prominent writers of children’s fiction today. LasseMajas Detektivbyrå, (The JerryMaya Detective Agency) has been translated into more than 35 languages. Widmark's books are constantly on the best-seller lists, on the libraries’ most popular lists, and together with Helena Willis, he has been awarded the children’s own book award 11 times for the JerryMaya titles.
Helena Willis (b. 1964)
is a Swedish illustrator and author. Helena claims to have the best job in the world: ‘I play all day and every day’. Together with Martin Widmark, she has been creating the book series of JerryMaya Detective Agency since 2002.
Zackarias har berättat om sina resor och vi vill också åka iväg. Du kan vakta ringen och vara kejsare så länge vi är borta.
Tack! Det gör jag så gärna. Det betyder...
Siri the Viking Comic Series
...att du kan följa med mig hem igen!
Om pappa inte ska vara kejsare så behöver jag inte bli rådgivare!
Siri the Viking grade readers. The amusing series mixes imaginative adventures with historical settings and facts about ‘the age of Vikings.’ The main character, a Viking girl named Siri, uses courage and cleverness to prevent the Viking villains Ivar and Grym from stealing treasures or plundering cities.
The comic format encourages reluctant readers, and fans of Asterix through the eyes of a young girl. Many parts of Viking life are portrayed in a historically accurate way, and the layout supports the non-fiction aspect by including special fact boxes.
Det är klart att du ska följa med Siri.
