# Moomin comic strips

Moomin (Swedish: Mumin / Mumintrollen; Finnish: Muumipeikko) is a comic strip created by Tove Jansson, and followed up by her younger brother 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 to 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 book's 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. The original comic strip stories made by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson has had adaptations including Moomin (1990) anime series and the 2014 animated film based on Moomin on the Riviera comic strip story.

## History

The comic strip was born, when Charles Sutton, the leader of the Associated Newspapers syndicate contacted Tove Jansson. Jannson's first Moomin books Comet in Moominland (1946) and Finn Family Moomintroll (1948) had already been translated to English and had been successful in the United Kingdom. In a letter to Jansson in January 1952, Sutton asked if she was willing to transfer the Moomins to comic strip format:
    "It has come to my mind, that your 'Moomin' family could make an interesting comic strip, which would not necessarily be aimed at children. It is obvious that the Moomin family appeals to children, but we think these wonderful creatures could be used in comic strip form to satirise our so-called civilised lifestyle."
At the time, Tove Jansson had already had experience in drawing Moomin comic strips. She had already published a long comic strip story Mumintrollet och jordens undergång in the Finland-Swedish Ny Tid newspaper in 1947, which was loosely based on her book Comet in Moominland. The comic strip attracted strong criticism from the left-wing readers of the newspaper, who thought the Moomins were too bourgeois, and the newspaper did not order any more comic strips from Jansson. After Sutton's offer, Jansson made a seven-year contract to draw Moomin comic strips in June 1952. Before the comic was published, Jansson developed the strip together with the comic press of Associated Newspapers, and particularly Charles Sutton guided the artist in great detail. For a time, the syndicate sought a separate writer for the strip, but in the end, the decision was that Jansson would both write and draw the strip herself.
The newspaper that would publish the Moomin comic strip ended up being Evening News, part of the Associated Newspapers syndicate, which was the largest afternoon newspaper at the time, with a circulation of 12 million. The comic strip Moomin was first published in the newspaper on 20 September 1954. Sutton had organised a very prominent advertisement campaign to support the start of the new comic strip. The strip was quickly sold to other countries, particularly the Nordic countries. In Finland, the strip started on 21 April 1955 in Ilta-Sanomat, the largest afternoon newspaper in the country. In the same year, the strip also started in the Swedish-language local newspapers Västra Nyland and Vasabladet, and in 1957 in Åbo Underrättelser. Most newspapers publishing the Moomin comic strip were European, but it was also published in more distant places. In North America, it was finally sold to the Canadian Toronto Daily Star, but in the United States, no newspaper worthy of note accepted it on its pages.

## List of comic strip stories

The strip was divided into episodes, each with distinct titles and storylines.
| Number | English name | Swedish name | Finnish name | Creator(s) | Year of appearance | Publication notes |
| 0. | Moomintroll and the End of the World | Mumintrollet och jordens undergång | Muumipeikko ja maailmanloppu | Tove | July 2, 1948 | Originally published in Ny Tid. |
| 1. | Moomin and the Brigands | Mumintrollet | Muumipeikko | Tove | July 7, 1954 | Originally published in The Evening News. Reprinted in Drawn & Quarterly's Moomin Vol.1 (2006) ISBN 9781894937801 |
| 2. | Moomin and Family Life | Muminfamiljen | Muumiperhe | Tove | January 19, 1955 | Originally published in The Evening News. Reprinted in Drawn & Quarterly's Moomin Vol.1 (2006) ISBN 9781894937801 |
| 3. | Moomin on the Riviera | Mumin på Rivieran Familjen lever högt | Muumiperhe Rivieralla | Tove | February 23, 1955 | Originally published in The Evening News. Reprinted in Drawn & Quarterly's Moomin Vol.1 (2006) ISBN 9781894937801 |
| 4. | Moomin's Desert Island | Den ensliga ön | Yksinäinen saari | Tove | March 16, 1955 | Originally published in The Evening News. Reprinted in Drawn & Quarterly's Moomin Vol.1 (2006) ISBN 9781894937801 |
| 5. | Moomin's Winter Follies | Den farliga vintern | Vaarallinen talvi | Tove | June 8, 1955 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) ISBN 9781897299197 |
| 6. | Moominmamma's Maid | Låtsaslek | Kuvitteluleikki | Tove | February 22, 1956 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) ISBN 9781897299197 |
| 7. | Moomin Builds a House | Mumin bygger ett hus Att bygga ett hus | Talonrakennus | Tove | April 25, 1956 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) ISBN 9781897299197 |
| 8. | Moomin Begins a New Life | Mumin börjar ett nytt liv Vi börjar ett nytt liv | Aloitamme uuden elämän | Tove | May 30, 1956 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) ISBN 9781897299197 |
| 9. | Moomin Falls in Love | Mumin blir kär Mumintrollet blir förälskat | Muumipeikko rakastuu | Tove | July 18, 1956 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN 9781897299555 |
| 10. | Moomin Valley Turns Jungle | Mumindalen blir djungel Vi bor i en djungel | Viidakkoelämää | Tove | September 5, 1956 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN 9781897299555 |
| 11. | Moomin and the Martians | Mumin och marsmänniskorna Mumintrollet och marsinnevånarna | Muumipeikko ja marsilaiset | Tove | February 27, 1957 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN 9781897299555 |
| 12. | Moomin and the Sea | Mumin och havet Muminfamiljen och havet | Muumiperhe ja meri | Tove | March 13, 1957 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN 9781897299555 |
| 13. | Club Life in Moomin Valley | Föreningsliv i Mumindalen Föreningsliv | Yhdistyselämää Muumilaaksossa | Tove | April 24, 1957 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN 9781897299555 |
| 14. | Moomin Goes Wild West | Mumintrollet i vilda västern Mumin i Vilda Västern | Muumipeikko villissä lännessä | Tove/Lars | May 1, 1957 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN 9781897299784 |
| 15. | Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo | Snorkfröken i rokoko Snorkfröken i Rococo | Niiskuneiti rokokoossa | Tove/Lars | January 22, 1958 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN 9781897299784 |
| 16. | Conscientious Moomin | Mumin och medborgarkänslan Mumin blir social | Muumipeikko ja velvollisuudentunto | Tove/Lars | February 12, 1958 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN 9781897299784 |
| 17. | Moomin and the Comet | Mumin och kometen | Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti | Tove/Lars | April 9, 1958 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN 9781897299784 |
| 18. | Moomin and the Golden Tail | Mumin och den gyllene svansen Den gyllene svansen | Muumipeikko ja kultainen häntä | Tove | May 7, 1958 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN 9781897299784 |
| 19. | Moomin Winter | Muminvinter | Muumitalvi | Tove/Lars | January 21, 1959 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.5 (2010) ISBN 9781897299944 |
| 20. | Moomin under Sail | Mumin till sjöss | Muumipeikko merillä | Tove/Lars | February 11, 1959 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.5 (2010) ISBN 9781897299944 |
| 21. | Fuddler's Courtship | Klåttdjurets frieri | Hosulin kosinta | Tove/Lars | March 18, 1959 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.5 (2010) ISBN 9781897299944 |
| 22. | Moomin's Lamp | Mumins lampa | Muumin lamppu | Lars | February 3, 1960 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) ISBN 9781770460423 |
| 23. | Moomin and the Railway | Mumin och järnvägen | Muumipeikko ja rautatie | Lars | 1960 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) ISBN 9781770460423 |
| 24. | Moominpappa and the Spies | Muminpappa och spionerna | Muumipappa ja vakoojat | Lars | 1960 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) ISBN 9781770460423 |
| 25. | Moomin and the Circus | Mumin och cirkusen | Muumipeikko ja sirkus | Lars | 1960 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) ISBN 9781770460423 |
| 26. | Moomin the Colonist | Mumin Nybyggaren | Muumit uudisasukkaina | Lars | 1961 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 7 (2012) ISBN 9781770460621 |
| 27. | Moomin and the Scouts | Mumin och scouterna | Muumipeikko ja partiolaiset | Lars | 1961 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 7 (2012) ISBN 9781770460621 |
| 28. | Moomin and the Farm | Mumin brukar jorden | Muumipeikko maanviljelijänä | Lars | 1961 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 7 (2012) ISBN 9781770460621 |
| 29. | Moomin and the Goldfields | Mumin och guldgrävarna | Muumipeikko kullankaivajana | Lars | 1961 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 7 (2012) ISBN 9781770460621 |
| 30. | Moomin Family Robinson | Robinson Mumin | Robinson Muumi | Lars | 1962 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 8 (2013) ISBN 9781770461215 |
| 31. | Artists in Moomin Valley | Mumin och konsten | Muumipeikko ja taide | Lars | 1962 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 8 (2013) ISBN 9781770461215 |
| 32. | Sniff's Holiday Camp | Sniff's badort | Nipsun kylpylä | Lars | 1962 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 8 (2013) ISBN 9781770461215 |
| 33. | The Inspector's Nephew | Polismästarens brorson | Poliisimestarin veljenpoika | Lars | 1962 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 8 (2013) ISBN 9781770461215 |
| 34. | Damsel in Distress | Dam i dilemma | Neitonen ahdingossa | Lars | 1963 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.9 (2014) ISBN 9781770461574 |
| 35. | Fuddler and Married Life | Knappar och äktenskap | Nappeja ja avioliittoja | Lars | 1963 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.9 (2014) ISBN 9781770461574 |
| 36. | Sniff's Sport Shop | Sniff's sportshop Sniffs sportaffär | Nipsun urheiluliike | Lars | 1963 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.9 (2014) ISBN 9781770461574 |
| 37. | Mymble's Diamond | Mymlans diamant | Mymmelin timantti | Lars | 1963 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.9 (2014) ISBN 9781770461574 |
| 38. | Moomin and the Vampire | Mumin och vampyren | Muumit ja vampyyri | Lars | 1964 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.10 (August 2015) ISBN 9781770462021 |
| 39. | Moomin and the TV | Mumin och TV | Muumipeikko ja televisio | Lars | 1964 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.10 (August 2015) ISBN 9781770462021 |
| 40. | The Underdeveloped Moomins | De underutvecklade mumintrollen | Alikehittyneet muumit | Lars | 1964 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.10 (August 2015) ISBN 9781770462021 |
| 41. | Moomin and Aunt Jane | Mumin och moster | Muumipeikko ja täti | Lars | 1964 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.10 (August 2015) ISBN 9781770462021 |
| 42. | Moomin and the National Park | Mumin och naturparken | Muumit ja luonnonpuisto | Lars | 1965 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 43. | Moomin and the Good Old Days | Mumin och den Gamla Goda Tiden Den gamla goda tiden | Muumipeikko ja vanhat hyvät ajat | Lars | 1965 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 44. | Moomin's Pet | Hundliv i Mumindalen | Koiranelämää Muumilaaksossa | Lars | 1965 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 45. | Moomin the Private Eye | Mumin detektiven | Muumisalapoliisi | Lars | 1966 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 46. | Spring in Moomin Valley | Vårkänslor | Kevättunteita | Lars | 1966 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 47. | Moomin Rescues a Princess | Mumin räddar en prinsessa | Muumipeikko pelastaa prinsessan | Lars | 1966 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 48. | Moomin and Agent 008 ½ | Mumin och agent 008½ | Muumipeikko ja agentti 008 ½ | Lars | 1966 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 49. | Moomin Lives Dangerously | Mumin lever farligt | Muumipeikon vaarallinen elämä | Lars | 1967 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 50. | Moomins in Torrellorca | Mumin på Torrelorca | Muumit Torrelorcalla | Lars | 1967 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 51. | Snorkmaiden Crashes Society | Snorkfröken i societeten | Niiskuneiti seurapiireissä | Lars | 1967 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 52. | Moomins in Ancient Greece | Redan de gamla grekerna | Jo muinaiset kreikkalaiset | Lars | 1967 | Originally published in London's The Evening News. |
| 53. | Sniff Goes Good | Sniff blir god | Nipsu parantaa tapansa | Lars | 1968 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 54. | Moomin the Journalist | Redaktör Mumin | Muumipeikko toimittajana | Lars | 1968 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 55. | Moomin and the Orphans | Mumin och de föräldralösa | Muumipeikko ja orpolapset | Lars | 1968 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 56. | Sir Moomin | Riddar Mumin | Ritarimuumi | Lars | 1969 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 57. | Horsey Moomin | Mumin till häst | Muumipeikko ratsailla | Lars | 1969 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 58. | Moomin and the Mermaid | Mumin och sjöjungfrun | Muumipeikko ja merenneito | Lars | 1969 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 59. | Emancipated Moomins | Misans återkomst | Miskan paluu | Lars | 1970 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 60. | Moomin and the Radicals | Mumin och Radikalerna | Muumipeikko ja radikaalit | Lars | 1970 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 61. | Moomin Christmas | Mumin-Jul | Muumijoulu | Lars | 1970 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 62. | Moomin in Ancient Egypt | Mumin i Egypten | Muumipeikko Egyptissä | Lars | 1971 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 63. | Sniff Falls in Love | Sniff blir kär | Nipsu rakastuu | Lars | 1971 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 64. | Moomin Engagement | Mumin förlovar sig | Muumipeikon kihlaus | Lars | 1971 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 65. | Moomin and the Flying Dutchman | Mumin och den flygande Holländaren | Muumipeikko ja Lentävä hollantilainen | Lars | 1972 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 66. | Snorkmaiden the Seer | Snorkfröken blir synsk | Niiskuneidistä tulee ennustaja | Lars | 1972 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 67. | Moomin and the Beach | Mumin och badstranden | Muumipeikko ja uimaranta | Lars | 1973 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 68. | Moomin Gets Rich | Mumin blir rik | Muumipeikko rikastuu | Lars | 1973 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 69. | Moomin and the Guru | Mumin och Gurun | Muumipeikko ja guru | Lars | 1973 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 70. | Moominpappa and Old Age | Muminpappan på ålderns brant | Muumipappa vanhuuden porteilla | Lars | 1974 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 71. | Moomin in Battle | Batalj i Mumindalen | Taistelu Muumilaaksosta | Lars | 1974 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 72. | Moomin in Neander Valley | Mumin i Neanderdalen | Muumipeikko Neanderthalissa | Lars | 1974 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |
| 73. | Moomin and the Ten Piggy Banks | Mumin och de tio sparbössorna | Muumipeikko ja kymmenen säästöporsasta | Lars | 1975 | Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News). |

## Republication

The comic strips are currently being republished in a set of hardback books, in original publication order, by Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly. The first five volumes collect the Tove and Tove/Lars strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip. The sixth and subsequent volumes collects Lars' strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Lars Jansson Comic Strip.

## Adaptations

The Moomin (1990) anime series featured several episodes, which are loose adaptations based on comic strip stories, while several characters from comic strips are featured in the anime series as well. The second season, known as sequel anime series Delightful Moomin Family: Adventure Diary (楽しいムーミン一家 冒険日記, Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka: Bōken Nikki) in Japan, has also several episodes based on the comic strip stories more rather than original novels made by Tove Jansson. Notably, few episodes featured time traveling with a time machine, that has accidentally been created by Moominpapa. Both of the seasons' episodes are directed by Hiroshi Saitô and Masayuki Kojima.

### Animated film

The 2014 traditional animated comedy film directed by Xavier Picard and produced by Hanna Hemilä, is based on the Moomin on the Riviera comic strip story and has been first released on 10 October 2014 in Finland to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tove Jansson's birth. The film is heavily faithful to the original comic strip story, while it features some elements from other comic strip stories and adds several characters who didn't appear in the original story to the film such as Little My and Snufkin.