When the Kantele Plays, There’s No Time for Tears!

The heroes of Finland’s national epic come to life in this hilarious comic book adaptation, now finally published in full color! Will the steadfast old Väinämöinen succeed in creating the world? How did the master smith Ilmarinen forge the magical Sampo? What fate awaits the brave Lemminkäinen in the dark lands of Pohjola? And what schemes is Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola, plotting against the heroes of Kalevala? Marko Raassina brings the birch-bark-scented tales of the Kalevala to life in an accessible and engaging format, seasoned with his distinctive sense of humor.

Foreword was written by Jyrki Korpua, a docent, literary scholar, and former chairman of the Oulu Comics Society. Korpua has written extensively about the Kalevala, including in his books Tolkien and the Kalevala (Finnish Literature Society, 2022; English edition, Routledge, 2025) and Lajivirren laulamaa – Kalevala ja kirjallisuus (Sung by the Song of Genre: The Kalevala and Literature, Avain, 2017).

NOTE: This book is in Finnish.

Author: Marko Raassina
ISBN: 978-952-7033-35-7
Hard cover, 4-color, 124 pages, size 245x172 mm
Release date 20th November 2026.

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