Aapo Kukko (b. 1991) was born in Kemi, settled in Oulu and is a curious explorer of Finland’s recent history. Known for his expressionistic black line, Kukko creates comics alone as well as collaboratively with colleagues. Kukko’s latest comic novel Puhumalla paras (Better to Speak) tells the incredible life story of Yrjö Kallinen. Kallinen (b. 1886) was a pacifist and vegetarian who received four death sentences during the civil war, but survived them all, eventually ending up as Finland’s defense minister.

Photo: Antti Saarilampi