Drawn & Quarterly will publish the
first of a five-volume series of
MOOMIN: THE COMPLETE TOVE JANSSON COMIC STRIPin September 2006, it was announced today byChris Oliveros, President & Publisher of theMontreal-based graphic novel and arts publishinghouse. This is the first time the strip will bepublished in any form in North America andwill deservedly place cartoonist and author ToveJansson among the international cartooning greatsof the last century. "All of us at D+Q are huge fans of Jansson'sMoomin children's books, especially the editorof the series, Tom Devlin, who brought the Moomincomic strips to our attention," said Oliveros. "The quality and quantity of what Tove createdin the MOOMIN comic strip is nothing short ofastounding." "To comic strip fans, there are few surprisesor unknown strips outthere that have yet tobe published in North America," said TomDevlin, Editor and Production Designer. "Tobe the editor of a five-volume series thatwill bring the comic strip of one the mostinternationally renowned children's authorsnd her creation to a whole new audience isthrilling. Comic strip fans as well as fansof the MOOMIN chapter books will be fascinatedby the caliber of Tove's cartooning skills." Jansson is revered around the world as one ofthe foremost children's authors of the twentiethcentury for her illustrated chapter booksregarding the magical worlds of her creation,the Moomins. The Moomins saw life in many formsbut debuted to its biggest audience ever on thepages of world's largest newspaper the LondonEvening News, in 1954. The strip was syndicated in newspapers aroundthe world with millions of readers in 40countries. MOOMIN: THE COMPLETE TOVE JANSSONCOMIC STRIP; BOOK ONE is the first volume ofDrawn & Quarterly publishing plan to reprintthe entire strip drawn by Jansson before shehanded over the reigns to her brother Larsin 1960. The Moomins are a tight-knit family - hippo-shaped creatures with easygoing and adventurousoutlooks. Jansson's art is pared down andprecise, yet able to compose beautiful portraitsof ambling creatures in fields of flowers orrock-strewn beaches that recall Jansson's Nordicroots. The comic strip reached out to adultswith its gentle and droll sense of humor.Whimsical but with biting undertones, Jansson'sobservations of everyday life, includingguests who overstay their welcome, modern art,movie stars, and high society, easily caught theattention of an international audience and stillresonate today. Tove Jannson (1914 - 2001) was a legendaryFinnish children's book author/artist andcreator of the Moomins, who came to life inchildren's books, comic strips, theater,opera, film, radio, theme parks, and TV. For more information, visitwww.drawnandquarterly.com===========================================Dylan Horrocks on Tove Janssonhttp://www.hicksville.co.nz/Tove%20Jansson%20tribute.htm ============================================Bands/music Named after Tove Jansson characters:The HattifattenersLittle MyBaby SnufkinThe Hemulen - Ray Rumors