Finland’s most popular comic strip Fingerpori is getting its own stamps. The stamps will be issued on November 6. Designing the stamps was an interesting challenge for comic strip artist Pertti Jarla.
"The Fingerpori comics are usually comic strips with three images, but in this case, I had to make both a picture and a verbal joke fit into one small stamp. It took me a while to adjust to this. I made about 15 sketches that were used to create the final five stamps," Jarla says.
The stamps feature the Fingerpori character Heimo Vesa in several roles, and Rivo-Riitta makes a comment in one stamp in her straightforward manner.
The first finished stamp, in which Heimo Vesa is portrayed as a preacher, features the wordplay "Tämä on merkki", which can mean "This is a stamp" as well as "This is a sign [from God]".
"That’s when I found out what kind of wordplay could work on a stamp. After all, there is usually no text on the stamps, so these are different from others. Religious topics are generally well-liked and there are no complaints about them from believers," says Jarla.
It might have been different in 2006, when Fingerpori's wordplay was brought to life for the first time. The comic strip was initially called Karl-Barks-Stadt, with which Jarla won third place in the strip category of a Nordic comics contest held in the town of Kemi.
Fingerpori has been published in Helsingin Sanomat since February 2007, and it is still published in the newspaper every weekday except Sunday. Today, Fingerpori is also published in many other newspapers and three different Fingerpori strip collection albums are published annually.
"I'm currently working on art for a collection album and making the cover. The album, which will be published at the book fair, is the 18th Fingerpori album."
Since Fingerpori has been published in newspapers almost continuously for 17 years, it is easy to imagine that there may be a shortage of topics.
"Finding topics is a pain in busy times, but luckily the readers are a big help. They are constantly sending suggestions for strips. The suggestions include a lot of double entendres which the characters Rivo-Riitta and Asko like to say, but I can't only draw those."
Fans of Fingerpori – or "those who understand Fingerpori", as the fan Facebook group "Fingerporin ymmärtäjät" is called – are interested in the characters’ backgrounds and whether they are based on real people.
"Mostly, the characters aren't based on real people, with the exception of Rivo-Riitta. I studied in Lahti in 2006 and visited the Hiidenkivi pub. There was a bartender who was quite tough and she inspired me to create the character. The bartender's appearance was different, but otherwise she resembles my cartoon character."
According to Jarla, Heimo Vesa is his alter ego to an extent.
"I project my own qualities onto him somewhat inadvertently. Heimo often does the same things that I do. If I travel, Heimo also travels, and if I cycle, Heimo cycles as well. Of course, there are also differences; for example, I don't work as a researcher at a science center."
A highly requested stamp
Design Manager Tommi Kantola, who is responsible for the selection of artists for stamps, says that Fingerpori stamps have been highly requested.
"Now is a good time for them, as comic strip themes have not been published for a while. The Fingerpori comic strips have continuously become more popular, and as a phenomenon they depict the current times. The stamps also do the same," says Kantola.
Jarla regards becoming a stamp artist as a matter of honor.
“I’m truly touched, as it’s quite an honor to get featured on Posti's stamps.”
According to Jarla, Posti fits well into Fingerpori’s retro-inspired world, and it has been featured in many of the comic strips alongside the police and hospital, for example.
“For humor-related reasons, Fingerpori’s official services usually work quite sluggishly – this also applies to Posti.”
Pertti Jarlauses Posti’s parcel services the most.
"Nowadays, I mostly buy things online. Instead of picking up some radio parts at the store, it is more convenient to order them to my home or to the nearest parcel locker. Last time, Posti delivered the author copies of the latest Fingerpori book directly to my hallway."
A community of 250,000 fans
The "Fingerporin ymmärtäjät" Facebook group has almost 250,000 members, which is a huge amount for the Finnish-speaking target group. Pertti Jarla is still surprised by the enormous popularity.
"In the early years, I wondered whether this kind of comic strip would be accepted. Nowadays, I'm continuously surprised by how many people enjoy Fingerpori and don't seem to get tired of it."
Popular comic strips are constantly circulating on social media. According to Jarla, it is impossible to predict in advance which strip will be a particular hit.
"There's no way to tell. For example, I made a strip about a responsible CEO, which doesn't sound like a very interesting topic. However, people really liked it."
The artist still finds inspiration for his work after all this time.
"I can do whatever I want, which gives me the energy to stay inspired. And yes, I still get amused by my own creations. However, the general public and I may find amusement in different things. I last laughed at a cold front shifting westward. The illustrations depicted the Wild West."
First-day event at Helsinki Main Post Office on November 6
The first-day event for the November stamps will be held on Wednesday, November 6, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Helsinki Main Post Office (Elielinaukio 2 F, 00100 Helsinki). Pertti Jarla will be present to sign his works from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Pertti Jarla will perform at the Helsinki Book Fair in Messukeskus on Thursday, October 24 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Senaatintori stage.
Stamp images: Posti DigiLibrary - Fingerpori postimerkit