Sami Makkonen – illustratör

BEFORE THE HOBBIT, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, AND GAME OF THRONES THERE WAS THE EPIC THAT INSPIRED IT ALL! A stunning comic adaptation of the epic The Kalevala, which inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write The Lord of the Rings. It's the foundational epic of the fantasy genre. The story tells of the adventures and fates of wizard Vainamoinen, warrior Lemminkainen, blacksmith Ilmarinen and other larger-than-life characters seeking love, riches, and magic in the faraway lands of the ancient North. This is a bold approach to Kalevala by an established talent - visually powerful and accessible. Sami Makkola is bringing Kalevala to a whole different level and emphasizing the elements of horror in Kalevala, which are often left in the background when only the main events of Kalevala are discussed. Sami Makkola is internationally renowned. He has received the Sarjas Award for Best Fantasy Comic and has been nominated for a number of other awards, including the Ghastly Awards for horror work. His awards include: Sarjakuvantekijat RY award 2007 (Sarjas Award for Best Fantasy Comic) Independent Publisher Book Awards Graphic Novel/Drawn Book - Drama/Documentary 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards Graphic Novel/Drawn Book - Drama/Documentary 2011 USA Best Book Award Comics: Graphic Novels 2013