Kari Leppänen

Kari Tapio Leppänen, born September 1, 1945, is a Finnish comics artist best known for his decades-long work on *The Phantom*. He began his career in the Finnish magazine *Sarjis*, which exclusively published domestic series, where he also wrote science fiction under the pseudonym Oskari. His work caught the attention of Swedish publisher Semic, who hired him as an artist on *The Phantom* in 1979. Leppänen has since been credited as artist, colorist, inker, and writer on over 90 issues, with his most frequent titles including *Fantomen*, *Fantomet*, *The Phantom*, *Min hest*, and *Fantomets krønike*. His style is characterized by clean, dynamic linework that balances adventure with subtle emotional depth, often collaborating with writers like Claes Reimerthi. Leppänen co-created several Phantom storylines that expanded the character's lore, though specific co-creations are not detailed in the source. He remained active in the industry from 1975 into 2025, leaving a legacy as one of the longest-serving artists on the strip. While major awards are not listed, his consistent work has made him a respected figure in European comics.