Helsinki taken over by villains and superheroes in first Arctic Lights Comic Con

Over 12,000 visitors gathered at Helsinki’s Messukeskus over two days for the first-ever Arctic Lights Comic Con, a Finnish-organised celebration of pop culture spanning K-pop, cosplay, and gaming, reports Yle.

The event showcased elaborate costumes inspired by video games, TV series, and original character designs. Many attendees posed for photos in the brutalist concrete surroundings of Itä-Pasila, turning the area into an extension of the convention’s vibrant atmosphere.

Among the standout participants was Janne Toivonen, dressed as Daredevil—a rare blind superhero. “There aren’t many blind superheroes out there,” Toivonen noted. “Daredevil also bridges two worlds: he’s a lawyer by day and this by night,” he added, gesturing to his costume.

Ron Raitalaakso immersed himself in steampunk aesthetics, crafting his outfit from recycled materials like cable reels and lamp parts. “I think steampunk looks great,” he said. His ensemble, complete with a smoke machine, took three years to perfect.

Disney villains also made an appearance, including Jenni Högerman’s Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. “Our friend group had a Disney villain theme, and I wanted to do Maleficent,” she explained. The character’s original design drew inspiration from Hollywood icon Greta Garbo.

Pauli Korgan’s meticulously crafted ODST soldier costume from the Halo series replicated details from the 2007 short film Halo: Landfall, while Mira Korgan channeled Camina Drummer, the female leader from The Expanse. Meanwhile, Johanna Korjus embraced Harley Quinn as an “alter ego,” and Siiri Tikkanen—one of last year’s national cosplay champions—recreated Carlotta’s dress from The Phantom of the Opera. “I love the complexity of these costumes,” Tikkanen said. “They’re designed to stand out, even on stage.”

The event also highlighted Finland’s growing K-pop scene, with groups like Tricksters performing covers of Korean music videos. “K-pop requires skills from various dance styles—ballet, hip-hop—you can’t do it well without cross-training,” said Nadja Glebova, a member of the group.

Younger attendees included Niko Korpi as Spring Bonnie from Five Nights at Freddy’s and Salla Williams with her son, bringing characters from Hollow Knight to life. The convention’s guest list featured Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower, inspiring fans like Emma Relander (as Vecna) and Maria Kuokkanen (as Demogorgon). “It feels like Finland has been waiting for a cultural event like this,” Kuokkanen remarked.