BOOK REVIEW: Dark Ateneum - JP Ahonen (2026)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that JP Ahonen is the nicest guy ever. So nice, that I, amongst other people, have speculated that he might be the antichrist, because in a world like the one we live in, it seems almost ludicrous that a human being could be this kind and generous.
Point being, that as a result of this, whenever I see that he’s got some sort of new art or book coming out, I get very, very interested. As of 2026, his most recent book is called Dark Ateneum, and it’s brilliant. Let’s explore why, shall we?
Premise
Dark Ateneum is a(n adult) coloring book, at its core, but it’s also so much more than that. Why? Because every piece of artwork inside is inspired by a piece of classical Finnish artwork. The most notable of these is The Wounded Angel by Hugo Simberg, which became much more internationally famous after it inspired the Nightwish music video for “Amaranth.” The book was commissioned by his publisher at Tammi in collaboration with Ateneum, but he was given more or less complete artistic control over the content.
The release took place at Ateneum, but sadly, I wasn’t able to attend because I was otherwise occupied.
What I Loved
Everything. But to be more specific, if you are Finnish, if you live in Finland (like me), or if you have a vested interest in Finland, particularly in relation to its music scene, you might find this book fascinating. Ateneum, for those who aren’t familiar, is one of the country’s most famous art exhibitions, located across from the train station in Helsinki center, which has the original painting of The Wounded Angel as one of its centerpieces. Presumably, the other pictures featured in this book are also found there.
Now, obviously I’m not commenting on plot, because this is a coloring book, but I can comment on the sublime quality of the line art. Of course, I’ve been a fan of JP’s artwork long before the release of the Belzebubs series, so I’m always tickled to see more of his work, anytime, anywhere. He has such a unique style, which is extremely expressive, while being cartoonish and deeply realistic.
But what really shines about these images is the clever adaptations of classic Finnish artwork into contemporary heavy metal imagery. For example, there was a painting called Taistelevat Metsot [battling (black) grouses] that I had come across around a week before I received my copy of the book, which was adapted to depict two metalheads facing off, snarling, while a bored videographer shoots a music video. It’s such a bizarre shift that it makes me chuckle every time I see it.
The adaptations are fantastic. A mother with a sleeping child now shows that the child is possessed and hovering. A beautiful nature scene now has a tour bus flying through it. An elderly woman in a rocking chair is now a seething gamer. And the famous wounded angel now looks more like a succubus and is being carried by two fellows in full black metal attire. Some of my particular favorites are the famous paintings from the Kalevala of Aino and Väinämöinen, which haven’t been so significantly altered, but rather, feature Väinämöinen looking distinctly creepy (in a hilarious way), while Aino is pulling a baseball bat out of her purse, and in the second image, which originally has her fleeing into the water (where she would eventually turn into a fish and swim away), she now appears to be dumping his body. Truly delightful visual comedy, and once again, it puts a smile on my face every time I flip through it.
I shan’t spoil it all though. If you find this concept amusing, I heartily encourage you to grab a copy and see for yourself. Bonus points because you get to fill in the colors yourself, so if you want to dress those heavy metal boys in rainbow sparkles, that’s absolutely your prerogative.
What Could Have Been Better
Nothing, this book is perfect. Moving on.
What Would I Like to See?
I hope for nothing more than that the world keeps letting this man create any and all artwork that comes to his mind.
Overall
If you’re a metalhead and/or a Finnophile, this book is exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s a magnificent blend of classic Finnish art culture and modern Finnish metal culture, all wrapped into a beautiful package with incredible artwork. What more can you ask for? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go grab some pencil crayons and markers, and have some fun.
Curious about Bear’s fantasy? Check out the teaser sample of The Vitmar Chronicles, Volume I: An Ending & A Beginning!
