Creator / Tom of Finland

Tom of Finland (real name Touko Valio Laaksonen, 8 May 1920 – 7 November 1991) is one of the most famous artists of gay men in history, and the modern Trope Codifier of the Manly Gay trope. He specialized in drawing sailors and leather-clad bikers...with Raging Stiffies in their pants. He also loved to draw lumberjacks and construction workers.

Tom himself served as a Lieutenant in the Finnish Army during World War II. He was a fire control officer in the anti-aircraft troops, and his bravery earned him Vapaudenristi (Cross of Freedom) decoration. His drawing style has been claimed to be the inspiration of Freddie Mercury's performance style.

A documentary about his life and works called Daddy And The Muscle Academy was released in 1991, and a biopic called Tom Of Finland was released in 2017.

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Tom of Finland's work provides examples of:

• Bigger Is Better in Bed: Tom liked 'em big. Might be Gag Penis to some.
• Hello, Sailor!: The artist loved men in uniform and drew a lot of sailors.
• Hot Men at Work: Construction workers are a recurring theme.
• Leather Man: He drew a lot of leather-clad bikers.
• Manly Gay: All the men he drew were strong, muscular men.
• Mr. Fanservice: All the men he drew are essentially gay fan service.
• Raging Stiffie: The men in his work often have rather bulbous underpants.
• Referenced by...:
  • "Vive Le Rock" from Vive Le Rock by Adam Ant name drops him:
  Well, I've been where I was going
  And it's not Tom of Finland
  • Turbonegro bassist and songwriter Thomas Seltzer has occasionally gone by the stage name "Tom of Norway".

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