The character of Kake—a mustache-wearing, leather-jacketed motorcyclist—served as Tom of Finland’s alter ego and the ultimate avatar of his artistic vision.
In 1965, Laaksonen began toying with the idea of a recurring character for his panel stories. He experimented with a blond named Vicky and a Tarzan-inspired figure named Jack before finally settling on in 1968. Kake was the ultimate "Tom's Man"—a dark-haired, mustachioed leatherman who often wore a tight white t-shirt emblazoned with the motto "Fucker".
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specifically to protect his work from the widespread piracy that occurred during his lifetime.