The manga style of comics is linked to Japan, however there’s a growing hub of Thessaloniki-based Mangatellers in Greece. Enough to warrant a publication of manga comics written by Raphael Voutsidis and Karyofyllis-Christos Hatzopoulos and cartoonist Manos Lagouvardos.
The idea of Greek manga was to make this style of comics more relevant to the west. Hence, Greek mangatellers adapt the Japanese technique to western culture while respecting the history and traditions of both worlds.
Remember ur Nation (R.u.N) was the first series of comics the group produced. It focused on the adventures of Jean Liam and his crew in Tokyo. The scenario was begun in 2008 with Fyllis and Rafael. Tension, competitiveness, humor, friendship, intrigues and lots of parkour are the main elements of Remember your Nature, a work that has already been translated into French, German and Russian.
The second series – Mythos – describes the adventure of young Ark in a harsh, imaginary world influenced by the mythology of Ancient Greece as well as the religious constraints of medieval times. Epic battles take the young hero from his little island to the world of Manga.
Additionally, the central characters of R.u.N. and Mythos also join in a journey back in history – titled “Thessaloniki Through Time – that takes readers on a manga trek through Greece’s second-largest city.
Now that Greek mangatellers have started, nothing can stop them! The first installment of the spy manga, Sphere of Salvation, is here with collaboration with gamer Edjy Ziane. And Greek mangatellers promise that 2016 will be the best year yet for fans of the comic.
Different organization and companies, such as the Japanese Embassy in Greece, Thessaloniki, the European Youth Capital 2014, the Future Library, Mediterranean Cosmos, Comic Con, etc. are all joining together for manga.
Though the Mangatellers are unique in Greece, another Greek abroad, George Alexopoulos is taking manga to another level and even managed to win the 2nd prize in 7th international MANGA Awards organized by the Foreign Ministry of Japan, titled “Paris”.
CLICK HERE for more about the Greek Mangatellers
Here’s a brief taste
