A standard theme on the comedian competition Comicdom Con in Athens was the give attention to manga. A number of exhibitions have been linked to Japanese cartoons.
All pictures of Kristian Hellesund of cost.
Japanese comics even have a catchment in Greece. This got here to gentle in the course of the Comicdom Con comedian e-book competition in Athens in mid-Might. Manga was simple to search out right here at stands run by publishers and comedian retailers, and a few cartoonists on the so-called Artist’s Alley may present manga-style drawings and prints. The true icing on the cake was three exhibitions of Japanese comics, and manga creator Fumio Obata was one of many friends of the competition.
The exhibition “Make Mine Manga” was curated by the British cartoonist Paul Gravett. This can be a poster exhibition with info on manga generally and particular person cartoonists. Amongst others, Yoshihiro and Obata have been represented right here. The exhibition additionally handled details about totally different genres inside manga, and Shoren and gekika had their very own posters. Obata at the moment lives within the UK, however has printed comics in Japan, the US and the UK. He has a method that testifies to European affect, amongst different issues gained by being a visitor in Angouleme.
The Japanese cartoon Dragonball celebrates 30 years this yr, and subsequently there was additionally a give attention to the creation of Akira Toriyama in a separate exhibition. A number of illustrations from the cartoon have been on show.
Essentially the most fascinating factor was the exhibition of originals from Japanese comics. Japanese cartoonists prefer to handle the unique drawings themselves, and it’s much less widespread to search out manga originals outdoors of Japan. Sure collectors have their palms on a few of them, and because of Dan Byron, Comicdom Con was in a position to current a few of them. That is the primary exhibition of manga originals in Greece, and doubtless one of many first of its sort in Europe. The precise opening was finished by a consultant from the Embassy of Japan in Greece.
The exhibition was divided into totally different themes: Manga based mostly on video games, sports activities manga, totally different motion, shonen (manga for boys) and shoujo (manga for ladies).
Former Paul Gravett, Fumio Obata and a consultant of the Japanese Embassy in Athens. Fumio Obata was a visitor at Comicdom Con, and had a few of his personal originals on show. Accompanied by Paul Gravett, he gave excursions of the showroom the place he accomplished the data Gravett may present. The excursions have been very informative, and the interplay between Obata and Gravett was good and fascinating. Though the exhibition of the manga originals was a particular occasion in Athens, “Make Mine Manga” will go on to different European comics festivals. The exhibition is initially from The Lakes Worldwide Comics Artwork Competition.
Cowl photograph: Paul Gravett.