«Tomahawk Angel»: Mangaka Ody's Greek manga
Ulysses Theodoratos, widely known online and social media as Mangaka Ody, is a Greek mangaka. It's the manga creator. «Tomahawk Angel» which is published by Dark Horse in collaboration with Tapas Entertainment.
He has taken part in various manga competitions, including Shounen Shoujo monthly manga 2019 where he won with the participation of his manga «After Darknes s» the award Monthly Shounen Prize With excellent comments.
Below Ulysses answered some of our questions about his manga and himself. We thank him very much for the answers and hope you find this interview as interesting as we did.
The interview was taken by COMIX & PhantomDuck.
When and how did you get the idea to start the Tomahawk Angel? Is there a manga that inspired you?
It all started when I was in high school and I saw Death Note's anime and immediately after Tokyo Ghoul and Attack on Titan. I was so impressed that I set it one day to have my own anime.
After many entries and distinctions in manga competitions, I started working on my first major project which I named «Tomahawk Angel». Tomahawk Angel's idea was born very gradually. At first it was only a simple chase scene with a monster and later evolved into something much bigger.
You started posting your story online on Webtoon. What prompted you to choose this platform and why have you now moved to Tapas?
At first it's true I was at Webtoon. I chose this platform because of its huge audience. Later, Tapas noticed me and offered me a good deal and of course I accepted.
Moving to Tapas was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.
You still make one episode every Friday today. How you manage to be
consistent every week?
Before I started making episodes every Friday, I practiced for years. I wanted to be 100% sure I could handle the pressure of work without exhausting myself. I can say that making an episode every Friday is now a loose activity for me.
...a manga I made is published in print by Dark Horse. It's a dream come true.
In Tomahawk Angel we see an adventure of survival with a background of a post-apocalyptic Athens. Have you received impressions from foreign readers who commented on this unusual geographic choice?
Surely the choice of Athens for a manga is something unusual. In general I have heard positive words from foreigners and especially from our countrymen. The public seems to want to explore this «new» After all, it's not something you often encounter.
The story begins with a lonely protagonist, but as the plot progresses, it is framed with more and more characters. Can we hope that as history progresses, they'll explore more?
Of course! I intend to build all the important characters, but generally Valerie will always be the focus of history.
As the plot progresses, some explanations are given but at the same time more questions are created. Do you know the full story now, or do you discover the world as long as you create history?
I generally have an idea where I want history to move. However, every scene and dialogue is created on the spot. I mean, I don't know what I'm gonna picture until I paint it. As for the end, until a few days ago I didn't know Tomahawk Angel's end-game, but now I know what it will look like and it will be something no one will expect.
In the first season we got a first taste of the world, while in the second you deepened more into the protagonist's past and saw a great battle. What should we expect in season three that started a while ago?
I've been looking forward to the season. 3. Angelwings soldiers will explore Athens and face a challenge they have never faced before. The difficulties that Valerie has to overcome will grow and I know I will enjoy the painting of these future episodes very much.
You design the Tomahawk Angel in style «webtoon», i.e. in long form to be read as long as «scroll» Someone. Did you have problems when it had to be shaped like a printed manga?
In fact first I paint it in manga format (in pages ) and when it comes time to upload the episode to Tapas, I take the panels from the pages and rank them in vertical configuration for webcomic.
How do you manage to be so active in social media while you're so busy with manga every day?
I sacrifice my social life.
Usually, when an artist wants to make his work known, he participates in the artist alley of various comics festivals such as AthensCon. In your case it was the other way around. First you became known and then you appeared on the artist alley. How do you feel about that? From now on, are we going to see you at a comic book festival?
It all happened very suddenly, so it might seem. In fact, six years of daily unstoppable work were preceded. Of course I am very happy to take part in an event like AthensCon, it's something I've always dreamed of. However, work continues, and I do not let excessive enthusiasm derail me from my program. I think my first appearance at AthensCon won't be the last.
How can anyone support your work? Do you have anything else to say to your Greek readers?
The best way to support my work is to get a copy of the Tomahawk Angel vol 1 which is now in bookstores and online (Amazon, Crunchyroll store etc). The second volume will be released 26 March 2024!
To all my readers, I have the greatest thanks because I wouldn't be here without your support. Please continue exploring the world of Tomahawk Angel, the journey has just begun!
