Nick: Comics, Horror and Politics in ExarchiaCEFR A2
13 Oct 2025
Adapted from Elvis Takahashi Mantello, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by João Pedro Schmitz, Unsplash
Nick began drawing as a child and made comics for fun as a teen. He tried music and other paths, but he returned to visual storytelling and now works full time as a comic book artist, animator and musician.
Two events changed his work. The Tempi train crash in February 2023 killed 57 people and exposed long-running negligence and corruption in the rail system. After October 7, 2023 he made pieces about Palestine. These events moved him from supernatural horror toward the horror of real life. He chose Exarchia as a setting because the neighbourhood evokes police brutality and gentrification.
Difficult words
- artist — A person who creates art.
- comic — A story told with pictures and words.comics
- corruption — Dishonest behavior in authority.
- femicide — The killing of women for gender reasons.
- awareness — Knowledge about a certain topic.
- issues — Important problems or subjects.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can art influence social issues?
- Why might people prefer stories over news?
- What other topics could be addressed through comics?
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