Nick, mijoro eo anoloana sary hosodoko lehibe mampiseho an’i Alexandros Grigoropoulos, zazalahy iray 15 taona, maty tamin’ny tifitra nataon’ny polisy azy tamin’ny taona 2008 ka niteraka korontana manerana an’i Gresy, tao Exarchia, faritra maoderina ao Atena malaza amin’ny kolontsaina fanoherana. Sary nalain’ny mpanoratra, ary nahazoana alàlana.

Fantatra amin’ny anarana hoe Nick, ilay artista grika mipetraka ao Athènes, Nikos Tragganidas Posazennikov, dia mampita ny fahatezerany ara-politika amin’ny alalan’ny tantara an-tsary mampihorohoro izay manasongadina ny kolikoly eo amin’ny fanjakana, ny fampiasana fahefana amin’ny fomba jadona, ary ny tsy firaharahiana ny olom-pirenena tsotra. Nobeazina tao anaty fianakaviana manana finiavana ara-politika izy, saingy nosakanana tsy hanaraka asa ara-javakanto. Na izany aza, nanjohy ny lalany manokana i Nick ka lasa mpanao tantara an-tsary, mpanao sarimihetsika, no sady mpitendry mozika.

Nihaona izahay tao Exarchia, faritra iray izay voasokajy ho “mpanao asa tanana”, fokontany ivon’ny hetsika fanoherana, sy ny fanavaozana amin’ny alalan’ny fananantsaranga ary ny fanoherana ara-kolontsaina. Tao no niresahanay momba ny fomba nibeazana azy, ny fijeriny ara-politika, ary ny tantara an-tsary vaovao nosoratany, izay mametraka an’i Exarchia ho foiben’ny tantara.

GV : Inona no nanosika anao hiditra amin’ny sehatry ny fanoratana sy ny famoronana tantara an-tsary?

Nick: Like most artists I know, I grew up with comic books. Drawing was one of the first things I did, so it came naturally. Later, I leaned more toward music, but art was always part of my life, I even made comics for fun as a teenager.

When I entered high school, I had to decide what to study. My parents said, ‘You have to do something that makes money, a real profession.’ I tried, but it didn’t work for me. So I chose art full-time. At first, I thought I’d focus on illustration because it sells better. But I ended up back where I began, with comic books. I love writing, and I love drawing.

“Nick: Tahaka ny ankamaroan’ny artista fantatro, nihalehibe tanaty tantara an-tsarimiaina aho. Iray amin’ireo zavatra voalohany nataoko ny fanaovana sary, ka tonga ho azy izany tamiko. Taty aoriana, nifantoka kokoa tamin’ny mozika aho, nefa tsy niala tamin’ny fiainako mihitsy ny zavakanto. Na tamin’ny fahazazako aza dia namorona tantara an-tsarimiaina aho hataoko  fialamboly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Rehefa niakatra ambaratonga ambony aho dia tsy maintsy nisafidy izay taranja hianarako. Hoy ny ray aman-dreniko tamiko hoe: “Tsy maintsy manao zavatra ahazoana vola ianao, asa tena izy.” Niezaka aho, fa tsy nety tamiko izany. Noho izany dia nisafidy ny hifantoka tanteraka amin’ny zavakanto aho. Tamin’ny voalohany dia nieritreritra aho fa, hifantoka amin’ny fanaovana sary famantarana satria mora amidy kokoa. Nefa tamin’ny farany dia niverina tamin’ny niandohako ihany aho tamin’ny tantara an-tsarimiaina. Tiako ny manoratra, ary tiako koa ny manao sary.”

Nick, manao sary eny an-dalambe ao Exarchia, mandrafitra an-tsary ny fanahin'ny tanàna. Sary nalain’ny mpanoratra, nahazoana alalana.

GV: Inona ny hafatra tianao ampitaina amin’ny alalan’ny asanao?

Nick: I started as a horror artist and didn’t expect my work to become so political. I always wanted to have a message, but early on, I didn’t know what direction to take because I was still learning how to draw.

Then Tempi happened, and I was furious. That was the first time I created a piece about a specific event. It was cathartic, I felt I was contributing to the broader conversation about these issues.

After October 7, 2023 [the start of Israel's ongoing war against Gaza], I created pieces about Palestine, and it snowballed from there. I still consider myself a horror artist, but now I focus on a different kind of horror; the horror of real life and the political landscape.

“Nick: Nanomboka ho mpanakanto amin’ny karazana horohoro aho, ary tsy nieritreritra akory fa ho lasa ara-politika be toy izao ny asako. Te hanana hafatra hatrany aho, saingy tamin’ny voalohany dia tsy mbola fantatro izay làlana horaisina satria mbola nianatra nanao sary aho tamin’izany fotoana izany.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Avy eo dia niseho ny zava-nitranga tao Tempi, ary tezitra tanteraka aho. Izay no fotoana voalohany nanaovako sangan’asa momba-na tranga manokana iray. Toy ny nanàla ireo fanaintainana anefa izany, satria tsapako fa nandray anjara tamin’ny adihevitra midadasika kokoa momba ireo olana ireo aho.                                                                                                                                                      Taorian’ny 7 Oktobra 2023 [fiandohan’ny ady mbola mandeha ataon’i Israely amin’i Gaza], dia namorona sangan’asa momba an’i Palestina aho, ary niteraka savorovoro tanteraka izany avy eo. Mbola heveriko ho mpanakanto amin’ny karazana horohoro ihany aho, saingy amin’izao fotoana izao dia mifantoka amin’ny karazana horohoro hafa, ny horohoron’ny fiainana tena izy sy ny zava-misy ara-politika.                                                                                                                       

Nisy lozan-dalamby nitranga tao Tempi tany Gresy tamin’ny volana Febroary 2023, rehefa nifandona mivantana ny lamasinina mpitatitra olona sy ny lamasinina mpitondra entana, ka nahafaty olona 57. Izay lasa loza lehibe indrindra amin’ny lalamby tao amin’ny firenena. Tranga iray nampiseho tamin’ny vahoaka ny tsy firaharahiana, ny kolikoly, ary ny tsy fahampiam-batsy nandritra ny taona maro teo amin’ny rafitra fiarovana ny lalamby tao Gresy ity tranga ity, ka niteraka fahatezeram-bahoaka sy fiantraikany ara-politika lehibe.

GV: Rehefa milaza ianao hoe “horohoro” ny fomba fanaovanao zavakanto, inona no tianao hambara?

Nick: I started by wanting to create scary scenes — tension, heavy shadows, supernatural beings — and that’s still part of my work.

But now I want to show the misery of our reality and portray the point of view of the victims, as best I can. When we talk about things like police brutality or genocide, it’s easy to lose sight of individual people. I try to capture their emotions, their faces, their reactions. That’s what drives the horror element of my work today.

“Nick: Nanomboka tamin’ny faniriana hamorona sehatra mampihoron-koditra aho — fihenjanana, aloka mavesatra, zavaboary tsy mahazatra ny maso — ary mbola ampahany amin’ny asako izany hatramin’izao.

Fa amin’izao fotoana izao, tiako aseho ny fahorian’ny zavamisy iainantsika sy ny fomba fijerin’ireo lasibatra araka izay vitako. Raha tsy hitanisa, toy ny herisetra ataon’ny polisy na ireo fandripahana olona isika, dia mora hadino ny olona tsirairay ao ambadika. Izaho kosa manandrana mandray sy maneho ny fihetseham-pony, ny endriny, ary ny fanehoan-keviny. Izay no mampisongadina ny lafiny mampihoron-koditra amin’ny asako amin’izao fotoana izao.

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Mizara ny asany i Nick mba hanairana sy anehoana ireo zava-doza rehetra mitranga any Palestina, tsy ny herisetra mitohy ihany, fa ny olana koa toy ny famonoana vehivavy sy ny fanararaotana ara-bola.

GV: Inona no asa na sanganasa tena ireharehanao hatramin’izao?

Nick: My latest comic ‘Vile Hunter.’

Back in high school, I loved the comic series ‘Hellblazer,’ which stars John Constantine, a British magician and exorcist. It combined supernatural horror with sharp political commentary, and I fell in love with it.

That inspired me to develop my own ideas. The first draft of ‘Vile Hunter’ was written back in high school; it was much less political then, mostly supernatural. Over time, it evolved into what it is now.

Nick: “Vile Hunter” ilay boky tantara an-tsary farany nataoko.

Fony teny antsekoly ambony, tiako be ilay andian-tantara an-tsary “Hellblazer,” izay milaza ny tantaran’i John Constantine, mpanao majika sady mpanala devoly britanika. Nampifangaro tao anatiny ny tahotra ara-panahy sy ny fanehoan-kevitra politika maranitra ilay tantara, ka dia lasa tiako tanteraka izy io.

Nanome aingam-panahy ho ahy hamorona ny hevitra sy ny tantarako manokana izany. Mbola vakiraoka no nanoratako voalohany an'i “Vile Hunter” tamin’izaho mbola nianatra tamin'izany, mbola tsy dia nisy resaka politika loatra, fa tena nifantoka kokoa tamin’ny tontolon'ny fiainana ankoatra. Rehefa nandeha ny fotoana dia novaiko tsikelikely izy ka tonga amin’ny endriny ananany ankehitriny.

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GV: Mampifangaro horohoro sy fanakianana ara-tsosialy ireo tantara an-tsarinao. Inona no nanosika anao hiresaka olana toy ny famonoana vehivavy sy ny herisetra ataon’ny fanjakana amin’ity karazan-tantara ity?

Nick: In horror stories, ghosts usually exist because of a tragedy — a murder or an accident — and the solution is always to banish the ghost. But that felt empty to me. The systemic problems that led to the tragedy persist.

Take the common trope of a husband killing his wife, and she becomes a ghost. The story ends when the ghost disappears, but what about the femicide that caused it? I wanted to flip that and create a character who recognizes that to stop hauntings. You need to stop the injustices behind them: femicides, wrongful arrests, state violence.

Nick : Ao anatin’ny tantara mampihorohoro, matetika misy matoatoa noho ny loza nitranga — toy ny famonoana olona na lozam-pifamoivoizana — ary ny vahaolana dia ny manaisotra ilay matoatoa. Nefa tsapako toa tsy nisy heviny izany. Fa mbola mitoetra hatrany ireo olana ara-drafitra nitarika ilay loza.                                                                                                                                                        Toa zary raisina ho fomba fiteny mahazatra ohatra ny hoe, lehilahy namono ny vadiny, dia lasa matoatoa ilay vehivavy. Matetika dia mifarana amin’ny fanjavonan’ilay matoatoa ny tantara. Nefa ahoana kosa ny mahakasika ny famonoana vehivavy izay nahatonga izany? Te hanova io fomba fijery io aho ka hamorona toetra iray mahatsapa fa raha te hampitsahatra ny fanjavonan’ny matoatoa ianao ; dia tsy maintsy atsahatra aloha ny tsy rariny ao ambadik’izany: ny famonoana vehivavy, ny fisamborana tsy ara-drariny, ary ireo herisetra ataon’ny fanjakana.

GV: Mba lazao anay ny mombamomba ity mpilalao fototra ity.

Nick: His name is Mac. At first, I designed him as a kind of generic protester, unpolished and ordinary. People joked he looked like me, but, really, he’s more of an everyman, a politically aware but not deeply organized figure. He represents the many people who share radical ideas but feel intimidated by formal movements.

Nick: Mac no anarany. Tamin’ny voalohany, nataoko ho toy ny mpanao fihetsiketsehana tsotra fotsiny izy. Tsy dia mahalala fomba, olon-tsotra eo amin’ny fiainana andavanandro. Nisy aza nilaza tamin’ny vazivazy fa mitovy endrika amiko izy. Raha ny tena marina, dia solontenan’ny olona tsotra izy, olona manana saina politika sy mahatsapa ny tsy rariny, saingy tsy tafiditra lalina amina fikambanana na hetsika ara-politika. Misolo tena ireo olona maro izy, ary manana hevitra mivaivay nefa mbola misalasala na matahotra hiditra amina hetsika ara-drafitra.

GV : Izy ve irony karazana mahery fo tsy tonga lafatra irony?

Nick: Not exactly. He’s not perfect, but not because he’s morally gray; more because he’s unprepared. He reacts like most of us would: with fear, confusion, and even disgust. There’s a scene where he sees a magically mutilated corpse, and he throws up. He’s something audiences could relate to, not a stoic superhero.

Nick: Tsia, tsy dia izany loatra. Tsy lavorary izy, fa tsy noho izy manjavozavo ara-pitondrantena, fa noho izy tsy niomana. Mihetsika tahaka ny ankamaroantsika izy: amin’ny tahotra, fikoropahana, indraindray aza fahamenarana. Misy sehatra iray aza ahitana azy mahita faty vita fatotra amin’ny fomba majika ka tsy zakany dia mandoa izy. Natao ho toetra azon’ny olona hifandraisana izy, fa tsy ilay mahery fo tony tsy dia maneho hevitra irony.

GV: Midika ve izany fa tsy mahery fon'ny tantara an-tsary izy io?

Nick: Not at all. It’s a mystery horror with supernatural and comedic elements. Life is both terrifying and absurd. Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you’re scared. I wanted Mac to reflect that.

Nick: Tsia velively. Karazana tantara mampihorohoro misy mistery izy io, miaraka amin’ny singa majika sy hatsikana. Mampatahotra no sady tsy misy dikany ny fiainany. Indraindray ianao mihomehy, indraindray ianao matahotra. Izay indrindra no tianay hasongadina amin’i Mac.

GV: Inona no antony nisafidiananao an’i Exarchia ho toerana isehoan’ny tantara?

Nick: I wanted to talk about police brutality and gentrification, two issues that affect me and most people around me. At first, I thought about setting it in my hometown, Korydallos, which is also a victim of gentrification but rarely discussed.

But when people hear ‘Exarchia,’ those two issues, police brutality and gentrification, immediately come to mind. So to make the story more accessible and set the tone, I chose Exarchia as the backdrop.

Nick: Te hiresaka momba ny herisetra ataon’ny polisy sy ny fanavakavahana aho, olana roa tena misy fiantraikany amiko sy ny olona maro manodidina ahy. Tamin’ny voalohany, nieritreritra ny hametraka ny tantara tany amin’ny tanànako, Korydallos, aho, izay lasibatra ihany koa amin’ny fanavakavahana, nefa tsy dia resahina firy.

Kanefa, vao mandre ny anarana ‘Exarchia’ ny olona dia avy hatrany no tonga ao an-tsaina ireo olana roa ireo, ny herisetra ataon’ny polisy sy ny fanavakavahana. Noho izany, nisafidy an’i Exarchia aho ho toerana ijoroan’ny tantara, mba hahatonga ny tantara ho mora azon’ny rehetra sy handrenesany  ny feony.

GV: Raha tsy hiresaka betsaka, inona no tena hafatra asongadin'ilay tantara an-tsary?

Nick: I wanted to show almost in a dark fairy-tale way how gentrification and police brutality rot a neighborhood from the inside.

The tagline is ‘The Flowers of Pain’ — intentionally so. These issues are deeply rooted. It’s not just about businesses closing or hotel and retail store chains opening; the entire mood of a neighborhood changes. Rents rise, it becomes unsafe or unaffordable for locals, and the original authentic way of life disappears.

I wanted to communicate that, but in a way that would reach people who might otherwise be turned off by overtly political language. Horror and supernatural mystery draw them in; then, they start to understand the deeper issues.

Nick : Te hampiseho aho, saika amin’ilay fomba manohina ny rehetra mihitsy, izay mety ho tohina amin'ireo fomba fiteny politika diso mandratra. Ny horohoro sy ny zava-miafina tsy hita maso no misarika azy ireo; avy eo vao manomboka mahatakatra ireo olana lalindalina kokoa izy.

Ny teny filamatra dia ny hoe “ireo Voninkazon'ny fanaintainana” — izay niniana natao. Tena lalina tokoa ireo olana ireo. Tsy resaka momba ny fikatsoan’ny orinasa fotsiny na fisokafana karazana hotely sy fivarotana lehibe; fa miova tanteraka ny tontolo manodidina iray manontolo. Miakatra ny hofan-trano, tena zava-doza sady lafo loatra ho an’ny mponina eo an-toerana, ary mihafoana ireo fomba fiaina nentim-paharazana sy tena izy.

Te hampita izany aho, nefa amin’ny fomba hanohina ny olona izay mety tsy ho liana amin’ny teny politika mivantana. Ny horohoro sy ny tontolon'ny tsy hita maso manan-doza no misarika azy ireo; avy eo vao mety hanomboka mahatakatra ireo fiantraikany lalindalina kokoa izy ireo.

GV: Amin’izao zava-misy rehetra mitranga eto Gresy amin’izao fotoana izao, mbola mahita fanantenana ho an’ny hoavy ve ianao?

Nick: I think a politically engaged person has to hold on to hope, even when it feels almost impossible, because without hope there’s no reason to keep fighting.

There’s a chant we often use at protests that I really love: ‘Even if we lose, we keep fighting.’ That’s the point: we fight because we must, not because victory is guaranteed.

If I’m being realistic, I don’t expect things to get better in my lifetime, or in the lifetimes of many people I know. But that doesn’t mean we stop. If I can make life harder for the bosses, the cops, and the politicians who keep creating these problems, then I’ll keep doing whatever I can.

Nick: Heveriko fa tsy maintsy mifikitra amin’ny fanantenana ny olona liana sy mandray anjara amin’ny politika, na dia toa zary nofinofy aza izany indraindray, satria raha tsy misy fanantenana dia tsy misy antony hiadiana intsony.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Misy antso fanaonay matetika eny amin’ny fihetsiketsehana eny, izay tena tiako: “Na resy aza isika, dia mbola miady hatrany.” Izay no heviny: miady isika satria tsy maintsy, fa tsy hoe satria ho azo antoka ny fandresena.                                                                                                                                                                  Raha ny zava-misy marina no jerena, tsy miandrandra ny hahatsara ny toe-draharaha mandritra ny androm-piainako aho, na amin’ny androm-piainan’ireo maro fantatro. Kanefa tsy midika izany fa hitsahatra izahay. Raha afaka nanasarotra ny fiainan’ireo deba, polisy, ary ireo mpanao politika mahatonga ireo olana ireo aho dia hanohy hanao izay rehetra azoko atao.

GV: Raha afaka nandefa hafatra ho an'ireo mpandray anjara rehetra anatin'ity tolona ity ianao, dia ny hoe ahoana?

Nick: Keep fighting.

Keep creating art. Art is a crucial part of resisting oppression — though sometimes even movements underestimate it. People often ignore articles or even photos and videos from real atrocities, because they’re too uncomfortable.

But art reaches them differently. I once spoke with an artist from Gaza who changed my perspective. You can see countless photos from Gaza, but one drawing by a Palestinian artist can communicate emotions more personal and direct.

That’s why I believe we must keep making art — make it as political as possible, promote artists, and never stop fighting.

Nick: Tohizo ny ady.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tohizo ny famoronana zavakanto. Ampahany tena manan-danja amin’ny fanoherana ny faneriterena ny zavakanto — na dia indraindray aza tsy dia manome lanjany azy ireo fihetsiketsehana sasany. Matetika ny olona tsy miraharaha lahatsoratra, na sary sy lahatsary aza mampiseho zava-mahatsiravina misy marina, satria tsy dia mitombina izy ireny.                                                                                                                                                                              Fa amin’ny fomba hafa no itondran’ny zavakanto azy ireo. Niresaka tamin’ny mpanakanto iray avy any Gaza aho indray mandeha, ary nanova ny fomba fijeriko izy. Azonao jerena tsy tambo isaina ny sary avy any Gaza, fa sary iray hosodoko nataon’ny mpanakanto palestiniana dia afaka mampita fihetseham-po manokana sy mivantana kokoa.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Izany indrindra no mahatonga ahy mino fa tsy maintsy manohy ny famoronana zavakanto isika — ataovy araka izay azo atao ho politika, tohano ireo mpanakanto, ary aza mitsahatra miady mihitsy.

Nick miasa amin’ny sary hosodokony eny an-dalambe any Exarchia. Sary avy amin’ny mpanoratra, nahazoana alalana ny fampiasana azy.

Nifarana ny antsafa nataonay ary nitety an’i Exarchia izahay raha nanomboka nanjavona tanaty aizim-pito ny manodidina. Feno lanja mangina ny fahavononan’i Nick; finoana tsy manam-paharoa tsy voahozongozon'ny fikatrohana ara-politika. Miatrika fanamby lehibe i Gresy, saingy amin’ny alalan’ny asa zavakanto politika tahaka ny an’i Nick, mety hanomboka hahita ny zava-misy amin’ny fomba fijery hafa ny olona: ka ho tonga olona sahy hijoro ho an'ny firaisankina sy fikirizana amin'ny maha olon'ny politika azy.