WYD 2011 Madrid - Official Site - Pope Benedict, Manga Hero

A U.S. based producer of Manga comics prepares a special comic for WYD

Madrid, 25 March 2011.- Manga comic books have experienced a growth in popularity in recent years. Jonathan Lin and Manga Hero, a manga comic producer based in San Rafael, California have produced two Biblical themed Manga comics in the U.S. This August Manga Hero will bring a special edition comic to Madrid for World Youth Day.

The Manga comic entitled “Habemus Papam” was written by Gabrielle Gniewek, a student at John Paul the Great University (JP Catholic) in San Diego, California. JP Catholic was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to finding ways to bring Christ into popular culture using new forms of mass media. Students at JP Catholic train in emerging media.

Jonathan Lin shared with WYD why Manga Hero decided to produce a comic for WYD.

Q: What is the point of this comic?

A: The point of Habemus Papam! is to introduce Pope Benedict XVI to those who may not know much about him, except that he is the leader of the Catholic Church.  This short story captures different moments throughout the Holy Father’s life – specifically as a cardinal working with the late Pope John Paul II, and culminating in the moments leading up to his election as Bishop of Rome. The story also shows how he grows into his role as pope.

Q: Why a manga comic?

In the last decade manga has experienced explosive growth in popularity throughout the world, with millions of children and adults becoming fans of the medium which originated in Japan.  In fact it is considered one of Japan’s most successful exports. Manga covers a wide range of subjects with a full range of genres. We want to use manga as a tool to show the youth and the world that the Church is not afraid of modernity and evolving culture. It is not afraid to use, in this case, new and compelling forms of media to meet young people where they are.

Q: Is this going to reach better young people?

There is an opportunity to reach out to people with an attractive form of media and inspire interest in Pope Benedict XVI, especially his message for young people.  Manga is considered a cutting-edge form of entertainment and offers easy reading for all age groups.  Pope John Paul II called for the use of new and different forms of media to reach young people where they are in order to build a culture of love and dignity. Manga is one such medium.

Q: This is not the first religious themed manga you've produced. How did you get the idea for Biblical themed manga comics?

A: I was thinking of starting a business and I was talking about it with my parents; we were thinking about different ideas.   My father asked how come there are no mangas   based on Bible stories or on the lives of the saints.  I was thinking, that is true, how come there aren’t any, or at least, very few? That’s when the idea for Manga Hero was born.  I’ve also always wanted to do something that positively impacts society.  With media playing such an influential role in our culture, especially on the youth, I felt this was an area that I could make a difference. 

Q: Your previous Mangas were about Judith and St. Paul. Why turn these two biblical figures into Manga heroes?

A: St. Paul and Judith perfectly capture the definition of a hero and heroine – people who are noted for their feats of courage and nobility of purpose, especially when risking or sacrificing their lives for something greater than themselves, in this case, their faith. 

Q:Creating these Mangas is a truly global endeavour. Tell us about that.

A: We have two extremely talented writers, Gabrielle Gniewek and Matthew Salisbury, from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego, California, which specializes in using new media to change our world. Our illustrator, Sean Lam, is a professional artist in Singapore who specializes in manga and is passionate about creating stories that promote positive virtues and heroism. “Habemus Papam” will be printed in Pino, Spain by Dedalo Grupo Grafico, and of course the whole project is produced by Manga Hero in San Rafael, California.

Q: How do you hope to get “Habemus Papam” to World Youth Day pilgrims?

A: We are aiming to distribute the manga throughout Madrid to attendees of WYD and the general public at locations such as churches, schools, hotels or hostels, metro stations, the airport, information kiosks, tourist attractions, and other event locations.  We plan to print over 300,000 copies in both Spanish and English.  We hope the manga acts as a fun platform for people to learn more about the Holy Father and realize that the Church is relevant, visible, and active in modern culture. We want as many people as possible to read the manga.

via madrid11.com

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