read it in Greek

I had the chance to meet Spyros several years ago. I found that his love for comics was great but also his knowledge of heroes, publications and artists was enormous.

Up to today he still maintains his love for comics and I thank him for wanting to share it with us by answering the following six questions.

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How did your love for comics begin?

From a very young age before I barely started reading properly I was fascinated by the small images which contained colorful drawings and I tried to copy them myself on paper. I started with Lucky Luke, Popeye, Mickey Mouse and later on with my first superheroes, Spider-Man, Superman and more.

What is it that makes you want to read comic books till this day?

With comics I feel that I escape from a difficult and petty reality. I travel with them to places I have never visited, even to other planets, eras, realities. I feel the magic in the fact that the comic book heroes stay forever young and unchanged … This is something I admire and envy of the comic book heroes. I wish I was like them and remain unchanged through the ages (I would read even more comics hehe)

Do you have a large collection of comic books?

I have a lot of comics, thousands upon thousands of Greek, American comics and Japanese manga. The biggest problem now is that the space to storage them does not exist and Im not talking about the storage space in one house but in two! But I am not going to stop collecting! Unless I build a vault like Scrooge Mac Duck and likewise take a dive!!

Is there a comic book title or an issue that up to now still remains your favourite?

I have plenty from Peter David’s run on the Hulk, Chris Claremont’s on X-Men and Frank Miller’s on Daredevil to Osamu Tezuka’s series – Astro Boy, Phoenix, Black Jack – and the amazing Thorgal and XIII by Van Hamme, Rosinski, Vance and much more.

Which is a favourite phrase from a comic book character that you like to use?

Hulk/Banner’s “Don’t Make me angry…You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry… ”

Would you suggest to others to read comic books and why?

Of course because comics are the most beautiful art. Comics are love, they are an eternal love, they are a way of life. They combine together arts like painting, drawing, cinema and literature. And it is the best escape from everyday life. Through my blog Comicmaniacs I continuously suggest good comics that everyone should check out!

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Thank you very much Spyros for your wonderful answers, it was nice to know about you and your love for comics!