This year, COMICDOM CON ATHENS celebrated its 20th anniversary, and AKTO was there, participating dynamically in the major anniversary event held at Technopolis of the City of Athens (May 15 – 17). With a presence that highlighted the creativity, talent, and active involvement of the AKTO community, members of the student body, alumni, and members of our academic team left their distinct mark on Athens’ most significant comic convention.
>> AKTO Live Sketch Event
At the AKTO booth, 1st and 2nd-year students from the BA (Hons) Comics & Cartoon university program drew live for the public. The Live Sketch Event transformed the creative process into an unforgettable experience for festival visitors, while also giving them the opportunity to get a close look at AKTO’s work and educational approach.
>> AKTO Alumni @Artists Alley
Our beloved AKTO Alumni once again filled the Artists Alley this year. 25 AKTO Alumni participated in the event, presenting their personal work and confirming their dynamic presence in the field of Comics and Illustration. Established creators, rising talents, and new voices, all with AKTO as their common starting point, met in the most vibrant area of COMICDOM Con Athens, creating a unique connection point between the academic community and the contemporary creative scene.
Warm congratulations to Ioanna Agapitou, Anastasia Vasalou, Antzy/Angeliki Georgousopoulou, Maria Gyrihidi, Denny Giatras, Tilemachos Gonsales, Michalis Dialynas, Alex Eva, Mary Kalampalika, Periklis Koulifetis, Kelly Papadakis, Dimitra Nikolaidi, Nikos Boukouvalas, Nikos Bratos, Despoina Pachi (Pinio), Thanasis Petrou, Vag. S, Marina Seferai, Konstantine Sklavenitis, Maria Tzampoura, George Tsardanidis, Konny Tsihlogianni, Chrysa Chartsas, George-Angel Hatzigiannis, Anna Holak.
>> AKTO Workshops @Innovathens
Our participation in the Workshops program and the welcoming space of Innovathens is now a tradition. For another year, members of AKTO’s academic team conducted four different workshops, aimed at children and adults.
From creating mini-comics and transforming a humorous story into comics, to teaching human figure drawing and the relationship between painting and comics, the workshops highlighted different aspects of the creative process at AKTO, offering knowledge and unique opportunities for expression to participants. The team of AKTO instructors included: Mary Kalampalika [Comic Artist – Children’s Book Illustrator], Kostas Ananidas [Sculptor – Painter], Antonis Rallis [Art Historian] and the Director of the BA (Hons) Comics & Cartoon university program, George Botsos [Comic Artist, Visual Artist].
>> Hellenic Comics Awards (EL.VRA.KO)
The Hellenic Comics Awards (EL.VRA.KO) ceremony took place on 05/15 at the “Miltiadis Evert” Amphitheater of Technopolis.
We are particularly proud of AKTO academic team member, Thanasis Petrou [Comic Artist] for the two Awards he received from the Hellenic Comics Academy: Best Original Screenplay Award and Long-Form Comic Award for his Graphic Novel “1941 Strictly Blackout”. A special moment was their presentation by Comics Veteran, David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), this year’s honored artist.
COMICDOM Con Athens celebrated its 20th anniversary by presenting a rich anniversary program, featuring international guests, international & Greek Comics exhibitions, the largest Artists Alley, workshops, portfolio reviews, publishing houses, talks, panels, interviews, guided tours, a cosplay contest, and awards.
The dynamic presence of the AKTO community at COMICDOM Con Athens 2026 confirms our long-standing relationship with the art of comics and our commitment to supporting creativity, education, and new creators.
