Michel Mulipola is one of Aotearoa’s most experienced storytellers that you’ve never heard of. Michel is a Sāmoan comic artist who has produced work over the last 20 years for NZ School Journals,Marvel Entertainment, Upper Deck and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE.) Michel worked as a Story Artist and Cultural Consultant for Disney Animation’s Moana 2 animated feature film.

As well as a visual storyteller, Michel is also a veteran professional wrestler. Over the last 20 years, he has wowed live audiences around Aotearoa and is a former New Zealand Heavyweight Champion and multiple-time Aotearoa NZ Tag Team Champion. He serves as co-director for Auckland based promotion, Impact Pro Wrestling New Zealand.

Michel also does a lot of community work particularly in schools. Michel has visited over 80,000 students around Aotearoa from Keri Keri down to Murihiku (Invercargill.) His life and work experiences and his passion for creativity resonates with the students and schools he visits.

Michel is currently in his artivist era – utilising his various creative skills to advocate for Indigenous rights, Queer rights and to stand against fascism, capitalism and colonialism. He can often be seen at various protests and actions supporting oppressed peoples in his ‘Social Justice Butterfly’ mode – wearing his jerry-rigged flagholder backpack.

Notable credits:
Moana 2 – Story Artist & Cultural Consultant
Ubisoft – Project Oxygen Story Team
WWE – BOOM! Studios comic artist
O le Aiga Sāmoa – first-ever Sāmoan language comic
Marvel – Upper Deck trading card artist
Legend of Baron To’a – BBQ Wrestler #1
Simmer – Director/Camera Operator/Editor