Hello and welcome to the obligatory section where I talk about who I am and what I do.

My name is Michel Mulipola and I'm a self-taught Samoan comic book artist from Auckland, New Zealand. I've been immersed in the world of comic books from the tender age of five and I've wanted to draw comic books from that moment on.

I worked as a Story Artist and now a Cultural Consultant for Walt Disney Animation Studios on the upcoming Moana 2 feature length animated film.

I've illustrated work for BOOM! Studios' line of WWE comics, various anthologies and I am currently working on the U.S graphic novel series, Headlocked.

When I'm not drawing comic books, I am a semi-competent Tekken player having made the top 8% at EVO in 2023 and winner of the Zowie BenQ EVO2018 Tekken 7 Ladder Tournament. I solidified my status as the world's best Tekken player/Pro wrestler when I soundly beat WWE superstars, Xavier Woods and Shelton Benjamin at EVO2023. I am currently a Logitech partner.

I can also be found peddling comic books at Arkham City Comics - a comic book store I helped a friend establish.

During the weekends, I spend my time dropping people on their heads as a professional wrestler for Impact Pro Wrestling. As a pro wrestler, I am a former NZ Heavyweight champion and multiple time Aotearoa NZ Tag Team champion.

I also do school visits around Aotearoa New Zealand where I share my work and experiences as an artist as well as running comic and illustration workshops. To date, I have presented to approx. 65,000 students around the country, from Keri Keri to Invercargill. If you want me to visit your school, hit me up in the contact form below.

 

Professional works:
 

2024 - Current - The Pop Off Pop Culture Expert - Nesia Daily ABC Pacific Radio
2023 - 2024 - Cultural Consultant for Disney Animation Studios

2023 - Disney Animation Studios Story Artist - Moana 2 feature film

2023 - Good Sports illustrations - Penguin Randomhouse NZ

2021 - 2023 - Story and World Building Team - Ubisoft (cancelled project)
2012 - Current - Headlocked graphic novel series
2015 - Current - Duffy Books in Homes Role Model
2022 - The Billion Dollar Heist documentary artwork - GFC Films & Universal Pictures

2021 - Karangahape Road: 'Street As Character' featured writer - Auckland Writers Festival

2021 - Unite Against COVID-19 mall ad campaign - Clemenger BBDO

2021 - Sāmoan & Tongan language autobiographical comic for NZ School Journals - Lift Education

2021 - Marvel X-Men Metal sketch trading cards - Upper Deck

2021 - Marvel Allure sketch trading cards - Upper Deck

2020 - Sāmoan language online comics - Nafanua Communication & Culture Classes

2020 - Marvel Masterpieces sketch trading cards - Upper Deck

2020 - WWE 2K Battlegrounds promotional art - 2K Games ANZ

2020 - SIS Show Comedy Central promotional art - BMC Productions
2020 - The Legend of Baron To'a bandana prop illustration - Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Productions
2019 - Avengers: Endgame sketch trading cards
2019 - Captain Marvel sketch trading cards - Upper Deck
2019 - Tangata Beats Summer poster - Smokefree Rockquest
2019 - Marvel Premier 2019 sketch trading cards - Upper Deck
2019 - Spider-Man: Far From Home sketch trading cards - Upper Deck
2019 - The Choice NZ School Journal story - Lift Education
2019 - Marvel Premier sketch trading cards - Upper Deck
2019 - Marvel 80th Anniversary sketch trading cards - Upper Deck
2019 - Once a Panther NZ School Journal comic - Lift Education
2019 - Liliu short film storyboards
2019 - Tangata Beats poster art - Smokefree Rockquest
2019 - WWE The Sami & Kevin Show TPB Samoa Joe story - BOOM! Studios
2019 - WWE Then. Now. Forever vol. 3 TPB Stone Cold & Bret Hart stories - BOOM! Studios
2019 - WWE John Cena minicomic Walmart giveaway - BOOM! Studios
2019 - WWE Forever 2019 Special #1 Bret Hart story - BOOM! Studios
2018 - Marvel Avengers Infinity War sketch trading cards - Upper Deck

2018 - Oh Boy! A Storybook of NZ Men illustrations - Penguin Books NZ

2018 - Fanene Peter Maivia: Son of Samoa book illustrations - Reading Warrior
2018 - WWE Attitude Era 2018 Special #1 Stone Cold story - BOOM! Studios

2018 - WWE WrestleMania 2018 Special #1 Miz story - BOOM! Studios

2017 - Marvel Premier sketch trading cards - Upper Deck

2017 - WWE #13 Samoa Joe story - BOOM! Studios

2017 - Cook Islands Heroes book illustrations - Reading Warrior
2016-2017 - Altered Egos art exhibition - Mangere Arts Centre

2016 - Supershow trading card game art - SRG Universe
2016 - Tongan Heroes book illustrations - Reading Warrior
2016 - Breathless School Journal Story Library book - Lift Education

2016 - Graphic Journey #7 web comic

2015 - The Rules story, School Journal Oct 2015 - Lift Education

2015 - Rugby: The Players, The Skills and The Style book illustrations - Reading Warrior

2015 - Sky TV 25th Anniversary ad campaign illustrations - Heroes & Villains

2015 - Samoan Heroes book illustrations - Reading Warrior

2015 - EvolOcean comic (unpublished)

2013 - Raggamuffin poster designs (unused)

2013 - Frogs School Journal comic book - Learning Media

2012 - T-shirt designs - Nesian Street Clothing (unused)

2011 - The Gutters #197 online comic strip - guest artist

2011 - DbMan online comic strips - Dbvisit software company

2011 - Artist for Inspiration Duncans comic book - Beyond Reality Media (pages unused)

2010 - T-shirt designs - Overstayer Clothing

2010 - Comic strip for V Energy Drink Competition (winner)

2008 - Lucha-a-Koko comic strip for New Ground anthology - Dealer Man Comics

2008 - T-shirt design for Samoan K1 champion, Mark Hunt - Juggernaut Clothing

2008 - Emerald Justice online comic strip - Impact Pro Wrestling

2007 - Storyboard for Waikato Draught Beer billboards - Colenso BBDO

2007 - Storyboard for Memphis Meltdown advertisement - Colenso BBDO

2007 - Knuckles the Malevolent Nun: She Might Get Rather Crude #1 - Guest Artist

2007 - Lucha-a-Koko comic strip for New Ground anthology - Dealer Man Comics

2005 - Sesame Street Fighter comic strip for New Ground anthology - Dealer Man Comics

2004 - Sesame Street Fighter comic strip for New Ground anthology - Dealer Man Comics

2004 - Smacktown! comic strip for New Ground anthology - Dealer Man Comics

 

Awards: 

2018 - Winner - Zowie BenQ Tekken 7 Ladder tournament at EVO2018

2013 - Finalist for Secret Walls X Aotearoa Live Art Battles

2011 - Top 25 finalists for Stan Lee Foundation Create a Superhero competition

2010 - V Energy Drink’s Pimp My Life competition winner

2006 - Gibson Award for Best New Zealand Comic Book Artist

 

Media:

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2023 - ABC Pacific Sāmoan Spider-Woman interview - June 20

2023 - PMN News interview - Disney's newest Cultural Consultant - May 30

2023 - Buzzfeed AANHPI Month interview - May 19

2023 - Pasifika comic artist visits Northland - Stuff.co.nz - May 18

2023 - ABC Pacific Supanova Melbourne interview - April 20

2022 - 'Take that, Luxon' - Stuff.co.nz - Dec 17

2021 - SYFY Wire Indie Comics Spotlight - May 30

2021 - 'I Am Digital' internet safety Pasefika Proud article - March 29

2021 - 'Eye of the Liger' Pasefika Proud interview - March 29

2021 - 531pi Live Zoom interview - Feb 17

2021 - 531pi Live Studio interview - Jan 12

2020 - Oriana TV Please Blow My Mind episode 3 - Dec 20

2020 - Stuff.co.nz Spreading Love of Reading to Marlborough Students - Nov 20

2020 - Tautai.org FALE-SHIP: Michel Mulipola - Nov 11
2020 - Radio New Zealand Bookmarks interview - June 24

2020 - Radio New Zealand interview 'New Comic Series for Samoan Youth' - May 25
2020 - The Provise Project podcast episode #12 - May 50

2020 - RE: feature #2 - Jan 2
2019 - Stuff.co.nz Samoan Measles art and interview - Dec 7
2019 - Back of the 135 podcast ep. 30 - Nov 7
2019 - RE: feature #1 - Oct 17
2019 - RE: Duffy Books in Homes feature - Aug 19
2019 - Lani Wendt Young Our Storytellers interview - June 4
2019 - ComicFest 2019 - 5 minutes interview - April 14
2019 - The Spinoff Two Sketches episode 1 - March 26
2018 - Stuff.co.nz Lords of the Ring article - Dec 27
2018 - Radio New Zealand Eye of the Liger article - Sept 24
2018 - LetsPlayLive Nite Squad Season 2 premiere - Sept 5
2018 - Radio New Zealand interview - Aug 26
2018 - Mangere Otahuhu Arts Mapping Creative Hustle interview - Aug 15
2018 - Stuff.co.nz Liger interview - August 5

2018 - Syfy.com ECCC interview - March 2
2018 - Stuff.co.nz interview - Jan 14

2017 - Newsroom interview - Nov 10

2017 - The Big Idea interview - May 1
2017 - Stuff.co.nz Animation College interview - April 14
2016 - Stuff.co.nz Altered Egos interview - Dec 12
2016 - The Coconet TV Altered Egos exhibition spotlight - Nov 30
2016 - The Coconet TV Humans of the Islands interview - July 8
2016 - FRESH Keepin' It Fresh segment - May 14
2016 - Tagata Pasifika - April 9

2015 - Radio New Zealand Samoan Heroes interview - June 16

2015 - Tagata Pasifika interview - May 1

2014 - NZPWI.co.nz interview - Oct 24

2014 - Sunday Star Times interview - Sep 21

2014 - Radio New Zealand interview - June 26

2012 - The Good Word Jnr Series 1 - Episode 4

2012 - FRESH Series 2, Episode 5 – Creative Native segment

2011 - NZ Herald Online article - Feb 15

2010 - Pacific Beat Street Episode 193 – Interview

2010 - Studio 2 – Awesome Jobs segment

2010 - NZ Herald – Entertainment section article - July 24