Making the Universe His Own

An interview with illustrator and comic artist Maiimou

Prolific Bangkok-based artist Maiimou is a lead-concept artist, illustrator, and comics creator whose posters for Marvel Cinematic Universe films have brilliantly depicted legendary Marvel superheroes adorned with Thai iconography. He is the writer and artist of the sequential art publication Wukong & Purple Orchid Prologue and co-founder, along with Nu Formalynn and GK, of SMASHHH STUDIO, a group of three artists with a passion for creating comic books and drawing, and who together currently produce work for the studio such as Pandora Book: Sweet Dreams and Wukong & Purple Orchid.

As an artist, you go by “Maiimou.” Can you tell us a little about the genesis and meaning behind that?

“Maiimou” comes from the Greek word for “monkey,” a symbol that represents me well. I deeply admire Sun Wukong and have always been fascinated by his character. So, I searched for the word “monkey” in various languages until I found Maiimou, which stood out and resonated with me the most. That’s how I chose it as my pen name.

Did you always have a dream to be a professional artist? How different would you say is the picture that you had, or hoped for, of being a working artist when you were younger and the reality of that job now that you’ve experienced it?

I’ve dreamed of becoming an artist since childhood because I’ve always loved drawing. Initially, I wanted to pursue fine art and create works on canvas. However, during high school, I was introduced to digital art and new technologies, which led me to explore digital tools instead. Even though my medium has changed, my passion for art remains the same. Nowadays, I still create many traditional art pieces.

What would you say makes you passionate about art? Are there things you gravitate towards or wish you could explore more?

I’m not entirely sure why I’m so drawn to art; I just know I’ve loved it since I was a kid. But one thing that truly inspired me to become a comic artist was Dragon Ball. That series sparked my passion and shaped my artistic journey.

I know you’re a big Marvel fan and I can think of no more deserving person than you to be a sort of ambassador to the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the Thai side. What is it about the Marvel Universe that appeals to you? It might not be fair to ask if there is a favorite film from the saga, but do you have any favorite corners of that universe?

I grew up with Marvel. My parents used to buy CDs of movies like X-Men and Spider-Man, and I’ve been watching them ever since. When the MCU emerged, I followed it closely. Among all the characters, my favorite is Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch.

What are you most looking forward to from Marvel’s upcoming slate and why?

My ultimate goal right now is to witness Secret Wars on the big screen. I want to experience the same level of excitement and grandeur I felt during Avengers: Endgame. As for upcoming projects, the one I’m most excited about is Thunderbolts.

You’ve done very interesting work fusing Thai iconography to Marvel characters… what are your thoughts on Thai comics? Do you see or wish to see anything locally that can represent our own comics industry the way that the Marvel and DC superheroes do for mainstream American comics?

I hope to see Thai comics and superheroes develop a unique identity and gain recognition on a global scale, just like their Western counterparts.

And what of Smashh Studio? Can you tell us the story behind the studio and your collaborators?

Smashhh Studio was founded because Formalynn (or Nu) and I I used to work at the same company. One day, he decided to leave, but I still wanted to collaborate with him, so I invited him to start a team together. Today, Smashhh Studio is a collective of passionate artists who are dedicated to creating and developing new works together. And now we have our newest member, Ceejinart, who’s came to help our team.

“I grew up with Marvel.

“My parents used to buy CDs of movies like X-Men and Spider-Man and I’ve been watching them ever since.”

Artwork by Maiimou and Formalynn

What projects are you working on now, and do you have anything in the pipeline you’re especially excited about?

A little sneak peek… Our team is currently working on a computer game! And we’re developing a comic project that continues the story from a previously published work. Stay tuned for exciting updates coming soon!

Follow Maiimou’s work on social media:

Check out Maiimou’s entry for bkk UNZINE’s “Then vs. Now” issue here.