Ken Niimura

José María Ken Niimura del Barrio (born October 19, 1981), known as Ken Niimura, is a Spanish cartoonist of Spanish-Japanese descent.

Niimura studied at the Escuela de Arte La Palma, in Madrid, graduating in Fine Arts. He was a founding member of H Studio, Arruequen and the publishing label Epicentro.

He published, among other works, Underground love, Clockworld, Vacío Absoluto, Otras jaulas, En el camino de la madeja, Historietas, and illustrated the series of books Japonés en Viñetas Japanese language learning guides, with the specialist Marc Bernabé.

Niimura taught classes on comics and manga in the University of Salamanca, Casa Asia In Madrid, the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris and the Eurasiam academy, among other places

In 2008, he published the limited series I Kill Giants, written by Joe Kelly, with which he debuted in the American market. This work was nominated in the Eisner Awards and would end up winning the First Prize in the 5th Japan International Manga Prize.

Among the authors imura published two short stories for “The amazing Spiderman” (with Joe Kelly) and participated in the magazines Black (Italy), Mandala (Japan), Popgun (USA), Dos Veces Breve (Spain) C’est Bon Anthology (Sweden) and Fluide Glamour (France).

Other artists whom he collaborated with are Víctor Santos, Luciano Saracino, Javier de Isusi, David Lafuente, Arnaud Bureau, Kris, Paul Allor, and Choi Juhyun.

In 2013, he started publishing the series Henshin for Shogakukan's magazine Ikki.

Comics titles

• Umami. Panel Syndicate, 2018.

• Henshin. Ikki Comix, 2013.
• I Kill Giants (with Joe Kelly). Image Comics, 2009.
• Qu4ttrocento. Dolmen Editorial, 2006.
• Historietas. Recerca Editorial, 2005.
• Otras jaulas. Astiberri Ediciones, 2003.
• Clockworld. Amaníaco Ediciones, 2002.
• Underground love. Amaníaco Ediciones, 2001.
• Two Sides (with Javier Bolado). Epicentro Ediciones, 2001.

Other projects

• Vegas Blues. Mad Lead, 2012.
• Spicy Tuna. Mad Lead, 2011.
• 514H. Webcomic, 2011.
• Zero. Norma Editorial, 2010.
• El París de los Gañanes. Soitu.es, 2009.
• Lingua Comica (con Choi Juhyun). ASEF, 2008.