Tony Shalalo releases third volume of “The Mighty Assyrians” comic

AUSTRALIA — Assyrian writer Tony Shalalo, living in Australia and raised in a family proud of its Assyrian heritage, has released the third volume of his comic series The Mighty Assyrians, titled “The Betrayal.” In this volume, Shalalo sheds light on one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people—the assassination of Mar Benyamin Shimun, Patriarch of the what then the Church of the East and now Assyrian Church of the East, and dozens of his personal guards on March 3, 1918. The cowardly murder was carried out by Simko, leader of Kurdish militias allied with the Ottoman Empire, during the Sayfo genocide of 1915. 

Shalalo and his team vividly portray this historical tragedy through detailed and emotionally resonant illustrations, capturing both the weight and horror of the event with artistic depth and historical accuracy. 

This latest volume follows two earlier editions: “The Story of a Forgotten People” and “The Exodus.” Shalalo has previously explained that the inspiration for the comic originated a few years ago when his daughter asked for help with a school project. He suggested she write a story about Assyria—a spark that later ignited his own creative journey. After penning the first line of the story, he embarked on a search for a skilled comic artist, ultimately finding Spanish illustrator Osoris Junior. 

The ongoing efforts of Shalalo and his team reflect a broader movement among the Syriac (Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian) communities around the world, who are using modern tools and media to preserve the Syriac language and share their ancient Mesopotamian history and culture with global audiences of all ages.