Comicon Napoli is sold out, Max Pezzali and Tanino Liberatore expected

Comicon Napoli is sold out : tickets for all four days of the festival are sold out, reaching a new attendance record with 183,000 expected visitors . The International Pop Culture Festival of Naples, one of the largest cross-media festivals in the world, is back and will celebrate its 25th edition from 1 to 4 May at the Mostra d'Oltremare with over 400 exhibitors, 600 events scheduled and more than 450 guests from all over the world. For the first time at Comicon, Max Pezzali will present his new comic book on 1 May, the fourth volume that enriches the 'Max Forever' collection, characterized by the stories and characters featured in his songs, written and illustrated by the cartoonist and writer Roberto Recchioni. Together they will meet the public and then at the Comicon Point for a special signing session of the white copies of the unpublished comic.

Among the most anticipated guests is Tanino Liberatore , master of Italian illustration and comics, guest of honor with the prestigious role of Magister of the 2025 edition . To celebrate him, Comicon presents the exhibition 'Drawing Power. The art of Liberatore', which traces the artist's career. In addition, Liberatore has selected a comics artist who will be the focus of another exhibition: Massimo Carnevale, one of the most spectacular and energetic Italian realistic illustrators. Liberatore will be the focus of numerous meetings and special initiatives. The legend of comics and satire Altan will receive the Comicon 2025 Special Award for Lifetime Achievement . This year his most successful character, La Pimpa , the polka-dotted dog who has entered the hearts of children all over Italy, celebrates 50 years since her first publication in the Corriere dei Piccoli. The Maestro will talk with Zerocalcare about drawing, comics and politics , a special event between the protagonists of two (and more) generations of Italian comics (3 May).

Coming to Italy for the first time is Yuji Horii , one of the most innovative and beloved game designers of all time, known for having created the pioneering adventure game 'Portopia' and the legendary success 'Dragon Quest', a video game series that from the 80s onwards, thanks also to the collaboration with Akira Toriyama as an unforgettable character designer, has achieved such success as to transform it into a cultural phenomenon. Yuji Horii will be accompanied by Richter in two appointments on May 2nd and May 3rd. The singer-songwriter Francesca Michielin is a member of the jury of the 2025 Comicon Palmarès Awards which will be revealed and presented on Saturday May 3rd, at 7:30 pm, at the Auditorium of the Teatro Mediterraneo. And she will be the protagonist of a special meeting 'One Piece - The Divine Comedy of Manga' , an epic tribute to Eiichirō Oda's masterpiece, a dialogue between manga, anime and classical literature (May 2nd).

On May 1st Asia Argento, Igort and Paola Barbato will talk to celebrate one of the greatest masters of contemporary cinema in the meeting: 'Homage to the visionary David Lynch: cinema, dream and reality' , accompanied by the live drawing of Laura Pérez Granel, a Spanish illustrator already nominated for an Emmy Award. The long-awaited first volume of 'Absolute Batman', the best-selling comic book series in the US in 2024, will debut in Italy at Comicon Naples, in the presence of the creators of the series Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta (May 3rd). 'Absolute Batman' reinvents the Dark Knight for a new audience: without a villa, without money, without a butler, what remains of the Batman? A surprising version of Batman, which subverts the classic formula, telling a new and unexpected universe, where nothing is as before.

First time in Italy also for Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa, screenwriter and illustrator of the manga phenomenon series 'Bungo Stray Dogs' , the original supernatural action that has sold over 16 million copies and has extended its success to films, videogames, theatrical performances, light novels and a successful anime now in its fifth season. The authors will introduce the screening of the film 'Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple' (May 1). The mangaka of #DRCL and Innocent Shin'Ichi Sakamoto will be the protagonist of an extraordinary showcase (May 3). The sensei will show his creative process live, offering the public a unique immersion in his art, which ranges from strength to metaphysical metamorphosis. An unmissable opportunity for all manga and visual art enthusiasts, which offers an in-depth look at the work of one of the greatest masters of contemporary Japanese comics

Harry Potter fans will be joined by Thomas Taylor, the illustrator and children's writer who created the cover of the first British edition of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Taylor will meet the public on May 2nd for the exhibition 'From Harry Potter to Malamander. Thomas Taylor and the illustrator's journey'. Darick Robertson, an American cartoonist and screenwriter who has been on the scene for over 30 years, co-creator of 'Transmetropolitan' and the wild series 'The Boys' with Garth Ennis, which later became a successful TV series (May 3rd), will also be at the festival. Charles Cecil, legend of graphic adventures, game designer of 'Broken Sword' and founder of 'Revolution Software', will be the protagonist of the talk The use of AI in video games according to Charles Cecil (May 3rd).

Exclusive previews from the world of seriality. The Jackal are back at Comicon Napoli (2 May), the content factory formed by Ciro Priello, Fabio Balsamo, Aurora Leone and Gianluca Fru, who will exclusively present the first images of the second eagerly awaited season of 'Pesci Piccoli', the successful comedy series that will return to Prime Video from 13 June). Also on stage will be the actress Martina Tinnirello and the director and author Francesco Ebbasta. The first two episodes of 'Il Baracchino' will be presented exclusively , the new Italian animated series with a cast of irresistible voices, on Prime Video from 3 June. Two of the leading voices, Lillo and Frank Matano, and the directors Nicolò Cuccì and Salvo Di Paola will be coming to the event (3 May).

For cinema, two Italian previews dedicated to horror and supernatural culture: 'Presence', the new film by Steven Soderbergh (May 2), and 'Werewolves' by Steven C. Miller starring Frank Grillo (May 4), the films will be presented in two meetings that explore the evolution of visual tension between auteur cinema, horror and folklore. For Italian cinema, 'Mani Nude' will be presented , based on the novel by Paola Barbato, directed by Mauro Mancini, starring Francesco Gheghi and with music by Dardust. The film will also be discussed by Barbato herself and actress Giordana Marengo in a panel that combines introspection and adrenaline (May 4).

For music: Virginia Bocelli, daughter of tenor Andrea Bocelli, will exclusively sing 'Forever Winx', the unreleased song that accompanies the transformations of the six fairies who star in Winx Club (3 May), while waiting for the arrival of the brand new chapter Winx Club, the reboot of the worldwide hit saga that will be released in Italy and around the world starting in September 2025. Anastasio will be on stage at Comicon Napoli , with the LMNPP Live concert (4 May) and will also perform live for the first time the songs from his new album (and comic) entitled 'Le Macchine Non Può Pregare'.