Let’s see the guests and events announced at the press conference
We were invited to the press conference on Lucca Comics & Games 2024, where some guests and events were previewed. This year the festival, which will be held from 30 October to 2 November, presents itself as a real operatic composition, entitled THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT. L”Butterfly Effect” is a corollary of the Chaos Theory which studies how small changes can lead to big consequences. To best represent this effect, the Lucca Comics & Games contacted the great artist and illustrator Yoshitaka Amanowho created three different posters for the festival (only one has been revealed so far).
Furthermore, from 13 November 2024 to 1 March 2025 the exhibition “They love Corpus Animae” which will collect more than 130 works. Aimed at celebrating the maestro’s 50-year career, the exhibition will contain the greatest masterpieces of By hand. Among these there will be collaborations with Sandman, Batman, Vampire Hunter D, Magic The Gathering And Vogue.
Mangaka from the Rising Sun
But let’s get to one of the most anticipated announcements, the one regarding i mangaka who will be present at this edition. Four were announced during the conference, each hosted by an Italian publishing house:
- J-POP Manga will host Gou Tanabeone of the greatest visual interpreters of the famous author’s horror universes HP Lovecraft
- Panini Comics will bring Yuto Tsukuda And Shun Saeki the authors of Food Wars!
- WeldPress will welcome the author of TO-Y And SEX, Atsushi Kamijo
At the moment these are the mangaka confirmed for Lucca Comics & Games 2024but as is usually the case, it is possible that others will be added to the list over the next few months.
The Ninth Art
The guest section for the Comics area was more substantial. Among these we will have Kazu Kibuishiwhich will also be at the center of the exhibition “Kazu Kibuishi: spells on paper” at Ducal Palace. Collaboration with Star Comics And weldPresswill bring the screenwriter Scott Snyder and the designer Tula Lotay who will be present at the festival to meet Italian readers. Panini Comics will host Peach Momokoillustrator of numerous covers for some of the publications Marvel best-selling. They will also be present Karen Bergereditor of Berger Booksthe acclaimed series by graphic novel Of Dark Horse Comics AndRichard Bruning, one of the most important graphic designers in the comics industry.
This edition of Lucca Comics & Games will mark an important milestone in the festival’s internationalization journey. The Napoleon Pavilionthe heart of comics, will in fact host three foreign publishers, leading names in the world of comics Ninth Art:
- Les Humanoïdes associéspublishing house created in 1974 with a single purpose: to publish Metal Hurlant. Founded by the critic and screenwriter Jean-Pierre Dionnetby the authors Jean “Moebius” Giraud, Philippe Druilletand from Bernard Farkas. And one of its founders, Jean-Pierre Dionnet, will be among the guests of Lucca Comics & Games 2024.
- Fantagraphics Books, publishing house co-founded by Gary Groth, Mike Catron and Kim Thompsonin 1976. With the publication of The Comics Journalhas been the driving force behind the promotion of comics as an art form. Among the illustrious presences of this edition of the festival, one of the co-founders, Gary Groth.
- Dala Publishinga Taiwanese publishing house founded in 2003 that is dedicated to promoting local cartoonists to Taiwanese and foreign readers.
In addition to the one dedicated to Kazu Kibuishi, Doge’s Palace will host two other important exhibitions: “Francesca Ghermandi: The Intergalactic Planet. Comics, Drawings and Objects” And “Kalimatuna, our words of freedom”. The latter features the three authors Takoua Ben Mohamed, Zainab Fasiki, Deena Mohamed be spokespersons for the changes affecting their countries of origin (Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt). Thanks to their works they show an original human, political and social cross-section of it.
50 years of Dungeons & Dragons
Exactly 50 years ago Gary Gygax And Dave Arneson gave life to the most famous role-playing game of all time: Dungeons & Dragons. Lucca Comics & Games has decided to celebrate this important anniversary with two unique tributes in the world. For the first time, a unique exhibition entitled in the world will be exhibited “Gateway to Adventure: 50 Years of D&D Art”. It will be taken care of by Jon Petersonone of the most important historians of the game, author of Dungeons and Dragons – Art & Arcana and the extraordinary collection of rare documents The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons 1970-1977recently published by Wizards of the Coast. To accompany Peterson it will be Jessica Lee Patterson, an art historian who has been working on cataloging the collection since 2022. The exhibition will be welcomed by the extraordinary Church of the Servitesalready used in the past for the display of original tables.
But it doesn’t end here, Dungeons & Dragons will officially become part of the city of Lucca: the city’s municipal administration will name the underground of San Paolino bastiondefinitively, a Gary Gygax and Dave Arnesoncreators of Dungeons & Dragons.
Videogames
As for events and guests related to the videogame world, the festival will open its doors to Baldur’s Gate III Of Larian Studios. Jason Latino, cinematic director, Joachim Vleminckx, art director, e Borislav Slavovmusic composer, guests of the festival, will share with the people of Lucca background, curiosities and insights into the birth and development of one of the most popular titles of recent years.
Charles Cecil, game designer and creator Broken Sword, will be in Lucca to retrace together with the fans some of the fundamental stages that led to the birth of the graphic adventure par excellence. Furthermore Tetris will celebrate a Lucca Comics & Games his 40th anniversary with the participation of the creator and the game Alexey L. Pajitnovand the co-founder of The Tetris Company, Henk B. Rogers. The two will talk about the history of the game, its impact on pop culture and share their thoughts on the direction the brand is taking.
Other Great Guests
Even this year Netflix get back to Lucca Comics & Games this time around to present SQUID GAME 2. Thursday 31 October the creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk and the protagonists Lee Jung Jae And Wi Ha-Jun will be in Lucca to meet the fans and to reveal to the world some new features of the highly anticipated second season. Furthermore, to celebrate the 25° anniversary of the anime of One piece, will participate in Lucca Comics & Games two great guests from Japan: Tatsuya Nagamine (director of the last seasons of one piece) And Kenji Yokoyama (historical animator from the first episodes to today).
This year he will make his comparison at the festival, and for the first time in Italythe author of the acclaimed series of novels for girls and boys Little shivers, Robert Lawrence Stine. There will also be something to keep readers in suspense Stuart Turton, acclaimed author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and the author Paola Barbatowho will present his new novels The ivory tower And Horror Game.
The participants in the Lucca Comics & Games they can also try the collectible card game Star Wars™: Unlimited which will release the pre-release of set 3, The Twilight of the Republicin world premiere!
This first press release already announces a Lucca Comics & Games full of guests and excellent events! As anticipated, other guests could be announced in the coming months.
