Comicon Naples 2024: A Cultural Epicenter of Comics, Illustration, and Gaming

Comicon Naples 2024 is just around the corner, once again confirming itself as one of the most important fairs in Italy dedicated to the world of comics, illustration, video games, and play. Reaching its XXIV edition, this year's event promises to be the epicenter of a lively and stimulating dialogue between artists and enthusiasts, consolidating its role as a cultural catalyst and a must-visit reference point for those who wish to fully immerse themselves in pop culture. In this atmosphere of great anticipation and enthusiasm, Star Comics announces its participation with the presence of an exceptional guest who promises to leave a mark and represent the new frontiers of manga: Katsuya Iwamuro. The mangaka, one of the new promises of the Japanese comic scene, will be present at Comicon from April 25 to 28, 2024, to celebrate the release in Italy of Shibatarian, his first serialized work that has captivated readers around the world from the first chapter published on Shōnen Jump+, the digital magazine of Shūeisha. Shibatarian tells the story of two boys, Hajime Sato and Hajime Shibata, united by an unusual friendship and a passion for cinema. But when passion turns into obsession, the boundary between the real and the unreal crumbles, giving life to a narrative that oscillates between light and shadow and demonstrates Iwamuro's incredible graphic talent. His ability to create atmospheres dense with tension and suspense, thanks to a wise use of contrast between darkness and light details, makes each page a work of art capable of capturing the reader's attention and slowly dragging them into his psychedelic and dissonant universe, where terror and the grotesque intertwine thanks to the contrast between narrative violence and Shibata's character lightness. The illustrations, delicate yet powerful, further emphasize the disturbing element in the story, affirming Iwamuro as one of the most wildly brilliant pencils of recent years. Since its debut, Shibatarian has captured the public's attention, quickly becoming an editorial phenomenon from its publication on Shonen Jump+. Katsuya Iwamuro's work immediately reached the top of the charts, achieving extraordinary success in a short time: 1,121,154 views on Shonen Jump+ after just one week from release and a very warm reception also at the international level on Manga Plus, the global counterpart of Shonen Jump+. This impact has inaugurated a new phenomenon that has exceeded all expectations, offering readers a narrative experience that ventures into a compelling and disturbing universe. The print edition, curated by Star Comics and coming out in Italy on April 24, 2024, will arrive just on the eve of Comicon Naples also in Variant Cover edition, offering fans and new readers the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Iwamuro's universe and to share this experience directly with the author during the event days. Starting from April 1, 2024, readers will be able to discover the first pages of Shibatarian with the postcard that will be given as a gift in participating comic book stores: the QR code on the postcard will in fact lead to a free digital preview. During the event, the mangaka will participate in meetings with fans and several signing sessions, as well as panels and talks where he will delve into the themes and inspirations behind the creation of Shibatarian. It will be a unique opportunity for manga and horror narrative enthusiasts to interact directly with one of the most promising authors in the international panorama.