Leo Ortolani Is the Magister of Comicon Naples 2026
COMICON Naples 2026 has chosen its ideal guide: for the XXVI edition of the festival, scheduled from 30 April to 3 May 2026, the role of Master will be entrusted to Leo Ortolani. A name that crosses the Italian comics for decades and which continues to speak to different audiences thanks to an ironic, intelligent and recognizable language.
Of Figure Master It has always been one of the most symbolic moments on the road to COMICON: not just a tribute to a great author, but a true cultural compass that guides the festival's narrative. For 2026, this compass points decisively toward one of the most eclectic and transversal authors on the contemporary scene.
Leo Ortolani, a career outside the box
Born in Pisa in 1967 and artistically adopted by Parma, Leo Ortolani He's been drawing and writing stories practically forever. His debut, at a tender age with a now-lost story, already anticipated a vocation that over time has transformed into a full-fledged narrative universe.
The general public knows him above all for Rat-Man, a series published for twenty years and becoming an absolute benchmark for Italian comics. But reducing Ortolani to a single character would be limiting. Over the years, he has explored a wide range of genres and formats, from parody to social fiction, from popular science fiction to graphic novels.
Among the most recent works stands out Tapum! The history of weapons, a wide-ranging work that addresses the theme of war and human violence with the lucid and ironic gaze that distinguishes him.
Between comics, science and pop satire
Besides Rat-ManOrtolani has authored popular science projects for Comics & Science, volumes dedicated to space produced with the Italian Space Agency, and books capable of addressing complex themes with an accessible and never banal language. He has played with genres, creating westerns, science fiction parodies, miniseries, and highly successful graphic novels such as Cinzia.
Alongside comics, he has cultivated a constant relationship with cinema, creating illustrated reviews that over time have become full-fledged books. His humor, always recognizable, manages to move from pop culture to social satire without losing its effectiveness.
There is no shortage of forays into other languages: from theater to television, to collaborations with artists and performers from seemingly distant worlds, confirming a creative curiosity that seems unquenchable.
The role of Master a COMICON Naples 2026
As Master, Leo Ortolani will be at the center of a great exhibition dedicated to his artistic path, he will curate a exhibition itinerary and will participate in talks, meetings and special initiatives who will accompany the public in the discovery of his imagination.
His presence represents a choice that speaks of continuity and renewal at the same time: an author capable of speaking across generations, of making people laugh and reflect, and of using comics as a well-rounded cultural tool.
With Leo Ortolani including Master, COMICON Naples 2026 This edition is shaping up to be one that will focus on the intelligence of irony, the power of storytelling, and the value of comics as a universal language.