The obsession with fame, manipulation and the search for identity. Mirka Andolfo, on the occasion of Lucca Comics & Games 2024reveals the background of his new comic, ‘Blasfamous 1‘, published by Star Comics: a work that explores the dark side of fame in the musical world. “Sometimes I struggle to understand where my ideas come from”, confesses Andolfo to Adnkronos. “I let myself be influenced by what I like at the moment. For ‘Blasfamous’ I was intrigued by the concept of the star system, VIPs as modern divinities”.
And he reveals: “I love Lady Gaga very much and for the protagonist, Clelia, I was inspired a little by hereven if it is not immediately obvious.” Clelia is a venerated star, forced into an image of perfection that contrasts with her true nature. “There is this sanctification of rich and famous people,” explains the Neapolitan artist, and Clelia, “despite being bad inside, must appear perfect, like a saint, a blessed. And this forces her to give up her nature a little.” In reality, “she is a very bad person inside who has done some terrible things. So, this dichotomy leads her to have problems with herself.”
The story presents “a big lie sold to the public” who will eventually discover that “not everything that seems immaculate really is”. The work is a satire of the social world and the obsession with fame. “On social media, as in my comic, there is a competition to see who has the most followers and for Clelia it becomes an obsession”, states the author. Regarding her style, which is constantly evolving, the author explains: “I try to adapt it to the story. For ‘Blasfamous’ I looked for a middle ground between the cartoon of ‘Sweet Paprika’ and a more realistic trait, pushing on the grotesque for the horror elements”.
And it is precisely ‘Sweet Paprika’ that has consecrated Mirka Andolfo as a star on the international comics scene. The comic won the prestigious American Harvey Award for best international comic in 2022 and was nominated for the Eisner Award (the ‘Oscars of comics’) as best single issue in 2024. The success of the work also led to its publication in Japan. Enthusiastic about the international response, Andolfo underlines the importance of a greater female presence in the sector: “Many steps forward have been made, but there is never an end. Today there are many more female authors and the path is positive”. Despite living in Turin for 14 years, Andolfo maintains a strong bond with Naples: “Naples is a city that is often underestimated. With ‘Sweet Paprika’ I wanted – in my small way – to pay homage to my city. The protagonist, despite being a devil , is Neapolitan and in the third volume you can see the streets of Naples”.
Finally, a preview of the next project: “I’m working on a new series for the American publishing house Dstlry with a male protagonist and vampires. I like supernatural things and I’m sure it will also arrive in Italy”, concludes the author. In the meantime, fans can enjoy the first issue of ‘Blasfamous’, with the second due out in December and the third, and final, in January 2025.