The 35th edition of Romics, the International Festival of Comics, Animation, Cinema, and Games, will present its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards to a roster of acclaimed artists. The honorees include Fabio Civitelli, celebrating 40 years of work on the iconic Tex series; Disney Animation cornerstone Ron Clements; Oscar Martín (Tom & Jerry, Solo); and special effects maestro Kevin Pike. The event takes place at Fiera Roma from October 2nd to 5th.
This year introduces the new Romics Special Award for artists pushing creative boundaries. Recipients are Jason Shiga, who will host special meetings dedicated to his works like *Demon*; and the duo Martin Quenehen and Bastien Vivès, the writer and artist behind the reinterpretation of *Corto Maltese*.
The festival will feature major exhibitions, including “Happy Birthday Peanuts!”, a vast display of original art, rare books, and memorabilia celebrating Schulz’s legacy. An interactive exhibit, “Lone Wolf: Here Begins Your Adventure,” will mark 40 years of the gamebook series in Italy. Another show, “Mutants and Metahumans,” will explore the modern archetypes of superhuman characters.
Dozens of events are scheduled, such as a preview panel for the supernatural horror *Black Phone 2*, a meeting with the director and cast of Paolo Strippoli’s horror film *La Valle dei sorrisi*, and a dedicated event for the black comedy *The Toxic Avenger*. The program will also feature launches and deep dives into editorial initiatives, alongside anniversaries and tributes. These include celebrations for 30 years of *Toy Story*, 50 years of the *Febbre da Cavallo* and *Fantozzi* soundtracks, 90 years of Popeye in Italy, an Harry Potter Tribute, and a concert by Cristina D’Avena and Gem Boy, performing together for the first time on the Romics stage.