By Nick Vivarelli
International Correspondent
Globally renowned Italian comic book artist Mirka Andolfo, creator of the steamy series “Sweet Paprika,” is releasing a new comic titled “Blasfamous.” The story is set in a world where pop stars have ascended to divinity, dominated by a singer named Clelia who is loosely inspired by Lady Gaga.
The new eros-infused horror comic launches on Feb. 21 published by new American digital comics imprint Dstlry, co-founded by former Amazon execs David Steinberger and Chip Mosher.
Last year, Andolfo won a prestigious Harvey Award for “Sweet Paprika” — which was optioned by former Netflix exec Erik Barmak’s Wild Sheep for an animated series adaptation — and has been collaborating with DC Comics since 2015. She has done artwork for titles such as “Wonder Woman,” “Harley Quinn,” “DC Bombshells” and the upcoming “Batman: White Knight Presents – Generation Joker.”
In “Blasfamous,” Andolfo depicts a world where pop music stars “are venerated like saints,” she says, adding that “they trade their souls for fame and social media followers.” The series asks the crucial question: “How many fans is your soul worth?”
With the masses bowing in veneration to a new generation of idols, Clelia, the reigning queen of pop, finds her throne shaken by a newcomer who radiates enigmatic charm.
For the character of Clelia, Andolfo drew inspiration from Lady Gaga. “Even though you might not think that in terms of the way she looks, but I think it can be intuited,” she says. When Clelia’s reigning status is threatened, she and her “demonic agent,” Father Lev, resort to extreme measures to defend her hot streak. “Blasfamous” blends Andolfo’s signature manga-inspired erotic style with “horror tropes,” she notes.
Asked whether she created “Blasfamous” with a screen adaptation in mind, Andolfo says that, unlike “Sweet Paprika,” she considers this series more congenial for live-action rather than animation.
As for the potential audience for “Blasfamous,” though her series tend to have a strong female viewpoint, Andolfo says that “these days it makes no sense to make female or male-skewed comics.”
“I create and write for everyone, women and men, even though some people try to pigeonhole my work as being more for young women,” she adds.
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