Lucca Comics and Games recently concluded its 60th anniversary edition in the medieval Tuscan city of Lucca, Italy. Running from October 28 to November 1, the event served as a gathering point for creative leaders, artists, authors, showrunners, animators, actors, and directors. Approximately 80,000 ticket-holding fans visited the city daily, exploring various pavilions, exhibitions, and pop-up experiences scattered throughout the historic location.
HBO's Harry Potter pavilion generated significant anticipation, with queues forming early in the morning before winding around the venue. Attendees viewed props from the upcoming series, received temporary tattoos representing their chosen House, and watched a pre-recorded message featuring John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Despite the excitement, no cast members were physically present, nor was any footage previewed. Fan reactions were mixed; Stefano, dressed as a Jedi, expressed hope for a deeper exploration of the books, while Alessia, in a Maleficent costume, voiced concerns regarding potential changes to the source material ahead of the show's Christmas Day release.
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians fandom demonstrated its vitality with a substantial presence at the event. Key cast members Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri joined showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz for a panel. Following the discussion, the group appeared on a terrace overlooking Piazza della Magione to greet more than 8,000 fans dressed in the colors of Camp Halfblood.
The live-action adaptation of the Blue Lock anime and manga series received its European premiere at the convention. The film depicts an authoritarian regime organizing a survival game to select the most selfish soccer striker from 300 candidates with the goal of winning Japan the World Cup. Described as a faithful rendering of the anime, the movie was noted for blending elements of Battle Royale with Michael Caine's soccer film Victory.
Legendary comic book creator Frank Miller made an appearance to announce new works, continuing his tradition of engaging with fans at the event. He revealed a further collaboration with Peach Momoko inspired by Japanese horror stories. Additionally, groundbreaking manga artist Go Nagai was honored with a special exhibition titled "Sun, Heart, and Steel." The showcase featured his influential work Mazinger Z, which inaugurated the Mecha genre, as well as Devilman, which drew inspiration from Dante's Divine Comedy.
Cosplay remained a central attraction, transforming the city into a vibrant panorama of characters ranging from Middle Earth and Hogwarts to Mario Bros. and Squid Game. Notable sightings included a cosplayer dressed as Leon from the 1994 film Leon: The Professional complete with a silenced pistol and houseplant, a Walter White impersonator, and a group dressed as the cast of the original Jurassic Park with a Jeep. The annual Star Wars parade was led by a Mandalorian who was later revealed to be Italian author and television personality Alberto Angela, who had spent the day moving through the crowds incognito.
Sources: Variety.