Lorenzo Mò on his debut graphic novel Dogmadrome and the art of role-playing

Lorenzo Mò, born in Mondovì in 1988, is a rising Italian cartoonist whose debut graphic novel Dogmadrome has just been published by Eris Edizioni. In an interview with Artribune Magazine, he discusses the book's origins in his own teenage role-playing sessions of Dungeons & Dragons, where the game master acts as both narrator and godlike figure. The story follows characters Edo, Fede, Gianni, and Paro in a role-playing game called Struggle Runner that takes a sinister turn. Mò explains that role-playing games offer a unique form of shared escapism, revealing players' true personalities. The book took over two years to develop, starting with writing in January 2015, then a detailed storyboard in 2016. His graphic style combines pop colors with dark themes, influenced by Disney animators like Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl, Warner Bros. cartoons by Tex Avery and Chuck Jones, as well as Jack Kirby, Akira Toriyama, Benito Jacovitti, and Studio Ghibli. He praises Eris Edizioni for their intuition and ability to challenge authors. Mò hints at new projects but remains secretive about details.