Topolino's Marco Polo Tribute Comic for 700th Death Anniversary

Topolino (Mickey Mouse) magazine, published by Panini in Italy, releases a special comic issue (No. 3583) titled 'Il miliardo' on July 24, 2024, to mark the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death (January 8, 1324). The issue features two stories dedicated to the Venetian explorer, loosely inspired by 'Il milione'. Written by Marco Nucci and illustrated by Giorgio Cavazzano, the main adventure follows Scrooge McDuck and Donald Duck along the Silk Road in search of treasure. Cavazzano's artwork depicts historical scenes of Venice, Istanbul, Trebisonda, and ancient Cathay. This continues Topolino's tradition of cultural homage, following 2023's 'L'arte raccontata da Topolino' (focused on Dadaism and early 20th-century avant-gardes) and a previous volume on the Royal Palace of Caserta. In 2021, Topolino also honored Ernest Hemingway on the 60th anniversary of his death. Topolino, founded in 1949 and published by Panini since 2013, is one of Italy's oldest and most famous children's magazines, with over one million weekly readers.