Vincenzo Filosa's 'Figlio unico' Blends Manga and Italian Humor

Vincenzo Filosa (born 1980 in Crotone), previously author of 'Viaggio a Tokyo', returns with a new graphic novel 'Figlio unico' published by Canicola Edizioni (Bologna, 2017, 240 pages, €18). The story follows a lonely boy raised by his scientist father to believe he is the result of robotics experiments, making him invincible like manga heroes. The boy acts as a superhero, but his fantasies escalate into hallucinations, straining family life. His mother, exhausted, orders the father to show him the real world. The boy finds refuge in a 1980s arcade, where he excels at video games and gains friends. As he grows up, he and his friends experiment with synthetic drugs. The book is set in sun-drenched Crotone, amidst half-built buildings and abandoned suburbs. Filosa prioritizes narrative over aesthetic refinement, drawing influence from classic mangaka like Shigeru Mizuki, Osamu Tezuka, and Go Nagai, filtered through Italian humor. The work updates Japanese manga and gekiga styles for a contemporary Italian setting.