Patrick Piazzalunga: Bringing ’70s Horror Back to Comics

Join us for an in-depth conversation with talented comics artist Patrick Piazzalunga as he shares his journey from Bergamo, Italy to the international comics scene.

Patrick opens up about his early days studying at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics in Florence, working as an inker on series like Dampyr, and developing his distinctive style that blends dynamic action, horror elements, and grindhouse aesthetics.

We dive deep into his latest project, Gunpowder Prophets (Mad Cave Studios), a ‘70s-style horror series written by Justin Jordan. Patrick discusses his creative collaboration with Jordan, the visual references that shaped the book’s gritty atmosphere, and his workflow bringing characters Huck and Marley to life on the page.

Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a comics fan, or curious about the international comics industry, Patrick offers valuable insights on making the leap from smaller projects to major publishers, navigating language barriers in the creative processe, and staying inspired in the demanding world of sequential art.

Topics covered:
∙ Early influences and Italian comics tradition
∙ The transition from assistant work to leading artist roles
∙ Creating the visual language of Gunpowder Prophets
∙ Page production workflow and technical tools
∙ Advice for non-native English speakers entering the industry
∙ Staying creative and avoiding burnout

Follow Patrick’s work and pick up Gunpowder Prophets from Mad Cave Studios.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​