Devilman vs. Sirene (NWS)

Go Nagai's Devilman is one of my all-time favorite manga reads: powerful story, perfectly balanced, expressive, and shocking.

I'm not exactly a fan of his original creator's drawing skills, but he did manage to channel an incredible energy and expressiveness, something I didn't find in any of his other works. Anyway, Devilman transcended the original manga and later inspired many other works and adaptations, as well as a lot of different artists.

Absolute beauty and abject monstrosity, chaste purity and unbridled sexuality, ecstasy and profound despair, all of this coexist in Devilman. There are no half-measures.

As soon as I realized that I could be in Como also this year for LCCAF, I contacted Riccardo to explore the idea of him illustrating the character (for the very first time, as it turned out). He was intrigued, I admit I maybe gave him some more input than I usually do (I prefer artists to have as much freedom as possible) even though it was mostly around themes, feelings, sensations, and some background coming from Nagai's Gekiman (a sort of biographical manga about the genesis of Devilman). And the color RED.

Riccardo started working on this less than a week before LCCAF, it was amazing to see the (quick) progress and I believe he ultimately created something incredible. Jaw-dropping.

Instantly my all-time favorite depiction of Devilman.

Silene's teeth (and I'm not talking about the ones in her mouth) are a personal touch that I love.

I want also to add how pleasant it was to spend some time with Riccardo and Giulia in Cernobbio at LCCAF when I picked the piece up, the greatest added value of this peculiar kind of convention.

Please check the additional images for some of the gorgeous work-in-progress photos posted by Federici on his social profiles.

Huge thanks to Riccardo & Giulia!!!


Paper size: 33 x 48 cm