Leonardo Mannelli Wins the Lucca Project Contest 2026

Leonardo Mannelli, RUFA graduate in Graphic Design – Comics and Illustration, is the winner of the Lucca Project Contest 2026 in the Manga category, a competition dedicated to emerging comic book talents as part of Lucca Comics & Games.

The winning project, W.O.M.B., is a dystopian manga born from an original idea: imagining a world where giant washing machines can make people younger. Through this surreal premise, Leonardo explores profound and universal themes, such as the fear of time passing, our relationship with fate and the possibility of starting over.

As Leonardo himself explains, it all began during a sleepless night, listening to the sound of the washing machine on the balcony:

“One night, I couldn’t sleep because of the noise coming from the washing machine out on the balcony… so I started wondering: ‘What if, one day, there were giant washing machines that, instead of shrinking clothes, could shrink people, making them younger… what would happen to our world?’”

From this idea emerged a story that, beneath its dystopian setting, explores deeply personal themes:

“The dystopian setting is just a way to explore themes that feel deeply personal to me, such as the fear of time passing or our relationship with fate. In this story, without giving too much away, the chance to start over is just a click away, but how many of us would truly be willing to give up everything to do so?”

Thanks to this prestigious recognition, W.O.M.B. will be published by Edizioni Star Comics in a volume of Manga Issho, scheduled for release during Lucca Comics & Games 2027.

A fantastic achievement for Leonardo and a great source of pride for the entire RUFA community.

Curious to discover W.O.M.B.? Keep following us for all the latest updates on the project and its upcoming publication at Lucca Comics & Games 2027!