Following hot on the heels of its Dan Dare and just-launched Modesty Blaise Special Projects, Italy’s Fumettomania Factory APS is turning its attention to celebrating 60 Years of Star Trek in 2026 – and are seeking contributions.
On 8th September 2026, the world will celebrate 60 years of Star Trek, the television series that since 1966 has inspired millions of people to look to the future with confidence, imagination, and a spirit of exploration. Fumettomania Factory – a cultural association and magazine celebrating its 35th anniversary in May dedicated to comics and the languages of pop culture – is preparing to pay tribute to this anniversary with a special project that will accompany readers and fans, just launched on their website.
Italy has a long association with Star Trek, as it does with other SF media, so it should come as no surprise that
The project will include:
- Articles and short essays exploring the cultural and scientific impact of Star Trek
- Unpublished illustrations by young artists and members of the association
- Interviews with scholars, authors, and witnesses to the Italian history of Star Trek
- Stories and testimonials from the community of fans.
“The goal is to build a collective journey that intertwines comics, imagery, and culture,,” say the project’s curators, Mario Benenati and Antonino Mangano, “demonstrating how Star Trek continues, after 60 years, to speak to our present and our future, with a special-dossier online installment on the Fumettomania Factory website, a ebook/anthology to be collected in 2026, with articles, essays, and illustrations, and an eventual traveling or virtual exhibition with the illustrations.
“The journey begins now.”
• For full details of articles planned and a timeline check out “Countdown September 8, 2026: 60th anniversary of Star Trek. What would I do if I were tracing the path to the future?” (Also here in Italian)
• Download: Fumettomania Factory Star Trek – Rules of Participation – English Version – PDF
• Download: Fumettomania Factory Star Trek – Rules of Participation – English Version – Word
“Some projects are born almost by chance,” Mario says of the Fumettomania Factory APS series Special Projects. “I have a thought, an idea, and I search the web for references, links, suggestions, and then I consult with expert friends who are part of the scientific staff, and the framework is built.
“This is what happened with the traveling collective Anthropocene in 2021-22; with the Special Licence to Kill – 70 years of 007, dedicated to James Bond; with the Special We Celebrate “Doctor Who 60 Years” in 2023-24; and with the Special “Dan Dare, Pilota del Futuro“ edited by Daniele Tomasi and myself, and with the special about Modesty Blaise, conceived and designed in 2023 to mark the character’s 60th anniversary.
“‘What would I do if I were tracing the path to the future?’ is a fascinating and profound question, one that millions of Star Trek fans relate to.
Over the past few years, we’ve heard it many times: from our friend and associate Domenico Cutrupia, a longtime Trek fan; our friend, collaborator, and honorary member Salvatore Bonanzinga, who has written numerous Star Trek comic book reviews; our British expert friend John Freeman, who was also the founding editor of Star Trek Magazine and of Star Trek Explorer published by Titan; and we’ve also had an interesting read of the Linus magazine no.9/2024.
“Over the next twelve months, therefore, we want to contribute to this question and to this series, which is the most famous and influential science fiction television series ever made.”
• For full details of articles planned and a timeline check out “Countdown September 8, 2026: 60th anniversary of Star Trek. What would I do if I were tracing the path to the future?” (Also here in Italian)
• Download: Fumettomania Factory Star Trek – Rules of Participation – English Version – PDF
• Download: Fumettomania Factory Star Trek – Rules of Participation – English Version – Word
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Comics, downthetubes News, Events, International Comic News, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Star Trek, Television, US Comics
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