Marcello Jori presents his new book in a national première at Museion Lo straordinario viaggio del mondo

Neither a comic book, nor a graphic novel, and not even a novel, is how Marcello Jori’s new book Lo straordinario viaggio del mondo (The Extraordinary Journey of the World) has been described. The book will be presented at Museion in a national premiere on Thursday 14 December at 6.30 pm in the free-admission space, Museion Passage. Jori himself has defined the work as “Thought painted in written movement: the history of the world comes alive”. The moderator will be Antonio Lampis, Director of the Italian Culture, Environment and Energy Department for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.

The book is an original work by an artist who revolutionized the avant-garde of Italian comics in the 1980s. The book tells the story of a man of art who becomes a superhero to free the world of war, hatred and death by spreading true love and searching for the primordial orgasm.

Lo straordinario viaggio del mondo has a long story. Originally created only for Japan in the late 1990s and early 2000s for a famous magazine, it has now been reinvented and rewritten for Italy and Europe.

For the author, it has become the story of his own life, a personal Odyssey, where the "Artist Jori" becomes the "Artist Superhero”. His mission is to free the world of some of the eternal problems that have always plagued humanity. It is a powerful, visionary story from the brush and pen of a great visual artist.

The hero, Captain Jori, faces impossible trials that put his life at risk. The first of these is to save "True Love" between men and women on the verge of extinction. Salvation is hidden in Africa, in the body of the Queen of the Watussi, a black Turandot who possesses the Primordial Orgasm.

In his second quest, the artist plunges into the depths of an ocean of terror where he succeeds in slaying the still living and undefeated monster: Moby Dick!

The scene then shifts to the sky of a secret island, where the hero finds himself involved in the most violent battle ever fought, reminiscent of World War II.

In his last quest, the hero’s enemy is Death. Here again, the trial seems insurmountable, but Captain Jori's desperate love of life succeeds in saving not just himself but all human beings too.