Achille & KiPI
THE DISCONNECTED OF m1RC_
A graphic novel about the myth of the shortcut in the age of AI. Set in a near future where technology, artificial intelligence and promises of rapid success have become part of everyday life.
Achille & KiPI
Set in a near future where technology and survival brush up against each other every day, the story follows Achille, a young man with a talent for circuits and a dream too big for the family farm, and KiPI, the cynical and faithful voice of everything Achille doesn't want to hear.
An original story written by Mario Moroni, bringing into the graphic novel the themes he has observed and discussed for years, transforming them into narrative, imagination and characters.
A taste of the Achille & KiPI adventure.
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We chose Kickstarter because Achille & KiPI is not conceived as a traditional publication alone, but as a project to build together with a community. Kickstarter lets us present the graphic novel directly to readers, validate the project on an international scale and create special editions and exclusive content for everyone who wants to support us from day one.
The universe of Achille & KiPI
Achille & KiPI is set in a near future: far enough to allow visual and narrative invention, but close enough to feel recognisable.
It is a possible tomorrow, built on the tensions of the present: automation, artificial intelligence, miracle courses, innovation gurus, platforms and the desire for redemption. Technology is everywhere, yet not everyone has access to the same future. Some design it, others are subjected to it. Some promise emancipation, others sell shortcuts.
m1RC is the symbol of this promise: a bright, seductive place full of possibilities, where everything seems accelerated. But the closer Achille gets to the centre of the system, the harder it becomes to tell who is truly building the future and who is simply selling it.
The protagonists
Achille
Achille has just finished high school and doesn't really know what to do with his life. He grew up on a provincial farm, far from the great centres of innovation, taking care of the agricultural robots that help his family. He has a passion for circuits, mechanics and computing, but he has never truly had access to the fast, seductive and fierce world of contemporary technology. For him, the future is something that happens elsewhere.
Until a state-of-the-art quantum computer arrives on the farm. Achille immediately understands that the machine can do much more, and begins to imagine a different life: he doesn't just want to escape the farm, he wants to build something.
KiPI
KiPI starts as an old robotic cat that Achille brings back to life using the quantum computer, installing a personality purchased from a mysterious server. The result is not quite what he expected.
KiPI is intelligent, cynical, sharp, moralising when needed and unbearably clear-eyed when Achille just wants to believe in his own dreams. He becomes his travel companion, his mechanical conscience and the voice that sees the cracks behind every promise that sounds too perfect.
The creative team
Salvatore Vivenzio
He handles the writing and screenplay. An active screenwriter across Italy, France and the international market, he works on stories that hold together pace, irony, adventure and a critical reading of the present. He has published La Rabbia (Shockdom, 2018), Distorted (Scout Comics / Saldapress, 2022), Malombra (2024) and Selva Scura (Rue de Sèvres), spanning Italian, American and French comics.
Silvia Buganza
She draws Achille & KiPI, defining the visual identity of the world and its characters. Her line engages with global manga, western comics and a contemporary pop sensibility. She graduated with honours in 2024 from the International School of Comics in Turin, where she stayed on as a tutor. She has collaborated with Web Athletics and Findus.
Renato Franchi
He oversees the project, positioning and Kickstarter strategy. A consultant specialising in publishing, comics, manga, crowdfunding and transmedia development, he brings an experience built over ten years at Panini, Star Comics and CMON, with international launches of high complexity. He is currently overseeing the launch of Sandstorm Comics in Abu Dhabi.
Free download
The story starts here. And the first 10 pages are yours.
Enter your email and get the first 10 pages of Achille & KiPI right away, free and no strings attached. A taste of the world and the characters, before the Kickstarter launch.
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