Paola Barbato, Golden Romics of the 37th edition

Writer and screenwriter, one of the most authoritative voices in Italian comics and thriller fiction, recipient of the Romics d’Oro Award.

Paola Barbato will be honored with the Romics d’Oro Award during the 37th edition of Romics, taking place from October 1 to 4, 2026, at Fiera Roma.

Born in Milan in 1971, raised in Brescia and now based in Verona, Barbato is a writer and screenwriter. Since 1999, she has written stories for Dylan Dog published by Sergio Bonelli Editore, contributing to the evolution of one of the most iconic characters in Italian comics. Throughout her career, she has worked on numerous other projects, including the series 10 ottobre and the miniseries Ut, illustrated by Corrado Roi, establishing herself through a style that combines narrative tension, psychological insight, and an exploration of the darkest corners of the human soul.

A remarkably versatile writer and screenwriter, her artistic career successfully spans different languages, audiences, and narrative forms. From comic book scripts to fiction for children, young adults, and adults, as well as projects for film and theatre, she has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to bring compelling stories to life while addressing complex themes with sensitivity, depth, and originality.

Alongside her work in comics, she has pursued an intense career in fiction. For Rizzoli, she has published Bilico, Mani nude, and Il filo rosso. Mani nude, winner of the Scerbanenco Award, was adapted into the feature film of the same name, directed by Mauro Mancini and starring Alessandro Gassmann and Francesco Gheghi. With Edizioni Piemme, she published Non ti faccio niente, followed by the trilogy consisting of Io so chi sei, Zoo, and Vengo a prenderti, as well as L’ultimo ospite, La cattiva strada, and Il dono. In 2024, she joined the Neri Pozza catalogue with La Torre d’Avorio, followed in 2025 by Cuore capovolto.

Since 2019, she has also written for children and young adults for Il Battello a Vapore, and since 2025 she has been the author of the Villa Ombrosa series. Her work also extends to television: in 2009, she wrote the Sky TV drama Nel nome del male.

During the 37th edition of Romics, Paola Barbato will meet the public and look back on her career, from more than twenty-five years of work on Dylan Dog to thriller fiction, and on to her most recent experiences in literature for children and young adults.