If there’s one thing you need to know about Bertilo, it’s that he’s a “chubby bald Italian fella who loves pizza and is always topless. He considers relaxation a top priority in his life.” Instantly an icon.
Let’s set the scene: Bertilo is a character created by artist couple Jingo Li and Bertit Butturini. He began as a funny illustrated way to share their stories but, somewhere along the line, he became his own little man; pizza-loving, glasses-wearing, and very dinky. Bertilo the Little Baldy is a collection of short comics all about this unique little dude.
One standout feature of Bertilo is its bilingual presentation, with Chinese and English used side-by-side in a way that feels natural and unobtrusive. Each page typically features a few square panels, usually with Bertilo and a character who’s presumably his partner, culminating in a light-hearted gag.
The jokes don’t go particularly deep in terms of character development or plot, but honestly, they don’t need to. Bertilo shines through its innocent, happy-go-lucky humour and low-stakes scenarios. Think pillow fights, or Bertilo dressing up as ‘Bertila’ to cheer up his partner when she misses her long-distance girlfriends. It’s very sweet, and refreshingly easy to enjoy without overthinking.
The art is Chibi-esque and delightfully cutesy, with a bright, cheerful colour palette that perfectly suits the almost childlike nature of Bertilo. Between story segments, there are sprinkled pages (think hundreds and thousands on top of a Mr Whippy!) that add to the overall sense of playfulness.
The illustration and design section at the back of the comic is a great addition. One section shows Bertilo and his partner hugging in various backdrops, which is super charming. Another highlights clay sculptures of Bertilo skiing, making snow hearts, or sitting in a bucket, as well as photos of a massive 3D Bertilo in real-world locations like forests and icebergs. Jingo Li and Bertit Butturini also offer a peek at their Bertilo exhibitions in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau, and Shanghai, which is a really fun bonus.
Bertilo is making its print debut at Thought Bubble Comic Convention, and it’s bound to be a hit with fans of everything cute and cosy. As Bertilo would say: Be fat, be cool, be chill.
Jingo Li & Bertit Butturini • Self-published
Review by Lydia Turner
Jingo Li and Bertit Butturini (and Bertilo!) will be at Table B39 in the Redshirt Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2025 runs from November 1oth-16th with the convention weekend taking place on the 15th-16th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2025 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster by Ng Yin Shian
