Inside the Kingdom: Meet Luca Debus, Creator of Wannabe
This week on Inside the Kingdom, we’re talking about one of the newest comics to join Comics Kingdom — Wannabe — a sharp, funny, and heartfelt look at what it means to be young, ambitious, and just a little bit lost (in the best way).
Host Alex Garcia sits down with Wannabe creator Luca Debus, an Italian cartoonist whose slice-of-life strip follows three roommates — Mackenzie, Andy, and Margo — as they stumble through early adulthood with humor, heart, and a fair amount of chaos.
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From Dream to Daily Strip
Luca’s journey to Wannabe started more than a decade ago. The idea lived in a drawer for years before he was ready to bring it to life. After co-creating Funny Things, a comic-strip biography of Charles Schulz, Luca finally dusted off the project and got to work.
“I’d had the title Wannabe in my head for years,” he said. “It felt right — because that’s what these characters are. They’re trying. They’re figuring it out.”
Humor with Heart
Set in the messy, funny, and often uncertain space of early adulthood, Wannabe finds the humor in trying to keep up with modern life — from hustle culture to awkward friendships to the never-ending scroll of social media.
“I am hustle culture,” Luca laughs in the episode. “But I think that’s why I can make fun of it. The humor comes from compassion. It’s not about judging — it’s about surviving.”
Three Roommates, Infinite Chaos
Each character in Wannabe brings something different to the mix. Mackenzie is a big dreamer and social media hopeful, Andy’s the grounded creative, and Margo’s the overthinker trying to hold it all together.
“They’re friends who love each other, but they drive each other crazy too,” Luca explained. “That’s what makes it real. Real friendships are affectionate and a little messy.”
On Inspiration and Influence
Growing up in Italy, Luca didn’t have access to daily American comic strips — but he did have Peanuts.
“Schulz was everything,” he said. “I was an anxious kid, and reading Peanuts helped me deal with those feelings. It’s what made me want to create comics that could do the same for someone else.”
That influence shines through in Wannabe’s clean art, warm tone, and witty introspection — something fans have already compared to Calvin and Hobbes and Peanuts.
Finding His Voice
After debuting Wannabe on other platforms, Luca joined Comics Kingdom earlier this month, bringing the strip to its first true syndication home.
“Each platform has its own audience,” he shared. “Some people love Mackenzie, others can’t stand her — and that’s perfect. It means the strip’s alive.”
As for what’s next, Luca teased a few upcoming storylines, including a holiday arc and what he calls his “most unhinged comic ever.” (Mark your calendars for November 30 — you won’t want to miss it.)
About the Creator:
Luca Debus is an Italian cartoonist and illustrator, best known for Wannabe and Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles Schulz. He teaches, draws, and occasionally avoids drawing backgrounds (his words, not ours).