Alice Milani on Her Graphic Biography of Sofia Kovalevskaja and the State of Italian Comics

Alice Milani, a Tuscan cartoonist born in 1986, has released her latest graphic biography, 'Sofia Kovalevskaja. Vita e rivoluzioni di una matematica geniale,' published by BeccoGiallo. The book chronicles the life of the 19th-century Russian mathematician, who earned her doctorate in Germany—as women were barred from university studies in Russia—and became the first woman to hold a university chair, in Sweden. Milani, who previously illustrated biographies of Marie Curie and Wisława Szymborska, emphasizes the emotional connection she feels with these historical women, blending their professional achievements with their private lives. In an interview with Artribune, she discusses the nearly three-year process of creating the book, including research and storyboarding, and reflects on the state of Italian comics: a booming market with increased production but stagnant readership, unlike France. Milani also created an original comic for Artribune about climber Lynn Hill, a pioneer in a male-dominated sport. She notes that her books appeal to young adults despite tackling adult themes like marriage, divorce, and revolution, and she values the creative freedom of biographical comics.