Five Italian Comic Book Recommendations for Summer Reading
Artribune presents five graphic novels for summer reading, covering diverse themes from mass shootings to samurai philosophy. 'Nel mirino' by Thomas Gosselin and Giacomo Nanni (Coconino Press, 2019, €20) recounts the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting by Charles Whitman, blending brutal subject matter with Lichtenstein-style pop art. 'Miyamoto Musashi' by Shotaro Ishinomori (J-Pop, 2019, €15) explores the life of the legendary swordsman and philosopher, including his work 'The Book of Five Rings'. 'Bernardo Cavallino' by Labadessa (Feltrinelli Comics, 2019, €16) follows a bird-beaked existentialist who blows out candles to calm his anxieties. 'The Complete Krazy Kat in color 1935-1944' by George Herriman (Taschen, 2019, €150) collects the queer-themed comic strips with an introduction by Alexander Braun. 'Vincent Van Love' by Ernesto Anderle (BeccoGiallo, 2019, €17) reimagines van Gogh as a life-loving figure based on his letters to his brother Theo.
Key facts
- Nel mirino by Thomas Gosselin and Giacomo Nanni published by Coconino Press in 2019, 112 pages, €20.
- Nel mirino is based on the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting by Charles Whitman.
- Miyamoto Musashi by Shotaro Ishinomori published by J-Pop in 2019, 488 pages, €15.
- Miyamoto Musashi covers the life of the swordsman and philosopher, including his book The Book of Five Rings.
- Bernardo Cavallino by Labadessa published by Feltrinelli Comics in 2019, 128 pages, €16.
- Labadessa is a Neapolitan cartoonist born in 1993.
- The Complete Krazy Kat in color 1935-1944 by George Herriman published by Taschen in 2019, 632 pages, €150.
- Krazy Kat features a queer cat in love with a mouse who throws bricks at him.
Entities
Artists
- Thomas Gosselin
- Giacomo Nanni
- Charles Joseph Whitman
- Shotaro Ishinomori
- Miyamoto Musashi
- Labadessa
- Bernardo Cavallino
- George Herriman
- Alexander Braun
- Ernesto Anderle
- Vincent van Gogh
- Theodorus van Gogh
- Leonardo Arena
- Roberto Recchioni
Institutions
- Coconino Press
- J-Pop
- Feltrinelli Comics
- Taschen
- BeccoGiallo
- University of Texas
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera
- Università di Macerata
- Università di Bologna
- Università Bocconi
- Università della Pennsylvania
Locations
- Austin
- Texas
- United States
- Rome
- Italy
- Milan
- Padua
- Cologne
- Germany
- Naples
- Japan