Nine Antico's Graphic Novel Chronicles Bettie Page and Linda Lovelace

In 2017, the year of Hugh Hefner's death, 001 Edizioni published "Coney Island Baby," a graphic novel by French artist Nine Antico (born 1981 in Aubervilliers). The book presents a dual biography of Bettie Page and Linda Lovelace, tracing their rise to fame and tragic downfalls. The narrative opens with Hefner warning two aspiring Playboy bunnies about the perils of the porn industry, citing Page and Lovelace as cautionary tales. Originally released in 2010 by L'Association, the Italian edition was published in 2017 by 001 Edizioni in Turin (232 pages, €19.50, ISBN 9788899086916). The book's strength lies in Antico's distinctive drawing style—sparse, direct, and deliberately incomplete—which effectively conveys the sensuality and vulnerabilities of its subjects. However, the dialogue is noted as flat and unengaging. Antico is known for previous works such as "Girls Don't Cry" (2010) and "I Love Alice" (2012).