Simone Pace's 'Anguisomachia' Transforms 2016 Central Italy Earthquake into Epic Graphic Novel

Simone Pace's graphic novel 'Anguisomachia' (Barta Edizioni, 2018) reimagines the 2016 Central Italy earthquake—which caused 41,000 displaced, 388 injured, and 303 deaths—as an epic battle between humans and a giant serpent. The earthquake, which devastated towns like Amatrice and Arquata del Tronto, is personified as an enormous snake reclaiming its territory. The story follows Signor Ottavio, who rallies a small army of armed men to resist the serpent, while his brother chooses to flee. Pace, born in Rieti, previously covered the earthquake's aftermath for Graphic News. The 80-page black-and-white book uses minimal text, with up to four panels per page and occasional splash pages. The serpent's scales evoke rubble. Pace's style is compared to Ratigher and Simone Angelini but distinguished by heavy use of black and thicker lines. The book is published by Barta Edizioni of San Giuliano Terme, priced at €12.