Two graphic novels explore memory and disaster: Lehmann's 'Le lacrime di Ezechiele' and Santoro's 'Pompei'

Two new graphic novels from 001 Edizioni, both presented in Italy in 2018, delve into personal and historical cataclysms. Matthias Lehmann's 'Le lacrime di Ezechiele' follows Bette, a thirty-year-old painter and part-time bartender, who returns to her suburban family home after an uncle's death. There she rediscovers her teenage diary, unearthing memories of alcoholism, a thwarted love affair with an American artist, and a hidden family drama. Her journey parallels that of a mysterious comic artist, Adelphi Gaillac, whose obscure documentary she uncovers. The non-linear narrative intertwines adolescent trauma and artistic obsession, blurring fiction and reality. Lehmann, born in Paris in 1978, is hailed as an eclectic contemporary author. Frank Santoro's 'Pompei' debuted at Comicon Napoli on April 28, 2018, with an exhibition of original plates at the MANN – Museo Archeologico di Napoli. The story follows Marcus, a young apprentice painter, and his girlfriend, who meet in the workshop of the corrupt Pompeian painter Flavius. Set on the day of Vesuvius's eruption, the graphic novel interweaves their romance with the city's decadent high society. Drawn entirely in pencil with minimal reworking, the relentless pace mirrors the impending disaster. Santoro, born in Pittsburgh in 1972, is a former assistant to Francesco Clemente and a key figure in American indie comics.