Zerocalcare's 'No Sleep Till Shengal' Sets Record Print Run of 234,000 Copies

Zerocalcare's new graphic novel 'No Sleep Till Shengal' has a record print run of 234,000 copies, the largest in Bao Publishing's history. Released on October 4, 2022, the book focuses on the Ezidi people of Shengal, a pre-Islamic Kurdish minority currently threatened by the Iraqi state and Turkey. Zerocalcare traveled to Iraq in spring 2021 to document their conditions and resistance. The work is seen as a follow-up to his 2015 'Kobane Calling', addressing ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The artist emphasized the importance of continuity in real-life stories, noting Turkey as the most serious current threat to the region. Bao Publishing, based in Milan, has held the rights to Zerocalcare's publications since its inception.