Zerocalcare
Zerocalcare - Lucca Comics and Games 2018
BornMichele Rech
(1983-12-12) 12 December 1983
Cortona, Italy
NationalityItalian
Notable works
This World Can't Tear Me Down
http://www.zerocalcare.it/

Michele Rech (Italian: [miˈkɛːle ˈrɛk]; born 12 December 1983), known as Zerocalcare ([ˌdzɛrokalˈkaːre]), is an Italian cartoonist. His pen name, literally meaning "zero limescale", was inspired by an Italian TV commercial jingle for a descaler product, and was chosen when he needed a nickname to quickly join a discussion on the Internet.[1]

As of 2019, his books have sold over one million copies.[2] His works were also adapted in other media, including the 2018 live-action movie The Armadillo Prophecy (Italian: La profezia dell'armadillo), based on the 2011 graphic novel of the same name,[3] and the Netflix animated series Tear Along the Dotted Line ("Strappare lungo i bordi;" 2021) and This World Can't Tear Me Down ("Questo Mondo Non Mi Renderà Cattivo"; 2023), in which he also starred.[4]

Biography

Early life

Rech was born in Cortona, Italy, to an Italian father from Rome and a French mother. He was raised in France, then later Rome (Rebibbia-Ponte Mammolo area), where he graduated at the Lycée français Chateaubriand.[1][5]

Early career (2003–2012)

In 2003, at the age of 20, Rech began working as an illustrator for Liberazione, Carta, La Repubblica, and several other periodicals. At this time, he also wrote and drew a webcomic titled Safe Inside for Zuda Comics, the online division of DC Comics. In 2004 he created a comic about the G8 summit in Genoa, which had taken place three years before.[6]

Zerocalcare published his first graphic novel in October 2011 titled The Armadillo Prophecy, and in November created zerocalcare.it, a website where he published autobiographical comic strips. In September 2012, the blog won the Macchianera Award as 'Best draftsman-Cartoonist'[7] and the Gran Guinigi Award at Lucca Comics for best short story with The Armadillo Prophecy.[8]

Career (2013–present)

In October 2014, Rech made a variant cover for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, released during Lucca Comics by Panini Comics' Italian division.[9]

In April 2016, his fourth graphic novel Kobane Calling: Greetings from Northern Syria was published. The material had been previously published in 'Internazionale' and focused on the conflict between the Kurds and the Islamic State.[10] Kobane Calling won the Micheluzzi Award as best cartoon at Naples Comicon, 2017. In October, a film based on La profezia dell'armadillo entered production with Fandango (a Fremantle subsidiary) and Rai Cinema.[11] Zerocalcare was one of four screenwriters on the movie.[12]

On 14 January 2018 L'Espresso published a short comic by Zerocalcare titled 'Questa non è una partita a bocce,' focusing on the rise of Neo-fascist movements in Italy.[13] The same year, Zerocalcare was invited to attend San Diego Comic Con following the English release of Kobane Calling, but only obtained his US Visa last minute, due to his travels which inspired the book.[14][15]

On 3 September 2018 the film La profezia dell'armadillo was released, based on his comic of the same name.[16] In November, the MAXXI museum of Rome hosted an exhibition of Zerocalcare's works, titled Zerocalcare. Scavare fossati, Nutrire coccodrilli. It lasted until March 2019.[17] That same month a theatrical adaption of Kobane Calling: Greetings from Northern Syria debuted at Teatro del Giglio in Lucca, during Lucca Comics & Games 2019[18] and toured as part of the 2019/2020 theatre season.[19] In 2020, Zerocalcare got high visibility, particularly thanks to the animated shorts Rebibbia Quarantine broadcast on LA7 on the Propaganda Live program during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. On the same year, he made varant covers for Marvel's Absolute Carnage comic book miniseries, only released in Italy.[20] He wrote an introduction for the Italian edition of TRANSito, a transgender-themed comic by Ian Bermúdez drawn by David Cantero, released in Italy in March 2020.[21]

On 21 December 2020 Zerocalcare announced that he would be creating an animated series for Netflix titled Tear Along the Dotted Line.[22][23] Ten months later, on 8 October 2021, Netflix released a teaser trailer for the show, which announced the show's 17 November 2021 release date.[24] The show premiered ten days later, on 18 October, at the Rome Film Fest.[25] On 16 November Ablaze Publishing announced that they would be releasing English translations of Zerocalcare's first three graphic novels, The Armadillo Prophecy (2011), Tentacles At My Throat (2012) and Forget My Name (2014).[26] Tear Along the Dotted Line was released through Netflix on 17 November 2021. Early reviews have been positive.[27] An animated series featuring the same team of creators, titled This World Can't Tear Me Down (Italian: Questo mondo non mi renderà cattivo), was released on Netflix on 9 June 2023.[28][29][30]

On 4 October 2022, Rech's new graphic novel No Sleep till Shengal was published in Italian. It focuses on the persecution of Yazidis in Iraq.[31]

Works

Comics

Graphic novels
  • The Armadillo Prophecy (La profezia dell'armadillo). Edizioni Graficart. 2011.
  • Tentacles At My Throat (Un polpo alla gola). Europe Comics. 2018. ISBN 978-16-8497-092-6.
  • Dodici. BAO Publishing. 2013.
  • Forget My Name (Dimentica il mio nome). Ablaze Publishing. 2022. ISBN 978-19-5091-272-8.
  • Kobane Calling: Greetings from Northern Syria (Kobane Calling). Lion Forge Comics. 2017. ISBN 978-19-4130-249-1.
  • Macerie prime. BAO Publishing. 2017.
  • Macerie prime. Sei mesi dopo. BAO Publishing. 2017.
  • Prossima fermata. Una storia per Renato. With R/Push. Elementi Kairos. 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[32]
  • Educazione subatomica. CNR Edizioni. 2018.
  • Scheletri. BAO Publishing. 2020.
  • A Babbo morto. Una storia di Natale. BAO Publishing. 2020.
  • No Sleep till Shengal. BAO Publishing. 2022.
Short Comics
  • Sparare a zero. Best Movie. September 24, 2014-ongoing.
  • "'Se Zerocalcare avesse scelto un panda anziché un armadillo?". Bevilacqua, Giacomo (2015). A Panda piace fare i fumetti degli altri. Panini Comics. ISBN 978-88-9120-954-2.
    • Se Zerocalcare avesse scelto un panda anziché un armadillo? Bevilacqua, Giacomo (2023). Sono una testa di panda. BAO Publishing. ISBN 978-88-3273-933-6.
  • Kobane Calling. Internazionale. October 2, 2015. ISSN 1122-2832[33]
  • La città del decoro (Città dei Puffi). La Repubblica. May 10, 2015.
  • Ferro e piume. Internazionale. October 2, 2015.
  • Groviglio. La Repubblica. 2016. December 24, 2016.
  • Così passi dalla parte del torto. in La rabbia. Einaudi Stile Libero Extra. 2016. ISBN 978-88-0623-093-7.
  • Questa non è una partita a bocce. l'Espresso. January 14, 2018.
  • C'è un quartiere che resiste. Internazionale. March 29, 2019.
  • Macelli. Internazionale. July 19, 2019.
  • Lontano dagli occhi, lontano dal cuore. Internazionale Extra. December 2020.
  • Romanzo sanitario. l'Espresso. March 28, 2021.
  • La dittatura immaginaria. Internazionale. May 14, 2021.
  • Etichette. Internazionale. July 16, 2021.
  • Dubbi confusi su un presente lacerato Parte 1. l'Essenziale. November 6, 2021.
  • Dubbi confusi su un presente lacerato Parte 2. l'Essenziale. November 13, 2021.
  • Dubbi confusi su un presente lacerato Parte 3. l'Essenziale. November 30, 2021.
  • Strati. l'Essenziale. February 19, 2022.
  • La voragine. l'Essenziale. December 5, 2022.
    • La voragine. Internazionale. December 9, 2022.
    • The Chasm (La voragine). April 2023.
  • ''Regà non ho capito''. Scottecs Gigazine. Gigaciao. July 5, 2023. ISBN 979-12-8150-200-0.
  • Cortocircuito. Appunti e cronistoria della vicenda Lucca Comics. www.internazionale.net. 2023.
    • Cortocircuito. Appunti e cronistoria della vicenda Lucca Comics. Internazionale. November 10, 2023.
Collections
  • Ogni maledetto lunedì su due. BAO Publishing. 2013.
    • Collects the 2011 - 2013 'zerocalcare.it' strips, as well as a new 50 page comic.[34]
  • L'elenco telefonico degli accolli. BAO Publishing. 2015.
    • Second collection of 'zerocalcare.it' strips from 2014 - 2015, as well a new 45 page comic.
  • La scuola di pizze in faccia del professor Calcare. BAO Publishing. 2019.
    • Collects short comics published between May 10, 2015 - February 22, 2019, as well as a new comic divided into three parts.
  • Niente di nuovo sul fronte di Rebibbia. BAO Publishing. 2021.
    • Collects short comics from 2019 - 2021, as well as a new comic divided into five parts.

Essays and critique

  • Pavan, Sara, ed. (2014). Il potere sovversivo della carta. Milan: Agenzia X. ISBN 978-88-9502-974-0.
  • De Finis, Giorgio; Di Noto, Irene (2020). Senza Metropoliz non è la mia città. Rome: Bordeaux Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-3210-398-4.
  • Satrapi, Marjane, ed. (2023). Donna, vita, libertà. Milan: Rizzoli. ISBN 978-88-1718-348-2.

Forewords

  • Rojava Calling (2016). Kobane, diario di una resistenza: Racconti di una staffetta di solidarietà (Sulla frontiera). Rome: Edizioni Alegre. ISBN 978-88-9884-117-2.
  • Ian Bermúdez Raventós; David Cantero Berenguer (2020). TRANSito. Rome: Momo Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-9446-246-3.

Cover arts

  • Bendis, Brian Michael. McNiven, Steve. Dell, John (October 2014). Guardians of the Galaxy #0. Colored by Justin Ponsor. Panini Comics. (variant).
  • Luna Gualano. Go Home - A Casa Loro. October 2018.[35]
  • Max Pezzali. In questa città. Warner Music Italy. November 2019.
  • Cates, Donny (January 2020). Absolute Carnage. Drawn by Ryan Stegman. Modena: Panini Comics.(variant)
  • Thomas, Jeffrey Miley; Venturini, Federico, eds. (February 2020). La vostra libertà e la mia. Abdullah Öcalan e la questione curda nella Turchia di Erdogan. Milan: Edizioni Punto Rosso. ISBN 978-88-8351-238-4.
  • Max Pezzali. Sembro matto. Warner Music Italy. March 2020.
  • Young, Skottie (October 2020). Middlewest. Vol.1. Drawn by Jorge Corona. Milan: BAO Publishing. September 2020. ISBN 978-88-3273-456-0. (variant)
  • Bevilacqua, Giacomo (October 2022). Metamorphosis. Milan: BAO Publishing. ISBN 978-88-3273-754-7. (variant)
  • Beritan, Rojbin; Cruciati, Chiara (November 2022). La montagna sola. Gli ezidi e l'autonomia democratica di Şengal. Rome: Edizioni Alegre. ISBN 978-88-3206-783-5.
  • Floris, Francesco; Pallavicini, Carlo (March 2023). La muraglia umana. Le lotte dei facchini nella logistica. Rome: Momo Edizioni. ISBN 979-12-8029-836-2.
  • Rossi, Ilaria (May 2020). Prospettiva Quadraro. Qual è la libertà?. Arezzo: Setteponti. ISBN 979-12-8100-514-3.

Other

  • Scavare fossati, nutrire coccodrilli. BAO Publishing. 2018. ISBN 978-88-3273-210-8.
  • Dopo il botto. BAO Publishing. 2023. ISBN 978-88-3273-836-0.
  • Zerocalcare Animation Art Book. BAO Publishing. 2023. ISBN 978-88-3273-906-0.
  • Enciclopedia calcarea. Guida ragionata all’universo di Zerocalcare. BAO Publishing. 2023. ISBN 978-88-3273-931-2.

Filmography

Year Title Director(s) Credit Notes
2014 Fumettology: Zerocalcare Unknown Self Documentary TV Episode
2015 ARF!: Il film Giovanni Bufalini Documentary
2018 La profezia dell'armadillo Emanuele Scaringi Screenplay Based on Zerocalcare's 'The Armadillo Prophecy'.
2019 Basement Café: Kaos & Zerocalcare Paolo Vari Self Talk Show
2020 Liberi e pensanti. Uno maggio Taranto Fabrizio Fichera, Giorgio Testi & Francesco Zippel Documentary
Rebibbia Quarantine Zerocalcare Director, writer, animator, self Nine shorts series
2021 Tear Along the Dotted Line Zerocalcare Director, writer, self Six episode series for Netflix
2022 Margins Niccolò Falsetti Self Cameo role; poster author
2023 This World Can't Tear Me Down Zerocalcare Director, writer, self Six episode series for Netflix

Awards and nominations

Awards

  • 2009: Zuda Comics Competition of January 2009 for Safe Inside.
  • 2012:
    • Macchianera Italian Awards as 'Best draftsman-Cartoonist'.
    • XL Award for The Armadillo Prophecy.
    • Micheluzzi Award for the 'best webcomic' for zerocalcare.it.[36]
  • 2013:
    • XL Award and Micheluzzi Award for the 'best comic book' for Tentacles at My Throat.
    • 'Archivio Disarmo - Colombe d'Oro per la Pace' Journalistic Award.
    • Lucca Comics & Games' Gran Guinigi Award for the 'best short story' for The Armadillo Prophecy.
  • 2014: 'Satira politica di Forte dei Marmi' Award for the best 'satirical drawing'.
  • 2017: Micheluzzi Award for the 'best short story' for Kobane Calling: Greetings From Northern Syria, on Internazionale n°1085.[37]
  • 2018: Mondadori Public Award during the Micheluzzi Awards for Forget My Name.
  • 2021: Fabrique Award for the 'best TV series' for Tear Along the Dotted Line[38]
  • 2023:

Nominations

  • Finalist at the Strega Prize in the 'young' category for Forget My Name.
  • Finalist at the Québec Libraries Prize for Forget My Name.[41]

References

  1. 1 2 Ravarino, Mauro (18 January 2015). "Zerocalcare da Kobane in Val di Susa". Il Manifesto (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Yari Bernasconi (11 December 2019). "Una vita per i disegnetti: Michele Rech, alias Zerocalcare". RSI.ch (in Italian).
  3. ↑ "La profezia dell'armadillo". Venice Biennale. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Alessandro D’Amato (8 June 2023). ""Questo mondo non mi renderà cattivo": l'anteprima della nuova serie Netflix di Zerocalcare fa il pieno di pubblico e risate - il video". Open (in Italian).
  5. ↑ "Zerocalcare". Europe Comics. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Zerocalcare. "La nostra storia alla sbarra". issuu.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "#MIA 2012 – Macchianera Italian Awards 2012 /3 – La classifica finale e i vincitori". macchianera.net (in Italian). 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lucca Comics 2012: i vincitori del Premio Gran Guinigi 2012". 3 November 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Fantastic Four Conspiracy: Another Disappearing Galactus". Bleeding Cool. 2 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Graphic Novel 'Kobane Calling' by Zerocalcare Published in English - KurdishQuestion.com". 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "La Profezia dell'Armadillo: partite le riprese del film tratto dalla graphic novel di ZeroCalcare". Cinema - BadTaste.it (in Italian). 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  12. ↑ La profezia dell'armadillo (2018) - IMDb, archived from the original on 17 November 2021, retrieved 17 November 2021
  13. ↑ "Zerocalcare ci spiega il fascismo. Che non è solo una partita a bocce". l'Espresso (in Italian). 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Johnston, Rich (14 July 2018). "USA Bans Lion Forge Cartoonist From Attending San Diego Comic-Con". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. ↑ MacDonald, Heidi (16 July 2018). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  16. ↑ La profezia dell'armadillo (2018) - IMDb, archived from the original on 23 November 2021, retrieved 17 November 2021
  17. ↑ "Zerocalcare. Scavare fossati · Nutrire coccodrilli | MAXXI" (in Italian). 31 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "'Kobane Calling' di Zerocalcare ora è uno spettacolo 'On Stage': "Un dialogo tra teatro e fumetto"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Ferretti, Franco (16 November 2019). "'Kobane calling on stage': Zerocalcare in prima nazionale a Grosseto". Maremma News (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  20. ↑ Gabrielli, Ettore (18 January 2020). "ABSOLUTE CARNAGE: l'evento Marvel con le variant cover di Zerocalcare e Spugna". Lo Spazio Bianco (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Masin, Jacopo (17 March 2020). "TRANSito, il fumetto sulla storia di un ragazzo trans con l'introduzione di Zerocalcare". NEG Zone (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  22. ↑ Guido, Giulia (21 December 2020). "Zerocalcare's animated series coming soon on Netflix | Collater.al". Collateral. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Animeclick.it - video intro". www.animeclick.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Tear Along The Dotted Line | Official Teaser | Netflix. YouTube.
  25. ↑ Tear Along the Dotted Line (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb, archived from the original on 23 November 2021, retrieved 17 November 2021
  26. ↑ Tantimedh, Adi (16 November 2021). "ABLAZE Publishing Zerocalcare's Graphic Novels ahead of Netflix Series". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  27. ↑ Reese, Lorelei (13 November 2021). "Ripping the Edges: Netflix Series Review by Zerocalcare :: Blog on Today". News Net Nebraska. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  28. ↑ Fumarola, Silvia (6 May 2022). "Zerocalcare su Netflix al lavoro sulla nuova serie: "Un progetto più lungo"". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  29. ↑ "Zerocalcare annuncia la nuova serie animata Questo Mondo non mi renderà cattivo". Sky Tg24. 18 November 2022.
  30. ↑ "ZeroCalcare, il teaser di Questo mondo non mi renderà cattivo". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 6 April 2023.
  31. ↑ "Zerocalcare racconta il suo nuovo libro "No sleep till Shengal"". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 25 May 2022.
  32. ↑ "Prossima Fermata". OpenDDB (in Italian). Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  33. ↑ "Kobane Calling at Zerocalcare.it". Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  34. ↑ ""Ogni maledetto lunedì su due": intervista a Zerocalcare". Panorama (in Italian). 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  35. ↑ "Go Home - A casa loro: presentato ad Alice nella città lo zombie movie con immigrati". ComingSoon.it (in Italian). 18 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "Le nomination del Premio Attilio Micheluzzi". Il Sole 24 Ore. March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  37. ↑ "Vincitori Premi Attilio Micheluzzi 2017" (in Italian). 30 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  38. ↑ "The winner is: tutti i vincitori dei Fabrique Awards 2021". Fabrique Du Cinéma - La rivista del nuovo cinema italiano (in Italian). 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  39. ↑ "Zerocalcare vince il Premio Terzani con la graphic novel sull'Iraq". MSN (in Italian). 12 April 2013.
  40. ↑ "Zerocalcare riceverà il Premio Antonio Feltrinelli alla presenza di Mattarella". Fumettologica (in Italian). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  41. ↑ "Le prix des libraires du Québec, catégorie BD, sur le site officiel". Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
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