Michele Rech (Italian:[miˈkɛːleˈrɛk]; born 12 December 1983), known professionally asZerocalcare ([ˌdzɛrokalˈkaːre]), is an Italian cartoonist. His pen name, literally meaning "zerolimescale", was inspired by an Italian TV commercial jingle for adescaler 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 movieThe Armadillo Prophecy (Italian:La profezia dell'armadillo), based on the 2011 graphic novel of the same name,[3] and theNetflix animated seriesTear Along the Dotted Line (2021) andThis World Can't Tear Me Down (2023), in which he also starred.[4]
In 2003, at the age of 20, Rech began working as an illustrator forLiberazione,Carta,La Repubblica, and several other periodicals. At this time, he also wrote and drew awebcomic titledSafe Inside forZuda Comics, the online division ofDC Comics. In 2004 he created a comic about theG8 summit in Genoa, which had taken place three years before.[6]
Zerocalcare published his first graphic novel in October 2011 titledThe 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 theGran Guinigi Award atLucca Comics for best short story withThe Armadillo Prophecy.[8]
In April 2016, his fourth graphic novelKobane 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 onLa profezia dell'armadillo entered production with Fandango (aFremantle subsidiary) and Rai Cinema.[11] Zerocalcare was one of four screenwriters on the movie.[12]
On 14 January 2018L'Espressopublished a short comic by Zerocalcare titled 'Questa non è una partita a bocce,' focusing on the rise ofNeo-fascist movements in Italy.[13] The same year, Zerocalcare was invited to attendSan 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 filmLa profezia dell'armadillo was released, based on his comic of the same name.[16] In November, theMAXXI museum ofRome hosted an exhibition of Zerocalcare's works, titledZerocalcare. Scavare fossati, Nutrire coccodrilli. It lasted until March 2019.[17] That same month a theatrical adaption ofKobane Calling: Greetings from Northern Syria debuted atTeatro del Giglio inLucca, duringLucca 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 shortsRebibbia Quarantine broadcast onLA7 on the Propaganda Live program during lockdown due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Italy. On the same year, he made variant covers for Marvel'sAbsolute Carnage comic book miniseries, only released in Italy.[20] He wrote an introduction for the Italian edition ofTRANSito, atransgender-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 forNetflix titledTear 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 theRome 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, titledThis 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 novelNo Sleep till Shengal was published in Italian. It focuses on the persecution ofYazidis inIraq.[31]
V.V.A.A. (2023).Pensare l’impensabile, tentare l’impossibile. A fianco di Alfredo, contro ergastolo e 41 bis. Milan: Colibrì Edizioni.ISBN978-88-9720-699-6.
Rojava Calling (2016).Kobane, diario di una resistenza: Racconti di una staffetta di solidarietà (Sulla frontiera). Rome: Edizioni Alegre.ISBN978-88-9884-117-2.
Ian Bermúdez Raventós; David Cantero Berenguer (2020).TRANSito. Rome: Momo Edizioni.ISBN978-88-9446-246-3.
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.ISBN978-88-8351-238-4.
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.ISBN978-88-3273-456-0. (variant)
Beritan, Rojbin; Cruciati, Chiara (November 2022).La montagna sola. Gli ezidi e l'autonomia democratica di Şengal. Rome: Edizioni Alegre.ISBN978-88-3206-783-5.
Floris, Francesco; Pallavicini, Carlo (March 2023).La muraglia umana. Le lotte dei facchini nella logistica. Rome: Momo Edizioni.ISBN979-12-8029-836-2.
Rossi, Ilaria (May 2020).Prospettiva Quadraro. Qual è la libertà?. Arezzo: Setteponti.ISBN979-12-8100-514-3.
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