# graphic novel set in or about Italy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890 "2015-08-03T16:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/1 "2015-08-03T16:23:24Z")
… Other than graphic novelizations of the Shakespeare plays set in “Italy” does anyone know of English-language graphic novels set in or about Italy? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/2 "2015-08-03T17:02:55Z")
_Endless Nights_ by Neil Gaiman had one story (Death’s tale, illustrated by P. Craig Russell)) set in Venice. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/3 "2015-08-03T17:08:18Z")
_Torpedo 1937_ is mainly set in New York, but has many flashbacks to the protagonist’s childhood in Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/4 "2015-08-03T17:14:25Z")
There are several graphic novels by Milo Manara set in Italy. But this is kind of a cheat - Manara is Italian and his work has been translated into English. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/5 "2015-08-03T17:19:10Z")
[Catwoman: When In Rome](http://www.amazon.com/Catwoman-When-Batman-Jeph-Loeb/dp/1401207170) ---
**Author:** ![Hiker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Hiker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/6 "2015-08-03T17:41:37Z")
Several episodes of the French comic series Asterix play in ancient Rome. They have been translated into English. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/7 "2015-08-03T17:48:45Z")
[Master Keaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Keaton) is set in Japan, England and Italy. [Aria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aria_%28manga%29) is set on a terraformed Mars, that is fashioned to be like Venice. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphic-novel-set-in-or-about-italy/726890/8 "2015-08-03T21:30:22Z")
The Corto Maltese graphic novel “Fable of Venice” by Hugo Pratt is elegant. It mixes up a treasure hunt with the rise of the fascist movement, tosses in some mysticism and secret societies, and then slaps a murder mystery right on top. Very elegant. The art is quite fine, some of the best black-and-white art ever, backing up some of the finest “intrigue” writing. Okay, to be honest, the art is a little sketchy at times. The actual printing plates weren’t produced as well as they should. Those of you who have the joy of knowing the other Corto Maltese books – Banana Conga, Voodoo for the President, etc. – will easily see the difference. [Here is a link to some sample scans](https://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/3863337.html) I put that in a spoiler box to warn you that these scans give away some of the secrets of the story’s ending! It’s safe till about halfway down.