Newly released in an English language edition, Vertical Sea, from Dark Horse, examines the life of an Italian elementary teacher with mental illness.
Brian Freschi’s (Italian author of Elettra, Ti Racconto una Storia, The Noise In The Box, etc) story introduces us to India, a young schoolteacher. India has been suffering from panic attacks and has sought psychiatric counselling. But her attacks are getting worse.
So, now, the whispering campaign, the slow death by a thousand cuts, the backstabbing and bitching begins. The elementary school parents, the schoolteacher colleagues, the neighbours: a tough crowd, intent on shunning and crowding her out. Getting her fired.
Freschi’s story is accompanied by sensitive and imaginative illustrations by Ilaria Urbanati. Urbanati (from Turin Italy: titles include Madrid, ¡Qué Aventura!, Saving The Countryside, etc) captures the ocean of discontent, the rivers of tears, and the undercurrent of anxiety. It’s tastefully explored. And the graphic sex and nudity, while uncommon in graphic novels, seems to belong here, embedded (ha ha) in the storyline. The colouring is not fussy but illuminative. Like story illustrations, the drawings are without panel borders, floating along in a sea of white paper.
A thoughtfully paced, no-holds-barred look at a young woman’s struggles for answers, compassion, and hope. (Vertical Sea is translated from the Italian by Carla Roncalli de Montorio)
Dark Horse, Vertical Sea Hardcover, $24.99 for 192 pages. Nudity and graphic content rated 14 by publisher
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