Zerocalcare

Michele Rech, widely known by his pen name Zerocalcare, is an acclaimed Italian cartoonist born on December 12, 1983, in Cortona, Tuscany. The name "Zerocalcare," translating to "zero limescale," stems from a catchy jingle he recalled while devising an internet alias. Raised in both France and Rome, he completed his education at the Lycée français Chateaubriand.

Rech embarked on his artistic career at the young age of 20, contributing illustrations to various newspapers and creating webcomics for Zuda Comics, the online segment of DC Comics. His first significant work, a comic reflecting on the 2001 G8 summit protests, laid the foundation for his future projects. In October 2011, he published his debut graphic novel, *The Armadillo Prophecy*, and subsequently launched his website, zerocalcare.it, which showcased autobiographical comic strips. His unique style earned him the Macchianera Award for 'Best Draftsman-Cartoonist' in 2012, and he garnered further acclaim with the Gran Guinigi Award for best short story.

Zerocalcare's 2016 graphic novel, *Kobane Calling: Greetings from Northern Syria*, won the Micheluzzi Award in 2017. His works have transcended mediums, with *The Armadillo Prophecy* adapted into a live-action film in 2018. In 2020, he gained widespread recognition through his animated series *Rebibbia Quarantine*, and in 2021, his Netflix series *Tear Along the Dotted Line* premiered to critical acclaim, followed by a sequel in 2023.