Andrea Pazienza

The Profile

Andrea Pazienza (1956–1988) was an Italian cartoonist and graphic novelist, a central figure of the late-1970s/80s underground scene. He created Pentothal and Zanardi, and his final, searing work Pompeo is widely regarded as a masterpiece.

Key figure of Italian comics linked to Bologna’s 1977 movement; collaborated with Cannibale, Il Male, Frigidaire, Linus and Corto Maltese; debut with Le straordinarie avventure di Pentothal; created Zanardi; last major work Pompeo (1987). Died in 1988 from a heroin overdose. Known for eclectic drawing styles and inventive, slang-rich language; also worked on advertising campaigns.

Reviews portray Andrea Pazienza as a defining voice of Italian comics, from the dreamlike, radical Pentothal to the brutal clarity of Pompeo. Zanardi embodies youth’s emptiness and excess with surgical irony. Early Cannibale pieces showcase free-form experimentation; Sotto il cielo del Brasil draws criticism as minor. Across the board: bold language, visual eclecticism, and an unflinching look at life and death.