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Kobane Calling (2016)

by Zerocalcare

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1928141,251 (4.5)8
Kobane Calling is the autobiographical memoir of a young Italian cartoonist, writing and drawing under the nom de plume Zerocalcare, who volunteers with the Rojava Calling organization and heads into the Middle East to support and observe the Kurdish resistance in Syria as they struggle against the advancing forces of the Islamic State. He winds up in the small town of Mesher, near the Turkish-Syrian border as a journalist and aid worker, and from there he travels into Ayn al-Arab, a majority-Kurd town in the Rojava region of Syria. As he receives an education into the war from the Kurdish perspective, he meets the women fighting in the all-female Kurdish volunteer army (the Yekeineyen Parastina Jin, or Women's Defense Units), struggling to simultaneously fight off the Islamic State even as they take strides for Kurdish independence and attempt a restructuring of traditional patriarchal Kurdish society. In a story and style at once humorous and heartbreaking, Zerocalcare presents clear-eyed reporting of the fight against the Islamic State from the front lines.… (more)
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» See also 8 mentions

English (4)  Italian (2)  Danish (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (8)
Showing 4 of 4
É la prima volta che leggo qualcosa di Zerocalcare e delle sue opere so pochissimo. Il suo nome l'ho letto e visto qui sul forum, ma anche su Internazionale.

Non so che temi tratti di solito, ma Kobane Calling é straordinario e se potessi, lo farei leggere nelle scuole.

Zerocalcare in questo suo lavoro ci racconta del suo viaggio fino a Kobane fatto realmente di persone, non si tratta quindi di un'opera di fantasia, bensí di un reportage, di un resoconto di esperienze vissute in prima persona.

Si tratta di un reportage sulla resistenza curda raccontata attraverso le testimonianze, non solo di Zerocalcare e i suoi compagni di viaggio, ma anche delle persone (uomini e donne) del posto e di nazionalitá/religione/etnia diverse.

Leggendo Kobane Calling ho capito piú cose che leggendo giornali italiani e non. Ho capito chi sono i curdi, contro chi combattono e da quando, cosa hanno conquistato e perso, la loro idea di confederazione, il terrorismo (anche mediatico). Per questo vorrei che Kobane Calling diventasse una lettura fondamentale nelle scuole e vorrei che Zerocalcare scrivesse tantissime altre Graphic Novel su temi attualissimi e di cui capisco cosí poco perché i media non mi vogliono far capire.

Tanto di cappello a Zerocalcare per aver fatto questo viaggio. Con queste sue pagine a volte ho riso tantissimo e altre ho pianto di commozione e dolore.

Tra le cose piú tragicomiche é la colazione a base di zuppa di lenticchie che li accompagna inesorabilmente in ogni luogo visitato e il nostro Zerocalcare che ripensa con disperazione ai Fetta al Latte della Kinder.

Io lo consiglio non solo a chi vuol capire di piú su ció che sta succendendo nel mondo, ma anche a colore che vogliono ampliare il loro pensiero sull'umanitá, perché in queste pagine troviamo persone reali che decidono di combattere per il futuro loro e di quelli che verranno e lo fanno nonostante i media e forze politiche giochino contro riscrivendo le loro storie. Zerocalcare ha avuto il coraggio di dargli voce e dopo una storia cosí mi riesce difficile accendere la tv e guardare semplicemente una nuova puntata di qualche serie, perché mi tornano in mente quelle persone che hanno perso tutto e combattono lo stesso ogni giorno per le loro idee e non hanno paura di essere se stessi e vivere la loro vita anche se significa essere esposti alla guerra e combatterci ogni giorno. ( )
  HelloB | Apr 11, 2023 |
Brillante, a la altura o superior a "La profecía del armadillo" y ya era complicado porque me pareció un cómic imprescindible. ( )
  Carla_Plumed | Dec 3, 2018 |
This comic, about a trip to a Kurdish town on the Turkish-Syrian border, is vivid and affecting, but marred by the author's self-indulgence. Although using himself as a surrogate for any Westerner's naïveté in such a situation is a good idea, it is overdone. In addition, the frequent expletives detract from the story the author is trying to tell. There are some good lessons at the end, however. The Kurds come off as heroes, the Turks as villains, and the United States as aimless. ( )
  datrappert | Dec 30, 2017 |
Italian author/artist Zerocalcare has written a memoir of his time with Kurdish groups in Northern Syria which is both highly educational about the historical and ongoing conflicts and the groups involved, but also tells stories about individuals and groups involved. In one of the most poignant moments of his tale, he is back in Italy and realizes how his Western privilege distances him from the important work that the Kurds are doing to preserve their freedom in the region. He is also able to create the sense of constant flux and change going on during the fighting with his map updates throughout the book. An important and educational volume. Highly recommended to those interested in justice issues or world politics.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
  Well-ReadNeck | Sep 9, 2017 |
Showing 4 of 4
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» Add other authors (9 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Zerocalcareprimary authorall editionscalculated
Seban, BruneTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Kobane Calling is the autobiographical memoir of a young Italian cartoonist, writing and drawing under the nom de plume Zerocalcare, who volunteers with the Rojava Calling organization and heads into the Middle East to support and observe the Kurdish resistance in Syria as they struggle against the advancing forces of the Islamic State. He winds up in the small town of Mesher, near the Turkish-Syrian border as a journalist and aid worker, and from there he travels into Ayn al-Arab, a majority-Kurd town in the Rojava region of Syria. As he receives an education into the war from the Kurdish perspective, he meets the women fighting in the all-female Kurdish volunteer army (the Yekeineyen Parastina Jin, or Women's Defense Units), struggling to simultaneously fight off the Islamic State even as they take strides for Kurdish independence and attempt a restructuring of traditional patriarchal Kurdish society. In a story and style at once humorous and heartbreaking, Zerocalcare presents clear-eyed reporting of the fight against the Islamic State from the front lines.

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