It's Rome, after the Second World War and the economy is bad in Italy. To survive, Romano and his friends do petty crimes, until the local priest, Don Marrovescio, an ex-boxer takes an interest in him. Romano is a natural when it comes to defence, but he doesn’t want to end up with a broken boxer’s nose. Nevertheless, boxing for money is the only way out for him. However, his career may end if he cannot best the American army’s champion, in an exhibition game.
It’s a simple story about Post War Italy through the eyes of one lonely boxer who longs for a woman, who also wants to leave Italy. The demoralization brought after the ending of the War where Italy was on the wrong side is palpable. The priest is a hard edge driven man who does what he can to rebuild his community. This volume sets the pace for what will surely become a series of multiple stories about Romano, the boxer. This story doesn’t shake any new ground but it’s an enjoyable tale.
Of course, the highlight of Romano is the artwork. It captures Rome very well. Each character has an individual face. Di Giandomenico’s strength is really facial art. One can see the despair and desire in the eyes of the characters. None of them looks straight in front of them. They all squint aside, hoping to mask their pain. Of course, the boxing action flows well too and looks dynamic. Parts of the story are not easy to understand at first, as flashbacks are not drawn differently. But it’s still a gorgeous book.
