Last week, Comixology Originals and Italian publisher Becco Giallo announced a new collaboration to bring a quintet of graphic novel historical fiction biographies to English language readers for the first time. The subjects of the graphic novels, all of which are set for digital release next Tuesday, March 28th, include authors Mary Shelley and Virginia Woolf, artist Vincent Van Gogh, philosopher Socrates, and scientist Nikola Tesla. Today, ahead of the books’ release, The Beat is pleased to present a preview of two of the five books, focused on Virginia Woolf and Socrates.

Here’s how Comixology describes the two books:

Virginia Woolf

Written and drawn by Liuba Gabriele
Translated from Italian by Lucy Lenzi
Lettering and layout by Giulia Gabrielli
Edited by Stefano A. Cresti

England, March 1941. Virginia Woolf walks along the banks of the river Ouse. She picks up a stone from the ground, weighs it in her hand, and watches the water flow. She thinks about the fierce war happening in the world and within herself. All that accompanied her up to that shore still lives in radiant images which represent the extreme strength of her emotions, such as the passion for her lover, Vita Sackville-West, the fondness for her fundamental husband, Leonard, and her grief for the tremendous family bereavements. Feelings poured into her writing, which revolutionized literature, and solidified her place in history as one of the world’s most important authors.

Socrates

Written by Francesco Barilli with art and cover by Alessandro Ranghiasci
Translated from Italian by Lucy Lenzi
Lettering and layout by Giulia Gabrielli
Edited by Stefano A. Cresti
With an introduction by Journalist Stefano Cardini

Socrates was not only one of the best known and most influential philosophers in the history of humanity–he was also the first martyr for his own ideas. His trial tells the tale of how the greatest democracy of all time could have sentenced one of its best citizens to death.

Athens, 399 BC. In what may be remembered as the first trial for crimes of opinion, Socrates is sentenced to death. Accused of corrupting youth with atheist doctrines, the philosopher’s defensive line is uncompromising and provocative. He is thus condemned to drink hemlock by an even larger majority of the jurors. Once in prison, awaiting execution, he refuses to flee in order not to violate those laws to which he has always been devoted.

Publisher Becco Giallo released the Italian editions of Socrates and Virginia Woolf in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The publisher specializes in comics for adults and kids that tell the stories of significant historical figures and events. 

Check out the previews of both Virginia Woolf and Socrates below. Both graphic novels, as well as those about Shelley, Tesla, and Van Gogh, will be available digitally to English readers next Tuesday, March 28th.

Virginia Woolf

Socrates