Luciana Giussani

Luciana Giussani, born in Milan on 19 April 1928, was one half of the sister duo that created the enduring Italian comic book anti-hero Diabolik. Alongside her elder sister Angela, Luciana helped launch the series in 1962, crafting a shadowy, ruthless thief who became a cultural phenomenon. The sisters wrote the series together until Angela’s death in Milan on 10 February 1987; Luciana continued the work until her own passing in Milan on 31 March 2001. Under their guidance, Diabolik sold over 150 million copies and spawned films, a radio show, and an animated television series. Luciana’s signature contribution lay in the tightly plotted, noir-infused stories that balanced the anti-hero’s cunning with a cold, romantic fatalism. She collaborated closely with Angela and a rotating team of artists, most notably Sergio Zaniboni, who defined the character’s sleek visual style. The sisters’ co-creation remains a landmark in Italian comics, influencing generations of writers and artists. Luciana’s legacy is measured not only in the franchise’s commercial success but in the enduring archetype of the elegant, amoral protagonist she helped forge.