What this post aims to do is chart out Italy and Romano’s
rather…rocky relationship. It’s not something that has warranted a lot of discussion
in the community, so I thought it would be an interesting topic to touch on.

Early Childhood + Ingrained Inferiority:

It’s well-known that Rome devoted more time raising
Veneziano than he did with Romano. As such, Romano has a long and
well-developed hostility towards Veneziano, all of which stems from his own
feelings of inferiority and insecurities.

Sources: Hetarchive, Chibitalia & Volume 6.

What really cemented this inferiority complex is that after Romano is conquered by Spain, Spain constantly compares Romano to Veneziano and even asks
Austria to trade brothers with him. Romano feels even poorly about himself as a result.

Sources: Boss Spain’s Control of Southern Italy pt. 1 & 2

Thankfully, Spain does learn to value Romano for his own
unique qualities rather than using Veneziano as a measuring rod. This occurs at
the end of the Boss Spain Doesn’t Understand strip.

Another notable characteristic of their relationship is that
they’ve always remained separated from one another. First with Rome and again when they were conquered in the post-Rome era. One point I want to emphasize is
that even though Romano had (and still
has) a lot of hostility and unresolved feelings towards Veneziano and will
be unequivocally rude and mean to the latter, the two do care about each other.

Ex: They share a heartfelt moment when Spain and Austria
reunite them during a brief visit.

Source: Hetarchive, Comic Diary 6.

Forced Unification:
Hastily Repaired Bridge

As mentioned, while the two do care for each other, a
combination of jealous hostility on Romano’s part and a lack of deep rapport
due to long periods of separation prevented them from truly reconciling during
Italian unification.

Rather than a heartfelt scene, they’re suddenly
forced into living with each other. They’re brothers, but what’s awkward is
that they’re very much strangers to one another. 

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 20.

Not only that, but Romano
refuses to co-operate with and rely on Veneziano during the Second Industrial
Revolution, choosing instead to go overseas to seek employment in America. Notice
again how this emotional rift in their relationship is simultaneously played
out with another physical separation.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 58. 

Not only that, but we learn that because of this rigid
unification in tandem to Romano having lived and developed a strong bond with
Spain, he’s closer with Spain than he is with Veneziano.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 73. 

We don’t get much insight as to what happens to them during
WW1, but WW2 is another story.

In a character note, it’s revealed that Romano detests
Germany because he stands as an obstacle to his relationship with Veneziano. 

Source: Volume 2. 

What’s interesting is that Romano will tell Italy to his face that he doesn’t
want much to do with him and that he doesn’t like him and yet will covertly look
after Veneziano’s well-being without his knowing. And I think that speaks to
their relationship in whole. Romano hasn’t confronted nor addressed his
hostility for Veneziano but secretly cares for him and desires a stronger
relationship.

Source: Hetarchive, Hetare 4: Pact of Steel + Volume 1. 

Ex: A potential instance of his jealousy towards Germany occurs
when he throws away the pendant that Veneziano had received from the latter.

Source: ibid.

Of course, I shouldn’t neglect to mention that Veneziano isn’t
exactly buddy-buddy with Romano either and even refuses at one point to say
something nice about Romano. Although to be fair, it’s understandable
considering how much Romano berates him.

Source: Volume 1. 

What makes things complicated is that Romano is still also
very much self-interested and will look after himself above all else. The scene
where he flees and abandons Italy on the battlefield only for them both to be
captured by England particularly comes to mind.

Source: Hetarchive, the Story of Italy’s Big Brother.

Yet, when America occupies Rome and requests that the two
make him a meal, it’s Romano who steps up for the both of them. Veneziano
panics, but Romano remains level-headed, albeit
being verbally hostile.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 121.

Modern-day relations:

Now, I’ve seen a lot of people state that Romano and
Veneziano’s relationship has improved recently, but if I’m to give my honest
opinion, I don’t see it. Nothing significant about their dynamic has dramatically changed. Romano’s
still hostile with Veneziano, refuses to co-operate with him, and insults him.
At the same time, it appears that he doesn’t want Veneziano to leave him
either.

Sources: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapters 54 & 353 + Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Jan 16th, 2015). 

Other instances of this still present fragmentation are
revealed in panels depicting their differences.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 20. 

Although,
there are two panels that offer a lot more hope than previous.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 19-20.

That said, this doesn’t mean to say that their relationship can’t
improve and that it won’t ever in the series. All I mean to show is that the
two aren’t super close despite the fact that they’re brothers. There’s a
historical rift in their relationship that has yet to be rectified.