Bambine, ragazze e donne nei graphic novel di Teresa Radice e Stefano Turconi.

This paper examines a selection of graphic novels by Italian artists Teresa Radice and Stefano Turconi. Their works appeal to a diverse readership, defying any easy categorisation. Some of their graphic novels are designed for a younger reading public while others offer multiple interpretative possibilities, reaching beyond the limits of any specific target audience. Radice and Turconi’s works present a diverse array of complex characters, including a multitude of female protagonists who challenge the conventional gender roles and models. My two case studies are Viola Giramondo (2013) and Il porto proibito (2015), graphic novels that employ strategies for deconstructing the gender canon. The books will be discussed as stories that give voice to diverse girls and women and propose anti-canonical models of femininity both visually and textually. Their characters challenge the traditional and recursive elements of fiction for young readerships, where the masculine and the feminine are often framed as opposite poles, as predetermined and not particularly fluid profiles, and where the feminine is often invisible or secondary to the masculine. Ultimately, I argue that the two narratives possess a significant educational and transformative potential, as they prompt readers to engage with new models that transcend gender norms, thereby becoming valuable artistic, narrative, and identity reference points.