Thanks to the collaboration with Gianpiero Crotti, this past May saw the birth of our first comic book: The Fantastic Journey through the History of Ranica.

The essence and purpose of our work, which we dedicated to the community of Ranica, the hometown of both of us, can be summed up in this quote attributed to the Greek historian Thucydides:

"You must know the past to understand the present and imagine the future"

We felt it was important for new residents of Ranica to become acquainted with the "lesser-known" history of our town, a history that highlights the culture, mentality, and humanity which, through their continuous evolution, have shaped our present time.

Using the expressive medium of the comic book, we have translated into images what life was like in our community over the centuries. Thanks to Gianpiero's research, I found it incredibly fascinating to discover and illustrate Ranica and the key figures who have shaped its history.

Through a series of imaginary "time jumps" backward, facilitated by a device that blends science and magic, one can relive, through the eyes of two young girls who serve as guides, some of the most important events that have marked the community.

Throughout the narrative, the issues of the working conditions of laborers, peasants, and child workers, as well as the availability and use of energy resources, are clearly highlighted. We also tied history to architecture, chemistry, and physics within the pages of the comic. These topics can be further explored with the help of teachers in primary schools. Through the comments of the two modern "explorers," we sought to draw parallels between those distant events and life today, with the aim of identifying possible similarities and significant differences. Among these are the different perceptions of the feminine universe and the management of epidemics.

We aimed to make the narrative light and accessible for a young audience, but the comic is also perfectly suited for a more mature readership. Through the comic format, complex concepts can be better understood, and all the topics, experienced through identification with the characters, are conveyed with emotion, making them more memorable.