A Deeply Graphic Novel: Aqla’ Kjass! Tackles Gender-Based Sexual Violence For A Teenage Audience
Trigger warning: This article (and this graphic novel) makes explicit references to sexual and gender-based violence
A new book detailing unique cases of masculine toxicity and abusive moments teens can find themselves in is shedding light on real-life situations.
Merlin Publishers is releasing a newly translated graphic novel entitled Aqla’ Kjass!
Across nine stories, this novel seeks to take on the horrific reality of gender-based violence – specifically addressed to its target audience, teenagers.
These stories cover incidences of fatphobia, gaslighting, catcalling, sexual assault and slut shaming – and are about as graphic as a graphic novel can be.
The teens being targeted are arguably amongst the demographics most likely to endure and potentially perpetuate gender-based violence.
One of the stories includes a very clear depiction of a hand-job, and though this is likely to attract controversy, it should also open up lines of conversation, which are key to addressing these kinds of situations.
An extract from the new graphic novel
This beautifully illustrated book was originally published in Italian under the title Fai Rumore, and was met with critical acclaim for discussing topics relegated to taboo in a direct and realistic, yet still sensitive manner.
This iteration of the graphic novel was co-produced by Collettivo MOLESTE, an Italian NGO made up of “cartoonists, screenwriters, illustrators, colourists, letterers, subject writers, journalists, translators and ghost writers”.
Their organisation, “works in the world of comics,” and is looking for their “commitment to be recognised so that they can continue to learn in an environment that respects us as professionals”.
Collettivo MOLESTE says that they “could have written, drawn or coloured the superhero book you are reading on the beach, but discrimination at work, inappropriate behaviour in schools and real harassment need to be tackled”.
They added, “those things are not the norm, but they’re not nearly as rare as you might think”.
Fai Rumore was translated into Aqla’ Kjass! by award-winning Maltese writer Clare Azzopardi.
The translation includes a foreword contextualising the graphic novel’s stories, and how they are likely to be relatable to young people in Malta, written by the Commissioner for Gender-based Violence in Malta, Audrey Friggieri.
Merlin published this translation – which does not pull its rhetorical or visual punches – believing this to be the first time that such sensitive topics will be addressed so directly to Malta’s teenage audience.
If you’d like to check out the book for yourself, you can do so by following this link.
Tag someone who should get their hands on Aqla’ Kjass!
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