What would happen if a group of teenagers found a corpse of a WWI soldier in the melting ice of northern Italy? Was the post-armistice blockade an act that sew the seeds of new war? Is the video game industry that relies on combat gaming a modern continuation of war mindset? These and many other profound and challenging questions are tackled by the authors that contributed to the graphic anthology Traces of the Great War. This talk will use the anthology as an example of how comics and graphic novels are far from a light read for struggling learners, but, on the contrary, can be an integral part of learning and thinking that engages critical faculties, research, compassion and creativity, essential for the futures of today's learners. The talk builds on the selected stories from the anthology, focusing on language, history, citizenship, and the power of story telling. Accessible to wide audiences, including school and university educators across subjects and domains.