The Basics
What is a Graphic Novel?
Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. -Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics, page 9 |
Graphic novels can be confusing! To start, the term "graphic novel" indicates a format--not a genre. Graphic novels can be fiction or non-fiction. There are literary graphic novels, entertaining graphic novels, serious graphic novels, graphic memoirs, manga, and more. As with traditional fiction or non-fiction, there are countless ways to categorize stories told in the graphic format. I choose to use the term "graphic novel" to refer to any work written in graphic format that tells a complete, cohesive story, with a beginning, middle, and end. Compilations of previously serialized comics may also be called "graphic novels." That said, some people define graphic novels as "really long comic books." I prefer not to use the word "comic" often, because I believe it connotes stories that are humorous in nature, and that can be a misnomer for many graphic novels.
Like comic books, graphic novels use illustrated sequential art to tell a story. Graphic novels, however, usually tell stand-alone stories with complex plots, as opposed to periodical comics that tell short, often witty or humorous one-off jokes.
Like comic books, graphic novels use illustrated sequential art to tell a story. Graphic novels, however, usually tell stand-alone stories with complex plots, as opposed to periodical comics that tell short, often witty or humorous one-off jokes.
Links
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to offer Raising a Reader! How Comics & Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love To Read!, a resource for parents & educators about the learning benefits of comics!
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A quick guide to the definition of "graphic novel," as well as examples of the major, or predominant, types of graphic novels available.
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