G – Graphic Novel
04/08/2014 6 Comments
Okay, comics have been around a long time. Even shows and movies about comic book characters have been around a long time, though they are proliferating and succeeding today like they’re the new thing. However, the graphic novel – a longer story form than just a comic, but definitely more comic-styled than novel-styled – is a newer sort of medium. There is a strong blurring of the two, really; many graphic novels are set in the comic-book worlds, many comic story-arcs have been turned into graphic novel collections; and many graphic novels today are coming out episodically as comics.
However you want to look at it, and whether I am really just talking about comics, trade paperbacks, collected editions, or graphics novels… together they are a growing, and exciting, force and trend. For someone like me, who is a slow reader, the addition of the visual storytelling, and the reduction of the text down to essentials, lets me get through far more content. For someone even more visual than I am, I could see this being even more of an excellent artform.
There are some great storylines being written in what can either be described as graphic novel or indie comic form coming out today, and you should check some out if they interest you. Horror stories like Locke & Key, space operas like Saga, alternate histories like The Manhattan Projects. And then there’s all of those graphic novels that have been adapted for film – Red, 300, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Kick-Ass, and more.
And there’s part of me, as I enjoy reading these graphic novels so thoroughly, that really thinks that maybe this is the genre and medium I want to write for. That this is how I want to structure and tell my story. At least one. And I have a couple of friends looking over my world and ideas now to consider it.
Because I don’t think this is a fad, and I don’t think graphic novels are going away. A couple of reasons. One is, you now have a bunch of young people who are getting into these and are going to carry this on into adulthood. But that’s always the case with things. The other, however, is that I think that comics and this visual medium have found their perfect delivery method: the tablet. I am on the fence about e-books and e-readers versus their physical counterpart. I am completely sold on digital comics. Whether you use the guided view, that takes you panel-by-panel, or read one page at a time, I think this is the right device for reading comics. My top two activities on my iPad are absolutely blogging, and comics reading. So the future for comics is really only just beginning.
About CompGeeksDavid
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Interesting. Graphic Novels are also so ripe for screen adaptation because they’re ready-made storyboards for filmmakers. Also, since the graphic novel story-lines have matured (one of the things that tends to differentiate them from comics) there are wonderfully complex (grown-up) plots unfolding! (eg. V for Vendetta, The Killer, etc). Good point regarding the Tabs, that the graphic novel is a medium to take a serious look at.
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A graphic novel that I read recently that did seem ripe for the screen was the recent Ender’s Game adaptation – I was really hopeful that this was the visual basis for the movie. Not so – it was almost like they chose the exact opposite direction to go with it.
Thanks for stopping by!
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I love your perspective that graphic novels are perfect for the ipad like machines. I totally agree! I feel bad actually buying manga but have no problem subscribing to a service where I can read as much or as little as I want for basically what is two books. It also opens the world of publishing if people can self publish graphic kind of novels. Of course this isn’t too new a fad as really graphic novels are what Americans call Japanese manga. Still I am happy to see America jumping on board this medium. Many people aren’t great wordsmiths but they have excellent ideas and world building skills that translate well to graphic design. And the world really does need more work for artists! Love this G! Cheers.
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Good point about Manga being around for a long time too, and this all being a bit newer of a thing in America. Some of it too, though, was about people wanting to write serious stories in what was the comics form – hard to do when you think about the fact that the term “comic” that we use describes the funnies in the newspaper, as well! Or a stand up comedian!
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I wrote about Graphic Novels/Books for my “G” post today, too–but from the perspective of someone who just recently started exploring them.
I definitely agree with your point about this type of book not going away–so many young people are hooked on these and they will carry their interest with them as they age. Writers and illustrators need to embrace that fact!
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Like your post! http://bookmammalmusings.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/g-is-for-graphic-novelsbooks-the-april-a-z-challengeday-7/
When you say new to it – within the last month! Yeah, illustrated books are no longer just something for children, which is really great, because as others have commented here – more work for artists! And more interesting reading choices for visual adults, as well.
I left an answer to your question, and anyone else reading this should head on over to give recommendations for Graphic Novels to read!
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