I hesitate to call graphic novels a genre, because that would be like calling TV a genre or books a genre. Graphic novels are a style of storytelling, but within that framework, there are so many different types of stories and characters. Graphic novels as a medium cover a wide array of genres, from mystery to superheroes to comedy. That being said, graphic novels have their own dedicated sections in many library collections, and there are plenty of readers who almost exclusively read graphic novels. So, while the series is indeed called “Genre Journeys”, we’re going to deviate just slightly today and explore a type of book that I’d consider more of a medium than a genre.
What are Graphic Novels and Why Do We Like Them?
The fancy answer is that the graphic novel is a narrative medium which uses text and images to convey a story. The regular answer is that they’re essentially comic books, in that they use panels and speech bubbles to organize images and text into a cohesive narrative. (I’ll talk a bit more about the differences between comics and graphic novels below). And while they are not a genre in and of themselves, they can tell a wide array of stories.
People enjoy graphic novels because they tell a story that is enriched by the addition of illustrations. This visual component can make a story come alive, set tone and mood, and even allow for subtle details that would be hard to convey in book form, such as character’s feelings through their facial expressions and their body language. This allows for a story that is usually not text-heavy, which can be nice when a reader is looking for something “light” to read. But, I should add the caveat that just because these books rely on images, they are not necessarily “light”. Graphic novels can tackle heavy topics and even depict extreme violence. As with any other medium (TV, video games, etc.) it depends on the storyteller. Graphic novels can be scary, sad, beautiful, or even laugh-out-loud funny. It just depends on the story.
Graphic Novel vs. Comic Book vs. Manga
As always, I’m going to keep this short and sweet. The biggest difference between a graphic novel and a comic book is the length. Comics are those little, 40 page paperbacks that come out once a month in a variety of series. Graphic novels are longer works, either written as one consistent story and published all at once, or made as a compilation of multiple comics (again, those 40 page ones) put together.
Manga is a type of graphic novel, usually a series, and produced in Japan. While it might be controversial for some, this librarian argues that for a book to be manga, it must be produced in Japan. There are plenty of Western (American, European) writers who try to produce books in “manga style”, but I do not feel that those count. Another thing about manga that surprises new readers–these books are read from Right to Left. So, to the uninitiated reader, it would appear that the cover is on backwards or that the book is being read backwards. Those who are really into Asian comics might also hear about manhwa. This refers to comics that are written and produced in Korea.
Subgenres
Graphic novels have similar subgenres to other books, but here are a few types of graphic novels you might encounter on the library shelves:
- Superhero Comics: Spider-Man, Batman, and other powerful heroes fighting equally powerful villains!
- Adaptations: Takes an previously published book and retells it in comic format
- Comic Strips: Your favorites from the Sunday funnies!
- Webcomics: Ongoing storytelling series that is posted exclusively online (to start) and then collected into book form
Reading Recommendations:
Lore Olympus, volume 1 (Rachel Smythe) Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place–and her own power.
Hark! A Vagrant (Kate Beaton) A collection by the web sensation and New Yorker cartoonist, Hark! A Vagrant is an uproarious romp through history and literature seen through the sharp, contemporary lens of New Yorker cartoonist and comics sensation Kate Beaton. No era or tome emerges unscasthed as Beaton skewers the Western world’s revolutionaries, leaders, sycophants, and suffragists while equally honing her wit on the hapless heroes, heroines, and villains of the best-loved fiction. She deftly points out what really happened when Brahms fell asleep listening to Liszt, that the world’s first hipsters were obviously the Incroyables and the Merveilleuses from eighteenth-century France, that Susan B. Anthony is, of course, a “Samantha,” and that the polite banality of Canadian culture never gets old. Hark! A Vagrant features sexy Batman, the true stories behind classic Nancy Drew covers, and Queen Elizabeth doing the albatross.
Lackadaisy, volume 1 (Tracy Butler) It’s 1927 and Prohibition is in full effect in St. Louis, Missouri. Organized crime has risen to meet the relentless demand for illicit alcohol. Bootleggers, gangsters, and might-makes-right rule dominate the city’s underworld, fueled by the patrons of speakeasies — speakeasies like Lackadaisy. Hidden under the unassuming Little Daisy Cafe and run by the widowed and strong-willed Mitzi May, Lackadaisy holds its own in a rough-and-ready world, where you’re either holding the gun or taking the bullet. But will tenacity, class, and a little bit of crazy be enough to ensure the survival of Mitzi and her gang?
On the Camino (Jason) Internationally acclaimed cartoonist Jason’s first full-length graphic memoir is about his experiences walking a 500-mile pilgrimage for his 50th birthday in Northwestern Spain, which he observes with the eye of an artist, chronicling both the good (people, conversations) and the bad (blisters, bedbugs) he encountered on his journey. Full of quiet incidents, odd encounters, small triumphs, and the occasional setback, On the Camino is the first implicitly autobiographical long-form work by this master cartoonist. Featuring black & white illustrations throughout.
I Must Be Dreaming (Roz Chast) Ancient Greeks, modern seers, Freud, Jung, neurologists, poets, artists, shamans-humanity has never ceased trying to decipher one of the strangest unexplained phenomena we all experience: dreaming. Now, in her new book, Roz Chast illustrates her own dream world, a place that is sometimes creepy but always hilarious, accompanied by an illustrated tour through “Dream-Theory Land” guided by insights from poets, philosophers, and psychoanalysts alike. Illuminating, surprising, funny, and often profound, I Must Be Dreaming explores Roz Chast’s newest subject of fascination-and promises to make it yours, too.
