What are Graphic Novels?
"Graphic Novel" is a format, not a genre. Graphic novels can be fiction, non-fiction, history, fantasy, or anything in-between.
Graphic novels are similar to comic books because they use sequential art to tell a story. Unlike comic books, graphic novels are generally stand-alone stories with more complex plots. Collections of short stories that have been previously published as individual comic books are also considered graphic novels.
Major Types of Graphic Novels
Like traditional novels there are endless ways to categorize different graphic novels. There are as many genres and sub-genres as in traditional fiction and non-fiction. The following are only a few of the most predominant categories.
Manga: The Japanese word for "comic" but in the US is used to descript Japanese style comics. Manga is read from top to bottom and right to left as this is the traditional Japanese reading pattern. Though, technically Manga refers to Japanese comics, many think Manga refers to a style rather than the country of origin.
Titles: Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist
Superhero Story: Superhero graphic novels have taken the most popular form of comics and turned what were once brief episodic adventures into epic sagas. Superhero comics are dominated by a few mainstream publishers Marvel, DC, and Darkhorse.
Titles: Batman: Dark Knight Returns, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Astrocity.
Personal Narratives ("Perzines"): are autobiographical stories written from the author's personal experiences, opinions, and observations.
Titles: Fun Home, Blankets, Lucky, The Quitter.
Non-fiction: are similar to perzine's in that they are written from the author's personal experience, but the author is generally using their own experience to touch upon a greater social issue.
Titles: Pedro and Me, Maus, Persepolis.
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Graphic Novel of the Month
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
Illustrated in beautiful muted watercolors, The Storm in the Barn tells the story of a young boy named Jack living in Kansas in 1937 towards the end of the Dust Bowl era. Since the family farm is nearly dead, he can do little to contribute until he wanders into a nearby abandoned barn and meets the Rain King. Through his interaction with the Rain King, Jack makes the ultimate contribution and his brave and heroic actions save the town. The Storm in the Barn was recently awarded the Scott O’Dell Award for historical fiction- the first graphic novel to win the award!
