500 Essential Graphic Novels by
Provides a short review of some of the best graphic novels.
The Graphic Novel : An introduction by
This book provides both students and scholars with a critical and historical introduction to the graphic novel. Jan Baetens and Hugo Frey explore this exciting form of visual and literary communication, showing readers how to situate and analyse graphic novels since their rise to prominence half a century ago. Several key questions are addressed: what is the graphic novel? How do we read graphic novels as narrative forms? Why is page design and publishing format so significant? What theories are developing to explain the genre? How is this form blurring the categories of high and popular literature? Why are graphic novelists nostalgic for the old comics? The authors address these and many other questions raised by the genre. Through their analysis of the works of many well-known graphic novelists - including Bechdel, Clowes, Spiegelman and Ware - Baetens and Frey offer significant insights for future teaching and research on the graphic novel.
Graphic Novels : Stories to change your life by
Once stereotyped as the preserve of improbably dressed superhumans with world-saving tendencies, in recent years graphic novels have become one of today's most exciting art forms, taking on the world we live in and reflecting it back to us in a thousand different ways. All of human experience is here, from teenage girlfriends alienated in suburbia to a desperate housewife's search for passion, brought to life with insight, imagination and page-turning narrative. This is the perfect companion to the world of graphic novels, whether you're a novice uncertain where to start or an enthusiast eager to discover more. In a series of interlinked chapters, Paul Gravett introduces the masterpieces of the medium and helps readers explore its treasures, from the rich, mysterious textures of Neil Gaiman's Sandman to Marjane Satrapi's vivid memories of her Iranian childhood in Persepolis.
The Rough Guide to Manga
Chapter 3, A Manga primer: decoding styles and genres discusses the elements found in manga.
Understanding Comics by
Presented as a graphic novel, this book discusses the elements found in comics and how pictures and words work together.
It is difficult to provide a definition of what a graphic novel is. The 'graphic' part of the term refers to the books containing images that are sequential - on other words, the books contain comics. Confusingly, a graphic novel is not always a 'novel' and may be more similar to a short story. It may simply appear to be a novel, given the number of pages because pictures take up more space than words. A graphic novel may not always be fiction. Check the Graphic novel article in Britannica for a comparison of comics to graphic novels.
2008, The rough guide to graphic novels, Rough Guides, New York.
What is Manga?
'A style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children'. (Oxford dictionaries)
Like novels, graphic novels can be categorised into different genres. These include:
Superheroes - Heroes such as Batman and Superman emerged in the 1930s and since then, a growing number of graphic novels about super heroes have appeared. All superheroes have a secret identity and various super powers.
Action and Adventure - often feature good vs evil, brave heroes, exotic locations, villans and danger.
Science Fiction - includes stories ranging from space exploration, apocolyptic stories, contact with alien life, robots and concepts such as mind control and telepathy.
Fantasy - portrays fantasy relms where magic, dragons, goblins or orcs are commonplace.
Crime and mysteries - these graphic novels may be either fiction or non-fiction and feature criminals, police, detectives, mysterious murders and disappearences.
Horror - Portraying a sense of dread, these graphic novels contain supernatural heroes that fight creatures such as vampires and werewolves.
Contemporary Life - portray common issues such as romance, friendships and teen issues.
Humour - often contain humourous stories of everyday life. Some graphic novels in this genre have been adapted from animated films or TV shows such as Bugs Bunny and The Simpsons.
Nonfiction - although not as popular as fictional graphic novels, subjects covered by graphic novels may include science, religion, history and biographies.
2007, Graphic novels: a genre guide to comic books, manga and more, Libraries Unlimited, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Explora articles on Graphic Novels
Access full-text scholarly articles about graphic novels by logging into the Explora database and browsing their collection of graphic novel articles.
Graphic Novel/Comic Terms and Concepts
A good glossary of elements used in graphic novels.
Panels Gutters & Balloons
A good glossary of key elements in comics that also applies to graphic novels.
Conducting a keyword search for 'graphic novel' will retrieve some of the graphic novels held by the Library. To access all of them, browse the graphic novel section in the Library.
Metamaus by
Art Spiegelman looks inside his modern classic, Maus
Goodreads
Access lists of recommended graphic novels.