2.1 What is a Graphic Novel

Explain what a graphic novel is and identify its characteristics

Graphic Novel: The Thunderbolt Kids

Imagine stepping into a world where pictures come to life, and stories take you on exciting journeys. That’s what graphic novels are all about! They are books that use colourful drawings to tell amazing stories. With each page you turn, you’ll find a new adventure full of bright colours, strong emotions, and plenty of fun. From superheroes to realistic fiction, graphic novels offer something for everyone. Whether you have read many graphic novels or are just starting, get ready to enjoy stories as colourful as a rainbow and as thrilling as a rollercoaster!

Graphic novels are book-length comics in which the entire story is told through sequential graphics (pictures). Sequential art in graphic novels means using a series of pictures, one after another, to tell a story or show actions step-by-step. Graphic novels cover a wide range of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and more.

Graphic novels are a subgenre of comics. It follows the format that is usually the same as comics1.

Fig 1.1: Examples of popular graphic novels.

A comic book uses a series of pictures to narrate a story.

Fig 1.2: Examples of popular graphic novels.

To learn about the difference between a graphic novel and a comic, watch the video below:

Vid 2.1: Graphic Novels vs. Comic Books3

Let us look at the different elements that make the graphic books visually interesting4.

Please Note: In this unit, we will be reading a shorter version of a graphic novel.

Glossary

graphic: visuals images or pictures
fiction: a made-up story, written to entertain the reader with a beginning, middle and end
non-fiction: factual information and details, written to inform and teach the reader
subgenre: a subcategory within a larger genre

Summary:

Graphic novels are book-length comics that tell a story through sequential graphics.

The features of a graphic novel include:

a narrative presented in frames or panels
plot of the story that comprises a beginning, middle, and end
a series/sequence of illustrations
speech bubbles that contain dialogue

A comic book serves as a visual medium that allows the author to narrate a story through a series of images.

Elements of a Graphic Novel:
- Panel: a single drawing depicting a specific moment in a comic; generally contained within a square or rectangular frame
- Frame: the edge or outline border of a specific panel in a comic
- Narrative box: a rectangle or square, often at the top or bottom of a panel, in which the narrator of a comic shares information with readers
- Gutter: the space between panels in a comic
- Thought bubbles: a (generally) cloud-shaped outline within a comic panel that contains a character's unspoken thoughts
- Speech bubbles: a (generally) circular or oval outline within a comic panel that shows a character's dialogue and indicates who is speaking
- Splash Page: a comic book page that is mostly or entirely taken up by a single image or panel