The History of and Deal About Graphic Novels

Chris Booker

English III Honors Pd. 5

Mr. Alburger

February 23, 2017

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The rise in popularity of graphic novels seems very clear in modern times, as many

libraries in schools have added this genre to excite the youth about literature. Many fans of

comic books tend to discover the complexer graphic novel, which has the potential to hold

deeper stories, as well as richer themes. Recent books by graphic novels seem to hold a pattern,

some using famous events in history, or using their own experiences growing up to write

exceptional stories. Finding inspiration to weave a story can use bits of an authors memories of

their childhood, or use the history of a country or the world to tell such story. Novelists can use

the potential of this genre to tell deeper and richer stories, to excite the reader into reading more

of this type of literature. Stigma can appear anywhere in entertainment, this largely happens

when people generalize one thing as the same as another thing, often than not this claims holds

no truth. Graphic novels have come a long way since their early beginnings as a different genre

of comic books; these novelists have to deal with fears of not succeeding with their novels due to

the stigma of the genre seeming childish, but as many things tend to seem, there is a history

behind this rising genre.

The history of graphic novels arising from the comic books children have read for

decades traces back to the section of British and American comics in the late 19th century.

These early comic sections in newspapers is where comics got it's name, to which it would be

kept since then (Bryan Talbot). The supplements that comics and sequentially graphic novels

rose from gained immense popularity in these two nations. The increase in popularity with the

addition for the youth would face some stigma. These comics in the late 19th to early 20th

century were aimed for the adult populus who bought the newspapers (Talbot). After this

interest in comics, it was remade for the younger generation of readers. Since this medium took
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off it turned into an entertainment for young children, which fueled the stigma against graphic

novels.

The graphic novels in recent years include different themes to different audiences. Some

sets of graphic novels can deal with themes such as: terrorism, racism, crime, etc (World Book

Inc.). Using these themes to older audiences can inform them about the dark side of the world

they currently live in. Having the intended audience informed about the particular matter stated

in the novel can potentially lead them to get politically involved. While particular graphic novels

that deal with heavy themes for adults, others can use less of these themes and aim for the young

adult demographic. While some graphic novels have realistic themes for adult audience, other

novels can include happy or childish plots meant for the younger audience (World). These

novels meant for the youth cause some people to think of these as the entire genre, rather than

taking the time to learn about the rest of the genre themselves.

Graphic novels have the potential to bring young readers into teach them about the reality

of the world. Recent libraries in the country have started to use this genre of literature to rope in

readers to excite them about the world of literature (World). This genre can bring in young

readers to excite them about learning, The graphic novel... is an incredible tool to educate...

function as a way to promote learning and an excitement to learn more. Using graphic novels

to excite young readers about learning can benefit schools around the country, as well as the

world. Graphic novels can use dark themes having to deal with the harshness of reality to make

the reader more of aware of the global world around them. Heavy themes; such as racism,

terrorism, etc; can reach out to the young adult or late teen demographics (World). These heavy

themes can introduce the reader to the harsh reality of the world.
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Current-day graphic novelists often use their own life experiences to create their own

interesting stories (Michael Chaney). Using their own experiences in their work makes the

novels they write unique to them alone. As no two people share the same life, using ones own

experiences into their work creates stories that are not only unique to them, but unique to their

style. These authors use and modify the memories of their past to conceive spectacular stories

for their audience. With these signature memories in the authors mind, the stories that they

make can only count as their own (Chaney). These authors leading the charge of graphic novels

each have different lives in general, creators together represent a nice range of styles, topics,

nationalities, backgrounds, and intended audiences. Each of single uniqueness forges different

novels that turn into unique own brand of graphic novels (Chaney).

In the novel that the novelist wishes to make, they might act as either the creator making

the story, or the reader discovering the story (Matt Phelan). While weaving their novel, the

process can count as two parts, the writing of the story as well as the drawing of the illustrations.

While writing the story, the author should not worry about the illustrations, only to worry about

the plot and the character (Phelan). The illustrations come next as the author makes thumbnail

sketches for points in the story. The inspiration that other graphic novelists use for their own

novels includes bits and pieces of history (Phelan). Using important events in history and

modifying them to devise interesting stories makes this genre of literature great (Phelan).

Altering important events in history to show the audience what would happen if history took a

different path than the one it took.

Graphic novels have the potential for telling complex stories to catch the reader, as well

as use the before mentioned realistic themes to aim for young adults (World). Even if the novels
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target younger audiences, they can still weave interesting stories for the reader, compelling them

to read further. With these stories catching the readers attention, it can paint an amazing story

that will stick with the reader. Along with an amazing story for the reader, the illustrations

working in combination with the story can make the book as a whole timeworthy (World).

Whether the graphic novel targets young or old, the story within the pages decides what the book

classifies as. A story that makes use of cartoon-like characters would cause people to generalize

these novels as the entire genre, rather than a specific part. Novels with complex characters,

both design and personality, along with the important story can target any kind of audience for

any means (World).

What graphic novelists deal with in their line of work has to deal with the fear of their

intended audience disproving of the novels they write (Gene Luen Yang). The novelists live in

daily fear of the fans they so depend on will eventually despise them. This fear affects a

majority of the novelists in this field, they fall into this fear when writing their novels. The fear

of failure affects any person in any field of work, mostly due to the loss of financial stability.

Fear like this prevents graphic novelists from attempting to step out of their normal writing

boundaries to make their work more diverse (Yang). These writers want to make their work

more distinct from their other novels, therefore making their collection of work more unique and

different from one another. Not making their novels diverse and separate from one another

would essentially make the novels seem like copies to a reader.

There are many ways to overcome this fear of ones own audience turning on them for

trying something different from the norm (Yang). What is takes for the author can do to relieve

themselves of this affliction means to march straight forward in diversity and to see where it
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takes them. Using ones own confidence to overcome their fear gives them the boost they desire.

Bravery in the mind can weaken the fear the person had, which can empower them to achieve

what they dream of. Whether diversifying themselves from their past novels would lead to glory

or failure, the important aspect remains that they overcame their fear (Yang). Glory in one

overcoming a fear can grant them to challenge themselves or to work towards a goal. Whether

they fail to overcome a fear or not, the important part of this relates to them trying to face their

fear, which can lead to them eventually overcoming the fear.

What most people think of graphic novels as longer comic books, not as an entirely

different genre of literature (World). This specific type of literature tells a much more complex

story than traditional comic books would ever tell. Graphic novels can make use of heavy and

darker themes intended for older audiences, rather than for younger readers (World). The overall

development of the entire plot and characters turns out richer than those of comic books. Comic

books on the other hand make use of childish ideals or cartoon-like plots. Using these themes

does not always mean that comic books are innately bad, instead they teach the youth about

important morals, shaping them into the next generation. While playing the devils advocate,

comic books tend to overlook important motifs and such, that causes people to group this in with

graphic novels.

This action of generalizing an important work of art or anything else with a childlike

form of entertainment, typically tends to hold no truth. One such example would involve people

grouping the modern-day cartoons with the ones the youth would watch on weekends. A reason

why people do this traces back to the late 21st century where cartoons existed used to sell toys,

and in turn make a profit. The only reason why adults stigmatize modern cartoons traces to
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adults starting the stigma in the first place. Why this stigma about graphic novels and modern

cartoons has completely faulty reason would have to due with the cartoons and graphic novels of

the present turning into more diverse and complex mediums of entertainment (Talbot). Stories

can have the plot and characters develop into realism with motifs such as fears, motivations,

dreams, strengths, etc. These factors make the characters and the plot relatable to the viewer or

reader, it gives them a sense of understanding.

In order to get rid of this stigma against graphic novels and cartoons, people must refrain

from thinking of these mediums as childish. Viewing these forms of art as art can help them

gain more popularity than ever before. Without thinking of these forms of art as childish means

of entertainment would make them exponentially increase in fame (Talbot). Dismantling the

stereotype of graphic novels only existing as a form of childish book would help the genre move

away from the stigma. The same situation with graphic novels could happen to other forms of

entertainment that adults seem to enjoy, which would take a misguided stereotype. For example,

if people had stigmatized late night shows into generalizing them as old men making fun of other

people, which holds as much truth as Pinocchio's growing nose. Stereotyping something that

one does not have any knowledge regarding the something does not help anyone.

Old literature, like Shakespeare, has always taught the reader about the world and reality

through themes and ideas (World). Graphic novels do the exact same thing as old literature,

except the stigma prevents the outside public from realizing the potential this genre can do for all

readers alike. Using themes that aim for different audiences can diversify the graphic novel

audience. Turning into a diverse genre with more diverse audience can benefit the genre. This

genre can classify as literature by removing the stigma that plagues the genre (World). Stigma
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against anything turns into a mess of stereotypes, all due to people generalizing something due to

them knowing little. This stereotype affects all aspects of everyday life, stereotypes cause people

to make assumptions about other races, social groups, etc.

Some graphic novelists write amazing and wondrous novels that some win titles in

literature. One example includes the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature, Gene

Luen Yang, stated that what writers face most includes fear. Yang states that the current scene

of novels diversified, so the characters in such novels have to diversify as well. Using different

characters than the norm shows readers to not generalize literature as a specific thing (Yang).

Other novelists often merge different types of literature to weave their stories. One such

example of this would include Kate DiCamillo, whose book Flora and Ulysesses combined the

graphic novel format with the prose format (Yang). The separation between classical literature

and recent comic books recently falls apart, which helps this genre move forward.

Teachers have used the graphic novel genre to get kids into liking to read. This brings in

those who have passion for comic books as well as graphic novels (Talbot). They can decide to

create their own novels, which fuels their desire to read more. Some enjoy this genre, It's my

passion to get graphic novels into education, he said. It's my passion because I'm a comic book

nerd. Using comic books and graphic novels to lure students into reading other literature can

lead to more readers. Getting the children in schools used to reading can increase scores on

assessments. Better scores on assessments means that schools could receive more funding.

Libraries have used graphic novels to get adults to try different thing in their usual

reading habits (Talbot). Some who only like a specific type of literature can look at graphic

novels to change up their habits. This type of exposure can work for either adult readers or
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young readers, doing this can expand their horizons. Whether this trick works for either age

group, this can benefit them in good ways. The potential graphic novels hold nowadays can do

many things for many different people. Some can help people get out of their comfort zone, or

get the youth excited about reading (Jonathan Hunt). Graphic novels, and especially literature

as a whole can make use of the real world through themes and motifs to teach the audience about

thing.

Schools have used the graphic novel genre to excite young readers into reading more

literature. Through exposure to a specific genre of literature, the desire to read other literature

sparks in young readers. Using books that the youth finds interesting to get them to read other

genres of literature can result in more reading. Exposing the youth to literature can improve their

scores on standardized reading assessments (Hunt). Graphic novels have amazing stories along

with remarkable and complex plotlines. These complex characteristics of the graphic novel

genre make the genre an amazing one. The use of diverse characters in the deep storyline of

graphic novelists has made graphic novels rise in popularity in recent years (Hunt).

Graphic novelists have to make their novel acceptable by the standards of their

publishers. If they were to make their novels far different from the desires of the publisher, there

would be a chance it would not sell in stores. This factor could result in the graphic novelists

fearing change in their novels to attempt something new. As previously stated, the graphic

novelists would have to face the fear in order to overcome such fear. Some novels can exist that

does not follow the previous sentence, such as they can have heavy or dark themes and sell better

than those without these themes (World). Some novels that show bloodshed, gore, war, etc., can
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teach readers about the cruel world they live in and push them into trying to end the darkness in

their world. They can take stands against things that harm the world.

In order for a person to understand someone elses pain, they must understand the pain

themselves. Graphic novels can show the young audiences how to handle ethical situations

through the use of empathy and interpersonal-mentalizing skills (Sarah Fischbach 88). Empathy

defined means someone having the psychological identification with or experience of someone

elses feelings, mood, thoughts, or attitudes. This can help someone the pain and hardships

someone else has gone through in their own past, and help them overcome such hardships.

While empathy works, using interpersonal-mentalizing skills to help someone else in their

troubles can work as equally as empathy can. Interpersonal-mentalizing skills can help graphic

novelists and publishers understand the minds of the customers they want to pull in (Fischbach

88). understanding the customers can help businesses sell more products they want to sell to the

average consumer or reader. This can boost a publishers sales, which in turns can help the

graphic novelist write more novels for their readers. Using interpersonal-mentalizing skills in

any line of business can help keep regular consumers to purchase the businesss products, which

helps them produce for products for the consumer.

The stigma surrounding graphic novels seeming childish has made some novelists of this

genre deal with the fear of failure within their line of work, only that nowadays than the graphic

novelists in this genre of literature has come a long way since their beginnings as adult comic

books. The history of graphic novels can stem from one might assume, comic books, as such

early comics originally sold for adult consumption in newspaper supplements. Some authors in

this genre tend to gain inspiration from past experiences of their own, or often than not use
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famous events in history to mold into stories for readers. When writing, novelists usually tend to

divide the process of writing graphic novels into two distinct parts, one to fully chart out the

plotline and how the story will unfold, another to bring onto paper the sight of the story into

detailed illustrations. Graphic novels, unlike comic books, can make use of heavy or dark

themes that evoke terror or suspense into the reader, thus giving this genre a complexer feel than

comic books. Fear can inhibit ones mind, to which prevents them from achieving what they

wish to do, graphic novelists face this feeling when trying to diversify their library. The

abundantly clear stigma of people generalizing graphic novels as fancier comic books traces

back to the days of comic books appealing to younger viewers, after the boost in popularity in

adult newspapers.
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Works Cited

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Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 2011. eBook High School Collection

(EBSCOhost). Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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"Graphic novelist Bryan Talbot to talk shop at Sunderland University lecture." Sunderland Echo

(UK) 04 Oct. 2014: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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"Graphic Novel." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2016): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls

New World Encyclopedia. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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Considered (NPR) (2016): Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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Hunt, Jonathan. "Comics Confidential: Thirteen Graphic Novelists Talk Story, Craft, And

Life Outside The Box."

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Horn Book Magazine 92.6 (2016): 97. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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"Just Keep Doing What You're Doing - And That's Getting People To Read." School Libraries In

Canada (17108535) 30.2 (2012): 30. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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Phelan, Matt. "A Method To The Madness: One Graphic Novelist's Process." Horn Book

Magazine 91.6 (2015): 40. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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Staff Writer, CNJ. "Education feature: Clovis library looks to lure adult readers." Clovis News

Journal, The (NM) 17

June 2009: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 2 Feb. 2017.

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"Teacher Uses Comics To Boost Reading." UPI Quirks In The News (2011): Newspaper Source

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Fischbach, Sarah, and Suzanne L. Conner. "Empathy And Interpersonal Mentalizing In Ethics

Education: An Exercise

With Graphic Novels." Journal For Advancement Of Marketing Education 24.(2016):

88-94. Business Source

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