Buzz
The term 'graphic novel' was coined by Richard Kyle in 1964 in a Comic Amateur Press Alliance newsletter. DC Comics used it in 1972 for 'Sinister House of Secret Love' issue 2, but standalone use began 4 years later with works like Richard Corben's 'Bloodstar,' George Metzger's 'Beyond Time,' and Jim Steranko's 'Chandler: Red Tide.' The term gained traction in 1978 with Will Eisner's 'A Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories,' inspired by Lynd Ward's 1920s-'30s woodcut novels. Defining comic books vs. graphic novels is tricky due to historical practices predating the term. While definitions vary, the following steps aid in distinguishing them.
Steps
Determine if it's a serial or standalone work. Comics include both, with comic books as serialized magazines and graphic novels as single publications. Marvel Comics' 1982-1988 35-work series is an example of graphic novels in a comic publisher's lineup.
- Using 'novel' in comics doesn't make them graphic novels. For instance, All-Flash Quarterly's 4-chapter 'novel-length' stories weren't graphic novels as they were part of a series.
- Adaptations like Classics Illustrated aren't graphic novels as they were periodicals. Multi-volume adaptations like Jane Fancher's may be seen as graphic novels or miniseries.
- 'One-shot' comics like 'Superman vs. Muhammad Ali' aren't considered graphic novels due to their format.
Count the stories within. Comics may have 1 to multiple stories, while graphic novels typically have 1 story.
- Collections like 'The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told' aren't graphic novels as they contain multiple stories.
- Single story arcs like Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns' or Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' 'Watchmen' are graphic novels as they're one-story arcs.
- Exceptions exist, like Will Eisner's interrelated short stories in 'A Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories.'
Determine the comic's page count. Comic books typically range from 64 to 96 pages, while graphic novels can be anywhere from 60 to 500 pages long. Examples like Archie Goodwin and Gil Kane's 'Blackmark' series and Dave Sim's 'Cerebus' collections showcase the variance in graphic novel lengths. Special annual issues of comics, although longer, don't qualify as graphic novels due to their periodic nature and naming conventions.
- Annuals, despite having longer stories, are distinct from graphic novels as they are labeled and numbered differently.
Check the comic's dimensions. Comic books are usually 6 5/8 x 10 1/4 inches, while graphic novels come in various sizes including trade paperback, oversize editions, and digest-size formats.
- Trade paperbacks measure 5.32 x 8.51 inches.
- Digest-size ranges from 5 3/8 to 5 1/2 inches wide and 7 1/2 to 8 3/8 inches tall.
Examine the binding method. Comic books are typically stapled, resembling regular magazines, while graphic novels are bound more like thicker books.
- Some special high-quality comic books may mimic book bindings, like the 3-issue 'Subterraneans' miniseries, but they don't qualify as graphic novels unless compiled into a single volume.
Assess the paper quality. Comic books historically used lower-grade matte paper, whereas graphic novels from the 1980s onward feature higher-quality matte or glossy paper. However, modern comics may also use high-quality paper despite being stapled.
Consider the price. Graphic novels are generally more expensive due to their longer narratives, single-volume format, and higher production quality compared to comic books.
Done.
Recommendations
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Japanese manga has its own terminology. A single issue is a manga, akin to an American comic book. A standalone story is a yomikiri, while a collection of manga arcs is a tankobon, similar to a graphic novel. Omnibus volumes with multiple arcs are called Soshuhen.
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In Europe, graphic novels were known as 'albums.' Notable works like Corto Maltese from Italy and Asterix, Lieutenant Blueberry, and Tintin from France and Belgium were published as albums. Terry Nantier introduced this term to America in 1977 with 'graphic album,' featuring works like Loro's 'Racket Rumba' and Enki Bilal's 'The Call of the Stars.' Other terms used include 'comic-strip novel' for Daniel Clowes' 2001 'Ice Haven,' 'illustrated novel' for Craig Thompson's 'Blankets,' and 'picture novella' for Seth's 'It's a Good Life.'
Cautions
- Because the term 'graphic novel' came after the works, there's debate about the first one. Candidates include Blackmark by Archie Goodwin and Gil Kane, their earlier work 'His Name is � Savage,' Jack Katz's 'First Kingdom' collection, and even a Doctor Strange story from the 1960s.
- There's a semantic argument about serialized novels and graphic novels. While some see them as the same format, others argue that serialized novels were planned as complete stories, unlike ongoing comic series.
- Some in the comics industry dislike the term 'graphic novel,' seeing it as elitist or a marketing ploy.
