Graphic Novels

Final Project, April 2010

LAE4464

Jenn Gilgan

A Little History

Storytelling with pictures: old as timeAmerican Comic Books: 1930s– Superheros & Talking Animals

1940s - Adult themes & Criticism– Crime, horror, romance– Comics cause of juvenile delinquency– The Comics Code Authority - censoring

contentGreyson, Devon. “GLBTQ Content in Comics/Graphic Novels for Teens.” Collection Building, Nov. 2007. Vol. 26,

Iss. 4, pp. 130-134

Comics

Comic Strips, the funny papers– Blondie, The Peanuts, For Better or For

Worse

Comic Books - stapled or stitched along the spine; more pamphlet than book– Archie, Spiderman, Superman

Sold at newsstands, not bookstoresUnderground comics - Comix

Greyson, Devon. “GLBTQ Content in Comics/Graphic Novels for Teens.” Collection Building, Nov. 2007. Vol. 26, Iss. 4, pp. 130-134

Enter the Graphic Novel

1970’s to 80’s - Entrance of the Mall– Fewer Newstands, Mom & Pop Stores

First Published Graphic Novel: 1978 – Marvel Comics’ The Silver Surfer

1992 - Maus wins the Pulitzer Prize“Today, graphic novels are an increasingly important part of comic book publishing.”

Diamond Comics Bookshelf Website, http://bookshelf.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=164&ai=64513&ssd=

Graphic Novel

Longer than a Comic Book

Can have a complex storyline

“Graphic novel [is defined] as sequential art - a series of illustrations which, when viewed in order, tell a story.”

-- Will Eisner, author

Smetana, Linda, Darah Oldeson, Heidi Burns, Dana L. Grisham. (2009). “Using Graphic Novels in the High School Classroom: Engaging Deaf Students with a New Genre.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Nov. 2009, Vol. 53 Issue 3, pp.228 - 240. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

What is a Graphic Novel?

Bound bookSequential ArtSometimes– A series of comic books bound together– Written as a series, Sandman, Emma– A stand-alone story

Historical, Fictional, BiographicalHumor, Romance, Action, Mystery

Manga

Manga = Comic in Japanese

Distinctive Art

Reads Right to Left

Exaggerated Emotions

Very Popular with U.S. girls 12 - 18

Took Off about 2000 in U.S. MarketDeahl, Rachel. "Where the girls are: after decades of publishing comics that appeal to boys, DC is launching a graphic novel imprint aimed at teen girls." Publishers Weekly 254.17 (2007): 25. General OneFile. Web. 17 Mar.

2010.

Comic Art

Traditionally more popular with boys

DC Comics created Minx comics in 2007 specifically designed for teenage girls

Image of Doc Savage from DC Universal website, www.dccomics.com/dcu

Image of The Plain Janes from Minx website, www.dccomics.com/minx

Manga Art

Big Eyes

Small Nose

Smallish Mouth– Except when laughing

Unusual Hair Color

Plain Janes & Absolute Boyfriend 33

The Books I Read

Cairo

Skim

Life Sucks

Emma, vols. 1 & 2 (of 10 volumes)

Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer

Cairo

Willow G. Wilson, words

M.K. Perker, Art

Do you believe in genies, magic, evil spirits, and the power of faith?

Skim

Mariko Tamaki, wordsJillian Tamaki, artSkim is depressed and confused, and now she must deal with her school’s obsession with teenage suicide.

Life Sucks

Jessica Abel & Gabe Soria, words

Warren Pleece & Hilary Sycamore, Art

The living dead working a dead end job in love with a mortal in love with becoming the living dead.

Emma, volumes 1 & 2

Kaoru Mori, words and art

Forbidden love in 19th Century England between a shy maid and a wealthy merchant’s son who finds society’s rules stifling

Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer

Van Jensen, Words

Dusty Higgins, Art

After evil demons kill Papa Gepetto, how far will Pinocchio to go to avenge his father’s death? Will the townspeople believe Pinocchio that evil demons lurk their streets?

In The Classroom

Reach Reluctant Readers

Reach At-Risk Readers

Address Social Issues

Complementary to Traditional Novels

Graphics-to-Word Association

Visual Literacy

Covert Learning

Childhood Favorites Stay with Us: The Peanuts, Barbar, Madeleine

Tintin: I Read French Better than I Speak It

Why Not Graphic Novels or Manga?

Fry Readability Difficult to Judge

Full Circle: from Cave Drawings to TLAs (LOL, BTW), Symbols (@, &), Emoticons, and Graphic Novels

Websites

www.dccomics.com

http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/gn.cfm

http://www.publishersweekly.com/channel/Comic_Book_Reviews.php

http://diamondcomics.com/public/

http://www.classicalcomics.com/

Websites

www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic

www.graphicnovels.brodart.com

www.tcj.com

www.uky.edu/projects/chemcomics

Other Citations

Gillenwater, C. (2009). LOST LITERACY: HOW GRAPHIC NOVELS CAN RECOVER VISUAL LITERACY IN THE LITERACY CLASSROOM. Afterimage, 37(2), 33- 36. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Schwarz, G. (2007). Media Literacy, Graphic Novels and Social Issues. Simile, 7(4), 1-11. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

http://wallse.net/wp/Chuck_and_Snoopy,_Peanuts_Comic_Strip