Comics & Graphic Novels

When asked what a “comic book” is, many people picture a thin booklet filled with colorful, paneled drawings of superheroes. “Comic strip” may elicit thoughts of “Sunday funnies” that are published in the weekly newspaper.

In reality, the term “comics” encompasses these formats and many more. In Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, Scott McCloud defines comics as "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence." The expansive definition that McCloud argues for is both widely recognized and heavily criticized. Aaron Meskin discusses this topic in his article “Defining Comics?”

It is important to note that “comics” is not a genre, but a medium in which ideas are expressed through images, often combined with text. A variety of subjects and genres can be explored through comics.

Graphic novels are often thought of book-length comics. There is also debate around defining graphic novels, and the difference between graphic novels and comic books (if there is one).

Generally, the main distinguishing factors between graphic novels and other comics are length and structure:

• “Comic strips” are typically published periodically. There may or may not be an overarching narrative across strips. Most strips have 2-10 panels each.
• “Comic books” are typically published periodically. The story is structured in a manner that is suited for periodic publication. The narrative often stretches across multiple issues and/or volumes.
• “Graphic novels” are typically published as self-contained, full-length books. The narrative is presented in its entirety within the singular book. 

As artists and storytellers experiment with the medium of comics, these labels and their boundaries are challenged. The definition of comics continues to be debated. However, within this research guide, the term “comics” will be used broadly, with graphic novels included within it.

The appropriateness of including graphic novels and comics in both public and academic library collections has been well argued by numerous authors. Several writers have highlighted how graphic novels can both support academic curriculums and provide leisure reading. 1

Comics as a topic have great potential for engaging students in rigorous studies at the college level. Studying comics allows one to study art, culture, society, linguistics, literature, and history. 2

References:

1. Golomb, Liorah. "Beyond Persepolis: A Bibliographic Essay on Graphic Novels and Comics by Women." Collection Building, vol. 32, no. 1, Feb. 2013, pp. 21-30. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1108/01604951311295067.

2.  “Comic Books.” American Women Database: Serial and Government Publications Division, Popular Culture Collections. Library of Congress. https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/awhhtml/awser2/comic_books.html

This topic guide was initially authored by Ash Baker, Class of 2019, as an undergraduate in the 2017 A-LIST cohort. It was created as a final project for the interdisciplinary seminar HON370 - Comics: Art & Visual Culture, Fall 2017. It has been altered from the original version in subsequent updates.