Adults Want to Have Fun (Too!)--Graphic Novels

Adults Just Want to Have Fun (Too!) Graphic Novels for a Mature Audience Don Boozer [email_address] Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz anastasia.diamond-ortiz@cpl.org>

What are COMICS ?

Comics are a MEDIUM ... NOT a genre

The average age of comics buyers is 23 ( TIME , 6/30/08)

Think comics are something new?...

A Very Brief History of VISUAL STORYTELLING Visual storytelling started over 30,000 years ago. Skeptical?

A Very Brief History of VISUAL STORYTELLING Moving onto 1275 BC, it was eventually picked up by the Egyptians…

A Very Brief History of VISUAL STORYTELLING Next, we come to Trajan’s Column in AD 113…

A Very Brief History of VISUAL STORYTELLING Finally, we come to 1066 AD and the most famous piece of medieval VISUAL NONFICTION…

What is a GRAPHIC NOVEL ?

Single issue comics

Trade paperbacks

Graphic novels

“ sequential art”

“ comic-strip novel”

“ picture novella”

“ graphic literature”

plain old “comics”

How to Tell the Difference Between Graphic Novels for Children, Teens, and Adults

Rating Systems :

Varying levels of sex , blood , gore , & adult themes...

“ The Ten Gallon Rule”

Don’s criteria: “Would I be comfortable recommending this to my 16-year old daughter?”

“ Adult” graphic novels vs. graphic novels “for adults”

Practical Concerns

Purchasing

Cataloging

Shelving

Award-winning Graphic Novels Pulitzer Prize, 1992 TIME Magazine #1 Book of the Year Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2007