3. Research
• A graphic novel is basically a book length
comic (Up to 100+ pages)
• It’s created and read in comic format
• There’s not much text
Only for analogue
Shown in speech bubbles/thought
bubbles
Brief explanations
In captions
• The text is read from the top left to the
bottom right
• Most commonly presented in panels
• Mostly in black and white
• Some graphic novelists are experimental
with colours and different types of art
(watercolour etc.)
• Some images can be disturbing
• Some images can be visually pleasing
• Most commonly designed in a 6 to 9 grid
pattern
• The more experimental novelists use
different grid techniques that can be
confusing to make layouts that do not
conform to the usual 6 to 9 grid layout.
4. Research
• Graphic Novels can tell one
continuous story from first page
to last page
• Sometimes they are a
collection of shorter
stories/individual comics
• Mostly darker than other types
of illustrated literature, darker
genres:
Drama
Adventure
Politics
Romance
Science Fiction
• http://www.nbillustration.co.uk/g
raphic-novel
• Different illustration methods
Flat Colour
using air brush
Flat Colour,
black and white
Using acrylic, is
computer
generated
Line and wash
Using pen and ink
and watercolour
5. Black and white
format
Not a lot of
text, no long
explanations
Pixilated effect
on the writing Use of different font
all the way through,
the text isn’t in a
straight line or
particularly in any
order either
Captions
Storyboard
order – from
top Left to
bottom Right
Flat colour
Computer
generated
Dramatic
In all CAPS
The background is
textured compared
to the rest of the
images
Target audience:
early teens: ages
– 12 plus
7. Research
• These are stories assisted with images to let
the young reader see the image instead of
visualising/picturing it
• Fairy tales take place in far-off times and
places – ‘Once upon a time’
• Magical happening are normal in these
stories
Magic isn’t seen as strange or unnatural
• Often tells the story of an individual
Usually beautiful but badly treated girls
Handsome princes
Stereotypes
An evil king, queen or witch
• They always finish with a ‘happily ever after’
• Some plots are continuously re-created with
new ideas and characters
For example, Beauty and the Beast and The
Frog Prince
• Most stories are about an individual being
unhappy and then finding happiness
8. Research
• Colourful – appealing to
younger ages
• Not a lot of text on each page,
sometimes it can just be a
whole picture depending on
the target audience age
• Again depending on the age of
the target audience – the
stories are not very long
• Clear images and easy to read
text
• The more images there are,
the less text there will be –
especially descriptive text
• Fonts usually used are Times
New Roman, Goudy,
Garamond or Baskerville
9. Not a lot of text
– it’s clear and
easy to read –
no descriptive
techniques
used
Block
colours
Bright and colourful
Stereotypes (Blonde hair)
Mostly lets
the picture
tell the story
Times New
Roman
Illustration is hand
drawn
Target audience is definitely for
children – the bright
colours, the easy text and the
hand drawn illustration proves
this
Ages 5 - 6 plus
