Explains the types, features, and history of graphic novels. Created by Cassie Fenton 2014

1. What?
Why?
How?

2. • Same format as comic books
• Text & illustrations present information
• Medium, not genre
• Book-length, usually contain one story

3. A Graphic Novel Page
Pages consist of a variety of elements
• Panels-squares or rectangles that
contain a single scene
• Gutters-space between panels
• Dialog Balloons-contain communication
between/among characters
• Thought Balloons-contain a character’s
thoughts
• Captions-contain information about a
scene or character
• Sound Effects-visual sound clues i.e..
Wonk! Pow!

4. How to
Read a
Graphic
Novel Page
Graphic novels are
read left to right, just
like traditional texts

5. Dialog Balloons
dialog balloons are read left to right or top to bottom as is
appropriate.
1
2
3
5
4

6. Sometimes it can get
a little more
complicated…

7. 1
3
2
4
But the
basic left to
right rule
still applies
to panels

8. and dialog balloons
as well
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

9. Major Types

11. Humor

12. Non-Fiction

14. Fantasies

16. Adaptations
Spin-offs
or

19. Realistic Fiction

20. Personal
Stories

22. Toon Books
• For age 4+
• Can be read to or
by children
• Vetted by educators

26. • Manga=comic books
• Period before
WWII=beginning of
modern manga
Manga

27. How to read a Manga Page
Unlike traditional western books,
Manga is read right-to-left and
“back” to “front”
Often, if you
start at what
looks like the
front of the
Manga, you will
see a message
like this

28. Panels are read
right to left
1
2
3
4
5

29. 13
4
2
8
5
6
7
10
9
11
As are dialog
balloons

30. Common Manga
Character Traits
Large, expressive eyes
Small noses
Tiny mouths

31. Types of Manga
• Shonen: teenage
boys
• Shojo: teenage girls
• Shonen-ai /
Yaoi=boys love

32. Manga
Adaptations

33. Popular & Respected
• Read by everyone
• Artists & writers well
respected
• Much anime based
on manga

34. • perceived as
subversive=attractive!
• Ratings

35. • “God of Manga”
Osamu Tezuka
• Hayayo Miyazaki:
anime & manga
Names to
Know

36. First comic “strip”
• Appeared in New
York World: 1895
• R. F. Outcault
• Increased sales

37. Katzenjammer Kids
• 1897
• Used word balloons
• Used multiple panels to tell story

39. Early 20th Century
• Windsor McCay
– Chalk-talk artist
– Broadway musical
– Animated movie

40. Popularity Grows
• By early 1900’s, over
150 strips in
syndication
• 1929: Tarzan
• 1931: Dick Tracy

41. The Comic Book
• 1933-reprints of
comic strips
• Initially free
• 1935-original stories
& characters
• 10 cents each

42. Popular comics
• Superman
– First superhero
– On newsstands: 1938
• Characters spun-off into radio & movies
• Superheroes big during World War II

43. After WWII: crime, science
fiction and horror comics

44. Shades of things to come…
• The Spirit published
as book-type
supplement
• National
newspapers
• Educated readers

45. 1950’s: comics in crisis!
• Frederic Wertham
• Comics examined by US Senate
• Comics banned and burned

46. A New Beginning
• Late 1950’s: Justice League of America born
• 1961: Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, &
Spiderman
• 1960’s: Self-published underground comics

47. • 1978-Will Eisner coins term
• 1986- Batman: the Dark Knight Returns
• 1987- The Watchmen
Milestones in the
Graphic Novel World

48. • 1992- Maus: A Survivor’s Tale wins Pulitzer
• 2005-”Graphix” imprint launched
• 2006- American Born Chinese named NBA
finalist for Young People’s Literature
• 2007- American Born Chinese wins Printz
Award for excellence in YA literature

49. • 2007 The Invention
of Hugo Cabret
finalist for NBA
• 2008 Invention wins
Caldecott

50. • 2007-YALSA creates new annual booklist: “Great
Graphic Novels for Teens”
• 2009-NYT Graphic Books Bestseller List
• 2009- David Small’s Stitches NBA finalist

51. New Graphic Classics
• Marvel Illustrated
• IDW
• Manga
Shakespeare
• Classical Comics

52. Educational GNs

54. President
Obama
collects both
Spider-Man
and
Conan the
Barbarian
comics

55. Why Graphic Novels &
Manga?
• 6.3 million secondary school students reading below
grade level.
• Average American age 15-24 spends only 7 minutes of
daily leisure time reading.
• >57%of high schoolers devote 3 or more hours of an
average school day to electronic viewing.
• Students with access to variety of reading
materials=higher average reading scores.

56. • Present complex material in readable text
• Serve as a bridge to more difficult reading
• Challenge readers of more traditional literature
• Embrace nature of multimedia world
• Fulfill NCTE’s “21st
Century literacies” (multiple streams,
simultaneous information)
Graphic Novels & Manga:

57. • Public Library
• Local comic stores
• Book stores
Checking Out Graphic
Novels & Manga

58. Purchasing
• Many traditional library suppliers offer
graphic novel titles.
• Local comic stores
• Book stores

59. Collection Development
Policies
• Clear (enough) definition
• Selection criteria
• Maintenance
• Challenges

60. Classification & Shelving
• Within general collection
• Format specific (PS, NC or 741.5)
• Graphic Novel designation
• DNC

61. Learning more about Graphic
Novels & Manga!
School Library Journal
Library Journal
Diamond Comics Bookshelf
Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Reviews & More

62. • Get Graphic!
• Graphic Novel Resources: SUNY at Buffalo
• First Second Books
• Public Square Books