Why are comics called Graphic Novels now?!
Question: I'm just wondering what the reason was behind changing comics into graphic novels. I mean, they end up being the same, but I'm just curious.
Answers: I'm just wondering what the reason was behind changing comics into graphic novels. I mean, they end up being the same, but I'm just curious.
Comic books are single issues of a story, and continues like a "serial"; an almost never-ending series of stories, where often a story continues into the next issue. Like episdoes of a TV show, such as "Heroes".
They are also usually no more than 32 pages in length per issue.
Graphic Novels have different definitions.
First is the "Trade Paperback". People sometimes call these Graphic Novels, and it is part right. It's just a large, illustrated book which collects, say, 12 issues, of a year's worth of comic books into one book.
Example would be my favorite, Watchmen, which originally was a 12 issue comic book series, and then was collected into one large Trade Paperback "Graphic Novel" Book.
Other examples include "Crisis On Infinite Earths", "Avengers VS. X-Men", "Infinity Gauntlet", all of which were originally 12 issue comic books, and then collected into one Trade Paperback "Graphic Novel".
There is the correct term Graphic Novel which is an actual separate story from other comic books.
It can be about anything, and is not just a collection of comic books, but an entire book written and illustrated in a comic book STYLE, just a much larger format. More than 32 pages.
Examples are: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Superman: Red Son, Kingdom Come, Maus, etc.
These are the actual "Graphic Novels".
O.K., I hope this isn't too confusing.
Now, however, what has been happening, and where your question comes from, is that a lot of people are ditching the term comic book, and switching to graphic novel as the words to use.
Some people use it, some don't.
Regarding Manga and Anime, they are completely different formats, and don't apply.
Comic books first appeared in the U.S.A.
They didn't change that. Comics are Marvel, DC comics, Dark Horse, etc. while graphic novels are like manga or something like Naruto.
They call manga that not comics. I think its just called that because its in English.
Graphic novels are comics, but comics are not graphic novels. The traditional monthly book that you pick up at the newsstand or comic ship is still just a comic book. The larger, bound editions, whether a collection of a particular story line or limited series, or done as a single work, are graphic novels. Thus, for example, issue #2 of V for Vendetta was a comic book, but the bound edition of all the books was a graphic novel. The reason for the new name was originally to reflect the more serious tone of the works, such as The Dark Knight Returns or A Contract With God, but is now overused for any collection.
Comics are just comics. graphic novels are comics that tell a story.
Comic books are still comic books, but publishers and distributors have discovered people will buy collections of a particular series featuring a certain storyarc (an adventure so bloated and extended it takes six issue or so to tell). The format of such reprints falls under the general classification of "graphic novel." Manga series follow the same general pattern but have been at it longer, and have hit what I hope is the absolute zenith of padding; with manga reprints the more you buy the less you get. American graphic novels may fall into that pattern eventually too, although there are still graphic novels being produced that are original material, not reprints of material originally appearing in comics.
Basically, the graphic novel reprint packages exist because chain bookstores that won't carry comics will carry the graphic novel (and other chains will carry both). With "traditional distribution" markets drying up, it's wise to try to sell the same material twice.
they are not that is a different type of comic . a graphic novel is a book that has the format of a comic. But comic is a regular comic that is thin.
Single issue comics are called comics. Graphic novels are often collections of comics sold as a book... therefore they are graphic novels. At least that's always been my theory on it! A single issue is like one chapter. When you put them all together then maybe it is a novel.
2 differences - price and perception.
Comic books cost $2.99, graphic novels cost more, up to $20 or more for a hardcover or trade paperback.
Perception is the marketing behind a book or movie - a company like Dark Horse or DC might call something a graphic novel if they're trying to make it seem more important or skew it toward an older audience - college-level or older.
The Spider-Man movie was based on a comic book. A movie like "30 Days of Night" or "Road to Perdition" is usually promoted as being based on a "graphic novel" because they are trying to attract a more mature audience. Maybe people who wouldn't go to see the movie if they thought it was for kids.
when it started the stories were a lot deeper than your monthly books now every time a series story ends the pack them as one single book a novel rather than 6 issues