Graphic Novels

DEAR READER,

This guide is to help you both choose graphic novels to read, and understand what a graphic novel is. As a visual artist, I love reading graphic novels and delving into the illustrations of a world, and in this guide I share some basic artsy information so you can think deeper about the artistic choices in the books you read.

At the end of this guide there are book recommendations for learning more about the history and evolution of the American graphic novel, and some graphic novels that I personally love.

-Andon van Colen '25

Terms To Know

ARTISTIC TERMS

Watercolor: usually soft and colorful, used in emotive stories
Hatching: illustration technique made to shade objects by drawing small parallel and perpendicular (cross hatching) lines
Line Art: art which is just lines without color or shading
Concept art: usually included at the end of graphic novels, the brainstorm for characters and locations in a novel
Collage: art made by using different materials and techniques to create a larger picture
Realism: art made to be life like, called realistic or photorealistic
Flat illustration: art which is just shapes without lines

LITERARY TERMS

Collaboration: artists may work together on books, resulting in multiple art and writing styles throughout
Golden, silver, bronze age: superhero art styles as evolved through the 20th century, mostly applicable to comic books but can be seen in graphic novels
Graphic Adaptation: a book, usually a classic, written in graphic novel form

What is a graphic novel?

A graphic novel by modern, western standards is considered a novel which tells a story through illustrations. Graphic novels contain one full story just like a regular book in text, though they can be part of a series.

This sets them apart from comic books, which are serialized and episodic, meaning one story can stretch across multiple issues of the comic. The qualities of a graphic novel are similar to those of a text novel:

Clear beginning, middle, and end
Central narrative
Characters and character development
Thematic messaging

How to read graphic novels

You can read a graphic novel the same way you would read a regular novel, but the artistic choices in a graphic novel are important to consider as you read. Did the author choose this style to convey a theme or support the mood of the story? What styles are most effective for different genres? Below are some art styles I chose to highlight.

Watercolor

Watercolor can be used in multiple genres, but is often seen in memoirs or realistic fiction, because of the nostalgic feeling it conveys.

black and white

Black and white line art can be paired with any style of illustration to convey different moods, but usually comes across as solid and real.

realism

Realism is seen in many genres, and is versatile because it reflects how we see on a daily basis. Realism can be used to enhance fictional stories.

Web Comics

Many graphic novels that are now famous got their start as web comics on sites like Webtoons and Tapas. The world of web comics makes the graphic novel world so much more accessible to both authors and readers, because authors can publish their works without needing the support of a publisher, and readers can access work for free (though it is encouraged to support your favorite authors).