Graphic Novels Do SO Count

I just finished my 50th novel of the year, meeting my Goodreads goal nearly two months ahead of time. While this last text was a standard novel, The Blood Lie by Shirley Vernick, I have had difficulty explaining to people about my momentous achievement. In particular, it is difficult to explain what I have accomplished in the past ten months.

While I averaged five texts a month, nineteen of these have been graphic novels as opposed to actual novels. This includes the entire Bone series by Jeff Smith, two Batman stories, and even a graphic novel version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." While I plan on reading more stories, I doubt I will read 19 additional novels before December 31st comes to a close.

That begs the question, did I fail my goal?

I don't believe so. Graphic novels often receive a bad reputation because of their connection to a the comic book. Both use visual media as their primary method of conveying ideas. Both are primarily dominated by superheroes and Japanese stories known as manga; both of which are often considered juvenile or inappropriate forms of literature. Both contain less words than a written story of equal page length.

However, I believe discounting graphic novels is a huge mistake that teachers, scholars, and other individuals make. Those connections to comic books aren't necessarily bad things.

First, I have read novels and novellas that were smaller than other novels but contained powerful themes, strong characters, and interesting plot twists that kept me turning the pages. Graphic novels can do the same and use visuals to tell some of the story for them.

Second, superhero stories and manga can be incredibly well-written. The Batman graphic novel Hush is a very compelling story about the nature of being a hero, while Jeff Smith's Bone series creates a very interesting world populated with colorful characters. In addition, while they may dominate the genre, these kinds of stories are not the only tales being written in graphic novel form. Graphic novels also tell original stories in genres including historical fiction, allegory, fantasy, science fiction, and even nonfiction.

Finally, the use of visuals is what makes graphic novels powerful and unique. The images created on the page are, most of the time, crafted by hand and display anything from beautiful, peaceful meadows to apocalyptic futures. You can read graphic novels multiple times, and you may notice something different with each viewing. The face of the second arc's antagonist watches from the shadows in the first few pages. The murder weapon clearly hanging in the corner of a character's office. The graphic aspects of graphic novels isn't a negative. It is a unique style that gives something totally new to the reader.

So don't dismiss the graphic novel. So let your kids read The Stickman Odyssey, a retelling of Greek myths by Christopher Ford, or Friends with Boys, the story of a girl going to a new school and meeting a ghost by Faith Erin Hicks. Or better yet, pick up a copy for yourself. You might find that those "over-sized comic books" are more complex than you think.