Graphic novels are a contemporary literature form of long stories told in comics format. They have the same characteristics of comics: multimodality, cartooning techniques and elements (panels, gutters).

Illustrated explanation about graphic novels (Bennet, 2016, p.3).

The range of themes and issues that graphic novel artists address include childhood, war and survival, politics, the future, sexuality, and the supernatural (Brenner, 2010). Even though the audience’s age is very varied, and adults consume them often, this subgenre is contemporary Children’s Literature, specialized in Young Adults. According to Gravett (2005), graphic novels are the modern renaissance of comics whose subjects are not confined to superheroes or fantasy but are as varied and sophisticated as the best films and literature.

Book covers from the graphic novels (from left to right): Zenobia (2018), Persepolis(2020), Maus (1980) and Jimmy Corrigan (1995).

References:

Bennet, M. (2016). Comics Terms. Comics Workshop Prep Booklet. Marek Bennet blog.

Brenner, R. (2010). ‘Comics and Graphic Novels’. In Coats, K., Enciso, P., Jenkins, C. & Wolf, S. (Eds.) (2010). Handbook of Research on Children's and Young Adult Literature (1st ed.). Routledge.

Dürr, M. & Horneman, L.( 2018). Zenobia. Triangle Square.

Gravett, P. (2005). Graphic novels: Everything you need to know. New York, NY: Collins Design.

Satrapi, M. (2020). Persepolis. Reservoir Books.

Spiegelman, A. (1980). Maus. Pantheon Books.

Ware, C. (1995). Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth. Pantheon Books.