Graphic Novels — The Genre
The biggest take away from this genre study is that graphic novels are not truly a genre, but a format, even though publishers and libraries treat them as a genre. Graphic novels have been around much longer than the normal person would believe. In fact, people still cannot agree fully on the definition of what a graphic novel is from some saying it is synonymous with comics to others claiming that standalone stories published only at one time instead of continuously. Specifically, graphic novels for young adults are a new section with little research because this format was generally used for adults and children, so now some of the well-known graphic novels for teens actually started out as graphic novels for adults. Critical essays or books about specifically young adult graphic novels, regarding many of the authors we found to be big names, are really only coming out this year.
Authors of Graphic Novels
Finding information on “prolific” authors of young adult graphic novels is quite the challenge. This is a new genre with new and up-and-coming authors so still have not being given much attention or papers written about. This is not to say that all graphic novelists lack information, because Gene Luen Yang, for example, has won awards and brought the genre more into the spotlight. Perhaps this is because most of these authors write comics, again going back to the vague definition graphic novels, so when their works are made into graphic novels they may not be given the recognition they deserve. Another reason is that these authors write for multiple age groups and multiple projects or their work is considered for other age groups besides young adults because it appeals to such a wide age group.
Many of these authors are also quite young with Noelle Stevenson and the Tamaki cousins being younger than we imagined or beginners in this format. It is because of these authors that new authors of this format are able to contribute to the field. We believe that as more time passes and graphic novels for young adults become more accepted that these are the authors that will one day become prolific and “big names” in the industry. Many of these authors do not have art-type degrees, getting other degrees as a safety net, but still doing comics, which they truly wanted to do.
Final Thoughts
We took three different looks at graphic novels, to learn more or begin to learn about the format. Based upon our research we found that information on young adult graphic novels is new and the format is still going through the process of becoming an acceptable format for the masses.
This may be because the young adult age range of graphic novels is so new, so this is a line of study may not have been worked on because there was nothing to research. In the past, and certain still with some librarians, this was a format looked down upon, so now we need to be more open and encourage others to read and study these books. Graphic novels cover a vast range of actual genres and can appeal to a huge audience. A book is a book, reading is reading, and if we can get a book, no matter what type, into the hands of a person that they will read, that is a win for us.
Genre/Author Study: Graphic Novels. 