Graphic novels are longer comic books that tell a story from start to finish. They can be suitable for all ages, but some contain violence and sexual content. Manga, a popular Japanese comic form, has influenced graphic novels. Some graphic novels can educate children and improve their reading skills. Parents should be cautious when selecting appropriate material for their children. Graphic novels continue to increase in popularity among adults.
Graphic novels are sometimes called long comics. They usually cover fictional material in comic book form, through the use of sequential illustrations. Unlike traditional comics, however, these books are longer and tend to cover a story from start to finish, instead of ending with traditional comic book cliffhanger endings. In some cases, however, a graphic novel is a collection of several comic book series that begin and conclude a particular story arc.
Some of the earliest examples of graphic novels in the United States were comic book classics, first published in the 1940s. Novels such as The Three Musketeers were placed in the traditional comic book framework, whereby they were thought to be more easily digestible by young readers. While greatly scaled down, this treatment of the novels was popular with young people, and many look back on these books fondly.
Today there are graphic novels suitable for all ages, and some particularly unsuitable for young people. Graphics can mean more than “accompanied by illustrations”. Some titles, like those written by Frank Miller, are filled with violence and very realistic depictions of sexual behavior. They have a market, and Miller’s Sin City has been adapted into a film, starring A-list actors, and won significant critical praise.
Works such as Miller’s are often influenced by the popular Japanese comic form, manga. Manga refers to all graphic novels, comic magazines, and cartoons, and is sometimes confused with the term anime, which is animated. His current style was developed during World War II, and much of Walt Disney’s work influenced manga drawing. Manga can be written for young children, or constitute complex political and social satire, and virtually no subject is taboo.
While a graphic novel produced in the United States typically features characters with very different faces and names, manga characters have distinctive characteristics. Most of the characters have very large eyes, small noses and lined mouths. While some Japanese artists do not follow this typeface, most Japanese illustrations arriving in the United States have traditional manga faces. Manga can be extremely inappropriate for young children and are not classified as US graphic novels. The anime sequence in Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a good example of how far manga can go as an art form.
Some graphic novels offer great ways to educate children. Because they are filled with illustrations, they are often appealing to young readers and may communicate moral stories or events in history. Some are just for fun and improve children’s appreciation and ability to read.
Since the best selection is often in comic book stores, parents may want to read on to find appropriate material for their children. Some major booksellers place graphic novels in the children’s section to make selection easier. For adults who love the shape, its popularity continues to increase so they can be assured of an ever-changing collection of interesting material.
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