Related to the comic book is the graphic novel, whose popularity in the past 20 years has increased dramatically. Probably the best known graphic novel is Art Spiegelman's MAUS, which portrays the world of a Polish Jewish ghetto during World War II in a comic format.

Art Spiegelman's MAUS: Working-Through The Trauma of the Holocaust
The graphic novel combines the visual material of comic books with the novel form and they tend to be written for more of an adolescent audience, although a lot of graphic novels are popular with upper elementary school students. In describing the differences in audience, Keir Graff (2003) noted:

I’ve developed a simple system that will avoid offending even the most condescending comic-book cognoscenti: if it’s clearly for children, such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, use comic book with confidence; for anything else, use graphic novel. You may receive a smug correction, explaining why Daniel Clowes’ 8-Ball is a comic but his Ghost World is a graphic novel—aficionados are a notoriously detail-oriented lot—but you won’t have erred by telling a fan his favorite form is just kid stuff.
And what the heck are manga? Japanese comics, noted for characters with big hair and big eyes. In their home country they have fans of all ages—and both genders. Though the story sensibility is very different, manga art has been infiltrating American pop culture for some time. Even if you think you’re not familiar with it, you probably have seen some examples already (think Pokémon).

Jessica Abel: What is a Graphic Novel? (a visual introduction to the genre)

Online graphic novels

electric sheep comix

Fantagraphics Online Comics

NBM Graphic Novels

artbomb.net

Best Graphic Novels Reviewed

101 Best Graphic Novels

School Library Journal: Graphic Novels Roundup

Gorman, M (2002, August 1). What Teens Want: 30 Graphic Novels you Can't Live Without. School Library Journal

Examples of graphic novels:

Asamiya, K., Batman: Child of Dreams.
Bendis, B., Ultimate Spider-Man Power and Responsibility.
Brennan, M., Electric Girl.
Busiek, K., Kurt Busiek's Astro City Life in the Big City.
Charlip, R. Fortunately.
Clowes, D., Ghost World.
Collins, M. & Rayner, R. Road to Perdition.
David, L., Beetle Boy.
DeMatteis, J. M. & Barr, G., Brooklyn Dreams.
Dixon, C., & Gorfinkel, J. Birds of Prey.
Eisner, W., A Contract with God and other Tenement Stories.
Eisner, W. City People Notebook.
Eisner, W. New York: The Big City.
Ennis, G., Preacher: Dixie Fried.
Fujishima, K., Oh My Goddess! 1-555-GODDESS.
Gaiman, N., Black Orchid.
Gaiman,N., Death The High Cost of Living.
Geary, R., The Mystery of Mary Rogers.
Giardino, V., A Jew in Communist Prague: Adolescence.
Gonick, L., The Cartoon History of the Universe II.
Groening, M., Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror Spine-Tingling Spooktacular.
Hernandez, G., Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories.
Hosler, J., Clan Apis.
Inzana, R. Johnny Jihad.
Kafka, F., Kuper, P., & Feiffer, J. Give It Up! And Other Short Stories.
Kafka, F., The Metamorphosis. Ed. and illus. by Peter Kuper.
Kim, H., My Sassy Girl.
Kiyama, H.F., The Four Immigrants Manga.
Kubert, J., Yossel: April 19, 1943: A Story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Kudo, K., Mai the Psychic Girl.
Kuper, P., Give it up! And other stories.
Laird, O.L., Jr., Laird, T.N., & Bey, E.A., Still I rise.
Laird, R., Still I Rise: A Cartoon History of African Americans.
Loeb, J., Batman: the Long Halloween.
Messner-Loebs, W. & Kieth, S., Epicurus the Sage.
Millar, M., Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People.
Miller, F.,Sin City.
Miller, R., Elektra Assessin.
Mills, P., Slaine: The Homed God.
Miyazaki, H., Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind Perfect Collection Vol. 1
Moore, A., Promethea Book One.
Moore, T., Strangers in Paradise High School!
Morrison, G., Arkham Asylum.
Mueller, J., Oink: Heaven’s Butcher.
Nishiyama, Y., Harlem Beat No. 1.
Petrie, D., Buffy the Vampire Slayer Ring of Fire.
Rabagliati, M., Paul Has a Summer Job.
Rall, T. 2024.
Ross, A., & Dini, P., Superman: Peace on earth.
Sacco, J. The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo.
Sakai, S., Usagi Yojimbo Grasscutter.
Satrapi, M., Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.
Smith, C. Loki and Alex: The Adventures of a Dog and His Best Friend.
Smith, J., Bone Out from Boneville.
Smith, K., Daredevil Visionaries.
Spiegelman, A., & Kidd, C., Jack Cole and Plastic Man.
Takahashi, R., Ranma 1/2 Volume I.
Thompson, C., Blankets.
Ware, C., Quimby the Mouse.
Watson, A., Geisha.
Wegman, W., Surprise Party.
Wegman, W., Little Red Riding Hood.
Wegman, W., My Town.
Weissman, S., White Flower Day.
Winick, J., Pedro & Me Friendship, Loss, & What I Learned.
Winick, J., The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius.
Woodring, J., The Frank Book.

The Librarian's Guide to Anime and Manga

Recommended Graphic Novels for Public Libraries

Graphic novel reviews

Graphic Novel Reviews

Rambles: graphic novels

Manga/Graphic Novels

No Flying No Tights: teen reviews of graphic novels

Webquest: Net Force—the uses of graphics on the Web based on graphics in comic books

Chandler-Olcott, K., & Mahar, D. (2001). Considering genre in the digital literacy classroom. Reading Online,5(4). (teaching Anime genre forms)

For further reading:

Bruggeman, L. (1997). “Zap! whoosh! kerplow! Build high-quality graphic novel collections with impact.” School Library Journal, January: 22–27.

Crawford, P. (2004). A novel approach: Using graphic novels to attract reluctant readers. Library Media Connection. 26-28.

Eisner, W. (1996). Graphic storytelling and visual narrative. New York: Poorhouse Press.

Frey, N., & Fisher, D. (2004). Using graphic novels, Anime, and the Internet in an urban high school. English Journal, 93(3), 19-25.

Gorman, M. (2003). Getting graphic! Using graphic novels to promote literacy with preteens and teens. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth Publishing.

Gorman, M. (2003, November/December). Graphic novels and the curriculum connection. Library Media Connection, 20-21.

Miller, S., & Shoemaker, J. (Eds.). (2004). Developing and promoting graphic novel collections. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Rothschild, D. A. (1995). Graphic novels: A bibliographic guide to book-length comics. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Sabin, R. (2001). Comics, comix & graphic Novels : A history Of comic art. New York: Phaidon Press.

Schwarz, G.E. (2002, November). Graphic novels for multiple literacies. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 46(3).

Weiner, S. (2002). Beyond superheroes: Comics get serious. Library Journal, 127(2), 55–58.

Weiner, S., & Decandido, K. (Eds.). (2003). The 101 best graphic novels. New York: NBM Publishing.

Weiner, S., & Couch, C. (Eds.). (2004). The rise of the graphic novel. New York: NBM Publishing.

Module 7: Word document

Different Perspectives on Genre Study

Audience-based Approaches to Film/Television Genre Study

Critical/Ideological Analysis of Genres

The History and Evolution of Genres

Devising Genre-analysis Activities

Different Genre Types

Action/Adventure

The Western

Gangster/Crime

Detective/Film Noir

Comedy

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Horror/Monster

Suspense Thriller/Spy/Heist

Soap Opera

The Talk Show

Sports

Game Shows/
Reality TV

Animation

Comics

Graphic Novels

Teaching Activity

References

Teaching activities on genre developed by students in CI5472, Spring, 2004