GRAPHIC NOVELS

INTRODUCTION
A graphic novel can best be described as
being book-length in format, containing
sequential art narrative. It shares many of
the characteristics of prose novels, including
a beginning, a middle, and an end. The story
is presented through the combined use of
image and word.
 CONTENT

Graphic novels can be

fiction ,non fiction, history
fantasy or anything in between.
 PROPONENTS
The term “graphic novel” was first coined in 1964, by fan
historian Richard Kyle. Will Eisner’s famous A Contract
with God, published in 1978, was one of the earliest works
to use the term in its branding, and helped to popularize it
among comic book fans. In short order, it was followed by
Marvel’s Graphic Novel line, which were published in
oversized formats similar to the “albums” in which French
and other European comics were frequently collected.
 WHAT IS GRAPHIC NOVELS

A graphic novel is a book made up of comics with

entertainment content in it. Although the word novel
normally refers to long fictional works, the term
graphic novel is applied broadly and includes fiction,
non-fiction, and anthologized work.
* Graphic novels are a FORMAT, not a
genre

*They tell a story in frames, using

elements like speech bubbles and sound
effects

*Graphic novels tell a story with

a beginning,middle,and end
ELEMENTS OF A GRAPHIC NOVELS
*Frames

*Gutters

*Thought bubbles

*Dialog ballons
• Frames-The lines and border that contain the panels

. Gutters-space between panels

• Dialog Balloons-contain communication between/among
characters

• Thought Balloons-contain a character’s thoughts

• Captions-contain information about a scene or character

• Sound Effects-visual sound clues i.e.. Wonk! Pow!

 VOICE BORDERLESS PANEL
OVER

SPLASH

EMANATA SPEECH
BUBBLES

ICON PANEL
 *PANEL-the framed image it offers the readers a perspective or point of
view on the subject angle a camera to frame a specific shot. Sometimes
panels do not have borders, creating a unique effect where the event,
subject, or character seems to stand outside the storyline
*SPLASH – A kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it
runs off the page entirely, it is know as bleed.
*VOICE OVER – Narrators use this to speak directly to the leader.
This is usually done with a hard line separating the narrator’s
speech at the top or bottom of a panel from the image within the
panel.(it looks defferent than a speech bubble.)
*SPEECH BUBBLES – Frames around the characters speech: a
kind of “direct speech”where the characters speak for
ines ,hearts, etc that artists draw( besides the characters face ,
of the courelse ) to portray emotions.
*EXPRESSION – Observe how the author draws characters faces or body
anguage to portray certain emotions or feelings.
*GUTTER-the space beteen panel .readers tend to “fill in the blanks”
nd imagine what happens between panels. A process known as
closure”for example.one panel could show a character at their desk.
And the next panel could show the character in bed. Leading the reader
o assume that the character gets in their bed in the gutter space. Even
hough the artist does not show that.
NARRATION- Comic books/ graphic novels allow the writer to SHOW
o TELL at the same time,so there can be a combination of direct and
ndirect narration.
*COLOR-The colors that an author uses will affect the reader’s
*GRAPHIC WEIGHT – This term is use to discuss the amout of contrast in
an image.Are blocks offset with whites? Are there many shades of grey
in between ? How vivid are the colors
*TIME- Comic books/ graphic novels do not haveto tell a story in a way
that follows timeline.Artist can explore multiple moments in one
panel ,like a college.
*FOREGROUND –If a subject seems closer to the reader ( in the front of
the scene depicted ).it stands in the foreground.
*MIDGROUND- The subject stands in the middle of the scene.This can
create visual tension.
* BACKGROUND –Objects in the background ( such as what makes up a
setting ) can give the reader context.
comic books/ graphic novels.and each type has a different effect on the
reader.Transition refers to the process of”closure”( where the reader fills
in the gaps)in the gutter between panels.

1.Moment to moment
2.Action to action
3.Subject to subject
4.Scene to scene
5.Aspect to aspect
6.Non- sequitur( not connected in a
logical way)
THANK YOU AND GOD
BLESS EVERYONE