Graphic Novels

From GRPLpedia

Introduction

The graphic novel is more than a genre of books, it's a format of storytelling. Graphic novels use words and pictures to tell stories. Like any other format of storytelling (films, books, music, etc.), you can find all types of stories when you look for a graphic novel. You'll find horror, sci-fi, biographies, mysteries and much more. Graphic novels are a lot like traditional novels in plot and character, but they are also like films because the visuals are provided. These books are unique because the still images of the graphic novel let you savor beautiful artwork in great detail.

Classics

Classic graphic novels, from Alan Moore's Watchmen to Frank Miller's Sin City, run the gamut from the traditional superhero to biographical tales and come illustrated in a wide variety of artistic styles. Classics might be bestsellers from decades ago or the exhaustive efforts of a well-known writer or illustrator.

Alan Moore - Watchmen and V for Vendetta

Will Eisner - The Spirit Archives

Frank Miller - Sin City

Mark Waide - Kingdom Come

Charles Burns - Black Hole

Jason - The Left Bank Gang

David Mazzucchelli - Asterios Polyp

Daniel Clowes - Ice Haven

Horror

Horror graphic novels explore the horrific side of human nature with murderous villains wreaking havoc and causing mayhem for innocent central characters or delving into the minds of psychopathic outlaws. Authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz have partnered with talented artists to publish their tales in graphic format.

Alan Moore - From Hell

Peter Milligan - John Constantine, Hellblazer: Scab

Steve Niles - 30 Days of Night

Michael Mignola - Hellboy

Chuck Dixon - Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, Vol. 1

Robert Kirkman - The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1

Neil Gaiman - The Sandman: the dream hunters

Eric Powell - The Goon no. 7

Stephen King - The Stand, Vol. 1, Captain Trips

Mysteries

Mysteries explore anything from high-stakes crimes and whodunits to local hauntings and capers. Graphic novels bring mysteries to life in new ways with illustrations that go from comic-style to lush, vivid tapestries of artwork. The illustrations only add to the suspense.

Dylan Horrocks - Hicksville

Mark Waid - Irredeemable

Queenie Chan - In Odd We Trust

Ed Brubaker - Sleeper series

John Layman - Chew

Patricia Briggs - Mercy Thompson

Brian Wood - DMZ

Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files

Jason Aaron - Scalped

Fantasy

Fantasy novels explore new worlds, magical realms and mystic creatures. It's easy to get lost in unimagined galaxies and ancient legends at the hands of a skilled writer. Fantasy novels in graphic form take the reader's imagination even further with elaborate illustrations.

Roy Thomas - Conan

Alan Moore - League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Stephen King - Talisman

Neil Gaiman - Absolute Death

Bryan Talbot - Grandville & Alice in Sunderland

R.A. Salvatore - The Legend of Drizzt

Peter Allan David - Marvel 1602

Kurt Busiek - Astro City, the Dark Age

Science Fiction

Science fiction graphic novels explore technical disasters and epic tales of biological warfare. Artists create intricate illustrations of innovative technologies and scientific horror to capture the reader's imagination.

Anthony Lappe - Shooting War

Brian K. Vaughan - Y, the Last Man and Ex Machina

Bryan Talbot - The Adventures of Luther Arkwright

Rockne S O'Bannon - Farscape

Matt Kindt - 3 Story

Jason - The Last Musketeer

Dash Shaw - Body World

Superhero

A stray asteroid radiates intergalactic radiation creating a superhuman or chemicals in the atmosphere mingle to create a genetic anomaly. It doesn't matter how they come to be, but superheroes keep audiences riveted to long-running series of books and movies. There is no greater platform for the superhero story than the graphic novel. This format of storytelling was built on superhero artwork.

Geoff Johns - Green Lantern. Agent Orange

Mark Millar - Superman: Red Son

Ed Brubaker - X-Men: Deadly Genesis

Grant Morrison - Batman: Under the Cowl

Alan Burnett - Justice League of America

Peter Allen Davis - House of M: The Incredible Hulk

Brian Michael Bendis - Ultimate Spider-man and Dark Avengers

Daniel Way - Deadpool

Nonfiction

Some of the most popular nonfiction graphic novels include retellings of historic events, biographies and memoirs. The artistic interpretation of factual events can provide an interesting backdrop for well-known stories and add an extra something to biographic tales.

R. Crumb - The Book of Genesis

Apostolos K. Doxiades - Logicomix

Yoshihiro Tatsumi - A Drifting Life

Daniel Clowes - Wilson

James Sturm - Market Day

Keiko Tobe - With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child

Eddie Campbell - Alec

Parsua Bashi - Nylon Road

Marguerite Abouet - Aya

General Fiction

General fiction doesn't fall into the genres of mystery, horror, or sci-fi, etc. It encompasses literary works, including the classics, and contemporary fiction about modern life. In the graphic novel format, writers tell funny, quirky, heartwarming or dramatic stories in words and pictures.