2 Types of Graphic Novels?

Griffin McPherson

My brother and I were talking about graphic novels the other day, particularly how there seem to be two different approaches.

Type A: in type A the illustrations are made in a way that fills in the gaps in your imagination as you are reading. For example: characters are walking through a market and as you are reading the speech bubbles you take in the illustration peripherally but don’t necessarily need to take a closer look. The illustration could be made in a variety of different ways and it wouldn’t really matter as long as the viewer understand the gist of what is going on.

Type B: in type B the illustrations are essential to the story and/or world it takes place in. For example: characters are walking through the market, in the illustration you see ads, different alien races, what is being sold in the market. All of these things lend to the world building of the story. In this instance you need to take a closer look all the illustrations to gain a better understanding of the story and world.

I wasn’t even aware that type B was a thing until recently when I read the first book in the 5 Worlds series. Maybe I just haven’t read enough graphic novels but this series is the only time I’ve encountered this type of graphic novel. Even in books where I absolutely love the illustrations like This One Summer, and Moebius’s World of Edena, I find myself look at the illustrations only when I really enjoy the illustrations. In 5 Worlds I look at the illustrations not only because they’re great illustrations but because they are loaded with world building information.

I think it’s important to point out that 5 Worlds is made by a team of 5 people, 2 writers and 3 illustrators. I’m not sure how feasible it is to pull off a graphic novel like this with a smaller team and maybe that’s why I haven’t seen other books like this. If you made it this for, thanks for reading this brief essay

I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on all of this!

TLDR: 2 types of graphic novels. One where world building does not rely on illustrations for world building and one where the illustrations are essential for world building

Oana

@Griffin said in 2 Types of Graphic Novels?:

5 Worlds

Oh.. now I want to read 5 Worlds!!
I think classic french graphic novels (like Tin tin and Asterix) are much in the B category, the details in the illustrations are as important to the story and fun as the text.
I tend to pick graphic novels with interesting illustrations and I am a very slooow reader, I can study a page for minutes, while my teenage daughter makes fun of me for doing this, she goes through one book at great speed, no matter the type of illustration

Oana

I should have also mentioned that my first attempts at making comics (based on inktober) are nonverbal! I am also a keen book-with-words reader, but somehow in graphic novels I favour the ones in wich the story does not require a lot of text. I am not sure I'm exactly on topic here though, I will think more about the world building angle you are mentioning

Griffin McPherson

@Oana definitely recommend giving 5 worlds a read. Some of the most stunning visuals I’ve seen in a graphic novel

Griffin McPherson

@Oana hard to find wordless graphic novels but I’d love to see more of that genre. If you have any suggestions let me know!

Melissa_Bailey

@Griffin what about The Arrival by Shaun Tan? Is that considered a graphic novel?

Also found this list from Bookriot -- there are a few titles I wanna read now!

Griffin McPherson

@Melissa_Bailey oh awesome! I’ll have to check out some of these books. I haven’t read The Arrivak but Shaun Tan is one of my favorite illustrators so I’ll try to get my hands on it!

Oana

@Melissa_Bailey I read the arrival and I think it is a more niche example ,but it is indeed a graphic novel! Astounding as all Shaun Tan work