From: Rob Reid <reid>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:17:59 -0500

Follow-up on Janna's comments on the definition of graphic novels and comics: Neil Gaiman spoke at the Wisconsin Library Association last October. My interpretation of his comments were that graphic novels are finite and have a complete story line, even if it may take several volumes to tell that story. Comics are periodicals that are never-ending. He admited that this is splitting hairs and not everyone agrees to these definitions. Comic book compilations get marketed as graphic novels and it's no big deal.

Rob Reid Youth Services/Special Needs Coordinator Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Blvd, Eau Claire, WI 54703 715?9P82, ext. 14 Fax: 715?9Q51 reid at ifls.lib.wi.us


I agree with Monica Edinger that graphic novels and comics are pretty much the same thing. Sometimes, as far as I can tell, the publishing industry uses the two terms to distinguish between a publication which is book-length (graphic novel) and a publication which is one installment in a longer story, usually about 32 pages and printed on cheaper paper (comic). Individual comics are often bundled into a full book and then sold as a graphic novel.

-Janna Morishima
Received on Fri 16 Apr 2004 08:17:59 AM CDT