From: Kelley E. Wade <telliboo>
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 06:29:57 -0700 (PDT)

I'm a novice in this area - please bear that in mind!

Call me crazy, but in some instances, aren't "graphic novels" a reformatting of what was originally a traditional comic book? I was under the impression that certain serials (I believe Akiko, the Simpsons, and most superhero types) are often initially published in a the more "papery" comic book style, then 3-6 are put together and reprinted as a "graphic novel." (Forgive all the quotation marks - but since we seem to be searching for a definition, I'm hesitant to actually label anything!) Perhaps that is the issue itself - are we saying the content only is what makes it worthy of being called a GN? That it has to have more literary merit? One of my justifications in buying them simply is that kids like to READ them! And if I have boys, who you would normally have to DRAG to the library, coming into the library to see if we have anything new, doesn't that count for something? One of the other things I have found is that in some instances the language in a GN is just as or more difficult than regular books. One of the first GNs I read cover to cover was Star Wars I - Dark Empire, and I had to say I was absolutely flabbergasted at the vocabulary I found in it...no, not that it was obscene or inappropriate, but that the words were of such a high level! I figured, that in addition to the enjoyment my kids were going to get from reading it, they would also get some challenge out of it as well
(sometimes one still has to think like a sneak!). And for me that gives them merit as well.

Just some additional thoughts to throw into the fire. Kelley Wade Calais Free Library Calais, Maine


        
                
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Received on Thu 15 Apr 2004 08:29:57 AM CDT