1. An Introduction to The Graphic Novel
Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics
Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon’s Daytripper

2. What is a Graphic Novel?
“Expensive Comic Book” – Alan Moore

3. A Graphic Novel is... A way to express ideas
A visual medium like film or painting
A format defined by images used in a sequence

4. A Graphic Novel = Literature & Art

5. Talking about Graphic Novels: Literature
Plot
Characters
Dialog
Setting
Audience

6. Talking about Graphic Novels: Art
Style
Color
Design
Symbolism
Perspective
Lettering

7. Graphic Novel Vocabulary
Gutter
Layout
Panel
Sound Representation
Speech Balloon
Thought Balloon

8. The Panel Sometimes the physical page functions as the panel.
Occasionally the panel is only a suggestion for the artist who does not contain the art within the frame.

9. The Gutter The space between panels.
Serves as a transition between events.
Signifies a movement of space and time (or sometimes both).

11. Sound Effects
Color, font, size & shape all are used to convey audio information in a visual medium.
Sound effects exist outside of the dialogue/thought balloons.

12. Balloons (Speech & Thought)
The balloon is used to express a characters thoughts and speech.
Balloon shapes are often used to emphasize tone of characters voice.

13. Brief History of Graphic Novels
1954- Seduction of the Innocent published; Comics Code Authority created.
1978 – Contract with God by Will Eisner
1986 – Frank Miller writes Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
1987- Alan Moore writes Watchmen
1992- Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spielgelman wins the Pulizer Prize

14. Famous Graphic Novels Maus (1980) – Art Spiegelman
Watchmen (1987) – Alan Moore
V For Vendetta (1988) – Alan Moore
The Sandman (1989) – Neil Gaiman
Sin City (1991) – Frank Miller
Understanding Comics (1993) – Scott McCloud
Persepolis (2000) – Marjane Satrapi
Blankets (2003) – Craig Thompson
Fun Home (2006) – Alison Bechdel
American Born Chinese (2006) – Gene Luen Yang
Blue is the Warmest Color (2010) – Julie Maroh
Daytripper (2011) – Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon