Comics Corner

Welcome to the DAI's  new Comics Corner!

The DAI is excited to bring you new comics and graphic novels.  To learn more about comics and graphic novels, please read below.  If you would like to check out out collection, browse our online database, or feel free to visit us at the library!

The modern comic has roots dating back to before the creation of the printing press, in that classical civilizations used sequential images and words to bring stories to life. With the invention of the printing press in the middle of the 15^th century, the production of images and text became much more efficient, which allowed for the production of newspapers and magazines, which served as a testing ground for comics. 

Of course, these comics were a far cry away from the modern idea of the comic, but within the next four centuries, the evolution of the comic progressed, seeing advancements such as the speech balloon and the structure of the modern comic strip. Through processes of trial and error, and a public medium to test popularity of different comic arrangements, the leading style of modern comics came to be. 

What’s the Difference Between a Graphic Novel and a Comic?

Graphic Novel: A fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book.

Comic: A magazine containing sequences of comic strips —usually hyphenated in attributive use.
These dictionary definitions of ‘Graphic Novel’ and ‘Comic’ do not do justice to the fundamental differences between graphic novels and comics, though they do note that a graphic novel can be a collection of a single comic series. Let’s look at a some other differences between graphic novels and comics:

• Target Audience

In general, graphic novels are geared toward adult audiences, given the mature content within novels such as Maus, Persepolis, Absolute Sandman and Watchmen. While comics often bring to mind children friendly images of spandex wearing superheroes and master plans of world domination, these too are regularly more appropriate for an older audience. While Superman Smash! would be appropriate for an adolescent to read, any Vertigo Series (a more mature version of DC comics) may be more questionable.

•  Length

Graphic novels can be quite long (>100 pages), while comics normally range anywhere between 20 to 30 pages of comic material.

• Advertisements

Unlike graphic novels, comic books generally have between 5 and 10 pages of advertisements, often times promoting the same company that made the comic.

• Cost

By and large, graphic novels are much more expensive than comics, due to the fact that they are longer than comics. First and foremost, it takes more material to create a graphic novel, since the story is longer. This means that the publishing company must print out more paper, and also generate a better cover to contain the pages. You won’t find graphic novels that are just giant comic books; they often come in hardback or a thicker paperback. While comic books can range anywhere from single digits to nearly double digits (one exception being collectibles), graphic novels’ price begins in the double digits.

To get in the spirit, why not make your own comic? No drawing involved!

Pixton - Extremely customizable
Comicmaster - Great for complex scripts and superhero stories.
Toondoo - Hundreds of different characters, great for kids!

And make sure to check out our current collection of comics and graphic novels! More coming soon!

Most Checked Out

"Yotsuba"

"Watchmen"

"Calvin and Hobbes: Weirdos from Another Planet"