The Graphic Novel
ENGL 375TT [@UMW]
graphic novels
Legitimize Me!
Congrats to Asterios Polyp! Winning the L.A. Times Book Prize for Graphic Novels, as announced two days ago, it appears Asterios Polyp is starting to leave quite an impression in the world of graphic novels. But to me, this is something much bigger. The L.A. Times, for the first time ever, is giving out awards to graphic novels. The genre has slowly been gaining acceptance, but this is pretty big. Take a look around, and the signs seem to indicate that graphic novels are becoming more and more of a legitimate genre. And that, to me, has been the problem. Sure, people can accept graphic novels as a genre, but how legitimate was their perception? There have long been stigmas associated with graphic novels, such as that they are just comics on steroids, but there are now highly esteemed awards being cast out to graphic novels.
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After the L.A. Times Book Review recently created a category for graphic novels, this proves yet another step in the right direction for graphic novels to be viewed as legitimate
Comics in the Classroom
Which did you read first: novels or comics? Actually, which did you enjoy reading first: novels or comics? I actually preferred novels first (go figure), focusing on novels from the Star Wars expanded universe. I gradually made the transition, picking up Star Wars related TPBs and eventually breaking out into unrelated comics. Oh, did I spend way too much of my allowance at Barnes & Noble buying comics.
Anyway, my point is that I enjoyed those comics just as much as I enjoyed the pieces of fiction I read. But the comics were easier for me to read. Did I enjoy reading half the books for my third to fifth grade classes as much as I enjoyed reading my comic books? Definitely not. Whether it was the subject matter or medium, I am unsure. Read more . . .
