Comic book vs. graphic novel

The world in pictures

This somewhat academic context is here not by accident, because it is under the scientific magnifying glass that we will take comics today. This is because they are quite often confused - or used interchangeably - with the graphic novel. Meanwhile, these are two slightly different genres, although they undoubtedly have a lot in common, hence probably some difficulty in distinguishing between them. What remains common to both genres are references to narrative forms, telling a story through words and images. However, they are not the same, although the difference is, it must be admitted, quite subtle - especially for those who are not involved in the study of literature, including popular literature.

Short sequences, less complexity

For a comic book writer, however, these discrepancies are not difficult to grasp. To see them, it is worth looking at the works of the popular trend a little more globally. For although both genres are a form of sequential narration, and the plot is presented in them using panels (sometimes called "frames" borrowed from photography), containing images and dialogue or text written in balloons, there is one significant difference between them: the plot. A comic book has this plot less complicated, enough to allow for division into episodes. Because a comic book, whether it makes up the whole as a short story or is part of a series, lends itself to being published in episodes, and the frames nevertheless lead boldly through the plot. Such series include, for example, "Spider-Man," "Batman" or "Asterix and Obelix."

A novel in pictures

A graphic novel, on the other hand, can be described as a more elaborate form of a comic book, which resembles a traditional novel in terms of size and plot complexity. Developed characters, complex plot, raised themes, longer narratives - this is a clear signal that, despite the confusing pictorial form, we are dealing with a graphic novel. Such novels, unlike comic books, are usually published as stand-alone books, with their own creation story. The complexity of the plot and the multidimensionality of the characters do not allow the story to be published in episodes. Take Art Spiegelman's flagship "Maus" or Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" as examples.

The evolution of comics?

If one were to come to sum up these takeaways, the thought arises that both comics and graphic novels have many points in common, which include, first of all, the narrative form and construction of the world presented through texts and images. However, the graphic novel is much more elaborate, its characters multidimensional, and its plot complex enough to require longer content and a more extensive literary form. For this reason, literary novels are self-contained publications, realized in the form of a book, but in which the story is still told through images and speech balloons or dialogue.
Some say that a graphic novel is a more elaborate form of comic book, but here some caution in naming is advised. Rather, we are inclined to consider that the graphic novel uses the same forms of artistic expression as comics, moving on the borderline between the world of epic and image.