Getting Graphic

Hi, there!

Welcome again to the HIVE blog.

Today we’re discussing the ever-present, somewhat intimidating, but treasured, GRAPHIC NOVEL.

Unsure what one is, click the link below.

What is a Graphic Novel??

Graphic novels, or trade paper-backs, have been around for a LONG time, but still seem to be a bit mysterious to a lot of fans of periodical comic books. We tend to think of them as hard to get into or somewhat abstract, like a tome of irrelevant incantations, and to be totally honest, most of us like to collect the periodical floppies that come out every month…or week.

But, as partakers of the sequential story telling medium, I feel that we can be missing out on LOTS of great stories by neglecting the graphic novel.

The graphic novel is a great way to catch up on characters and series that we have been wanting to read but, maybe now, are in the higher numbers of issues and the thought of trying to catch up and figure out what the heck is going on and why is Thor a female seem a bit daunting.

Well, grab a couple of volumes of Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor run and maybe even throw in The Unworthy Thor Collection and Original Sin and by Odin’s Beard, your caught up!!! (and usually for less that what you’d pay to scrounge up all the individual issues.)

One of the best things about graphic novels is that it’s like a binge on Netflix.  You basically can get an entire season, or 25, at once.  you can blaze through Robert Kirkman’s award-winning “Invincible” and get all 144 issues and not have to wait for the next one to come out!! How awesome is that??

Not only are graphic novels great for catching up, but some stories are self-contained pieces of art and literature that stand on their own.

This, is a graphic novel in the truest since.  It’s like taking a stand alone story like, Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, but now it has pictures!!

There are numerous examples of this type of graphic novel. Cecil Castellucci’s, “Soupy Leaves Home,” and Art Spiegelman’s “MAUS”, and Alan Moore’s “Batman: the Killing Joke” are just a few examples of myriad of choices available.

So, I challenge you, the comic reader, to step out of your comfort zone of monthly floppies and give the world of graphic novels a chance.  You’ll be seeing more and more classics making their way into the shop and if you are ever unsure of what to jump into, we’ll be here to help!

Happy reading!

matt