1. G RAPHIC N OVELS What is a Graphic Novel? What examples of Graphic Novels can you think of?

2. A Graphic Novel is a book made up of words and pictures: typically the pictures are arranged on the page in sequential panels, while the words are presented in speech bubbles (for dialogue) or text boxes (for narration). A child’s story book A collection of comic series A genre. The term “graphic novel only describes a medium (ex. Novel or Film or Poetry) A Graphic Novel is…A Graphic Novel is not…

3. S OME G ENRES OF G RAPHIC N OVELS Superhero Story: Superman, Batman, Spiderman Manga: Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist Non-Fiction: Pedro & Me, Cancer Vixen, Maus Adaptations or Spin-Offs: Metamorhposis, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Satire: Tony Millionaire’s Sock Monkey Fantasies: Castle Waiting, Ex Machina Personal Narratives: Aya, La Perdida, The Quitter, Mom’s Cancer.

4. M ILESTONES I N G RAPHIC N OVELS … 1978- The term “graphic novel” is coined by Wil Eisner to separate his book Contract with God from traditional comic books. 1986- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Is written by Frank Miller and published by DC. Enter, the “dark” superhero 1987- The Watchmen is written by Alan Moore. It is the only every graphic novel to win the Hugo Award and appear on Time Magazine’s The 100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to present.

5. M ORE IMPORTANT EVENTS …. 1992- Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. Written by Art Spielgelman wins the Pulitzer Prize Special Award for Letters. 2006- American Born Chinese is written and in 2007 wins the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in Young Adult literature.

6. T HINK ABOUT … -Why add pictures and illustrations to a story? What are the benefits of this and what are the negatives?