Ryan ChartrandIf you’ve ever spent copious amounts of time wandering aimlessly down the aisles of Borders or Barnes and Noble waiting for the perfect book to jump out and psychologically manhandle you, let me pilot your hopeless quest and steer you in the direction of some enchanting literary delights. Discreetly smashed between the comic and anime sections of your friendly, neighborhood bookstore, a small collection of books is waiting to be recognized by mainstream audiences.
If you’ve read “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale,” watched the movie “Sin City,” or know what “codename V” is actually code for, you may be able to assist your uninformed cohorts hiding out on the dark side of the moon by directing them toward a magical place where picture meets prose. Enter the complex world of the graphic novel, a land full of artistic virtuosity and masterful visual storytelling; the ultimate display of modern visual communication. So, for those of you still flirting with the idea of diving headfirst into complete Comic-Con hysteria, let me take this opportunity to push you now.
The graphic novel, by all means, is the ultimate storytelling medium; one of the oldest forms of socio-cultural expression. But with such an ambiguous title, it’s safe to assume most people are scratching their heads over its confusing definition rather than Google-ing names like Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, two of the most prolific graphic novelists of our time. So, to avert any more confusion, let us break the graphic novel down to its constituents: “graphic,” suggesting a visual component, or pictures, if you will; and “novel” for the book, or textual aspect. A logical conjecture, really.
Now, for all you wily characters out there eager to point out that a graphic novel sounds curiously related to a comic book, you wouldn’t be too far off. In fact, a graphic novel is a bound work in comic form. But with lengthy storylines and mature themes, the modern graphic novel is very uncharacteristic of its comic predecessors in that it also includes short stories. Nevertheless, there is much debate in the comic book world as to the smoke and mirrors nature of this evolving medium.
Speaking of the comic book world, no self-respecting connoisseur of graphic novels could claim to know anything at all about the elitist sub-culture of comic book enthusiasts without dropping the A-bomb trump card: “A,” for Alan Moore that is. With wondrous works such as “From Hell,” “Watchmen” and “V for Vendetta,” Moore has emerged as the Vito Corleone of the modern graphic novel, the godfather of graphic prose.
Following in close step, another giant has proved himself to be a major kingpin of the industry. Neil Gaiman, of “American Gods,” “The Sandman,” and “Good Omens” fame, has singlehandedly reinvented the prototypical novel, making modern-day storytelling not just a pastime, but a work of art. Gaiman’s “The Sandman” is the most highly acclaimed comic series of the ’90s. Combining a rich blend of ancient myths and dark fantasy with historical drama and contemporary fiction, Gaiman tells a brilliantly smart epic that is distinctly unique in graphic literature today.
So, the next time you find yourself strolling down aisles of unpromising book after repetitive book, dare to be different, seek something new. You know where to go. The world of the graphic novel awaits.
Alexandra Bezdikian is a journalism senoir with a minor in religious studies. E-mail questions or comments to albezdikian@gmail.com.