The Evolution of the Graphic Novel
Graphic novels are fictional stories narrated in a sequential art using the format of comic strips. It is quite different from the regular they are featured in specialty comic books shops and bookstores. Furthermore, graphic novels usually have a longer format compared to comic magazines.
As early as the Stone Age, a form of graphic novel has already been observed. Cave paintings narrating stories of the Stone Age and the tapestries formed in the Middle Ages are just some of the early forms of graphic novel.
Humble Beginnings of Graphic Novel
William Blake, a western artist, is the very first to produce long writings with illustrations. Creations of William Blake consist of words and pictures that have a close affinity with one another. Neither one can narrate the entire story line if one is missing, so the words and the pictures are practically inseparable.
One of the early steps in graphic novels was taken by Rodolphe Topffer. Though the comic book creations of Topffer were not really considered as graphic novels, his artistic creations paved the way for the improvement of this genre.
Since then, graphic novels have been slowly reaching its niche in the arts and literature kingdom. The first wordless picture novel was created by Lynd Ward in the year 1929. American Milt Gross was the first ever to publish a wordless comic strip into a book in 1930. And in the 1940’s, Classics Illustrated was launched. It is a notable comic book series that have adopted the domain of novels. In 1960’s it has taken another leap with broader formats and adaptations of popular movies. And the first ever pocket sized comic book line was produced by a British publisher, The Super Library.
In the latter part of 1960, American illustrators have been taken notice in this unique form of comic writing. This growing attention has paved the way for the birth of the first ever American graphic novel, the Doctor Strange Story in the Strange Tales. It was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Several writers and illustrators have been carving their niche in this field since then. Gil Kane and Archie Goodwin created the Black Mark. It is a science fiction that deals with sorcery and sword that was published in 1971. Jack Katz created the First Kingdom, a Comics and Comix Co. Series in 1974. In this modern age, graphic novels have gone digital. They are now being presented in many digitalized versions to be viewed on various gadgets.
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