The Ninth Art in Graphic Novel Format
First published in GRIND IV, pages 208–211.
THE NINTH ART
NOVEL
Comics are considered the ninth art and, rightly so: Umberto Eco defined them as drawn literature. They come in various forms and themes, with varied drawing styles, but today we'll discuss their format and I'll offer you 3 personal recommendations.
A comic can take many forms: we have the classic strips (popular in newspapers), single issues (the best-known format), TPBs (volumes that collect several issues), hardcovers, softcovers, omnibuses, graphic novels and, probably, a secret format I haven't discovered yet.
Today we'll talk a little about graphic novels, which, in my opinion, are the most interesting – and not just because some of them are heavy and you can do strength exercises with them. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term 'graphic novel' is defined as 'a work of fiction in
IN GRAPHIC
FORMAT
Gabriel Stan comic book format and presented in book form'. So no, it isn't just a bigger comic book, but a work of art. Not all of them are masterpieces, but graphic novels let writers and artists give their imaginations free rein. Over time, graphic novels have become collector's items, depending on the writer, the artist or the story. I'll admit that in my collection the graphic novel section is like good wine – the most precious and the best kept.
Like films, most of them are commercial and lack substance, but some are like those good films that win a whole pile of Oscars, making you wonder how they didn't also pick up the award for best popcorn.
I've tried to quickly summarise the essence of the graphic novel, so here's my recommendation of three stories that absolutely must be discovered.
Meadowlark: A Coming-of-Age Crime Story Published in 2021 by Grand Central Publishing, "Meadowlark:
A Coming-of-Age Crime Story" is a graphic novel created by Ethan Hawke (yes, the actor – who'd have thought he could write too?) and illustrated by Greg Ruth. This captivating novel combines elements of drama, crime and coming-of-age, presenting an intense and moving story about growing up and survival.
The main character is a kid called Cooper, a teenager trying to survive in a rural community full of violence and criminal activity. As if adolescence wasn't already complicated enough! Cooper faces the challenges of the passage from childhood to adulthood, against the backdrop of his complicated relationship with his father, Jack.
Jack is a hard man, mixed up in illegal activities, whose choices and behaviour have a profound impact on Cooper. As the story unfolds, Cooper has to face up to harsh realities and find his own way in a dangerous world.
This graphic novel captures the essence of the difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood in a con- text full of danger and ambiguous morality, offering a powerful and moving narrative about growing up, survival and difficult choices. The story unfolds over a single day, but a day that will change the main character's life for ever. Over the course of 24 hours, Cooper goes through most of the states a person can pass through, and his father's past will affect and change his life in an unexpected way. This story has substance, it gets to you, it's like an incredibly good film, and the illustrations are absolutely insane.
Have you ever been interested in the colonisation of Australia? No? Perfect, this graphic novel is exactly for you.
"Terra Australis" is a graphic novel written by Laurent-Frédéric Bollée and illustrated by Philippe Nicloux. Published in 2013 by SelfMadeHero, this captivating work offers a detailed dive into the history of Australia's colonisation, combining historical fact with artistic narrative.
This graphic novel is set in the 18th century and follows the 'First Fleet' expedition, which led to the founding of the first British penal colony in Australia. The novel explores the epic journey of the British fleet carrying hundreds of convicts to an unknown continent, offering a detailed look at the hardships and challenges they faced.
It also gives us the perspective of the Aboriginal population, capturing the dramatic impact colonisation had on them.
Over and above the fact that it's a hefty graphic novel – you could use it as a dumbbell – this work is a piece of art. The story, the characters and the landscapes carry you off to that era, like a good Robert Louis Stevenson novel.
FROM
"From Hell" is the 2021 Romanian-language edition from Art (Grafic), and it's a graphic novel written by Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Batman: The Killing Joke) and illustrated by Eddie Campbell. The pair's work is considered one of the most important works of the genre.
The novel isn't aimed at children, because it explores the events and theories around the murders of Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer who terrorised Victorian London at the end of the 19th century. Moore and Campbell offer a complex, detailed interpretation of those events, combining historical fact with speculative fiction. This title combines elements of history, psychology and mysticism to offer a profound and speculative interpretation of Jack the Ripper's crimes. Considered one of Alan Moore's greatest works,
HELL
the book offers a unique perspective on one of the most infamous periods in London's history.
It's a harder read in some respects, because of the language style adapted to the Victorian period, but the story is dark and the drawings are exactly what's needed. It's worth a try.
These were just three examples of graphic novels with interesting stories, well served by first-rate artwork. Beyond these, there are plenty of other works that ought to be read, collected and appreciated. So don't sit there dithering – get your hands on a comic, maybe even go straight for a graphic novel. Until next time, have a good day and GOOD LUCK to all you cool people!