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Once, when I was young and naive, I thought of comic books as things for
children or adults with lame senses of humor. I thought they were most
definitely not for people with a superior intellect such as myself. But now,
things have changed.
Now I am a devout graphic novel reader, treating such works of literature as if
they were the Holy Grail itself. Okay, so maybe I exaggerate a wee bit, but I'm
sure that many people share my previous sentiment towards comic books: they are
not real works of literature. But today I beg to differ.
Let me tell you a story. It begins at my local library. Not too very long ago I
paid the place a visit, if for no other reason then I was bored out of my mind
-- an Xbox(tm) and a computer can only keep you occupied for so long on a Saturday.
While there, I picked up three books and headed home on foot, as my skateboard
has yet to be purchased (but that's a different story). Upon arriving home, I
started to read my books and, well... they didn't hold my attention for very
long.
Later that week, I returned to the library to return these books (seeing as
overdue fines were already costing me a pretty penny) and I decided once more to
try and find something new worth reading. Walking past the Young Adult fiction,
I discovered a section I had never seen before: Graphic Novels. I wandered over
and picked one up, started reading it over... and to this day I've been hooked.
Now, I'm not the type of person who can sit through a Batman movie (yes, I did
fall asleep with all my friends at my house but it really wasn't that
interesting!) so reading a "Justice League" comic book does not appeal to me in
the least. Instead, I've found a bazillion other books to read.
(Is a bazillion a real number? It must be very large.)
In fact, right now, I'm reading Expo 2001 and it amazes me that I am able to put
it down long enough to write this article. It's just that good.
So what is a graphic novel and what's so great you about 'em, you ask?
Graphic Novels are somewhat like comics. However, to be classified as a novel,
it must usually be bound in squareback, so it looks like any other book. This
means that your newspaper funnies don't count as graphic novels, I'm sorry.
There are also graphic novellas, which are shorter than "novels", but they are
still a number of pages long. "Graphic" means that the story is merely told in a
sequence of pictures, and sometimes these pictures contain words.
Now, I admit that Shakespeare and graphic novels are not in the same league, but
still I urge you to pick up a graphic novel at your library and read it through.
Depending on the length, most are quickly finished and I guarantee you'll find
something to your liking.
How can I guarantee such a thing? Well, if you like superhero type things, you
should have no problem, but you can also get many different genres of graphic
novels. Some are funny, like one would normally associate with comics, but
there's also mysteries, love stories, action stories and even educational books.
Educational, you say? Why, yes! Today I visited the library (yes, I have started
going regularly, that's how powerful these things are!) and I picked up not one,
not two, but THREE educational books. This is great for people such as myself
who learn better when they can associate words and images.
And speaking of learning... my homework pile is going to eat me alive. Please
help!
I hope that I have inspired some people to check out Graphic Novels, because for
years now I know I've held the wrong ideas about them based on what little
knowledge I had about them. Please take a step forward and help break the
ancient prejudice of comics being inferior works of literature. Hopefully you'll
soon be an addict like me!
Giggler01.
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt.
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