Comics, Manga & Graphic Novels
If you've set foot in the library you know that Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels are something we love here. They are a great way to develop your reading skills. Some are simple and can be read quickly, and over and over again. Some are more complex and require more time, or a few readings to understand the layers of meaning.
Webcomics
Webcomics are online or internet comics which you can read through a browser or app. Some are published only online, but others also appear in magazines or are turned into books. There are lots of different styles, genres and subjects covered by Webcomics. I'll share some below!
With a massive thank you to the librarian at Lourdes Secondary School in Glasgow, who shares a Webcomic of the Week on their school library instagram.
The Groom by Emily Carroll
A creepy mystery about two girls who become obsessed with a diorama that they find one day.
Order of the Stick by Rich Burlew
Funny comic which pokes fun at role playing games, and follows the silly adventures of 6 people who are trying to save the world from an evil sorcerer.
Agents of the Realm by Mildred Lewis
A magic girl webcomic (stories which features girls who use magic or possess magical powers) , with LGBT and black characters. A coming of age sci-fi story.
Phoebe and her unicorn by Dana Simpson
A daily comic strip which features 9-year-old Phoebe Howell, who accidentally hits a unicorn in the face with a rock. She is granted one wish, and makes the unicorn her best friend. This comic features in newspapers and has been turned into books.
Understanding comics and graphic novels
Some people might think that reading comics and graphic novels is easy and not "proper reading" but we know that is not true! There are lots of parts coming together in a comic to convey a message. The layout, art and words all need to work together for a comic or graphic novel to be successful. You can read about the basic terms and concepts on this handout. Have a look at some of the resources below to go into more detail about how to understand and analyse comics and graphic novels.
Click "present" in the "Analyzing Elements of Graphic Novels" window and make it full screen to click through the presentation created by Jessie Crandall. It includes some of the key concepts and techniques used in comics and graphic novels.
Deconstructing comics
A key part of understanding and analysing comics is being able to deconstruct all the elements of the pages. There's a really good example here of how to deconstruct a comic using Calvin and Hobbes - one of my favorites!
Mechanics of comics
There are specific techniques used in comics and graphic novels which are the "mechanics" of how an author and illustrator construct meaning in the mind of the readers. Click here for a summary of the mechanics most commonly used.
even more in depth...
If you're thinking of writing an essay or dissertation about comics and graphic novels, this website is really in depth about techniques for analysing them. It's been made using information and techniques from Pascal Lefèvre, a famous Belgian comics historian and theorist.
For an introduction into Visual Rhetoric and Visual Literacy, and how this relates to comics and graphic novels, read this summary.