Angry Author Adamant That His Comic Book Is Not a Graphic Novel
Doesn't Want to Lose His Street Cred
An author who just released a new comic book wants to be clear that it is not a graphic novel and just a “really big comic book that happens to have chapters.”
The author took to Twitter to dispel the label after several publications reviewed and named Apocalyptic Serpentine Equilibrium “one of the best graphic novels of the year.”
And that’s where the author took umbrage.
"Ughhhhhh! My comic book just got called a graphic novel,” he wrote. “Not cool.”
Later, he released a second tweet after several of his followers voiced their confusion: “It’s just a comic book that happens to be long, man. Nothing more.”
The author admitted he doesn’t want the “stigma of that term” attached to his comic.
Needless to say, people were surprised at such a negative reaction to his book being called a graphic novel and were even confused about the distinction, since most people often use the two terms interchangeably.
So what is the difference? A comic book is a long-running narrative expressing ideas with images, text, and other visual information. They are normally short and published in installments.
Historically, comics are seen as cheap, low-value publications. When comic books were being banned in the 1930s, it was because moral crusaders complained that comic books perverted kids, made them illiterate, and turned them into delinquents.
On the other hand, a graphic novel uses the similar format of the comic book, but it is generally longer, contains a complete narrative, and can even be judged as a serious work of fiction. It also seems to be a term that has helped legitimize comics as a mainstream medium.
When asked further about purposefully creating that separation between his comic book and the term “graphic novel,” the author admitted he doesn’t want the “stigma of that term” attached to his comic.
“Graphic novel just seems so….smart,” he complained. “And too wholesome. I wanted kids to have to sneak around to read this one. Like it would have to be read under the sheets with a flashlight, hidden from their parents, like in the olden days, y’know?”
But isn’t this what all artists want, to finally be taken seriously?
“Yes. And no,” he replied. “While I guess it’s cool to have such a great response from readers, I don’t want too many good reviews from critics.”
Why not?
“I don’t want to lose any comic book industry street cred I have from corrupting the youth.”
He continued. “Damn. I would have prefered it even be called ‘a funny book,’ ‘comix,’ or a ‘rag sheet.’ At least then it would still have that alternative or underground feel.”
“This thing isn’t that serious, like The Watchmen or Maus. My book is about a race of anthropomorphized snake-like creatures having a ton of sex and fighting each other over with laser guns, okay.”
“This is the stuff of comic books, got it? Maybe I should have included more foul language and titties just to be absolutely clear…”
“But graphic novel? Man, you just killed the franchise.”