Archive for the ‘Graphic Novels’ Category

THE APPEAL OF GRAPHIC NOVELS

Author: Vince Platania, Jr.

Whether you consider trade paperbacks and graphic novels the same thing or not, the point is that format is becoming increasingly popular in modern times.  And by that format I mean more pages than a typical comic book bound with a spine as opposed to stapled.  More and more comic fans are moving exclusively to the format of graphic novels, and graphic novels are more appealing to the non-comic fan as well.

For years and years the standard format for comic books was 22-32 pages stapled together in what some refer to as floppies, while others refer to them as funny books (even when they’re not comical).  And even though comics originated in magazine format, many resisted the change to the format of graphic novels for a long while.  It is something special to get that short serial every month and anticipate the next month’s arrival with bated breath.

Had graphic novels been prevalent in the days of old, though, before comic shops were popular and comics were typically only found in spinner racks in the local drugstores, then I’d imagine that tune would change.  More times than not, one would pick up a comic and read it and never see the next issue.  Had they been in the format of graphic novels people would have been able to keep up with the story instead of being left at a cliffhanger eternally unresolved every time they picked up a comic.

With trade and hard cover collections of classic comic books these days many old time fans can go back and read all the issues they missed, but it isn’t quite the same.  It’s not fresh and pertinent anymore, even if they are still good stories.

Another reason for the shift of fans to the format of graphic novels and trades is the cost.  Trades or graphic novels are typically anywhere from $8-20, and hard covers $16-50 give or take a few dollars.  With trade collections usually 4-6 issues worth of a serial comic are collected, and the same amount of pages for original graphic novels in some cases.  At the current standard of $3-4 per issue for a floppy, you stand to save anywhere from $4-16 for buying in the format of graphic novels!

There will always be proponents of the monthly single issue serials as opposed to graphic novels, just as there will always be proponents to printed comics as opposed to digital comics.  But one cannot argue the advantages of collecting graphic novels and trade paperback collections.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-appeal-of-graphic-novels-900377.html

About the Author

THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE MARVEL SECRET INVASION
Throughout the course of the History Of Marvel Comics there has been one name that has stood above all others as the icon of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man. Why people love this popular character so much isn’t exactly unknown either.

Horror books and the Increasing Number of Sub Genres

Author: Charlie Brown

Horror books and the Increasing Number of Sub Genres

What is a sub genre? A sub genre is what could be described as a category within a category. For example, “Horror” is a genre (or category), but “Surreal horror” is a genre of “Horror”, thus “Surreal horror” is a sub genre of “Horror”. More and more sub genres for horror books are emerging.
Why is this relevant? Well, it’s relevant because based on these new sub genres authors are actually finding their own niches to write particular types of horror books. Rather than looking at genres as a source for confinement, one should look it simply as a means of labeling and convenience. Think of alphabetizing your horror books or stacking them in chronological order, that’s sort of what we’re doing when creating more and more precise labels.

What does the future hold? Well, that’s where we start going the ever lengthening path of speculation. Horror books have a lot of potential futures, however, when it comes to the expanding realm of sub genres I believe its safe to say that there’s not many more to come. Now let’s not forget about crossing two sub genres, such as surreal extreme horror, or extreme erotica horror (although extreme can often contain an abundance of erotica and still be considered extreme horror), there are countless combinations horror books can have these days. Some find the ever expanding realm of horror books confusing, I among many others in the industry find it to be incredibly exciting, especially with the ever improving quality of working being released in this day and age.

What better place to find that then in the depths of extreme horror books? Some are pushing against the ever growing popularity of extreme horror books, claiming the works are not literary but just gore fests to appease the hordes. Well, this may be true in some respects, but one cannot deny the effect extreme horror is having on our industry. So, let the folks have their extreme horror and if you’re into more literary work, well then just read more literary work! A simple solution hm? Simple yet many seem not to understand it, but alas, this is not a new trend in our field my friends.

So in the end, what sub genre is best? Well, obviously, that is purely up to the reader. Granted, the sub genres lend themselves to pretty much open ended creativity, but the frequency of high quality work in those sub genres of horror books are very high. The only way for you to discover what your favorite sub genre of horror books is to well, give them a read! See what you like! And most of all, support the horror books industry so that everyone benefits.

For more information and updates on horror books visit Dark Regions Press at:

Horror books and Fantasy books and Science Fiction books at Dark Regions Press

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature-articles/horror-books-and-the-increasing-number-of-sub-genres-1174133.html

About the Author

Dark Regions Press is the publisher of many fine Horror books, Fantasy books and Science Fiction books. We’ve published such renowned authors as Bentley Little, Kevin J. Anderson, Michael Arnzen and many more!

How Comics And Graphic Novels Make The Cut To Survive The Century

Author: Dennis Francis

For over 70 years, graphic novels and comic books are entertaining young and old alike. The medium has begun to see substantial changes in the new digital age. The characters have gone from a G. rating to a PG rating and in some cases rated R. In some ways, the characters and storylines took a step back to the 30s and 40s at a time when many of the characters were dark and violent; the villains word on the sociopathic and the hero’s code wasn’t always black and white.

Comics these days seem to possess much more intricate storylines. Sometimes subplots are incorporated in the story so when a future occurrence materializes, you are cognizant of it. the motion picture industry have taken notice of the increased complexity of comic book stories and characters; they have found new source material. This symbiotic relationship between comics and film has drawn fans from both media together to share the excitement of this amalgamation.

Whether adapted for films, television or radio back in the 40s, comics have always been inadequately translated and recycled for popular consumption. For some it is a matter of technology; it was not easy translating the unique fantasy and storytelling medium to celluloid. The digital age and a new crop of creative talent raised on comics changed all that; the new breed of motion picture creators intrinsically understood what was needed to make the transition from their love of comic storytelling. Oftentimes I was delighted at the films, despite the fact that I had a different version of what should have been done.

Over the last decade, we’ve watched heroes fall or lose their moral compass. They are usually killed for the enormous ratings potential but of course, in the comics universe that isn’t always final. Like a good Stephen Spielberg film, these creators know how to tug the right strings that cause you to feel for the characters they’re about to sacrifice. You feel cheated. The bad guy may have gotten away in spite of the determination of the fallen heroes comrades. Like any police officer or firefighter, these heroes understood the risk they were undertaking; the writers understood those risks as well and continue to play them out to the bitter end. A sense of drama often pulls you in to the point at which you feel present at the tragedy. One of the most telling features of the new stories is the incorporation of continuity of events from one book to the next; women became pregnant and had their children while battle scars and trauma continued throughout the story arcs.
The costumes changed as well, the garish colors of tight spandex began to give way to the paramilitary tones and designs.

Unlike actors, comic book characters are ageless; they only grow old when it suits the writer. Quite often the characters look and feel is updated to conform to popular sentiment; the influence of blockbuster versions of themselves in the theaters will influence the editors and artists at the company. Apart from the most popular and enduring characters in the genre, many heroes and villains have made the costume change as a way of generating interest in their books. Whether the change takes place to fit the expectations of a new generation or to conform with their cinematic counterparts heroes and villains now easily make the stylistic transition. In fact, it is difficult to recognize some of the classic characters if you’re just reentering the comic book market after a decade or two.

After many decades, comics and graphic novels have reentered the mainstream consciousness. There’s something fresh and vibrant about an industry that understands the need for change and flexibility in service of its market. I continue to read comics for those very reasons and will probably continue for decades to come. I had been enthralled as a young boy reading comic books in my bed. I read them as an adult and am just as captivated. I admit that the most consistent element in the medium has been the amazing imagination of comic creators and their ability to draw you into their world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-comics-and-graphic-novels-make-the-cut-to-survive-the-century-2754654.html

About the Author

I’m currently producing an online series called Jax and Hellhound. This is a remake of one of my miniseries from the 80′s. Stop by my graphic novels online blog or visit my online graphic novels website for a bit of leisurely entertainment. You can read reviews or enjoy the ongoing series Jax and the Hellhound as well as others.
Go to http://www.graphic-novels.com

Vampires, Vampires, Everywhere!

Author: Janine Barclay

If you’ve managed to avoid the vampire craze that’s currently sweeping through the media, you must have been living under a rock. If it’s not True Blood covering magazines and plastered all over the internet, it’s Twilight. And if it’s not Twilight, it’s The Vampire Diaries – the fiendish bloodsuckers are just everywhere just now.

It’s not certain just why vampires have suddenly become so popular at the moment, but there’s a good chance that hit novel Twilight has more than a little something to do with it. Stephanie Meyer’s vampire romance saga had teenage girls the world over sighing in delight over bloodsucking badass Edward Cullen and his tormented relationship with average human Bella Swan – but is that really where the current affinity with vampires started?

Perhaps not. If we cast our minds back to a little over a decade ago, we may remember the first intrepid steps of a certain blonde vampire slayer portrayed by Sarah Michelle Geller. Although it seems like a long time ago, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a huge craze that had millions of fans the world over. Although it ended several years ago, it’s still talked about and remembered fondly by its voluminous database of fans. Of course, before Buffy there were still plenty of other vampire-related televisions shows and movies. Anne Rice’s novels are still enormously popular and films like Dracula and Nosferatu, the latter of which is fondly thought of by those who have seen its earliest form, go back decades. The novel Dracula itself was, of course, written in 1897 – at the end of Victorian Gothic literature, where creatures of the night danced among much of the writing of the time. <> So it’s difficult to say when and why vampires became so popular, but easy to notice that this has certainly been their decade to shine – literally, in the case of Edward Cullen, who glitters when he steps into the sun.

The good thing about today’s vampires is that there’s something for everyone. For the younger generation who like their vampires more concerned with matters of the heart rather than blood and sex, there’s Twilight movies where each sparkle of every vampire can be seen in minute detail on HD TV. For everybody else, who prefer their vampires dangerous and dangerously sexy, there are critically acclaimed shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries – the choice is yours.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/vampires-vampires-everywhere-2789296.html

About the Author

Janine Barclay writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Thanks to the surge in interest for comics and graphic novels, due to films such as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and the WATCHMEN film adaptation, many people are turning to the pointed page in search of the perfect Christmas gift.

Getting into graphic novels can be extremely daunting due to the sheer number of available titles, so here’s a run-down of ten of the greatest graphic novels of all time. These are title which fans new and old should have in their collections. These are amongst the finest examples of the genre and the comics industry as a whole. They are presented here for your delectation in no particular order.

WATCHMEN
Widely acknowledged as the greatest graphic novel of all time, and certainly the bestselling book to hit comics shelves. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created something so monumental that it has been a bestseller for almost two decades, not to mention spawning the film.

V FOR VENDETTA
Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s original graphic novel that inspired the ht movie. A moving and gripping masterpiece that is considered one of the genre’s landmarks.

MARVELS
The beautifully painted artwork of Alex Ross was the perfect accompaniment to Kurt Busiek’s flawless script in this superb book. A unique and near perfect exploration of the Marvel Universe’s early years.

KINGDOM COME
Alex Ross also supplied the artwork for DC’s incredible alternate future story. Complex and engrossing, Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, cemented Ross as one of the true stars of the comics medium.

CIVIL WAR
The biggest event to rock the Marvel Universe in years. Hero faced off against hero as the debate over the superhero registration act spilled over into violence. A truly monumental thriller, which saw writer Mark Millar take the core Marvel characters to a new level of drama.

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
Frank Miller transformed the comics industry, and more specifically the character of Batman, with this seminal graphic novel. Batman has been retired for ten years, and Bruce Wayne once more takes on the mantle of the Bat in order to take on a new breed of villains.

MAUS
This is a unique memoir by Art Spiegelman, presented as a graphic novel, which thirteen years to complete. It recounts the struggle of Spiegelman’s father to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew told in a stark black and white story featuring stylized cats and mice.

PREACHER
The nine volume DC Vertigo series PREACHER is one of contemporary comics’ greatest works. Wriiten by Garth Ennis and featuring gorgeous art by Steve Dillon with covers by Glen Fabry, it is a harrowing and gripping tale of redemption, religion and vampire hicks.

Y, THE LAST MAN
A fascinatng, multi-part epic following the misadventures of Yorick, the last man on Earth, and his monkey. A deeply moving examination of a very dark future indeed.

THE KILLING JOKE
Currently the most sought-after Batman title published. This stunning one-shot provided some of the source material for the mega hit movie The Dark Knight, and features a typically sparkling script by Alan Moore and sleek art from 2000ad star Brian Bolland.

These are just some of the groundbreaking trade paperback graphic novels that have enthralled comics fans all over the world, and have cemented the comics industry as a force to be reckoned with. The impact of these works is huge, and has seen the genre move from being a niche interest to an entertainment and literature phenomenon in recent years. There are countless others to enjoy, but these are the cream of the crop and would make a good starting point for your Christmas gift list. Happy reading!