Many people have the misconception that comic books and graphic novels are the same thing. It is understandable why this is a common confusion. They both follow the same basic formula, which consists of pages of illustrations with text bubbles that convey action and a story. However, the format of the storytelling is different. As said by Debra Kelly on KnowledgeNuts, “Graphic novels are much longer and tend to be much more complex. While a comic book will tell a story over many issues, graphic novels more often have their storylines wrapped up in only one or two books.” (knowledgenuts.com) Essentially, it is the same difference between a TV show and a movie. While you’re watching video content in both cases, TV shows’ stories are either self-contained short stories or an ongoing arc, while a movie’s story is a longer form story for its longer format. Comics are designed to keep introducing new long-lasting arcs, as the monthly comic book is the bread and butter of the comic book industry. Graphic novels are meant to tell a story and end it, in a limited number of books. Continuation of graphic novels is not a given.
Bryan. "Comic Books Vs. Graphic Novels." University Wire, 2015 Apr 14, 2015/04/14/. https://login.proxy.library.emory.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/wire-feeds/comic-books-vs-graphic-novels/docview/2115231719/se-2.
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