Presented at Rutgers University, SCI program colloquium 2011

1. GRAPHIC
NOVEL
COLLECTION
S
AN AMERICAN
LITERARY ART FORM

2. A FORMAT NOT A GENRE!

3. UNSHELVED..STILL WORK TO DO
PROMOTING COMICS

4. Reality of graphic novels;
breaking some myths
 The average age for a
graphic novel reader is
30
 In other countries,
graphic literature is
widely accepted for all
ages
 Many graphic novels
require the reader’s
ability to take both
written and drawn cues
in order to fully
comprehend the writer’s/
artist’s meaning, thus
requiring a higher
reading level
Pawuk, Mike. Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga
and
More. Greenwood Publishing, Conn. 2007

5. FLOPPY, TRADE, GN
 Comic book (Pamphlet, Floppies)
-can be on own or part of series, title
 Trades or Trade paperbacks
-multiple issues of a series (Fables, vol 1)
 Graphic Novel (Blankets, Persepolis, Fun Home)
-published in this format first, not serialized
 Manga (Naruto, Bleach)
 “A graphic novel – a long comic that you would need
a bookmark for” Art Spiegelmann on Maus

6. Criteria for selection
 Language
 Imagery
– Violence, Sex
 Content
– politics, drug use.
 Theme – “real world”
 Synthesis of drawn
and written cues
 ADULT
YOUNG ADULT/TEEN
JUVENILE

7. THE PUBLISHING DIRT..
 Graphic Novel Sales grew first half of 2011
 First time in several years
 ICv2 says sales 7% bookstore (w/Amazon)
 Decline 6% comic book stores
 Scott Pilgrim, Walking Dead from cult hits
to mainstream
 “Kids and Tweens” GNs increase in number of titles
 Manga declined 15% in 2010
- ICv2.com insider’s guide

8. The iPad was introduced in
2010. It became obvious
immediately that comics would
translate well on this device.

9. COMIXOLOGY
 In 2011, digital
comics have really
taken hold as a
choice for
consumers.

10. Day and date digital comics

11.  DC Comics, Image,
Marvel
 Marvel has own
iPad app, uses
Comixology
interface
 Dark Horse own
apps

12. Comics and libraries
 Print Comics?
 How to get digital comics from libraries?
 Mobile devices and comics

13.  The library profession is trying to adapt, but some factions are
not trying hard enough to make inroads to serving the digital
natives. The comics industry is headed in the right direction
with the variety of digital services that exist now, but an
inevitable confrontation will take place eventually that will
mean the life or death of the printed comic book.
 Will this be the final collapse of the print comics industry?
Simply put: We’re predicting that print comics as we know
them cannot profitably exist in a generation that does not
prefer them. And this makes digital comics that much more
important, because that medium will keep this native American
literary form alive for future generations.

14. Graphic Novel collections
in NJ libraries
(comicsnj.pbworks.com
Ewing Public Library
Long Branch Public Library

15. GN FOR KIDS
 Biggest change in library collections
for graphic novels boost in juvenile titles

16. Tween/Teen
MANGA SALES DROP
 Declined from $210 million peak 2007 to
$120 million
 Economic downturn affected purchasing
power of manga’s younger audience more
than older comic/GN crowd
 Less manga related Anime series on
Cartoon Network
 Doing well: Vampire Knight, Black Bird,
Naruto, Bleach, Blue Exorcist

17. COMIC BOOKS AND
READING
 Assist Poor Readers
 Connect with visual learners
 Strong language arts skills
 Unmotivated and
‘dormant’ readers
 Educational messages
 Explore other literature
 Engage Adult Readers
 Ublib.buffalo.edu/lml/comics/pages/readling.html

18. SELECTION GUIDELINES
 Popularity
 Tie-ins to TV shows, movies, games, toys
 Age level, target audience
 Genre
Superhero, fantasy most prevalent
[sci fi, humor, graphic nonfiction]
 Writing quality and artistic quality
 Artistic style- manga, cartoon art
 Writers and artists with strong fan following
(Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Brian Michael Bendis)
Ublib.buffalo.edu/lml/comics/pages/selection.html

19. AWARD WINNING
GRAPHIC NOVELS
 Eisner
Finest stories, publications and creators in the
medium. Will Eisner, creator of GN format.
 Harvey
Voted on only by industry professionals. Named after
Harvey Kurtzman, co founder of MAD magazine.
 Kirby
President
Obama is a
Spider-Man
and Conan
comics fan!

20. REVIEW AND GRAPHIC NOVEL
SOURCES:
Nytimes.com/best-sellers-books [Graphic Books]
Library Journal
School Library Journal
Booklist
Voices of Young Adults (VOYA)
Baker and Taylor (btol.com)
Comic Store News (CSN)
Teenreads.com (manga)
icv2.com
diamondbookshelf.com
comics2film.com
comicworthreading.com
comicbookresources.com
dccomics.com
marvel.com
darkhorse.com
zenescope.com

21. For more information about
graphic novel collection development
in libraries
Comicsnj.pbworks.co
m
Presenter Materials
Core Collection Lists
Updates
Links to comics & graphic
novel news sources

22. http://www.diamondbookshelf.com
Bestsellers
New releases
Reviews
Lesson plans
Library articles

23. HOT PROPS 2011
 The Walking Dead
 Chew
 Smile YA
 Batman, Green Lantern,
Avengers, Thor
 Kids: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Smurfs, Simpsons
 Shonen: Black Butler, Naruto
Shojo: Black Bird, Vampire Knight

24. PROGRAMMING
 Star Wars 501st
 Comic artist visits/
workshops
 Anime clubs
 Mini comicons
 Book discussion
groups- all ages
 Comics to Film
viewings --

25. GRAPHIC NOVELS TO
FILM
 Road to Perdition (Max Collins)
 A History of Violence (Vince Locke)
 Watchmen, V for Vendetta (Alan Moore)
 Sin City, 300 (Frank Miller)
 Ghost World
 Wanted
 Superheroes: X-men, Spider-Man, Superman,
Daredevil, Iron Man.
Coming… The Avengers, Spider-Man reboot, Superman
reboot

26. COMIC ARTIST VISITS,
MARIO KART
TOURNAMENTS

27. THANK YOU!
Twitter: @RedheadFangirl
Laverne Mann
lmann@piscatawaylibrary.org
Become an NJLA Member!
Digital Comics and Libraries: David Lisa, Michael Mazikien
Comicsnj.pbworks.com slides: Sophie Brookover, David Inabitt
Diamond Comic Distributors
Zenescope comics

28. CREDITS, BIBLIOGRAPHY
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Image Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Zenescope Comics
Archaia Comics
TokyoPop
IDW Comics
Pantheon Comics
Toon Books
Abrams
Graphic Novel Sales grew in the first half of 2011 – icv2.com
 The 13 Can’t-Miss Graphic Books of 2011 (so far) August 2011- Kirkusreviews.com
 IDW has over 1 million apps in circulation
comicsbeat.com/2011/04/08
 Kids comic publishers: movers and shakers
www.earlyword.com/2010/10/12
 Using graphic novels in book clubs, Jesse Karp Booklist March 15, 2011 p 36
 Pawuk, Mike. Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga and More. Greenwood Publishing,
Conn. 2007
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,542579,00.html#ixzz1eqrV0ns4