The Legitimacy of Graphic Novels

The Watchmen graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons stands out for many as the greatest example of the genre. Still, some people will always consider it a comic book and look over its literary importance.

Three graphic novels from the 1980s – “Maus,” “Watchmen” and “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” - are being used by Nancy Frey, an associate professor of literacy who works with teachers and aspiring teachers at San Diego State University. Frey and others such as Rocco Versaci are part of a growing number of educators encouraging readers to see comics as a legitimate literary form.

Palomar College professor Rocco Versaci will teach a class on the subject, called “Comics as Literature. Versaci said comics invite students to think more broadly about literature and get them to talk in class.”

"When most people think about comics, their views are limited to newspaper funnies or thin, sometimes juvenile tales of superhero adventures.

But experts, including Palomar College professor Rocco Versaci, say comic books and graphic novels that are sophisticated, emotionally gripping and deal with complex subjects have been emerging over the past 20 years or so.

Still, some people don't know that award-winning titles such as “Maus,” “Persepolis” and “Fun Home” even exist.

Times are changing, however, and students are increasingly studying graphic novels in classrooms, said Nancy Frey, an associate professor of literacy who works with teachers and aspiring teachers at San Diego State University." (...continue)