Comics = books?

[zaenaria]

I have had this debate with my friends a lot and I want to bring it here...

Can comics/manga/graphic novels be considered books? They are called books or novels but are they really? Is there a word minimum before you are just looking at pictures?

I won't put my opinion in here yet, I want to know what everyone thinks!

[spencermack]

Comics are books. What would they be considered if they weren't books? Just comics? Illustrations?

[lisalynn]

Comics/manga/graphic novels are all reading material. They are creative stories with a beginning, middle, and end. But they have their own category. Would you call any other type of magazine a book? In the book category, word count determines whether it can be called a novel, novella, novelette or short story. Don't get hung up on the labels. Is it fun and do you enjoy reading it? Good enough.

[Kinap]

I personally believe that comics are books. It's a form of literature that has story, (whether it's meaningful or not). There's still a story to be told.

[srividyag1]

Well I think comics are books. Eg, sandman. I loved the literary quality and depth of those comics..

[Zialex]

I would say yes of course, but there a different kind of book. There a more nuanced kind of book, which I enjoy. One aspect of books that I always enjoy more then comics is that a book makes you work for your imagination, description, or understanding. However one aspect of comics I enjoy(and probably love more then books because I draw a lot) is the clarity of description, and understanding. Reading a book forces us to synthesis symbols with are senses which is by no means a natural thing for are brains to do. But a picture that's more natural, then text in fact at times pictures seems to natural, when we see a picture of something there is more clarity, and less ambiguity, and interpretation. So reading a comic is almost like getting away with a lot, your getting a lot for less effort. Not to say that comics doesn't have it's problems which it can and most certainly does, but this is true of books also.

[Gravy]

It makes me sad that this is even a question. Whatever a person reads, whatever format, whatever genre, whatever method, it's all valid.

[Gravy]

Also, to anyone who thinks comics are somehow lesser than other books, may I suggest V for Vendetta?

[rssllue]

It makes me sad that this is even a question. Whatever a person reads, whatever format, whatever genre, whatever method, it's all valid.

[RoxieReads]

I would say yes of course, but there a different kind of book. There a more nuanced kind of book, which I enjoy. One aspect of books that I always enjoy more then comics is that a book makes you work for your imagination, description, or understanding. However one aspect of comics I enjoy(and probably love more then books because I draw a lot) is the clarity of description, and understanding. Reading a book forces us to synthesis symbols with are senses which is by no means a natural thing for are brains to do. But a picture that's more natural, then text in fact at times pictures seems to natural, when we see a picture of something there is more clarity, and less ambiguity, and interpretation. So reading a comic is almost like getting away with a lot, your getting a lot for less effort. Not to say that comics doesn't have it's problems which it can and most certainly does, but this is true of books also.

This is a very good answer! I agree. Comics already have the pictures, so in a way you are using less imagination to form that picture in your head as you read.

[ElizaPeaks]

I would say yes of course, but there a different kind of book. There a more nuanced kind of book, which I enjoy. One aspect of books that I always enjoy more then comics is that a book makes you work for your imagination, description, or understanding. However one aspect of comics I enjoy(and probably love more then books because I draw a lot) is the clarity of description, and understanding. Reading a book forces us to synthesis symbols with are senses which is by no means a natural thing for are brains to do. But a picture that's more natural, then text in fact at times pictures seems to natural, when we see a picture of something there is more clarity, and less ambiguity, and interpretation. So reading a comic is almost like getting away with a lot, your getting a lot for less effort. Not to say that comics doesn't have it's problems which it can and most certainly does, but this is true of books also.

This is a very good answer! I agree. Comics already have the pictures, so in a way you are using less imagination to form that picture in your head as you read.

Arguably, though, you're still using just as much imagination overall. Because there's a visual, there is now more context for a character's unique voice! Also, there's still just as much to think about as you read a comic. The traditional narrator is substituted with visual clues, so instead of recognizing foreshadowing by something the narrator notes, one might recognize foreshadowing by graffiti in the background. While you may be 'using less imagination' to see the imagery, you're still using just as much imagination to understand (or 'see') the plot.

[RoxieReads]

Arguably, though, you're still using just as much imagination overall. Because there's a visual, there is now more context for a character's unique voice! Also, there's still just as much to think about as you read a comic. The traditional narrator is substituted with visual clues, so instead of recognizing foreshadowing by something the narrator notes, one might recognize foreshadowing by graffiti in the background. While you may be 'using less imagination' to see the imagery, you're still using just as much imagination to understand (or 'see') the plot.
[/quote]
You bring up a very good point, I didn't really consider forshadowing or the narration of character's voices.

[Tommy Mayengbam]

I don't classify comics as novels, but books, certainly! In fact, comics introduced me to the world of reading when I was in elementary school.