On the Graphic Novel by Santiago GarcíaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Picked this one out from Netgalley and I have to say it is extremely educational. I'm not a history buff and don't read a lot of non-fiction, so at the start this was hard to get into. It didn't help that the intros seemed to be written through a haze of tedium.
This one book charts the entire history of graphic novels and its many iterations. What starts off as an argument about the semantics, definition and meaning of the very phrase 'graphic novel' (a conclusion we never come to) soon turns into a proto-chronological history lesson on who wrote what, when, where and sometimes why. We are provided mini biographies of some of the game-changers in the comic book industry and the repercussions of each movement. The author delves into the comic book histories of several countries which gives this book a rounded international, if not global, feel.
The entire book feels like it could have been written in the early 1900s; the language is languorous and dense. The denseness is often hard to trudge through - this is about graphic novels, by definition a visually expressive medium, but this book does not evoke the same sensibility. The version of the book that I downloaded kept the pages of iconic comic books, or graphic novels as it were, at the end of each quarter. While this made it easier to read (Netgalley's illustrated books hate every reading software in town), it dissociated itself from the context of the story behind the comic. One just ended up scrolling quickly through the pages instead of comparing and contrasting the styles and understanding the possible repercussions of the same.
My greatest criticisms about this book are two-fold. The book minimises the impact and significance of Manga in the world of comics. They may not have contributed to the realisation of the graphic novel, but Manga's influence cannot be denied (this from someone who actively doesn't read Manga). It's problematic that the author only touches on the subject in the third quarter - Manga should have had an entire chapter dedicated to its inception and influence. It's far too important (admittedly, often in the wrong way). It is worrying that the author selectively chose only Western comics as the basis for his history. That's not where it was at, mate.
The other great grouse is that the author appears to begrudgingly include women creators in his book. It is evident to everyone that all popular media actively dissuade or prevent women from entering, either as creators or consumers. The comic book industry is no different and in fact has a particularly poor reputation when it comes to gender-inclusiveness (at least in the US, don't know about the rest of the world). The author does not shine a light on this; without a commentary on women in the comic book industry (as well as the lack thereof) the book appears incomplete. When the author does mention women writers, he clumps them together as writers of autobiographical graphic novels only - and does so with more than a hint of condescension.
Granted this book was not meant to be a history of the comic book industry, but it is practically written as such and hence it was of great importance for the author to acknowledge the role women played in diversifying the language and subject-matter of comic books. They may not have been the pioneers of these diverse new topics, but their entry into this world have definitely changed the landscape of how and what we view as graphic novels.
The book is indeed an impressive feat and an important resource for anyone who loves comics. Had it been even more detailed when it came to the global and gender landscapes of the industry I would have given it a much higher rating.
A must-read for comic book enthusiasts.
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