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He's Got Buzz, Balls & Hype
December 5, 2007

Over in M.J. Rose's Buzz, Balls & Hype blog, there's a new feature: "The Graphic Novels Guy," featuring John Shableski of Diamond Book Distributors (the world's largest distributor of... graphic novels, natch). I like the way he takes many strands of pop culture in publishing and connects them to the graphic novel trend (boom? explosion? tsunami?).

Shableski writes:

"Now we have reached the point where there is no denying the arrival of graphic novels.  All the major publishing houses have picked up an imprint or are developing their own lines.  The movie studios see an instant storyboard when they look at a great book like Frank Miller’s epic book, 300.  There are multiple channels of revenue based on the graphic novel, collectible statues, video games, television rights, role playing games, etc…which often do not present themselves in the traditional prose market. It’s a billion dollar industry that is standing right in front of us."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's the stories that matter. No matter how many of us there are who love diving into a long, complicated narrative, there are more who don't -- but they still want stories, and if we ignore their hunger for such a basic human psychological need, then we ignore it at the peril of publishing. (Of course, we have one of the best blogs about graphic novels right here at PW: Heidi McDonald's The Beat.)

There are many graphic novels I've read and loved. Graphic novels may never, for me, become my preferred mode of reading -- but that doesn't mean I shouldn't learn more about them, and read more of them. Tell me about your favorites -- mine are Alison Bechdel's Fun Home and Posy Simmonds' Gemma Bovary.

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on December 5, 2007 | Comments (3)