Strictly speaking, a graphic novel is a form of literature which combines words and images to tell a story. A surprisingly contentious classification, many enthusiasts continue to argue over what exactly separates a comic from a graphic novel.
The word ‘comic’ derives from the ‘funny pages’ which were common in late 19th century and early 20th century Western newspapers. These serialised strips were eventually compiled into complete, volumised collections, which later became what we now consider to be a modern comic book.
