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 Shelf Space: Comparing Graphic Novels and Comics
Written by Lisa Anderson
For most manga fans, picking up a new title is as easy as a drive to the local bookstore. A wide variety of graphic novels decorate the shelves, and with a single purchase the buyer has four to six issues of the manga, all neatly compressed in a single volume. Graphic novels aside, there is another form that many manga fans are familiar with; the comic book.
While it isn’t quite as common today, people can still find manga sold in the four-color comic style. From anime conventions to local comic shops, graphic novels line the same shelves as comic books. The two styles aren’t exactly in competition, but they offer enough contrast that most people will pick one style over the other.
There are several main differences between the two, both good and bad. One of the most noticeable lay in the release schedule of each. Comics tend to be released one to two issues per month. With the current mentality of instant results, such a schedule is far too slow for many people. Graphic novels usually release on a once a month, or once every other month, schedule. While the release itself is slower, the issue is larger, so many people are satisfied with the delay.
The difference in issue size is also a major point of competition between the two. Comics are known for being slim, averaging around 30 pages. Special issues can be larger or smaller, but the average stays fairly consistent. Graphic novels compress several comic issues into one large volume, so naturally they are larger. Averaging anywhere between 150 and 250 pages, they vary far more from issue to issue. Again modern outlook comes into play, with the idea being more content per dollar spent. With that as a yard stick to measure each again, most consider graphic novels the better deal.
Large size doesn’t necessarily make a better deal. Oh My Goddess, a manga title that has been done in both comic and graphic novel form, is a good example of each pricing method. In comic form, most can expect to find Oh My Goddess in many small chain stores and individually owned comic shops. Such places usually set their own prices, and a single issue can sell between two and six dollars. As a graphic novel, people will more likely see Oh My Goddess gracing the shelves of big name chain stores. Chain stores tend to set a more rigid pricing scale, allowing all store locations a bit of leeway depending on the local area. On average, a single graphic novel volume would sell between 10 and 15 dollars.
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