Happy Motivator
Draw Graphic Novels
How my love of comics and graphic novels began
Every week when I was about three or four my parents would let me choose a comic of my choice at the local store. I grew up on Batman, Spiderman, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Superman, Thor, Ironman and Dr Doom. I am sure there were many others but those names instantly spring to mind. DC Comics and Marvel comics are I am sure largely part of me learning to read! 
DC Comics - Artwork for the cover of Batman: Hellboy by Mike Mignola, creator.
Gotham Knights #20 (Oct. 2001). Art by Brian Bolland.
Later on I got into reading Japanese manga comics and then into more adult themes like the full length graphic novels. It almost feels like the comic book stories have matured with me growing up. You can still get your Spiderman comics however there is something very different about reading a graphic Novel. There seems to be little violence left to the imagination in a graphic novel as it has been drawn in all its gory detail.
The first time I came across a graphic novel it was about the classics. I was amazed that a famous book had been made into a comic! My mother bought three when I was about seven or eight when we went on a trip to England. I remember looking at Black Beauty, Jane Eyre and The Three Musketeers. Those are tame compared to the darker graphic novels of the likes of Blade by Marvel Comics and Sin City by Frank Miller.
Growing up I also got into watching Robotech on television which progressed into more manga type programmes like Full Metal Panic. They had lots of action, were futuristic and there are heroes trying to save the earth from destruction. I loved them and I have lost count of the number of times I have tried to draw Rick Hunter and the Valkyrie fighting jet.
Graphic Novels all have different styles so you are not reading the same style every time you pick one up. For example Mark Bagely, Jim Lee or Dave Gibbons are more of your traditional comic artists compared with the likes of Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and Frank Miller (Sin City), who have there own uniquely recognisable style.
What is a Graphic Novel
A graphic novel is a book whose story is seen through both writing and pictures in a comic format. These more serious comics are normally longer and have a more complicated and darker story. These are generally not seen in your local store but more your dedicated comic bookshop or bookstores. Growing up when I used to look at the pictures and read the words and peoples reactions and see the horror on characters faces when things went wrong. I loved them. I could read them in the car or anywhere.
I think graphic novels appeal to a certain type of person especially those that are very creative. I found that complicated stories were able to be explained through pictures in an easier way than words and I did not need a dictionary to explain words as my vocabulary as a child was not that advanced. I had friends at school who were Italian who brought Tweety and Sylvester comics in Italian to school.
I could still look At the pictures and follow the story which was great. I remember speaking to a girl from Japan once about manga and how there seems to be a lot in Japan but around the rest of the world it seems to be more specialised. She mentioned that there is all types even company manuals to teach workers how to do things. I thought that was ingenious as I could relate a lot more easily to a comic book to learn something and enjoy the experience than just reading words on a page.
I was reading on the BBC website recently about the UN commissioning Marvel Comics to help promote its work. I also read that the US Army Is using comics to educate cadets about other cultures. The BBC mentioned that the US Military Academy is using the graphic novel "Persepolis" as a learning tool about the culture in Iran. The US military has found comics are a very effective way of getting through to recruits rather than the traditional training manuals.
How to Write Graphic Novels 
To start drawing your own comic or graphic novel you need to first get comfortable with drawing. The more you practice the better and more confident you will get in your ability. In writing a graphic novel it is much harder than writing a book as you have to think of the story and draw the characters as well. It is easy to write "He was sad." But it is more difficult to draw that he was sad. There are also many styles of graphic novels from the American Marvel comic style of drawing through to the Japanese Manga style.
The Writing Process
I would suggest you get a friend or someone you can talk to about your story ideas. Bounce ideas off one another. Would this work? What about this idea? Normally the more bizarre the story the more enjoyment your readers will get in leaving the real world and entering your graphic novels world where you are a god in creating it and the characters exactly how you want them. If you don't use all your ideas they are always around if you write them down. You never know when they could come in handy when you are just feeling no inspiration at all. Now as the writer you must use your talents in telling the story. Get your friends to have a read as the more criticisms you get the better. Look at this as a test run for your story. It is a good way of look how people see your story so far. If things are going drastically wrong rather have them now than later. Always remember that not everyone is going to be pleased but it does help if you have an audience you want to target. (293)
Copyright . Jonathan Mason. All rights reserved.
