Characteristics of a typical Western Graphic Novel or Comic

Define: Western Graphic Novel

A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comic format. The term is employed in a broad manner encompassing nonfiction works and thematically linked short stories as well as fictional stories across a number of genres. Graphic novels are typically bound in longer and more durable formats than familiar comic magazines, using the same materials and methods as printed books, and they are generally sold in bookstores and speciality comic book shops rather than at newsstands. Such books have gained increasing acceptance as desirable materials for libraries which once ignored comic books.

Western Graphic Novels:Captain America

The Plot:

Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A frail young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum in order to aid the United States war effort, Captain America wears a costume that bears an American flag motif, and is armed with an indestructible shield that can be thrown as a weapon.

Moral Issues:

In this particular western graphic novel there are some moral issues that have been brought into attention. In the Captain America series, serious considerations have to be given to the moral and theological implications of human experimentation. The human enhancement technology to make human beings into weapons, it may be argued that human beings have always been trying to better themselves. The other moral issue that is there informed consent when human experimentation was performed on the main character; or was it manipulation using wishful thinking to trick the character into “volunteering” for the serum.

Gender Stereotyping: The form of gender stereotyping in this particular novel is that the superhero and the main character is male which could bring arguments as to whether this is stereotyping or if it is just the chosen plot that achieves more success than if the superhero was female.

Disguises:

The superhero disguises him in a uniform to protect his true identification although this is for his own protection but the uniform that the hero is wearing ensures that the public and the audience understand that that character is the main character due to his uniform or disguise.

Heroes and Villains:

The main hero in this western graphic novel is Captain America who is your obvious stereotypical super hero. Throughout his time as a hero he faces hundreds of enemies throughout the series, enemies such as Master Man, Porcupine, Viper and Baron Blood, all these villains challenging the hero in each episode of the Captain America series.

Layout:

The layout in each of the series features the main character “Captain America” as the main feature in each of the frames and throughout the comic. In each frame there are some variations of including the villains or having simple shots of the villains as in each series the villains are also main characters along with the hero.

Use of Colour:

The use of colour in this western graphic novel is common in almost all of them; in this particular novel the hero colours include the bold and courageous blue and the confident and fearless red which also represent the continent where the novel has a lot of coverage around. The villains in this particular novel are the opposite and duller of the colours such as grey and faded yellows.

Green Lantern

The Plot:

The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and power lantern that gives the user control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it. The ring is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe and can be dangerous. While the ring of the Golden Age Green Lantern is magically powered, the rings worn by all subsequent Lanterns are technological creations of the Guardians of the Universe, who granted such rings to worthy candidates.

Moral Issues:

The moral issues faced in the Green Lantern are that the public have decided that the Green Lantern series does not promote justice as it should do. There have been multiple debates and arguments over this particular issue.

Gender stereotyping:

Again in this western graphic novel it is clear to see that it is popular to use the male as the dominant hero and character in the series which is common in most western graphic novels.

Disguises:

In this western graphic novel the disguise is not common in normal western graphic novels as the normal colours are bold and courageous whereas this character is coated in an aluminous lime green uniform which helps the main character to stand out not just amongst the characters in the novel but against western graphic novels.

Heroes and Villains:

The main hero in this particular novel is the Green Lantern who has to face multiple villains in the series of this western graphic novel such as The Gambler, Harlequin, The Icicle and Doctor Polaris. These villains are included in each episode during the series and the villains are various in skills and appearance in each episode.

Layout:

The layout of each episode in the series presents the main character (the hero) in almost each frame so that it is clear to the audience that the superhero is the most important and iconic character in each episode. When the frame does not revolve around the main character it will revolve around the main villain and or a fight between the hero and the villain.

Use of Colour:

The main use of bold and outstanding colours is awarded to the main character so that the hero stands out over all the other characters and even the backgrounds. Even the villains and other more minor characters are in duller and less life full colours so that it is clear to the audience who has the importance and priority.