A work written in graphic form and published as a complete book is considered a graphic novel, as is a collection of comic books or serialized cartoons republished as a single trade volume that generally covers a complete story arc within the larger comic series. Either way, these stories contain artwork that tells a story in an unconventional way, bringing the words to life on the page with vibrant colors and illustrations in a way that traditional books cannot.
While some people consider graphic novels and comic books to be nothing but superheroes and super villains, they, in fact, cover a range of stories, from historical and political topics to fantasy and science fiction to non-fiction and literature. Authors of traditional books often turn to graphic novels to put a new spin on an existing work or to explore a new medium.
Whether you're looking for original graphic novels like Will Eisner's acclaimed A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories or a series of comic issues collected into a book like Alan Moore's apocalyptic Watchmen or Art Spiegelman's hugely popular Maus, our sellers have collectible graphic novels that prove that comics aren't just for kids. Now recognized as a legitimate form of literature, graphic novels have stepped from the back shelves of comic book stores to mainstream bookstores and online retailers, where you can shop graphic novels dating back to the golden age of comics.
On AbeBooks, you can search our seller listings and buy graphic novels from well-known artists and authors, ranging from foreign works like Japanese manga books to collections of stories from the early days of superheroes, such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, to contemporary works like Robert Kirkman's blockbuster The Walking Dead. Look for special signed copies, rare first printings, and out of print treasures from the past 100 years.