Graphic novels tell stories using long form sequential art. Most graphic novels also use text, but not all. The images are an important part of the storytelling. Graphic novels include many art styles and genres ranging from superheros to memoirs.
Monnin's 2010 Graphic Novel Vocabulary
The Basics
Panel: A visual or implied boundary, and the contents within it, that tell a piece of the story.
Gutter: The space between the panels. As the reader moves from one panel to the next, they predict and conclude what is happening.
Content Panels
Word Panel: The panel contents only use words to tell a piece of the story.
Image Panel: The panel only includes images to tell a piece of the story.
Word and Image Panel: Both words and images are combined in a panel to tell a piece of the story.
Story Panels
Plot Panel: Develop the graphic novel's main events that unfold in the story.
Character Panel: Develop individual or multiple characters, through actions, words, and internal thoughts.
Setting Panel: Develop the time and place (setting) of where the graphic novel takes place.
Conflict Panel: Develop the source of the conflict, or tension that motivates the story, in the graphic novel.
Rising Action Panel: Develop the events that stem from the conflict and rise to the climax of the graphic novel.
Climax Panel: The panels of greatest intensity in the story.
Resolution Panel: Resolve the conflict and present the final outcome in the story.
Symbols Panel: Panels that contain images and/or words that represent something larger than themselves.
Theme Panel: Develop the main idea and messages of the graphic novel.
Foreshadowing Panel: Develop the story by hinting at what is to come later.
Combination Story Panel: Use two or more types of panels to create a literary effect.
Gutters
Moment-to-Moment Gutter: Readers experience little closure between panels and merely observe what happens from one event to the next.
Action-to-Action Gutter: Readers see a single subject or character going through specific transitions.
Subject-to-Subject Gutter: Readers move from one subject to another, progressing the storyline. This encourages reader involvement to find meaning in the transition.
Scene-to-Scene Gutter: Move readers across time or space, requiring readers to use deductive reasoning.
Aspect-to-Aspect Gutter: Challenge readers to think about the characters feelings and emotions delivered across panels.
Non-Sequitur Gutter: Although panels may appear to have no relationship, these gutters depict significance and literary elements such as symbolism or foreshadowing.
Balloons
Word Balloon: Enclose print-text and/or dialogue that divides artwork from printed text.
Story Balloon: Non-dialogue text that focuses on progression of the story and timeline.
Thought Balloon: Focus on a character’s thoughts and ideas.
Dialogue Balloon: Focus on conversation between characters. This can be multiple characters speaking or one character speaking to themselves.
Sound Effect Balloon: Use text-onomatopoeia or images to convey sound in the story.
Balloon-less Balloon: Words or images depicted without visual boundaries to create a certain effect
Graphic novels, comic books, comic strips, and manga are all forms of sequential art, but there are some key differences between them.
Graphic Novels are longer-form comic books that are typically published as standalone stories rather than being serialized in single issues.
Often have more complex storylines, characters, and themes than traditional comic books, and they may be targeted at adult audiences.
May be in color or black and white.
Comic Books are typically shorter-form serialized stories that are published in single issues on a regular schedule.
Often feature superheroes, but they can also include other genres such as horror, sci-fi, and romance.
Typically printed in color, and they may be targeted at different age ranges and demographics.
Comic Strips are short-form comics that are published in newspapers, magazines, or online.
Typically three to four panels long and feature a self-contained joke or story.
May be serialized over a longer period of time, but they are typically designed to be read in small doses.
Manga is a Japanese comic book form that originated in the late 19th century.
Typically printed in black and white and often features unique storytelling techniques, such as large panels and emotive character expressions.
Covers a wide range of genres, from action-adventure to romance to horror.