Hate ’em or love ’em, graphic novels have shaped the storytelling medium across the world in ways that it has never seen before. Ways in which we still use today and we will continue to do so until the last human drops within the face of this universe.
What do I mean by this? Well…
If you look at the action genre (which is a huge main genre that can cross multiple themes and sub-genres) graphic novels have changed immensely how we tell those stories within them. As it became no longer simply about just stabbing and shooting when it came to fighting/battle scenes, but it became something that could be anything you could think of and wanted by bringing the idea of superpowers into the mix.
Sure, graphic novel writers and illustrators weren’t the first to come up with the ideas of superpowers, as many religious books in ancient times went onto a great deal about the powers and superpowers that their gods possessed. Such as omnipotence, creation, all-knowing, energy bending, and so on.
However, there is no denying that these artists within the 20th century went on to experiment further onto these ideas to make this a more viable, creative, and enjoyable way to tell stories within today’s and future storytelling endeavors.
They were postmodernist.
Experimenting further on the things our forefathers had invented with the idea of powers and superpowers. Reaching countless ways on what we could go on about with this aspect. They changed the game how we can tell stories. Especially within the action genre, which crosses many sub-genres of storytelling.
Something that isn’t acknowledged or talked about much.
I remember when I read Watchmen for the first time and was just amazed by the crazy ideas of the many superpower varieties there could be. As Alan Moore had implemented so many of them within Dr. Manhattan alone.
I was amazed with the endless creativity.
There are so many powers to choose from now, which is all thanks to these artists explorations within the medium. Choices in which future storytellers can now use about and go crazy with it in their future stories and projects.
Matter of fact, there are so many crazy things within powers and superpowers that you might have not even heard about. As there are really that MANY. So many that there is even a dedicated fan wiki showing and explaining in great detail about all the superpowers that there is at the moment, which is called the SUPERPOWERWIKI.
A source that I go to time to time when I either hear about a power/superpower that I don’t understand or heard about, or just go there plainly for research purposes on what to give my future new characters for my future stories that I will eventually create.
Point is, the action genre is not as simple as it used to be. And it’s all thanks to this big leap these graphic novel artists undertook with their creative experimentations.
Experimentations which has also touched not just on storytelling alone, but on video games who have barely or none when it comes to storytelling material in some cases. As many of their characters and worlds use quite the variety of powers/superpowers that were first found and introduced in graphic novel mediums.
Laying the foundation that graphic novels were and still are…
GAME CHANGERS.
Something those artists of those times are very underappreciated about and don’t hear much from the current generation who still appreciates all these types of stories till this day and will continue to do so with future generations without realizing it.
Thank you.
Storytelling today would not be the same without your contributions and sacrifices. You all changed the game, both literally and figuratively. And for that you have my utmost gratitude. We will continue your work to expand these ideas still until our species is no more.
With that said, thank you for reading and stay safe everyone.
LEETHALCORE 