The New Sub-Genre: Non-Fiction Graphic Novel. But Is It Really?

There are those who claim that comic books are the newest form of non-fiction, which is funny really when in the past, they have been more inclined toward the fantastic. I mean really, when comic books come to mind, what is your first thought? Marvel maybe? The struggle between super heroes and villains has been a huge part of our American culture. Personally, I think people would rather live vicariously through fantastical characters and settings than dealing with real world issues. Or perhaps I am being pessimistic. Who wouldn’t rather delve into a fantasy world than dealing with personal problems?

The question that must first be answered when deciding if comics qualify, is what is non-fiction? Honestly, I’ve always steered clear of non-fiction. I suppose I am one of those “avoid my problems” people I mentioned before. Non-fiction is just so boring right? At least I have always thought so in the past. I might even argue that my hatred of non-fiction first stemmed from my forced consumption of it in my educational pursuits. However, recently I have found a few redeeming qualities to the genre. Non-fiction, if nothing else, portrays the truth. Or at least the truth in relation to the author’s perspective. So considering this, how can a comic be non-fiction? Well, a comic called Maus by Art Spiegelman rather personifies this idea.

Maus follows the life of Vladek, a man who survived the Holocaust. The comic delves into his experience of the events that led to his being sent to Auschwitz. As the story progresses, the reader experiences all the emotions and struggles of Vladek and his family. So what makes this comic non-fiction? I would argue that it is the history and truth that make it so. What difference is there, between a biography and Spiegelman’s work? When it comes to the content, not much I would argue. A form of truth is being delivered to the audience. It is the medium that makes it so different. More on that in a minute.

So now that we agree that a comic can also be non-fiction (assuming, of course, that you do not disagree with me), what makes it a novel? Can it be a novel? Again, I would argue that yes it can! Technically, novels have always relegated to fiction. But really though, you could argue that a novel is just a form of work that utilizes a main character that is doing something to some form of realism. Vladek, the main character, is providing action for the audience by telling his story, and that story is very much a form of realism. Therefore, Maus is both non-fiction and a novel.

Now, back to what makes a comic so different. The words expressed within a comic portrays the author’s truth. But the visuals are what allow the author a greater variety of this truth telling. For example, at the end of Maus, Vladek and his wife are finally captured and taken to Auschwitz. Within one panel, several ideas are portrayed. For example, time within a comic can be as fluid as the author desires. In UnderstandingComics, McCloud argues that a “panel acts as a sort of general indicator that time or space is being divided. The duration of that time and the dimensions of that space are defined more by the contents of the panel than by the panel itself.” So in regards to Maus, the particular panel that I am discussing jumps from the couple being transported to Auschwitz to their actual arrival to the camp. 

This separation of time is dictated by the style and size of the panels on the page. The closed panels give a very distinctive feel; almost a feeling of being boxed in. The panels at the top of the page and the bottom, however, are open. Which could indicate that the author wants the audience to feel exposed or that the time it took to arrive at the camp seemed endless. The last panel on the page is rather large, which could indicate that the situation they are in is bigger than they can handle. According to McCloud, the size of a panel can do much to portray more important ideas within a comic. The use of these visuals does an excellent job of combining the truth with a more personal mode of expression. Most people are visual right? You like to see things, rather than just hear them or read them. By combining these modes, the author is able to draw the reader into the story more easily than with only words. When you see something, you can more readily feel it. So next time you pick up a book, maybe try one of these non-fiction novels. You might be surprised at how well you like it.