Graphic novels have become increasingly popular in literature over the last few decades. Although they may appear to be a more modern form of storytelling, their roots can be traced back centuries to ancient visual art forms like tapestries and stained glass windows that told stories through images as well as words. Today, graphic novels are used by authors around the world to bring vivid life to traditional literature genres such as fantasy, science fiction, horror, and mystery. Through powerful imagery and thought-provoking text, these works often explore complex themes such as identity formation or political systems with greater depth than could be achieved using the written word alone. 

At its core, a graphic novel is simply a collection of illustrations paired with text that tells an original story or retells an existing one from another medium (such as film). In addition to comics or manga series created specifically for publication in book format, other examples include adaptations of classic books into illustrated formats; standalone tales set within larger fictional universes; biographies about real people; collections of short stories related by theme; educational texts teaching language skills via visuals; and many others. Regardless of subject matter, however, all good graphic novels contain three essential elements: characters who drive plot development forward while exploring compelling topics; artwork designed to be both visually pleasing and capable of conveying important information quickly without relying too heavily on dialogue; and strong writing utilizing symbolism, metaphors, puns, irony, etc., to emphasize particular points throughout the narrative. 

The rise of comic books during the mid-20th century led directly to increased interest among literary circles regarding the use of graphics to supplement prose. For example, famous French author Albert Uderzo's 1958 creation, Astérix le Gaulois, has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful European franchises ever created, despite being initially dismissed by critics due to its heavy reliance on pictures instead of words. Similarly, American writer Will Eisner's A Contract With God, published in 1978, was revolutionary because it demonstrated how serious artistic concepts could also be employed when creating funny books,'' leading to future critically acclaimed works including Art Spiegelman's Maus, a Holocaust survivor's tale that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992, the first work of this kind to win a prestigious award. 

Since then, there have been countless entries in fields ranging from children's titles to promoting literacy in young adults and adult-oriented stories dealing with mature content and violence, sex, abuse, racism, sexism, etc. As a result, a variety of new readers were drawn to the genre, giving those who were unfamiliar with it the opportunity to broaden their horizons and broaden their perspective outside of what would normally be considered the conventional media market. Moreover, current-wave superhero movies and TV shows only further pushed the growth of the industry, creating a wider audience of members seeking the same type of excitement. Theatretic releases provide a home setting free of the additional costs associated with going to the cinema. Thus, while some purists might argue against validity, inclusion of certain materials in libraries in recent years has shown a clear need for recognition, legitimacy, and even respectability given products produced accordingly, regardless of whether they were intended strictly for entertainment purposes, the main purpose remains the same: to entertain, inform, and educate viewers on specific topics, allowing them to relate in a much easier manner compared to pure textual representation of facts, figures, and statistics contained in such materials. articles, essays, pamphlets, etc.