Guest Author - Monica Flink
It isn’t unusual these days to see television shows and movies with tie-in literature such as books written by authors contracted by the company that owns said television shows or movies. These books are separate stories as those explored in the media they are connected to, but involve the same characters that fans of any movie or series will know very well. These tie-ins can also introduce new characters, and explore topics touched upon in the original media form, but not have been explored deeply. This trend has appeared in the graphic novel genre as well. Tie-ins are becoming more and more popular, centering most frequently around science fiction, fantasy, and horror movies and television series. While some discerning graphic novel readers may or may not enjoy the idea that the genre is moving into the “selling out” territory, many of these tie-in novels are quite good, and deserve a fair shot.
Some of the major titles that are being seen on bookstore shelves include tie-ins to many popular television shows. These include Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, and The X Files. Obviously, these shows are very open ended, and make it quite easy for authors and artists to write new stories and new villains for the heroes to come up against. Other graphic novel tie-ins seen on the shelf can be a little more difficult, including Heroes, and Lost, two very popular television series that have a number of questions that can only be speculated upon. Of course, many times movies are based upon graphic novels that already exist. Yet, there are examples, such as Serenity: Those Left Behind, that prove that some movies can have tie-in novels as well.
The art of these novels are a bit more precise than some other graphic novels available. This seems to be because the readers want to recognize their favorite and familiar characters immediately. Thus, the artistic style of these books involves making the characters look very much like their real-life counterparts. If one would open a Buffy The Vampire Slayer graphic novel, they would recognize a caricature of Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular Buffy, and know exactly who she was. Likewise, the backgrounds are very clean, as artists anticipate that those who pick up tie-in graphic novels will be looking more for clean artwork that helps tell the story instead of being a carrier of symbolism depending on how it is colored and inked.
The style of tie in graphic novels are also quite similar to the shows and movies they belong to. If the television show is full of witty banter, so too will be the graphic novel. Equally, if the movie is a dramatic one, the graphic novel tie in will undoubtedly not be full of uncharacteristic comedy. When authors write tie-in graphic novels, they are working to expand a universe that has already been established by the original television writers or filmmakers. The authors are only showing a new facet into the world of the television show or movie, and doing it through an ever-growing, popular medium that will reach as many people as a regular novel on a bookshelf.
