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Assuming the question isn't breaking any other rules, should questions about graphic novels/comic books be on-topic for this site?

On one hand, comic-books are books just like any other books. On the other hand, because of the nature of comic books they're much more likely to be about Sci-Fi topics, like spaceships, superheros, and magic, so they might be better on Scifi.SE. (Although that doesn't make them off-topic per se)

Should we allow questions about comic-books?

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    I suggest you change comic books to graphic novels. For instance Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman. Not the serialised stuff that has +100 issues, but the series that are coherent and complete.
    – Gallifreyan
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:06
  • @gallifreian Good idea! Done.
    – DJMcMayhem
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:08
  • Why not?........
    – DVK
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:17
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    "Assuming, its on-topic, should it be on-topic?"
    – Penguin9
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 20:14
  • Just to make sure, in the sense you ask, are Erich Kastner's children's novels eg. Der kleine Mann graphic novels? Or Roald Dahl's Matilda? These novels have drawings some of which are just for illustration, but a few show essential details that aren't mentioned in the text.
    – b_jonas
    Commented Jan 19, 2017 at 11:31

4 Answers 4

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I think they should be On-Topic. There can be quite extensive character analysis, plot explanation, etc. related to comics that would add quality content to the site. AND, not all comics fall into the sci-fi/fantasy umbrella of sff.se, so we can offer a home to those that don't already.

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I think they should be on-topic.

There's a masters thesis on Frank Miller's Sin City. Another thesis on Alan Moore's Watchmen, not to mention a whole book titled Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test. A thesis on The Killing Joke is present as well.

Surely, not all graphic novels live up to the standards of the mentioned works. Yet, it is entirely possible to analyze them in the same way we'd analyze a book.

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Yes, because they are literature.

Of course, this is debatable, but since Maus has won a pulitzer, it's pretty clear, that comics are being considered literature and so are manga. Which makes them on-topic. On the other hand are there other SE's dealing with these contents (Sci-fi or Anime & Manga), which I dont think is a problem, if someone decides to ask about literature, they should be able to do it here.

I think that graphic novels are on-topic.

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    I'm not sure I buy this argument. Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Does that make all songs literature?
    – HDE 226868
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 20:43
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    YES! Songs, poems ARE literature. I agree on the Bob Dylan part tho... :)
    – Penguin9
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 20:43
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    @HDE226868 Just Sondheim :-)
    – CHEESE
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 22:00
  • He won a pulitzer as well^. Songs, muscials, stage plays are literature.
    – Penguin9
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 22:03
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I think they should be on-topic when they don't have fantastic elements.

If they have fantastic elements (magic, SF, antropomorphic animals...), they they belong on SF&F SE.

If they are set in the real world, either today's world or historical stories, then they don't belong on SF&F SE. I'd like to give them a home here. Series like "XIII" or "Largo Winch" can generate good questions, that aren't really on-topic elsewhere.

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    Sites are allowed to overlap. Carving out a special "as long as they aren't already on topic on SFF" really isn't appropriate. That'd be like M&TV saying "ask about all M&TV that isn't SFF"... we just don't work that way.
    – Catija
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:36
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    Sorry, -1. SFF and Literature are separate sites, and overlap is perfectly fine. Questions about literary works of sci-fi or fantasy should be on-topic on both. See also this meta question.
    – Rand al'Thor Mod
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:55
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    On a side note, anthropomorphic animals aren't enough to make something on-topic for SFF.
    – Rand al'Thor Mod
    Commented Jan 21, 2017 at 20:18
  • @Randal'Thor but Ratatoille slipped anyway <grins>
    – Gallifreyan
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 17:17

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