''Marvel Graphic Novel'' (''MGN'') is a

line Line most often refers to: * Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity * Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to: Art ...

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in ...

. The books were published in an oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums. In response,

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. ( doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with the ...

established a competitor line known as ''

DC Graphic Novel ''DC Graphic Novel'' is a line of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1983 to 1986 by DC Comics. The series generally featured stand-alone stories featuring new characters and concepts with one notable exception. ''The Hunger Dogs'' w ...

''.

Publication history

The decision to launch the line was made in late 1979, after strong sales reports for the summer. Marvel editor-in-chief

Jim Shooter James Shooter (born September 27, 1951) is an American writer, editor and publisher for various comic books. He started professionally in the medium at the age of 14, and he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comi ...

envisioned the "books as being in the format of European albums, with cardboard covers, full-color, slick pages". In September 1980, Shooter indicated the line was delayed because of complications in putting together the contracts, which he was drafting in consultation with Marvel attorneys. In early 1981, Marvel hired Michael Z. Hobson away from Scholastic Books to be Vice-President/Publishing. His expertise in writing author contracts, which was greater than Shooter's, was a key reason. A few months later, contracts with writer/artist

Jim Starlin James P. Starlin (born October 9, 1949) is an American comics artist and writer. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, he is best known for space opera stories, for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock, an ...

were finalized for ''The Death of Captain Marvel'' and ''Dreadstar''. ''The Death of Captain Marvel'', the first book in the line, was published in January 1982. Marvel numbered stories through 1985 up to number 20, but released many other stories in the same format that are considered unnumbered parts of the series according to the '' Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide''. ''Overstreet'' continued numbering beyond the original "official" numbering, following a Marvel-published list of graphic novels. When the list stopped being published, ''Overstreet'' stopped trying to number the issues, halting at number 38, although they list 29 more issues published from 1983 through 1991, although the list is known not to include every graphic novel from this period. The line was divided evenly between author-owned and company-owned titles. Several characters were featured in an issue of ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' before receiving their own

miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format ...

or ongoing series. The most successful of these was ''The

New Mutants The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, subs ...

'', which ran for 100 issues.DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 209: "Since the first three Marvel Graphic Novels had sold so well, Marvel decided to launch the new series ''The New Mutants'' in the same format". Other series which were spun-off from a ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' are ''

Dreadstar ''Dreadstar'' was the first comic-book series published by American publisher Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics, in 1982. It was centered on Vanth Dreadstar, sole survivor of the entire Milky Way galaxy, and an ensemble cast of crewmates, i ...

'', ''

Void Indigo ''Void Indigo'' was a short-lived and controversial comic book series written by Steve Gerber and drawn by Val Mayerik. It was published by Epic Comics from 1983 to 1984. ''Void Indigo'' focuses on an alien named Jhagur (he is known on Earth as " ...

'', '' Starstruck'', and '' The Swords of the Swashbucklers''. In addition, ''

Star Slammers ''Star Slammers'' was an American comic book series written and drawn by Walt Simonson. The series was Simonson's first comics and it led to his getting work in the comic book industry. The comics have been released by various publishers including ...

'' had a miniseries published by

Malibu Comics Malibu Comics Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Malibu Graphics) was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. Notable titles published by Malibu included ' ...

and '' Futurians'' was a short-lived title published by

Lodestone Comics Deluxe Comics was a short-lived comic book publishing company which published one title, ''Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents''. History Deluxe Comics was a division of Singer Publishing, founded by David M. Singer (11 February 1957–24 Augus ...

List of graphic novels in the ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' line

Collected editions

* '' Essential Killraven'' includes ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #7: ''Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds'', 504 pages, July 2005, * ''Essential Dazzler Vol. 2'' includes ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #12: ''Dazzler: The Movie'', 688 pages, April 2009, * ''Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades'' includes ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #12: ''Dazzler: The Movie'', #16: ''The Aladdin Effect'', and #18: ''The Sensational She-Hulk'', 1,160 pages, January 2011, * ''Spider-Man: The Graphic Novels'' collects ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #22: ''The Amazing Spider-Man: Hooky'', ''The Amazing Spider-Man: Parallel Lives'', ''The Amazing Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth'', and ''Spider-Man: Fear Itself'', 280 pages, June 2012,

''Marvel Original Graphic Novel''

In 2013, Marvel started publishing a new line of graphic novels titled ''Marvel Original Graphic Novel'' or ''Marvel OGN''.

References

External links

*
The Definitive Graphic Novels List by Bob Rozakis
(note: Rozakis uses a different numbering from Overstreet on ''MGN'' #32-35) {{Jim Starlin, state=collapsed 1982 comics debuts Comics by Archie Goodwin (comics) Comics by Chris Claremont Comics by David Michelinie Comics by Dennis O'Neil Comics by Don McGregor Comics by Doug Moench Comics by Frank Miller (comics) Comics by Gerry Conway Comics by Howard Chaykin Comics by Jim Starlin Comics by J. M. DeMatteis Comics by John Byrne (comics) Comics by Roger Stern Comics by Roy Thomas Comics by Stan Lee Comics by Steve Gerber Comics by Warren Ellis Defunct American comics Marvel Comics graphic novels Marvel Comics lines Superhero comics