Graphic novels have superpowers that go far beyond the comic

Books are back – in a big way. If ever there was any doubt about the relevance of print titles in the 21st century a quick glance at recent sales figures should put paid to any scepticism. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic book-buying soared as people discovered, or rediscovered, a love of reading. One genre has enjoyed significant – and somewhat unexpected – success. Graphic novels, once regarded as the preserve of teenagers and superhero fans, have seen a substantial increase in popularity. US trade magazine Publishers Weekly reported that, in 2020, the combined sales of comics and graphic novels in North America and Canada totalled around $1.28billion (£950million) and in 2021, the adult graphic novel genre enjoyed an estimated 109.3 per cent increase in year-on-year unit sales in that same region.

It’s a trend that’s been mirrored in the UK – among the bestselling books of 2020 was British artist and author Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, which follows the friendship of the four titular characters, noting the life lessons and universal truths they discover along the way. With its sparse text and beautiful drawings it proved an immensely popular gift over 2020’s festive season as friends – eager to share its simplicity and poignancy – reached out to each other.