If comics had a hard time gaining respectability, graphic novels have come full circle and are now knocking at the door of 21st century popular culture.
Although Michael Cavna rants that graphic novels should be accepted as books in schools, frankly, the graphic novel can transcend the book because of the addition of another artistic component, the graphic element, which can allow the graphic novel to go one step further than the limitations of the written word. Consider how George Orwell's Animal Farm used anthropomorphic characters to tell a blatantly political parable in Animal Farm. Then consider how Art Spiegelman uses that same device in his graphic novel
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. Just as Animal Farm won critical acclaim in its time, so has Maus with a Pulitzer Award. Will 'Maus' be studied as a classic in years to come as Animal Farm is now?
Even if they are not recognised as literary giants, many are already pop culture icons. Look at
a list of the top fifty graphic novels and count how many have been
made into films, in fact many authors specifically create their graphic novels as a treatment for a TV or movie deal. In fan production circles, graphic novels have been seen as adding value to other productions since the ill-fated
Star Trek: Phase II The Illustrated Adventures.
Star Trek; Starfinder is the latest, backing up their audio drama and prose series with a
three issue graphic novel arc which is to be followed up by
another in the new year.
One of the mainstays of TrekUnited Publishing has been Madison Bruffy's graphic novel series Nova Trek which features another Kirk as the captain of another Enterprise in a universe subtly different from the one you are used to watching on TV and movies...
An omnibus edition of the first two issues of Nova Trek: A TOS Series
set in a parallel universe.
In this universe, the Federal Starship
Enterprise is commanded by Janet Kirk- James' older sister. Being the
first woman to command a starship, Jan not only has to deal with
Renagade Andorians, but a madman's alteration of the timeline as well!
From Starship battles to the Guardian of Forever and beyond, the Omnibus
is an introduction to a universe one step away from the one you knew.
Contains issue 1, "Gains & Losses”, issue 2, “Guardian's Child” and
bonus material. 165 p. US Letter
A non-canon TOS era graphic novel: written by MD Bruffy. Jan and Tamera
Kirk return to 1978 and work with two old acquaintances to stop agents
from the future from making a change to Earth history that could stop
Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets from ever getting
started! 91 p. US Letter
As events move closer to war with the Romulans, the FSS Enterprise takes
on a new helmsman- an old classmate of Jan's with a tragic past.
Created by MDBruffy- a fan produced graphic novel.
The first of a three part story arc within Nova Trek: Captain Janet Kirk
must make a decision that could affect the fate of not just the Federal
Union of Planets but the entire known galaxy! Who should she trust? The
Romulan commander who offers to betray the Star Empire in the name of
peace or the man from another reality who wears a face from her past.
72p. US Letter
Part two of MD Bruffy's three part Nova Trek story arc: War comes to the
Union. With the Federal Union of Planets on the brink of interstellar
war with the Romulan Star Empire, can Captain Janet Kirk raise the alarm
in time or will the Romulans storm across the Neutral Zone to final
victory? Watch out for the surprise guest stars! 59p. US Letter.
Part three of MD Bruffy's Nova Trek trilogy: Captain Janet Kirk and the
FSS Enterprise are all that stands between a massive Romulan fleet and a
quadrant unprepared for war! Aid is coming but will it reach them
before they pay the ultimate sacrifice? 129p. US Letter
MD Bruffy's Nova Trek series continues in pdf paperback!
Following the events in "A Tale of Two Captains", Commander Kang finds
himself in a position to complete the alliance with the Union that
Chancellor Gorkon wants. But Klingon Ambassador Kochon is dead set
against it.
Kang has fought and won many battles in his years of service to the
Empire. Can he survive this one long enough to complete his mission- or
will his own people be the death of him? 74p 'A' Mass Market Paperback format
Madison Bruffy continues his Star Trek fan fiction graphic novel series
with NovaTrek 8, Special Report. In eight stories covering a sixteen
month period following the events in "A Tale of Two Captains", the
Enterprise has returned to Earth and a hero's welcome. With the ship
undergoing repairs, Jan and company must deal with issues and conflicts
both personal and public while they await the ship's relaunch. 132p US Letter graphic novel
Tam's first
mission aboard the Georgetown could be her last as the crew discovers a world
where the natives are frozen in time. Can the crew free them or will they become
trapped themselves? This story takes place during the events of Nova
Trek: Special Report. 90p 'A' Mass Market Paperback format
M.D. Bruffy returns with the ninth graphic novel in his epic series,
Nova Trek. For Twenty-two years, the fate of the FSS Sundown and her
crew has been a mystery. Now, two years into the Second Romulan War,
solving that mystery is only part of the story...186p US Letter graphic novel
For more artwork by Madison, browse his deviantART gallery.