Notes about the Travel Graphic Novel: An Iconic Verbal Art

Abstract

Through the analysis of a specific sample of travel graphic novels published in the Spanish publishing scene in recent years, I intend to reinforce the theoretical position that defines the graphic novel as an independent artistic manifestation, and not as a subgenre within the narrative. The graphic novel is an artistic form capable of representing the journey, through a double verbal and iconic code. The frequent autofictional voice, the significant autonomy of the graphic element, as well as the sequential succession of the vignettes, which gives temporality to the different journeys, make the illustrated travel narrative a modality within the graphic novel as iconic verbal art. To support this theory, I review recently published significant travel samples that show that, although with undoubted connections to the literary travel story, the travel graphic novel stands as a subgenre within this independent art, with peculiar conditions of composition. , editorial and receptive, whose definition must take into account the semiological process that involves the use of language and illustration.