A graphic novel is a book-length work of narrative fiction that includes frequent, sequential illustrations to accompany the text. Graphic novels are not simply illustrated books, because the illustrations tend to provide information that is not given through the words alone. Thus, the illustrations in graphic novels enhance the meaning of the text, rather than just reiterating information that has already been stated. In a graphic novel, neither the words nor the illustrations tell the full story. Instead, the words and pictures work together to produce the novel’s complete meaning, and it is important to consider the words and the pictures in tandem to fully comprehend the finer nuances of the story. Some graphic novels are written and illustrated by a single person, whereas others (including Twins) are written by one person and illustrated by another. Whereas comic books are typically periodicals that tell multiple short stories within one “book,” a graphic novel typically tells one coherent story, hence its designation as a “novel.”

Most graphic novels are arranged into panels, similar to the style commonly adopted by comic books. Most pages are divided up into several smaller blocks that often vary in size depending on the importance of the panel or the narrative moment.