Graphic novels have become a popular creative trend worldwide, even being recognized as a medium on par with novels, audiobooks, and films. The definition of a "graphic novel" remains debated, but fundamentally, it is understood as a publication combining text and illustrations, sharing similarities with comics. However, in graphic novels, the text doesn’t merely follow the images, nor do the images simply illustrate the text—instead, they harmonize seamlessly, enhancing both visual appeal and narrative depth to fully convey the creator’s intent.

This format offers creators vast creative freedom, exploring diverse themes, including complex subjects like migration, history, geopolitics, biographies, and memoirs. So, how should we define a "graphic novel"? How does it unleash the creator’s imagination? How has the global graphic novel market evolved? What is the potential for graphic novels in Vietnam? Could this format bring fresh momentum to nonfiction works in the country?

These are the key topics to be explored in an upcoming discussion featuring illustrator Clément Baloup and literary researcher Lê Nguyên Long.