Expert: Steven Younis - 12/6/2010

Question
graphic novels always follow by collecting a number of comic
books issue. Should I buy both graphic novels and comic books
or one and the other because it is the same issue?

Answer
Trade Paperback editions are usually collections of numerous comic books in one volume. Graphic Novels tend to be original material not published before.

Whether you buy a Trade Paperback edition of a particular story or the individual comic book issues is up to you. Obviously the individual issues are published months (sometimes years) before they're collected into Trade Paperback volumes, so it's up to you whether you want to buy the current comics, or if you want to wait a few months until they're collected into Trade form. For older stories, sometimes Trade Paperbacks are your only resource, as individual issues can be hard to find in back-bins at your comic store.

Steve