Romance and Magical Realism in Graphic Literature, part 4
IV – Conclusion
In summation, the question of this work’s classification as either Romance or Magical Realism has been addressed. The story contains elements of Romance, but the emotional element of the ending does not fall in line with the category’s norms. Realism wins out against Romance, but an irreducible element of magic prevents this story from being simple Realism. The Realism must be qualified as Magical.
It is worth noting that in no way do these definitions of Romance and Magical Realism conflict. This story fit the criteria for Magical Realism far better than Romance, but not through anything mutually exclusive. A work may possibly be both Romance and Magical Realism, if it is constructed carefully and the story ends satisfactorily.
If you’d like a copy of the footnotes, please email me. I have no desire to get sued.
Bibliography
Frye, Northrop The Secular Scripture: A Study of the Structure of Romance Cambridge, MA; Harvard UP 1976
Huston, Charle and David Finch Moon Knight Vol. 1: The Bottom, Marvel Publishing Inc., 2007
Huston, Charlie and Tomm Coker, Moon Knight, issue 13, Marvel Publishing, Inc. December 2007
Millet, Lydia “From Comic Book to Literary Classic”. The Wall Street Journal February 27, 2009
Parkinson, Lois and Wendy B. Faris, ed. Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community, Duke University Press, 1995
