Graphic Event

Went to this event last night:

http://www.englishpen.org/events/penevents/maycontaingraphiccontent/

Graphic novels seem to be growing as an acceptable form of literature these days, but it is interesting that the often serious and autobiographical works like 'Maus' (which deals with the WWII holocaust) are still getting lumped on the shelves with the bright and breezy books like Spider-Man, Tin-Tin and all that wacky Japanese stuff. It sounds like they need to divide the 'Graphic Novel' section of bookshops into sub-categories, or just put the serious adult ones in with the rest of the books?
They also showed a few examples of some new graphic novels coming out, but they are the usual black and white, crudley drawn stuff that doesn't really interest me. The subject matter of these "literary acceptable" graphic novels usually involves someone recalling a tortured childhood, they then go to war-torn Afghanistan/Palestine/Wagga-Wagga, become an emotionally stunted lesbian/mutated/koala bear who draws graphic novels, strikes it rich with a publisher and now lives in Paris/New York/London.
Anyway, I like my graphic novels like my comics, all about escapism! If I want emotional anguish or depressing subject matter all I have to do is listen to all the loonies in my apartement block when they have their screaming matches at 2am in the morning!!
But getting back to the event, it was cool to meet Dave McKean, who is a suprisingly normal bloke when you consider his art is quite dark. I got him to sign a copy of Mr Punch (which had also been signed previously by Neil Gaiman - thanks Dad!) and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Posy Simmonds, who writes and draws for the Guardian was there too, and I got her to sign her book 'Gemma Bovary'. She was a nice lady, and showed me her sketchbook (oo-er vicar!). She's an amazing artist and also does children's books, so I'll have to take a look at them one day, so I can get some inspiration for my planned children's book "Bushel the House-Rabbit"!!!