What's the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book?

So last night I asked people where I could find some Batman comics besides a comic store. They said at a book store I could find some graphic novels. Well I am wanting to collect comics and was wondering what the difference between a comic and graphic novel was?

Well I personally don't know a lot about comic books, but I would think that the defining factors would be the length and the bind.

A graphic novel is usually a type of comic book aimed at more mature audiences, and as a set storyline similar to a novel. Whereas a comic book will usually not have a set storyline and will continue for quite a while if the comic keeps selling.

Graphic Novels are basically story-length comic books. The average comic book is split up intp episodes, usually. A graphic novel may contain a full story, with a beginning, middle, and end, while a comic book can show only one segment of a larger story arc.

"Graphic Novels are basically story-length comic books. The average comic book is split up intp episodes, usually. A graphic novel may contain a full story, with a begging, middle, and end, while a comic book can show only one segment of a larger story arc.
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"Graphic Novels are basically story-length comic books. The average comic book is split up intp episodes, usually. A graphic novel may contain a full story, with a begging, middle, and end, while a comic book can show only one segment of a larger story arc.
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"Graphic Novels are basically story-length comic books. The average comic book is split up intp episodes, usually. A graphic novel may contain a full story, with a beginning, middle, and end, while a comic book can show only one segment of a larger story arc.
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"efrucht said:

"Graphic Novels are basically story-length comic books. The average comic book is split up intp episodes, usually. A graphic novel may contain a full story, with a beginning, middle, and end, while a comic book can show only one segment of a larger story arc.
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Agreed
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Efrucht hit the nail on the head.

Stop bumping old threads.

Watchmen was actually originally released as a comic series and compiled into a graphic novel >_____>

I think that Graphic novels are more lengthy and have more complicated storylines than comic books.

Size and scope, I think.

The Watchmen was released over 12 comics originally, they stuck them all together as one "book" and it became a graphic novel.

EDIT: Someone already said basically the same thing I just said, I hope my punishment is spanking.

Comic books come out in different issues, kind of like a magazine, where a graphic novel is like a whole novel in comic form.

If you want to be a collector, it pretty much has to be comics, right?  I have a friend with an amazing collection but he swears that the glory days are long gone and he would never start a collection now if he was just starting out.   

think of the original batman movies as being comics, and the new ones as being graphic novels and you start to get the idea. 

Comic books are smaller
Graphic novels are bigger
those are the main differences

Graphic novels are not still steeped in the realm of for kids, comic books are where graphic novels can pass off with very very very adult themes you wont see this nearly as often in comic books.

"Watchmen was actually originally released as a comic series and compiled into a graphic novel >_____>
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