The Graphic Novel

Sabin considered 'The Dark Knight', 'Maus' and 'The Watchmen' as the BIG 3 in the comic world.
They differed from the run of mill comics as they tended to portray more serious themes. Maus was based on the true story of a mans survival through the holocaust. The Dark Knight and The Watchmen were about washed up old superheros who were cynical, drunks, completely disenchanted with the world. They were aimed at adult audiences and were very successful. Maus won the Pulitzer prize.
Graphic Novels were intended to be published in a more permanent form. The were book like. Their success can be attributed to the targeting of adult audiences with serious real themes, and that they were so different from other bubble gum flavoured comics.