(Why) Does Graphic Storytelling Matter?

I was recently asked by the New York Times Book Review to do a strip in answer to the above question. The first piece below is the sketch they accepted. A finished, colored version is at their site, here, also with entries by Jillian Tamaki, Rutu Modan and Ariel Schrag among others. The other three are further ruminations on the subject. Thanks to Parul Sehgal.