Your "Comics Aren't Just For Kids" link o' the day: The Corvallis (Ore.) Gazette-Times reports on a presentation at the public library by comics retailer Matt Ashland called "Illustrated Books and Graphic Novels: The New Art Form." Here's the best part:

"Graphic novels, which are mostly produced with soft covers, found their niche around the world before they became popular about three years ago in the United States. Ashland said the books' high regard has resulted in 20 to 25 percent higher sales throughout the country each of the past three years.

"And generally, these aren't your kids' comic books anymore. Most of Ashland's customers are between the ages of 20 to 35, though a Japanese novel series called 'Manga' has drawn the attention on the younger crowd."