Art: First of all there's art. Artwork is what makes graphic novels different from regular novels, so I think judging the artwork is a really important part of judging the graphic novel. This category can be further broken down into cover artwork and interior artwork. Is the cover artwork eye-catching? Does the interior artwork match the tone of the comic? Are there panels you just want to look at because they are so awesome? Obviously this is a pretty subjective category, but there's a lot of discussion to be had.
Story: Is there a good plot? Does the plot have elements necessary for good fiction? To me, the plot here shouldn't be all that differently judged from regular novels. There should be conflict, action, climax, often a narrative hook, and resolution (or cliffhanger).
Also important for me, since I am a comic newbie, and i think important for a title to remain successful over a long period of time, is the plot's accessibility for newbies. I think there is probably a bit of a balancing act between keeping old readers interested and making it easy for new readers to jump in and become interested in a title.
Characters: Are the characters full and well developed. Do they have meaningful relationships, are they static or dynamic?
Themes: Finally, do the titles have themes that are interesting and engaging? How are the themes presented?
I am totally open to suggestions for reviewing graphic novel and comics. What criteria do you use? Feel free to comment!
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