A debate has emerged regarding the first American graphic novel. Historian and author Hal Johnson claims that "It Rhymes with Lust" (1950) holds this title. He argues that it is a graphic novel in every sense, without any drawbacks. However, there are other contenders for this distinction, including "The Adventures of Obadaiah Oldbuck" (1842), "Journey to the Gold Diggins" (1848), and others. These early works predated modern comic books but share similar characteristics. The debate highlights the evolution of graphic storytelling in America.

Source: https://haljohnsonbooks.substack.com/p/what-is-the-first-american-graphic