Graphic Novels and Contemporary Literature - Differences or Likenesses?

I've read the book and seen the video that is Persepolis, and it's nothing short of phenomenal. Understanding Marjane Satrapi's struggles growing up, and her cluelessness of what was going on for so long in her younger life really struck home to even my childhood and the events that partook then. How she struggled, managed her life, and dealt with the social problems and racial issues in the societies she moved into were not only intriguing, but also heartfelt in a sense. Why bring this all up, you ask? Well, Persepolis is a contemporary entry in the graphic novel area of narratives, and its use of real events, down-to-earth non-fiction is noteworthy. Most people turn to graphic novels for fictional subjects to escape the modern world and it's problems. This piece however contributes to past events, and the realism experienced in it. Marjane took heavy note of her memories and how her parents acted, how her friends and relatives took action when struggles rose, and how the world's problems became more real that the book you held. Yes, it's a rather darker piece as a whole when you look at it from a distance, but as you go through the pages, you'll learn it's not as overtly dark as the background events, and rather how she coped with them, and dealt with turning those times. Something about it is an enriching experience, despite the contemporary setting, and I deeply appreciate narratives that run much like this.