I'm not entirely sure specifically as it might be a rather niche or new graphic novel. It could potentially be about a character named Merle Highchurch and his or her adventures, relationships, or a particular journey within the story world of the graphic novel.
I don't know who the author of the 'Merle Highchurch Graphic Novel' is. It could be a relatively unknown indie author or someone new to the graphic novel scene.
Merle Jaffe might approach teaching graphic novels by first introducing the basic elements like panels, speech bubbles, and captions. This gives students a foundation to understand how the story is told visually.
It is fiction. 'Shipmates' by Merle Collins is a fictional creation, crafted to entertain and tell a story that isn't directly based on real events or people.