I put together the following list of terms, for the use of my students at indiana university, bloomington and at the university of louisville, over the more than a decade that i have been teaching courses on comics. Hardcover hc similar to a trade paperback but the cover has a very thick stock just like. A brief glossary of comic book terminology sciencedirect. More than 48,000 attended denver comic con last weekend, up 20,000. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading this is by far the largest glossary of comic book grading and description terms, i have found online. Comic book definition, a magazine with one or more comic strips.
The two main methods of describing an overall grade are numerical, and symbol. Volume refers to the larger text, so for instance, when dc rolled out the new 52, that effectively ended all volumes even cutting some stories off abruptly and then starting over with a new volume and beginning at one. Original comic art to sell for the comic book legal defense fund at heritage. Comic collection tips from a real comic book man wired.
Cartooning is the process by which a comic artist removes extraneous details in order to focus our attention on a specific character trait, theme, or idea. Digest these are collected editions that are smaller in height and length. This can include, but is not limited to, comic book art published and unpublished, convention sketches, pinups, color guides, newspaper dailies and sundays, card art, etc. As a result of the search i came up with the following site. It is a term commonly used by comic book collectors. When talking to comic book fans it can sometimes feel like they are speaking another language. A series is also sometimes called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single, discrete unit. With those evolutions come new terms and definitions as they relate to trading cards even manufacturers have specific terms for certain cards like refractor topps, prizm. The emblem of the cca is a white stamp in the upper right hand corner of comics dated after february 1955. Comic book collecting is a hobby that treats comic books and related items as collectibles or.
With most comic book stores, a pull list is available, which allows you to select your favourite comics each week and the staff will collect the issues when they come in, and comics arrive on. A series can be an ongoing, meaning it runs until the publisher decides to cancel it, or a miniseries with a set number of issues at the outset. Deadpool 2 has exceeded the bar set by deadpool in almost every possible regard, including memorable and hilarious oneliners. Jun, 20 tens of thousands are attending conventions, where dealers sell scifi and fantasy memorabilia, and back issues of comic books. A comic book can stand on its own or be a part of a series. Starting a comic book collection concept comic vine. In modern parlance, it can also refer to promotional or sold comics, often smaller than standard comic size and usually in black and white, released by publishers to advertise the forthcoming arrival of a new title or story. Tpb or trade is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually presenting either a complete miniseries, a story arc from a single title, or a series of stories with an arc or common theme.
Original comic art a broad term used to describe a piece of art that is related to comic books. The term shot is typically found in filmtelevision terminology to describe the field size of a single moment in a scene. Comic as a singular noun is sometimes used to refer to individual comics periodicals, what are known in north america as comic books. The following are terms that are commonly used in the comic book industry, as well as on. Knowing the comic book grading terminologies and meanings will lead you to become conscious and more careful when handling comics. Jul, 2011 entredentolignumologists may or may not exist, but some books and several websites use this mouthful to describe collectors of toothpick boxes. Adult material contains story andor art for mature readers. Text containers balloons aka speech balloons, bubbles the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in the comic speak. If your interested in viewing a comparison of page. This excellent definition describes types of variants and states.
Be acquainted with common terms used in comic book collecting terms and definitions in comic book grading if there is one important thing you should know immediately, then comic book grading comes first. It can refer to an issue, but it usually refers to a standalone story comic run. Cgc employees are prohibited from commercially buying or selling comic books, eliminating any potential conflicts of interest. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu. Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take many shapes including rectangular. May 22, 2018 deadpool 2 has exceeded the bar set by deadpool in almost every possible regard, including memorable and hilarious oneliners. An earlier, shorter version of it was published in 2006 on the website of the national association.
Comic book definition is a magazine containing sequences of comic strips usually hyphenated in attributive use. A publication relating one or more narrative episodes through a sequence of panels featuring art and text, often bound with staples and constituting a single issue in a series. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. A graphic novel is longer and is usually a single story. Jul 21, 2014 this entry was posted in general and tagged aspiration and might, comic, comic books, comic collecting, comic collection, comic issue, comics, dc comics, forbidden planet, gail simone, graphic novels, guide for beginners, how to, how to collect comics, how to guide, how to start your comic collection, image, kelly sue deconnick, marvel comics. Familiarizing the terms used in comics is essential. Comic book definition of comic book by merriamwebster. A comic book issue that is published only once with no plans of a series. In comic book terms, what is the difference between the. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
Comic books armada magic the gathering the shadow mage no. In this ongoing series we take a look at and breakdown commonly used comic book terminology. With those evolutions come new terms and definitions as they relate to trading cards. It can all get a bit confusing for someone new to comic books. Comic book grades are given to a book reflecting the quality of printing, storage, and upkeep of a particular book. Aug 24, 2017 a series can be an ongoing, meaning it runs until the publisher decides to cancel it, or a miniseries with a set number of issues at the outset.
Here, too, there is value to the first comic book that a particular writer or illustrator wrote or painted, as well to the second and third. It can vary in amount of issues it combines, but not exceed roughly 12 comic books. In addition, the instructor contacted a local comic book store and discussed the. As defined by scott mccloud in understanding comics, comics are juxtaposed pictorial and other images in.
This fact is almost without exception for all the recommendations above. Graphic novel often a fancier term for collected edition but can also be used to. From start to finish the movie delivers multiple laugh lines every. A graphic novel can refer to a hardcover or soft cover, to a reprint collection or an original story. Griffin griffin is a recent graduate of the university of wash ington graduate school of library and information sci ence, seattle, wa 98195.
From the 80s, comic books were printed in huge numbers, making them less rare and therefore less valuable for collectors. Comic book definition of comic book by the free dictionary. It is the key to understanding the hobby of comic book collecting, or any hobby that involves collecting. Synonyms for comic book include comic, comic strip, graphic novel, magazine, caricatures, cartoons, comics, comic section, funnies and funny book. Entredentolignumologists may or may not exist, but some books and several websites use this mouthful to describe collectors of toothpick boxes. Comic originally a comic strip that appeared in newspapaers redefined to include periodical comic book magazines in the 1930s floppies physical comic books as opposed to trade paperbacks or digital comics graphic novel a comic book presented in a higher quality book style format trade paperbacks a collection of comic books stories reprinted in a book. Tens of thousands are attending conventions, where dealers sell scifi and fantasy memorabilia, and back issues of comic books. Shot types cs, cu, ecu, els, fs, ls, mcu, ms comic. Comic books, like most subjects, use many specialized terms. Comic books have a greater variety of units of encapsulation than comic strips, including the panel, the page, the spread, and inset panels. Lcs showing customers how diamond sent them their batman 89s. It is the key to understanding the hobby of comic book collecting, or any hobby that involves collecting valuables and antiquity, and dealing with people in the comics industry with success. There are collectors who focus on collecting comic books of a certain figure or of a certain writer or illustrator. Definition of comic book collecting in the definitions.
Others just call him orb or the orb, but hes been very clear what hed prefer to be known as. He is the author of fragonards allegories of love j. Comic books originally were published as a means to redistribute comic strips. Paul getty museum, 2007 and the editor of abstract comics. Graphic novel is a subcategory of comic books which are, in turn, as subset of comics. Comic terms defined comic book lingo collecting comics. Information and translations of comic book collecting in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Glossary of sports cards terms and definitions it seems as if the hobby of collecting sports cards and entertainment trading cards is one that continues to evolve yearafteryear. Since the introduction of superhero comic books in the 30s, comic books gained popularity with time. The comicraft glossary of lettering terms ever wondered what to call those little lines of weathering on the bottom of sound effects. Comic as an adjective also has the meaning of funny, or as pertaining to comedians, which can cause confusion and is usually avoided in most cases comic strip being a wellentrenched exception. This entry was posted in general and tagged aspiration and might, comic, comic books, comic collecting, comic collection, comic issue, comics, dc comics, forbidden planet, gail simone, graphic novels, guide for beginners, how to, how to collect comics, how to guide, how to start your comic collection, image, kelly sue deconnick, marvel comics. Shot types cs, cu, ecu, els, fs, ls, mcu, ms comic book.
Here is a glossary of comic book terms, that are regularly used in comic book media. The fox hunt villain known as the mad gadgeteer would prefer to be referred to as simply the gadgeteer, with mad giving off such an insane connotation and all ghost rider antagonist and legacy character the allnew orb literally always refers to himself with that full phrase. Glossary of comic terms find common terms and definitions related to. A comic book that is from a widely known original owner collection. It combines a comic event that maybe span a total of 7 comic books into 1 book. Linework fascinates me and i can spend hours admiring the way people like frank cho, jim lee, and terry moore make characters and worlds real out of a minimum of lines. With the development of original characters such as superman, they became recognized as a medium in their own right, and with. Many of these terms are interchangeable, as you can see.
Adzine a magazine primarily devoted to the advertising of comic books and collectibles as its first publishing priority as opposed to written articles. Tradespaperbackstrade paperbacks is a collection of several comic books that pertain to a story arc or event in the series or publisher. A series of such publications, often forming a single sustained narrative. This glossary of comic book terms aims to help those unfamiliar with the comic book lingo so that they can join in the conversation. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and written narrative, usually, dialog contained in word balloons emblematic of the comics art form.
He has been active in the field of comics studies for over a decade. Each one is used strategically to convey meaning, emotion, and hierarchy of detail. A comic book or pamphlet is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with. This is probably the most selfexplanatory term on the list. All of these people collaborate together to make a. So, for instance, bone is a graphic novel, and the essential calvin and hobbes is a comic book. More than 48,000 attended denver comiccon last weekend, up 20,000. You can also get inexpensive reprints by grabbing marvels greatest comics as well.
With the wide selection of comics available, it can be hard to find a starting point on your own. Comic book formats trade paperback tpb this is the most common kind of collected edition where it is usually. They typically have smooth edges, but can also have jagged or irregular edges. The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. The instructor provided a list of potential comic books for the assignment within the class syllabus. For me and hopefully for some other people out there, graphic novels represent a more coherent, complete, and mature subset of the comic book industry and thus my comment on a relevant meta this website calls comic books periodicals, but some graphic novels were first. Field size refers to the distance between the camera and the subject in addition to the focal length of the lens. A comic book or comicbook, also called comic magazine or simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes.
Now all you have to do is check the comicraft glossary of lettering terms from air to zigzag tail, theyre all here. The comicraft glossary of lettering terms balloon tales. A floppy is a generalized term for a short floppy comic. The allentown collection consisted of 5 golden age comics, characterized by.
A comic book, also known as a comic or floppy, is a periodical, normally thin in size and stapled together. The best definition i know for a variant comic book is 1 any nonstandard edition created for distribution with a unique purpose, 2 anything reprinted for distribution under the same title with some changes to the cover andor contents, and 3 any nonstandard edition created for distribution in an. Comic book, bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. If you are willing to wait, you can often save money by purchasing a trade paperback containing five or so issues in one volume, or a graphic novel containing a complete story arc. Most mainstream comic books are first released in short installments called issues, about 1020 pages long. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading. To translate this into comic books is to imagine that the panel is a camera and it is shooting the subject. The term run can refer to multiple things in big 2 comics. Comic reading friends and comic book store employees often love to talk about their hobby, so they can.
Andrei molotiu is senior lecturer in art history, indiana university, bloomington. Once certified by cgc, a comic book is encapsulated in a stateofthe art, tamperevident holder, providing superior protection and stability for longterm preservation. A series of comics consists of consecutively numbered single issues under the same title, i. Lee and kirbys run on the fantastic four is the longest, greatest collaboration in comic book history. Students received instruction to select a graphic novel, which is essentially a collection of monthly comic books, covering a complete story arc.
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