Because many fans may be unfamiliar with these terms, this article gives an overview of the most important terms used on this wiki. Griffin griffin is a recent graduate of the university of wash ington graduate school of library and information sci ence, seattle, wa 98195. Colour the colours that an author uses will affect the readers experience as well. You might be familiar with general grading terms like mint mt, very good vg, and poor pr. Comic are visual art presented in a sequential manner.
This list of terms breaks down the different roles within a comic book, commonly referred to as the creative team. If youre interested in collecting comic artwork, or have some original art and dont know what youve found, then youre in the right place. Traditionally, a trade paperback will reproduce the stories at the same size as they were originally. The cca was the comic book equivalent of the mpaa rating.
This is a glossary of terms related to comic books. Our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar bookrelated terms. Buying and selling comic books is more complicated than one would expect. If you plan to start writing comics, it is important to have information about comic terminology. The buyer needs to know exactly what condition each book is in, as the slightest imperfection can have a major impact on value. It is recommended to read comic writing tips for beginners before exploring the comic terminology list of terms for comic terminology. This is probably the most selfexplanatory term on the list. The fold and stapled or glued edge of a comic book. Much of th e terminolo gy in english is under dispute, so this page will list and describe the most com mon te rms us ed in c omics. A glossary of comic book terminology for this weeks how to get into comics, i wanted to cover something that can confuse a lot of people. It is distinguished from the term comic book, which is generally used for comics periodicals. The term comics in this context does not refer to comic strips such as peanuts or dilbert.
List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu. Glossary of grading terms bend when part of a comic is curved, interrupting the flat, smooth cover surface. Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take many shapes including rectangular. This glossary of comic book terms aims to help those unfamiliar with the comic book lingo so that they can join in the conversation. Jun 05, 2012 a glossary of comic book terms this entry was posted on june 5, 2012, in information and tagged art, books, colorist, comics, drawing, inker, nerd, penciler. A comic book or pamphlet is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with. 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. A defect of a comic book caused by improper storage that results in uneven pages and the bowing of the spine.
A glossary of comic book terms more than you want to know. Aug 24, 2017 a series of comics consists of consecutively numbered single issues under the same title, i. Comics as a medium has developed specialized terminology. Graphic novel a graphic novel is a book made up of comics content. This beautifully illustrated glossary constitutes an extraordinary collection of the specialist terms used in many botanical works. It is recommended to read comic writing tips for beginners before exploring the comic terminology. Theres truly something for everyone in the current comic book market. It can also be used for the reader to interpret what the ending of the comic means by the use of the panels. The audience comes up with their own interpretation of the gap between panels, and this interpretation can be different for each audience member. Familiarizing the terms used in comics is essential. They help set the tone, vibe, and just make the comic look. The term comic or comic book or comic title itself can ambiguously refer to various formats in which comics are published. After the grading scale section theres a glossary list of common terms used for. A comic book is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative.
Pages in category comics terminology the following 68 pages are in this category, out of 68 total. As defined by scott mccloud in understanding comics, comics are juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information andor to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. Glossary of comic terminology comic are visual art presented in a sequential manner. A more complete guide to book sizes, book conditions and binding terms can be found through the aforementioned links. This list of terms breaks down the different roles within a comic book. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. Comic as a singular noun is sometimes used to refer to individual comics periodicals, what are known in north america as comic books. A glossary of comic book terms more than you want to. If youre interested in collecting comic artwork, or have some original art and dont know what youve found, then. Bends will not show distinct lines see also creasefold. See the superhero nationspecific glossary here arc. Comic book restoration it refers to an attempt to enhance the appearance of a comic. Graphic novel definition, graphic novels, independent comics, one shot comic book, preorder, retcon definition, subscription, trade paperback definition, variant cover.
So here we are, providing definitions for some comics terms. Still others have used the term to distance their work from the negative connotations the terms comic or comic book have for the public, or to give their work an elevated air. However, just like repair, comic book restoration is also considered a defect. Good girl art refers to a style of art, usually from the 1930s50s, that portrays women in a sexually. The ascendancy of the comic book store brought a new market place for comics, termed the direct market. A complete glossary of comic book condition abbreviations. Well supplement this with more indepth editions going forward. This page will list and describe the most common terms used in comics. Much of the terminology in english is under dispute, so this page will list and describe the most common terms used in comics. The cambridge illustrated glossary of botanical terms 1st. They typically have smooth edges, but can also have jagged or irregular edges.
Although the word novel normally refers to long fictional works, the term graphic novel is applied broadly and includes fiction, nonfiction, and anthologized work. Comic books, like most subjects, use many specialized terms. Style the artists drawing style can be discussed using several terms. The list was put together mostly from notions in common use in the comics industry, terms in scott mcclouds understanding comics which i used as a textbook, terms adapted from film and literary studies, and new terms i have introduced myself for notions that seemed particularly important in my teaching. This includes panel descriptions, number of panels per page.
This glossary of comic book terms can help those unfamiliar with comic book terms so that they can join in the comic book conversation. With the creation and introduction of superman, began the super hero comic book movement. Several different processes that reduce acidity in paper. Usually used as a pejorative term, although many fans wear it as a badge of honor. As defined by scott mccloud in understanding comics, comics are juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence. The comics medium has grown a lot over the years and now the colours on a comic can make or break how the book looks. For example, a panel depicting a mysterious woman looking at a blank paper might be followed by a drawing of a sunset. Comics as a medium has a specialized terminology, some of which is also used on this wiki. Transitions, part 2 welcome to a new installment of comic book glossary. Others again define it as a book with a squarebound spine, even if it is a collection of short strips. Scott mccloud, in understanding comics, shows that there are four scales of style.
Additionally, reasonable efforts to redeem this content in particular, carefully removing a sticker covering codes are not considered to reduce the grade we would assign the book. Original comic art terms, jargon and lingo explained click to get an appraisal. 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. A realistic drawing style that is violent and emotionally dark. The types of comics in your pull list can tell you what kinds of stories you favor. Glossary of comics terminology buffyverse wiki fandom. Abbreviations appear alphabetized at the beginning of each respective letter. Much of comics terminology in english is under dispute. Original comic art terms, jargon and lingo explained and illustrated. This glossary offers quick definitions of terms used in discussing the marvel cinematic universe and this wiki a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. This book helped lead to the comics code authority. Knowing the comic book grading terminologies and meanings will lead you to become conscious and more careful when handling comics. Because the direct market copies were sold under a different set of rulesdiscounts, and the covers could not be returned for credit, a means to distinguish between the two was necessary. Golden age comics 1930s1950s get cut some slack usually, so youll see prograded ga comics with more or worse defects than allowed for newer comics, but get the same grade.
May 22, 2018 a glossary of comic book terminology for this weeks how to get into comics, i wanted to cover something that can confuse a lot of people. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. A series is also sometimes called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single, discrete unit. It can all get a bit confusing for someone new to comic books. Variants variant cover it is a different cover drawn by different artist and used for the same comic. An international glossary of comic terms infoplease.
Feb 11, 2016 this is a basic glossary of comics terms. Roles within the comic book publication process all of these people work as a team to create a comic book. A brief glossary of comic book terminology sciencedirect. Glossary of comics terminology hey kids comics wiki fandom. The hentai comics show these young loli or prepubescent girls in a wide range of sexual positions and situations that defy the conventional rules of accepted sexual behavior. A comic book, also known as a comic or floppy, is a periodical, normally thin in size and stapled together. Our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar book related terms. A comic book can stand on its own or be a part of a series. What you might not be aware of, however, is that there are many more gradients on the.
The following are terms that are commonly used in the comic book industry, as well as on our labels. An extreme fan of comics, someone who proudly lives and breathes comics. Several attempts have been made to formalise and define th e terminolo gy o f comi cs by authors such as will eisner, scott mccloud, r. This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. Apart from prepubescent girls, these hentai comics can also depict young girls who are still minors and at their early stages of puberty. Several attempts have been made to formalise and define the terminology of comics by authors such as will eisner, scott mccloud, r. Two page spread when the comic book art spills over into two pages.
Text containers balloons aka speech balloons, bubbles the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in the comic speak. Below youll find a list of terms and their definitions to common ebook terms. 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. In 3d comics, the special blue and red cellophane and cardboard glasses are not still attached to the comic. Panel a panel is one of the boxes on the page of a comic book. Aug 30, 2008 comic shop glossary of terms posted on august 30, 2008 by jermaine exum it occurred to me one day that, just like in any industry, inside the comic shop we speak our very own language. Comics code authority also known as cca, comics code authority is a special committee that was founded in 1954 to set the rules and regulations for comic book contents and art works.
Jul, 20 buying and selling comic books is more complicated than one would expect. For example, when marvel released the second series of star wars in 2015, it released 84 different variant covers. Greetings, loyal cubers, and welcome to the index for comic book glossary. All of these people collaborate together to make a. When talking to comic book fans it can sometimes feel like they are speaking another language. For a while, comics were dominated by superhero tales but the genre is branching out again. A series of comics consists of consecutively numbered single issues under the same title, i. Creative roles within a comic book creation all of these people collaborate together to make a comic book. Below youll find a list of a number of different terms that are broken up into different categories to help things make more sense. You can find science fiction, horror, fantasy and even some romance.
Splash page when a panel consists of the entire page. Its important to note that comics are a medium of storytelling, not a genre of story. Similarly, all of the formats referenced can be called comics or comic books. The creases are taken into consideration when a comic book is being graded or analyzed. This is used more on modern comics than older ones.
Scott mccloud in his book, understanding comics, describes closure as a phenomenon of observing the parts but perceiving the whole. The side of a comic book opposite the opening edge. When downloaded data is temporarily stored on your computer or mobile device, it speeds up retrieval the next time you want the same data e. The buyer needs to know exactly what condition each book is in, as the slightest imperfection can have a major impact on value you might be familiar with general grading terms like mint mt, very good vg, and poor pr. A glossary of comic book terminology creator resource.
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