We know comics can be confusing, and part of clarifying it is defining the vernacular for new readers. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. Trades are the term for series comics, not for standalone stories which would be graphic novel. Comics are a way of creating a universe and populating it with characters using a secret code that works in the simplest and most direct way possible to enter the readers brain. Trade paperbacks a collection of comic books stories reprinted in a book format usually recapturing one story arc. A comic book or pamphlet is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with. Graphic novel is a term whose definition is hard to pin down, but usually refers to selfcontained, book length form. Aug 24, 2017 the other definition of volume refers to how a publisher numbers its trades. Condition this concerns primarily with the physical state of a comic, and may also mean its grade describing the state of preservation of a particular comic book. The emblem of the cca is a white stamp in the upper right hand corner of comics dated after february 1955. Comics are easy to recognize but difficult to define.
It can vary in amount of issues it combines, but not exceed roughly 12 comic books. It is a term commonly used by comic book collectors. A term popularized in the early 90s to describe an attitude as well as a style of art that portrays women in a sexual and often actionoriented way. Edgar church collection this is the most outstanding vintage comic book collection ever discovered in the history of comics. You can think of the grade of a comic book like a grade on a report card. A brief glossary of comic book terminology sciencedirect. Discovered in 1977 in denver, colorado, the collection contains over 22,000 well preserved old comic books in high grade. A trade paperback or tpb is a collected edition of a comic book series arc. A whole generation of comic book readers basically did not participate in the collectible comic market, they walked away from it, they stigmatized all current comics as not worthy of collecting. 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. Over the past few years, the collecting world has seen the market rise from an overlooked specialist area into a thriving mainstay of many auction houses calendars. Comic books can be stored in a special comic books box, which can be purchased at comic books stores or online. The depths of which you go to collect and protect that collection can be widely different.
This glossary is intended to provide a brief overview of common words and phrases, not a defini. Primarily composed of the original print issues, the collection includes color microfiche of selected early comic book titles such as superman, more fun, and action comics, bound volumes of comic books submitted by the. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Due to the nature of paper, discoloration is expected over time. Common categories of collectibles include antiques, toys. A term used by the hobby for a book graded as mint 10. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value.
They typically have smooth edges, but can also have jagged or irregular edges. A cover that is recognized by the industry as being an excellent example of its kind. Panel a panel is one of the boxes on the page of a comic book. Try to invite a guy or girl over to your house for dinner and have to explain to them the gigantic collection of comic books you have. 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. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and written narrative, usually, dialog contained in word balloons emblematic of the comics art form. A floppy comic is also known as an american comic book. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu.
Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take many shapes including rectangular. A high grade, like an a or mint, is good, while a low grade. The focus in each of these definitions is sequence. Graphic novel a comic book presented in a higher quality book style format. It combines a large amount of comic books into one thick book.
This can include, but is not limited to, comic book art published and unpublished, convention sketches, pinups, color. Graphic novel often a fancier term for collected edition but can also be. I have since discussed this issue with that monographs author and have been assured that, were a second edition of it to be published, the passage. Otaku a term used to describe diehard fans of anime and manga outside of japan. A comic book can stand on its own or be a part of a series. A book from the stan lee or forrest ackerman collection would be an. The term run can refer to multiple things in big 2 comics. In publishing terms, an edition is technically all copies of a book that were printed from the same setting of type and the book is only described as a second edition if substantial changes are made to the copy.
A floppy is a generalized term for a short floppy comic. These are the most actively sold comics over the past couple months. An earlier, shorter version of it was published in. Comic book definition of comic book by merriamwebster. International comic books comic books of a nonenglish format. In the uk, the term comic book is used to refer to american comic books by their readers and collectors, while the general populace would mainly consider a comic book a hardcover book collecting comics stories. Collecting comic books is an inherent part of buying comic books. That 2011 series is also called volume 3but marvel released the first six issues as daredevil volume 1, the next six as volume 2, etc.
Fredrick wertham that warned that comic books were a bad form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. An international glossary of comic terms infoplease. 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. Original comic art a broad term used to describe a piece of art that is related to comic books. In other words, it takes a dealer time to sort, bag, board and price any comic book. It can refer to an issue, but it usually refers to a standalone story comic run. Others again define it as a book with a squarebound spine, even if it is a collection of short strips. The term grade is used to describe what condition a comic book is in. Babe test a lost but not forgotten thread greggy defies any definition soti seduction of the innocent the title of a book written by dr. Definition of comic book collecting in the definitions. Panel a panel refers to one of the boxes on a comic book page.
This list of terms breaks down the different roles within a comic book, commonly. If you ever need money for any type of situation, this book would be one of the ones to use for a liquidation fund. The minimum price is not a real reflection of market value. Adzine a magazine primarily devoted to the advertising of comic books and collectibles as its first publishing priority as opposed to written articles. In this ongoing series we take a look at and breakdown commonly used comic book terminology. Panel refers to one block or square on a comic strip or on a page in a comic book. It can refer to an issue, but it usually refers to a standalone story comic. Making money from collecting comics can be difficult, but it is possible to do so if you understand what makes a comic collectible and what makes a collectible comic valuable. Gocollect can now put you in touch with highly respected buyers and sellers in the comic book industry. Comic books, like most subjects, use many specialized terms. While long term price trends are all up, in the last three months prices have dropped steeply on almost all grades. All of these people collaborate together to make a.
Still others have used the term to distance their work from the. Comic books originally were published as a means to redistribute comic strips. Omnibus is a collection of a large amount of comic books. Collecting comic books can be a fun hobby and generally consists of buying, selling, and protecting your. Boxes for comics are usually made of cardboard but some are made of plastic. How to store a comic book collection like a superhero. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. 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. 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.
Text containers balloons aka speech balloons, bubbles the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in the comic speak. Glossary of comics terminology hey kids comics wiki fandom. A series of such publications, often forming a single sustained narrative. But there are some simple steps every fan should take to store a comic book collection to ensure it retains its. Once you start to buy comics and amass a certain amount, you have a collection. You dont have to have superhuman strength or xray vision to appreciate comic books and to yearn to collect and preserve the graphic stories of childhood and beyond. Unfortunately, that collection included a copy of action comics no. A oneissue only comic, also referred to as standalone issues. Some would have its use restricted only to longform narratives, while at the other extreme are people who use it as a synonym for comics or comic book.
Comic book price guides, like overstreet, have a minimum price for comic books. Adult material contains story andor art for mature readers. These comics are read right to left, opposed to left to right like western comics. Here is a glossary of comic book terms, that are regularly used in comic book. With those evolutions come new terms and definitions as they relate to trading cards. In 2011, phillumenist steven smith earned a place in the guinness book of world records for his collection of 1,054,221. Comic book collecting is a hobby that treats comic books and related items as collectibles or artwork to be sought after and preserved. It can all get a bit confusing for someone new to comic books. 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. Definition of cbca in the acronyms and abbreviations directory. Comic terms defined comic book lingo collecting comics. A graphic novel is longer and is usually a single story. May 22, 2018 deadpool 2 has exceeded the bar set by deadpool in almost every possible regard, including memorable and hilarious oneliners. How to store your comic book treasures protect america.
Comic as a singular noun is sometimes used to refer to individual comics periodicals, what are known in north america as comic books. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular book s condition. Comic book, bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. Griffin griffin is a recent graduate of the university of wash ington graduate school of library and information sci ence, seattle, wa 98195. It combines a comic event that maybe span a total of 7 comic books into 1 book. A glossary of comic book terminology creator resource. A comic book that at one time was given away as a promotional premium. A comic book is a bound collection of strips, each of which typically tells a single story or a gag joke in a few panels or else a segment of a continuous story.
A series is also sometimes called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single, discrete unit. So, for instance, bone is a graphic novel, and the essential calvin and hobbes is a comic book. A story or character that usually appears after the main feature in a comic book. Limited edition covers, ridiculously hyped first issues. Boxes with comic books should be stored away from direct sunlight and humidity. Slang an illusional grade given to comics on ebay by sellers that either dont know how to grade or more than likely want to scam the ignorant buyer into believing that actually have a nm graded book. 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. Jul, 2011 entredentolignumologists may or may not exist, but some books and several websites use this mouthful to describe collectors of toothpick boxes. The collecting of new comic books post the speculation bust of the 1990s basically disappeared. An omnibus is usually the entirety or a significant part of a run, which differentiates it from a trade. Definitions of comic collecting slang and terms comics. While many collectors collect comics for the stories or the art, some collectors choose to collect comics for profit. Comic book definition of comic book by the free dictionary. American comic books have become closely associated with the superhero subgenre.
Comic books grouped together into categories according to subject matter. Information and translations of comic book in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. With comic book sales thriving, pfc looks at the best entrylevel investments. The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. Writing about comics and graphic novels duke university. 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. Cgc registry term for a period of comic book publishing that. Will eisner used the term sequential art to describe comics, a definition later modified by scott mccloud into juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence mccloud 9. I think this book will always be a long term hold in the comic book collecting. Though considerably more recent than the collecting of postage stamps or books bibliophilia, it has a major following around the world today and is partially responsible for the increased interest in comics after the temporary slump experienced during the 1980s. When talking to comic book fans it can sometimes feel like they are speaking another language. A work whose authenticity or authorship is in doubt. Marvel and dc do a lot of variant covers but theyre a big item amongst collectors as they showcase the work of different artists that may not normally be associated with a particular comic book.
Two page spread when the comic book art spills over into two pages. From start to finish the movie delivers multiple laugh lines every. Lenticular covers or flicker covers a cover of a comic book designed with images that move when tilted at different angles. Aaron albert, a collector of and an expert on comic books, has studied, taught, and written about the comic book genre for more than 20 years. Sellers might benefit from a highergrade comic book and therefore argue that a comic book. When comic book publishers began mailing comics directly to monthly subscribers they would simply fold the. More than 48,000 attended denver comic con last weekend, up 20,000. Into the garbage went dads childhood, including his entire collection of comic books. A series of comics consists of consecutively numbered single issues under the same title, i.
Word balloon a word balloon surrounds the dialogue that a. Jun, 20 tens of thousands are attending conventions, where dealers sell scifi and fantasy memorabilia, and back issues of comic books. The following are terms that are commonly used in the comic book industry, as well as. A gathering or convention of comic book enthusiasts, dealers, graders, and artists, and where they can also swap, buy or sell comics. Comic collection tips from a real comic book man wired. Floppies physical comic books as opposed to trade paperbacks or digital comics. Apr 22, 2012 epic comic book collection haul bronze age ebay mystery box unboxing key issue finds video duration. We venture to say that no other piece of terminology has caused so much contention among booksellers and collectors as that of first edition. Comic book definition, a magazine with one or more comic strips. As mentioned above, comic book condition translates to value. Lcs showing customers how diamond sent them their batman 89s. A collectible is an item that is worth far more than it was originally sold for because of its rarity andor popular demand. For a long time the 90s, comics speculation was huge. This highly remarkable vintage collection of comics from 1936 to 1940s remains one of the earliest and most impressive pedigrees today, containing some of the rarest comic books in the golden age.
Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books. With the development of original characters such as superman, they became recognized as a medium in their own right, and with. Glossary of comic terms find common terms and definitions related to. Familiarizing the terms used in comics is essential. Additional or supplementary material generally found at the end of a book. A comic book that is from a widely known original owner collection. A term that describes the way some images draw the eye more than others, creating a definite focus using color and shading in various ways including. Splash page when a panel consists of the entire page. 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.
Only start collecting comics for profit if you know you will not have emotional attachment to them in the future. Comic book definition is a magazine containing sequences of comic strips usually hyphenated in attributive use. Information and translations of comic book collecting in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. This glossary of comic book terms aims to help those unfamiliar with the comic book lingo so that they can join in the conversation. Below youll find a list of a number of different terms that are broken up into different categories to help things make more sense.
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