Comic book styles have evolved to match the stories of the heroes. The labels and terminology below help you understand some of the key aspects for understanding this complex text type. Writing about comics and graphic novels duke university. Digest these are collected editions that are smaller in height and length. A list of comics you have at your lcs that you pick up on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Neko blue om captain america china chinese collage comic book comic books cosplay cube dice eye of providence fanfiction. Comic books have a greater variety of units of encapsulation than comic.
When i first started writing a comic book script, i must admit i put the cart before the horse. The term run can refer to multiple things in big 2 comics. Letter col or letter column a feature in a comic book that prints and sometimes responds to letters written by its readers. Shes the founder of creator resource and creator advisor, and works with the comic book community as much as possible to help foster safer and more inclusive spaces for all. Pure abstraction can be interpreted as any art in which the depiction of real objects has been entirely discarded and whose aesthetic content is expressed in a formal pattern or structure of shapes, lines and colors. Not realistic, though the intention is often based on an actual subject, place, or feeling. A comic book or pamphlet is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with.
Original comic art a broad term used to describe a piece. Panels are often accompanied by brief descriptive prose and written narrative, usually, dialog contained. This glossary of comic book terms aims to help those unfamiliar with the comic book lingo so that they can join in the conversation. A journal comic drawn each hour the artist is awake. Art terminology intaglio the process of incising a design beneath the surface of a metal or stone. Stephanie is a torontobased comic book writer and editor. Others again define it as a book with a squarebound spine, even if it is a collection of short strips. The first issue of a longrunning comic book series is commonly the rarest and most desirable to collectors. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu. Comic books, like most subjects, use many specialized terms. This list of terms breaks down the different roles within a comic book.
This book, a primer for readers, creators, and students of comics, has become the default handbook for those interested in studying or analyzing comics. Variant cover a variant cover is an alternative cover of a single issue. Unlike other visual media, transitions are instantaneous and direct but the. Comic book art synonyms, comic book art pronunciation, comic book art translation, english dictionary definition of comic book art. Text containers balloons aka speech balloons, bubbles the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in the comic speak. Comic book collectors are often lifelong enthusiasts of the comic book stories, and they usually focus on particular heroes and attempt to assemble the entire run of a title.
Night zero issue free comic book day comic book june 2009. A publication relating one or more narrative episodes through a sequence of panels featuring art and text, often bound with staples and constituting a. The colorist begins by making a copy of the original art, usually reducing the copy to what will ultimately be the finished size. A series is also sometimes called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single, discrete unit.
Learn the history of this amazing pop art form, from their bright roots to dark present. This was the method of choice for an inexpensive publication such as a comic book and applies to the vast majority of the publications produced since 1933. Comics as a medium has a specialized terminology, some of which is also used on this wiki. It can all get a bit confusing for someone new to comic books. Other terms used as synonyms for comics are sequential art, a term coined and. He is the author of fragonards allegories of love j. Comic book art definition of comic book art by the free.
Shes a comic book fan, avid gamer, movie watcher, lover of music, and sarcasm. Comic book formats trade paperback tpb this is the most common kind of collected edition where it is usually. Writer the writer is responsible for the script that the artist penciller. The original art remains black and white throughout the process. Plates are inked only in the etched depressions on the plates and then the plate surface is wiped clean. The amazing stylistic history of comic books 99designs. They typically have smooth edges, but can also have jagged or irregular edges. Comics with a greytone cover are highly desirable by collectors. In the batgirl 2009 series, barbara gordon, the original batgirl and at that point the techsavvy oracle refuses to call stephanie brown by the name batgirl after she takes over the persona. The art, in this case the cover of the comic book, is now completely penciled and inked and is handed over to the colorist. A cartoonist also comic strip creator may refer to a person who does most or all of the art duties, and frequently, but not always, implies that the artist is also the.
Art that imitates the style, commercial printing techniques and subject matter of comic strips. The spatial arrangement allows an immediate juxtaposition of the present and the past. Art definitions and terminology the collection shop. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. If you plan to start writing comics, it is important to have information about comic terminology. A comic book can stand on its own or be a part of a series. Original comic art a broad term used to describe a piece of art that is related to comic books. A lightly restored book will be valued higher than a book with heavy restoration in the same apparent grade. 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. This can include, but is not limited to, comic book art published. Paul getty museum, 2007 and the editor of abstract comics. This is for a variety of personal and professional. Jan 22, 2018 abstract art artistic content depends on internal form rather than pictorial representation.
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. Nathan lumm introduces and explains basic terminology that will be used in an upcoming series about different color styles. Pablo picasso is known for his abstract art creations. He has been active in the field of comics studies for over a decade. Glossary of comics terminology buffyverse wiki fandom. I created a quick reference to help you find your way in order to create a great story and.
Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take many shapes including rectangular. Panels offer a different experience than simply reading text. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading comic. Comics terminology this document is free for noncommercial educational use. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu 26 jul. Journalismnews reporting that is done in comic form. In recent years the comics medium has flourished, generating much interest from the literary, art, and educational communities. Comic art terms archives comic book graphic design.
It is recommended to read comic writing tips for beginners before exploring the comic terminology. Accents artwork that has a distinctive feature or quality, such as a feature that accentuates, contrasts with, or complements. Creative process comic books and original comic art. I had created a plotdriven story without knowledge about character arc, theme, or a threeact structure. Griffin griffin is a recent graduate of the university of wash ington graduate school of library and information sci ence, seattle, wa 98195. Several different processes that reduce acidity in paper. Graphic novel is a term whose definition is hard to pin down, but usually refers to selfcontained, book length form.
A comic book or comicbook, also called comic magazine or simply comic, is a publication that consists of comic art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Used generically in the industry to refer to any sort of literature that combines story and art, whether as an ongoing series. Comic book definition of comic book by the free dictionary. When talking to comic book fans it can sometimes feel like they are speaking another language. The shop pulls the comics for you and keeps them in a box, so you make sure you have all your subscriptions. The ink is then transferred onto the paper through an etching press. Grader this refers to a comic book professional who meticulously examines and ascertains the actual condition.
Hardcover hc similar to a trade paperback but the cover has a very thick stock just like. A comic book is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative. Title splash pages are the secondmost valuable pieces after cover art pieces. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. Half splash a page where half is a single panel and. 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. The term comic or comic book or comic title itself can ambiguously refer to various formats in which comics are published. Andrei molotiu is senior lecturer in art history, indiana university, bloomington. A floppy comic is also known as an american comic book. This page both archives teaching content from national association of comics art educators, along with dozens of additional teaching comics resources for all ages developed by the center for cartoon studies community. Because many fans may be unfamiliar with these terms, this article gives an overview of the most important terms used on this wiki. Abstract art can be a representation having no reference to concrete objects or specific examples. May 22, 2018 stephanie is a toronto based writer and editor. A glossary of comic book terminology creator resource.
Comic are visual art presented in a sequential manner. Presented in comic form, understanding comics offers a wealth of examples and analyses of different aspects of comics. A distinct segment of the comic, containing a combination of image and text in endless variety. A comic book cover overlaid with a ridged plastic sheet such that the special artwork underneath appears to move when the cover is tilted at different angles perpendicular to the ridges. Writing a graphic novel or comic book script meraki. A floppy is a generalized term for a short floppy comic. 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. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Visual glossary of terms used in comic book grading this is by far the largest glossary of comic book gra. A brief glossary of comic book terminology sciencedirect.