Comic Glossary

Comic Book Glossary for New Readers

Getting into comic books can feel overwhelming at first — but don’t worry, we’ve got you. Comics have their own language, and this glossary is here to help you understand the most common terms you’ll hear when exploring this amazing storytelling medium.

Comics

As defined by Scott McCloud in Understanding Comics, comics are “juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.”
In short: comics are a medium, not a genre. Superheroes, horror, romance, fantasy, memoir — comics can be all of it.

Issue

A single, serialized comic book — traditionally around 20–25 pages, though special issues can be longer. Issues are often released monthly.

Floppy

A casual term for a single comic issue, usually referring to its thin, stapled format. Most weekly or monthly comics are floppies.

Run

A run refers to the period when a specific creative team (writer and artist) works on a title or character, or a specific numbered era of a series. For example, “the Fraction/Aja Hawkeye run.” Runs are often how readers track recommended reading.

Trade Paperback (TPB / Trade)

A collection of multiple issues (usually 4–6) bound into one book. Trades collect serialized stories and are a popular starting point for new readers.

Volume

Another name for a trade paperback. Volume numbers often help indicate reading order (Volume 1, Volume 2, etc.).

Omnibus

A large collected edition, usually hardcover, containing a major portion or the entirety of a run. Omnibuses are great for collectors and long-form reading.

Deluxe Edition / Hardcover

An upgraded version of a trade, often hardcover, larger in size, and sometimes including bonus content like sketches or scripts.

Graphic Novel

A standalone, book-length comic story that is not serialized. Graphic novels can cover any genre and are often shelved with books rather than periodicals.

Graphic Memoir

A graphic novel that tells a true, autobiographical story.

Graphic Journalism

Non-fiction journalism or reporting presented in comic form.

Big Two

A term used to refer to Marvel Comics and DC Comics, the two largest and most well-known comic publishers.

Indie Comic

A comic published outside the Big Two. Many indie comics are creator-driven and cover a wide range of genres. Some readers consider Image Comics indie due to its creator-owned model.

Creator-Owned

A comic where the creators retain ownership of the characters and story. Image Comics is the largest publisher known for creator-owned work.

Manga

Japanese comics, typically read right-to-left. Manga covers every genre imaginable and is often published in black and white.

Webcomic

A comic published online, often for free. Some webcomics later get printed editions.

Minicomic

A small, often hand-made comic created and self-published by independent creators. Usually stapled and produced in limited quantities.

LCS (Local Comic Shop)

Your local comic book store — that’s us! LCSs are the heart of the comic community.

Pull List

A subscription list at your LCS. Your shop sets aside specific comics for you each week or month so you never miss an issue.

Final Order Cutoff (FOC)

The deadline comic shops have to place their final orders with publishers — usually about three - six weeks before release. Ordering before FOC helps ensure a comic continues and supports the creators.

Continuity

The shared storyline and history within a comic universe. Some comics stick closely to continuity; others are designed as standalone reads.

Canon

Stories officially considered part of a character or universe’s main storyline.

One-Shot

A complete comic story told in a single issue, not part of an ongoing series.

Limited Series / Mini-Series

A series with a planned ending, usually running 3–12 issues.

Ongoing Series

A comic series with no predetermined ending, continuing as long as sales and creative teams allow.

Variant Cover

An alternate cover design for the same issue. Popular with collectors.

Back Issues

Older comic issues that were released in the past.

First Appearance

The first time a character appears in a comic. Often sought after by collectors.