Comic book collecting is a hobby that treats comic books and related items as collectibles or artwork to be sought after and preserved. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile book collecting can be easy and inexpensive. 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. How to read rare book condition descriptions book collecting guide. In about 2030 years from now, will comic book collecting still be hot.
It can all get a bit confusing for someone new to comic books. The emblem of the cca is a white stamp in the upper right hand corner of comics dated after february 1955. Collectors or former dealers whom now work grading comic books for cgc. Comic book definition, a magazine with one or more comic strips. Pictures of tanned and foxed pages in collectible books.
Even with a guidebook, though, you will still need to trust your own impressions, since there are no set rules for how different art styles create meaning. Definition of comic book collecting in the definitions. 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. Information and translations of comic book collecting in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. List of terms for comics studies by andrei molotiu.
Those are magazine formats with 22 pages of story and 15 or so pages of advertising. Hopefully, our glossary will help you unravel some of the jargon used by book collectors and book sellers. Comic books, like most subjects, use many specialized terms. Comic terms defined comic book lingo collecting comics. The discussion of the various systems of comic book production has been put together from numerous pieces of evidence, including but not limited to comicsindustry lore, statements by comics creators, letter columns, and the analysis of production materials, including scripts, original art, coloring guides, and color separations. A comic book can stand on its own or be a part of a series. The subjects often stylized, blurred, repeated or broken down into basic forms so that it. There are collectors who focus on collecting comic books of a certain figure or of a certain writer or illustrator. It combines a large amount of comic books into one thick book. Splash page when a panel consists of the entire page. Text containers balloons aka speech balloons, bubbles the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in the comic speak.
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. If youre interested in collecting comic artwork, or have some original art and dont know what youve found, then youre in the right place. Submitted by joann from denver, co, usa on may 21 1999. Panel a panel is one of the boxes on the page of a comic book. It combines a comic event that maybe span a total of 7 comic books into 1 book. Griffin griffin is a recent graduate of the university of wash ington graduate school of library and information sci ence, seattle, wa 98195. Here is a glossary of comic book terms, that are regularly used in comic book media and. Comic book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Understanding comics vocabulary flashcards quizlet. It stands for trade paperback, or sometimes just trade. Lcs showing customers how diamond sent them their batman 89s. A comic book that is from a widely known original owner collection. The following are terms that are commonly used in the comic book industry. 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.
A brief glossary of comic book terminology sciencedirect. A comic book is a magazine that contains stories told in pictures. 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. Numbered certain pops have a specific number on them, usually the freddy funkos or event pops. Familiarize pedigree comic book collections know the different types of comics and publication dates 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.
To translate this into comic books is to imagine that the panel is a camera and it is shooting. Foxing has been variously attributed to a microorganism, iron particles in the paper, a high acid content in the paper, or a fungus reacting to metallic residue or other conditions of the paper. These comics are read right to left, opposed to left to right like western comics. Awards cartoonists collecting publishers sales speech balloon. Art definitions and terminology the collection shop. The term foxing is used to denote the reddish or tannish spots, speckles, or bloches that discolor the paper of some older books. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In 2011, phillumenist steven smith earned a place in the guinness book of world records for his collection of 1,054,221 matchbox labels from more than countries.
There is certainly a lot of artistic creativity that goes into the process of making word balloons and sound effects look like what they sound like, but the letterer also needs to think about how the text will detract. It is the key to understanding the hobby of comic book collecting, or any hobby that involves collecting. Sheldon book the large cent book, first published in 1949 as early american cents and reissued in 1958 as penny whimsy by w. Trades are the term for series comics, not for standalone stories which would be graphic novel. A series is also sometimes called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single, discrete unit. Meaning intentionally funny, raising mirth is first recorded 1791, and comedic 1630s has since picked up the older sense of the word. Graphic novel is a term whose definition is hard to pin down, but usually refers to selfcontained, booklength form. When talking to comic book fans it can sometimes feel like they are speaking another language. Shot types cs, cu, ecu, els, fs, ls, mcu, ms comic book.
If youre interested in collecting comic artwork, or have some original art and dont know what youve found, then. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. Many have intrinsic collecting value, but this has become less preva lent in recent years. The discussion of the various systems of comicbook production has been put together from numerous pieces of evidence, including but not limited to comicsindustry lore, statements by comics creators, letter columns, and the analysis of production materials, including scripts, original art, coloring guides, and color separations. An omnibus is usually the entirety or a significant part of a run, which differentiates it from a trade. All of these people collaborate together to make a. It can vary in amount of issues it combines, but not exceed roughly 12 comic books.
A comic book or pamphlet is the traditional periodical form most people are familiar with. Information and translations of comic in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on. A comic book letterer provides the text and sound effects in a comic book. Probably the most well known of all reference materials on the subject of book anatomy and book collecting terminology, known by many as the table of contents or the howto bible. In this ongoing series we take a look at and breakdown commonly used comic book terminology. Two page spread when the comic book art spills over into two pages. A comic book issue that is published only once with no plans of a series. The key here is to add the text in such a manner that makes it easy for the reader to follow the story. Comic book definition is a magazine containing sequences of comic strips usually hyphenated in attributive use. Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take many shapes including rectangular. Comic book definition of comic book by merriamwebster. 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. Though considerably more recent than the collecting of postage stamps or books, it has a major.
A work whose authenticity or authorship is in doubt. Additional or supplementary material generally found at the end of a book. The terminology of film studies is often useful for describing the basic features of an image, since you can talk about long shots, close ups, or. Log into facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know. A cover considered by collectors to be highly desirable because. The term run can refer to multiple things in big 2 comics. Reading copy a comic that is in fair to good condition and is often used for research. Familiarizing the terms used in comics is essential. 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 panini. In some cases, first issues have become phenomenally valuable due to a brief glossary of comic book terminology vol. Comic has major defects but is still intact and readable. Comic book collecting is a hobby that treats comic books and related items as collectibles or. Each one is used strategically to convey meaning, emotion, and hierarchy of detail.
A series of such publications, often forming a single sustained narrative. It is a term commonly used by comic book collectors. Glossary of comic terms find common terms and definitions related to. Slang words for a nerd, geek, dork urban thesaurus the. Original comic art terms, jargon and lingo explained and illustrated. This glossary of comic book terms aims to help those unfamiliar with the comic book lingo so that they can join in the conversation. Definition of comic book collecting in the dictionary. Writing about comics and graphic novels duke university. 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. Funko pop jargon and terminology guide nerd upgraded. A good copy has a significant amount of damage possibly including a book length crease, large spine split, cover or centerfold detached, major tears, significant markings on cover, water damage, discoloration, brittleness. It contains a complete az of indepth descriptions on every aspect of antique and modern book collecting including many descriptive texts on book manufacture. Many collectors regard a comic book signed by its creator as valuable. Publishers and booksellers have built a specialized vocabulary over the years to consistently describe to perspective customers what to expect to see when the book is delivered.
Miscellaneous art terminology abstract a 20th century style of painting in which nonrepresentational lines, colors, shapes, and forms replace accurate visual depiction of objects, landscape, and figures. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. A floppy is a generalized term for a short floppy comic. As defined by scott mccloud in understanding comics, comics are juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence. Comic collection tips from a real comic book man wired. A cover of a comic book where a painting was used for the artwork instead of a line drawing. The term shot is typically found in filmtelevision terminology to describe the field size of a single moment in a scene. In comic book terms, what is the difference between the. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j. A floppy comic is also known as an american comic book.
Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references used in book sellers descriptions. Some of the terminology used in book collecting can be arcane, indeed. Comic book definition of comic book by the free dictionary. 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. Several attempts have been made to formalise and define the terminology of. Tolkien 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. Familiarize pedigree comic book collections know the different types of comics and publication dates 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. Comics terminology this document is free for noncommercial educational use. 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 terms, jargon and lingo explained click to get an appraisal.
It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. They typically have smooth edges, but can also have jagged or irregular edges. Jul, 2011 in 2011, phillumenist steven smith earned a place in the guinness book of world records for his collection of 1,054,221 matchbox labels from more than countries. Field size refers to the distance between the camera and the subject in addition to the focal length of the lens. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile.