Comic Vocabulary

This list is designed to help users understand common comics-related terms and slang while going through the newsletter of the website articles/videos/podcast. Here are some key terms and their definitions that you are going to hear me mention a few times through out:

1. FOC (Final Order Cutoff): The last date retailers can adjust their orders for upcoming comic issues without penalties. It’s crucial for both collectors and retailers to know FOC dates.

2. Variant Cover: A comic book that has an alternate cover compared to the standard release. These are often collectible due to their limited availability.

3. One-Shot: A standalone comic book story, typically published as a single issue. It does not have a series continuation.

4. Pull List: A service provided by comic book shops where customers can pre-order upcoming comic issues, ensuring they do not miss any releases.

5. Trade Paperback (TPB): A collection of multiple comic book issues reprinted in a single volume, often compiling a story arc or a complete miniseries.

6. Graphic Novel: A complete story presented in a book format, typically longer and more substantial than single comic issues.

7. Limited Series: A comic book series with a predetermined number of issues, usually between 4 to 12.

8. Ongoing Series: A comic book series that continues indefinitely until it is canceled or concluded by the publisher.

9. Creator-Owned: A comic book property owned by the creators rather than the publishing company, allowing the creators full control over the rights.

10. Reprint: A comic book that has been republished after its original release. Reprints are often used to meet high demand or introduce classic stories to new readers.

11. Prestige Format: A type of comic book that has higher production quality, often including a thicker cover and more pages.

12. Key Issue: A comic book issue that is particularly important due to a character’s first appearance, death, or other significant event. Key issues are often highly sought after by collectors.

13. Golden Age: Refers to the era of comic books from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, known for the debut of iconic superheroes like Superman and Batman.

14. Silver Age: The period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, marked by a revival of superhero comics and the introduction of characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men.

15. Bronze Age: Spanning from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, this era introduced darker and more mature themes in comics.

16. Modern Age: The current era of comic books, starting in the mid-1980s, characterized by diverse storytelling and complex character development.

17. Crossover: A storyline that spans multiple comic book series, often involving characters from different titles coming together to face a common threat.

18. Splash Page: A full-page illustration, usually used at the beginning of a comic to create a dramatic effect or set the scene.

19. Panel: A single frame or box on a comic book page that contains part of the story’s artwork and dialogue.

20. Letterer: The person responsible for adding the dialogue, captions, and sound effects to the comic book’s artwork.

21. Inker: An artist who goes over the penciled artwork, adding depth and definition to the lines.

22. Colorist: The artist who adds color to the inked comic book pages, enhancing the visual appeal of the story.

23. Solicitation: The initial announcement of a comic book’s upcoming release, often including a brief description, cover art, and release date.

24. Diamond Distributor: A major distributor of comic books to retailers. Many publishers rely on Diamond to distribute their products to comic shops.

25. CGC Grading: A service provided by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) that evaluates the condition of comic books and assigns a grade. Higher grades often increase the value of a comic.

26. Retcon: Short for “retroactive continuity,” this refers to altering or reinterpreting past events in a comic book’s storyline to fit new narratives or character developments.

27. Indie Comics: Comic books published by independent publishers, often featuring unique and diverse storytelling compared to mainstream titles.

28. B-List Character: A character who is not as popular or well-known as the major heroes but still has a significant role in the comic universe.

29. Anthology: A comic book that contains multiple short stories, often by different writers and artists, within a single issue.

30. Creator Credits: The names of the individuals involved in creating the comic book, including writers, artists, inkers, letterers, and colorists.

I am going to keep adding terms in the list as we go, so bookmark this page.