What are different types/formats of comics?

Types of Comics(Different Types of Writing)

• Comic Strips

• Web Comics

• Digital Comics

• On-Going Series

• Mini-Series & Limited Series

• Graphic Novel

Comic Strips

• Commonly published in newspapers and now online

• Yellow Kid (1897) was the first color comic in the Sunday comic section

• Many comic strips have a humorous tone, but they don’t have to – they only need to tell a story (Dick Tracy and Tarzan)

• With the rise in popularity of Superhero comics, newspapers had comic strip spinoffs (Spider-man and Superman)

• In 1960s, more underground newspapers started carrying comics

Defining Web Comics

• Comics made first for the web and published online

• Created by independent creators

• No corporate sponsorship

• Often digitally drawn and colored

• Normally strips

• Produced weekly (at least)

Web Comic Benefits

• Less expensive self-publishing and distribution• Allows writers and artists to release comics that the mainstream

industry and audience would reject• Gives writers and artists more artistic freedom• Can use real images and artwork, without worrying about

production costs• Easy to archive older comics

Web Comic Limitations

• Appeals to a smaller, specific audience – often related to gaming and computer coding

• Pixel depth

• Download times

• Scrolling

• Stigma that they are inferior to comics

The Abominable by Charles Christopher

Girl Genius by Kaja and Phil Foglio

Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddel

JL8 by Yale Stewart

Vattuby Evan Dahm

Digital Comics

• Electronic comic books

• Includes print titles converted to digital books and books originally published digitally

Digital Comic Benefits

• Cost• Free with some print issues

• Comixology sales

• Free first issues

• Bundle deals

• Subscriptions • Marvel Unlimited

• Space• Home storage

• Traveling

• Extra features

Digital Comic Limitations

• Value of issues

• Gaps in story arcs

• Many older stories not in digital format yet

• Need an internet connection to access or download issues

On-Going Series

• Continued story (unlike a One-Shot, self-contained story)

• Poses issues of continuity

• Often uses story arcs• Reintroduce characters in the

beginning• Plot lasts for about 6 issues• Intertwine these story arcs

together

Mini-Series and Limited Series

• Title that has a predetermined number of issues

• Usually between 3-6 issues

• Each issue needs:• A major change, development, or

reverse• Something important to happen• A turning point or surprise

• Sometimes needs to reintroduce characters

• Often ends each issue with a cliffhanger

Graphic Novel

• A long fictional narration that uses sequential art

• Some graphic novels are nonfiction though

• Self-contained story

• Often published all at once in a book form, not in serial form

• Developed, complex characters