Comic book
A publication of sequential art with word balloons.
A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential panels representing individual scenes, often accompanied by descriptive prose and dialogue contained in word balloons. The term derives from American comic books that were once compilations of humorous comic strips, though later they featured stories of all genres. The format’s precursors include British publications such as *Ally Sloper's Half Holiday*, notable for its use of sequential cartoons to tell a story, and *Comic Cuts*, which ran from 1890 to 1953. These existed alongside lurid “penny dreadfuls,” boys’ story papers, and the humorous *Punch* magazine, which first used the word “cartoon” in its modern sense. The first modern American-style comic book, *Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics*, was released in 1933, reprinting earlier newspaper humor strips that had established many storytelling devices. The introduction of Superman in 1938 turned comic books into a major industry and initiated the Golden Age, which originated the superhero archetype. The Silver Age began with the revival of the Flash in 1956, and Marvel Comics later revolutionized the medium with naturalistic superheroes like the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. The Bronze Age ran from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s, followed by the Modern Age. The largest comic book market is Japan, where the manga market was valued at a record high in 2020 due to growth in digital sales. In the United States and Canada, the market was valued at a certain amount in 2016, with Viz Media as the largest publisher, followed by DC and Marvel. The best-selling categories in the U.S. are juvenile children’s fiction, manga, and superhero comics. In France, Franco-Belgian comics and Japanese manga each represent a significant share of the market.
- largest_market
- Japan
- us_canada_market_value_2016
- $1.09 billion
- largest_us_publisher_2017
- Viz Media
- best_selling_us_category_2019
- Juvenile children's fiction (41%)
Lore & Background
Comic books rely on organization and visual presentation, using panels, speech balloons, text lines, and characters. Speech balloons are convex containers connected to a character via a tail element. Creating a comic book involves writing, drawing, and coloring. In the United States, 'comic book' is used for periodicals and trade paperbacks, while 'graphic novel' refers to standalone books. The first known American prototype comic book was The Adventures of Mr. Proto-comics periodicals appeared early in the 20th century, with Funnies on Parade establishing the size, duration, and format of the modern comic book. Dell Publishing's 36-page Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics is considered the first true newsstand American comic book.
Reader's Guide
Comic books are publications that use sequential panels of comics art to tell stories, often accompanied by dialogue in word balloons and descriptive prose. The medium originated in Britain with titles like *Ally Sloper's Half Holiday* (1884), which used sequential cartoons, and *Comic Cuts* (1890–1953), existing alongside penny dreadfuls and humorous magazines like *Punch*. The first modern American-style comic book, *Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics* (1933), reprinted newspaper humor strips, though the term "comic book" later came to encompass all genres, not just humorous ones. The introduction of Superman in 1938 launched the Golden Age of Comic Books, turning comics into a major industry and establishing the superhero archetype. The Silver Age began in 1956 with the revival of superheroes like the Flash, while Marvel Comics introduced naturalistic characters such as the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. The Bronze Age ran from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, followed by the Modern Age. Psychiatrist Fredric Wertham’s criticisms in *Seduction of the Innocent* significantly impacted the medium. Japan has the largest comic book market, with manga dominating; in the United States, juvenile fiction, manga, and superhero comics are the top-selling categories, while France’s market is split between Franco-Belgian comics and manga. Comic books rely on visual organization, including panels, speech balloons, and text, and are created through writing, drawing, and coloring processes.
Did You Know?
- The term 'comic book' derives from American comic books once being compilations of humorous comic strips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a comic book as a literary form?
A comic book is a publication built from sequential art panels that depict individual scenes, typically paired with dialogue in word balloons and sometimes brief descriptive prose. The term originally described American compilations of humorous strips before the format expanded to encompass stories in every genre.
Which country has the largest comic book market?
Japan holds the largest comic book market in the world. For comparison, the combined US and Canadian market was valued at roughly $1.09 billion in 2016.
Who is the largest comic book publisher in the United States?
Viz Media held the top spot as the largest US comic book publisher in 2017, largely due to its extensive distribution of Japanese manga titles in the American market.
What is the best-selling comic book category in the US?
Juvenile children's fiction led US comic book sales, making up 41 percent of the best-selling category in 2019. This highlights how the form has long served young readers as a major audience segment.
How did the term 'comic book' originate?
The name traces back to early American publications that were essentially bundles of funny comic strips. As the medium matured, it grew to carry serious and fantastical narratives across all genres, but the original label stuck.
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