100 Important Comic Book Terms
When was younger I thought I’d be the next great comic book artists. Didn’t see myself so much as a writer, but an illustrator. But that wasn’t meant to be and I did not pursue the art or the writing. Still, if I were to start writing them today, I’d want to know the all of the terms. So here’s a list of 100 important comic book terms.
Panel: A single drawing in a sequence of drawings that make up a comic book page. Panels are often bordered and arranged in a specific order to convey a story.
Splash Page: A single-page illustration that usually occupies an entire page, used for dramatic effect, often without panels or with minimal paneling.
Gutters: The space between panels where no artwork or text appears. They help in pacing and transition between scenes or actions.
Speech Bubble: A graphic element that contains characters’ dialogue or thoughts. They come in various shapes and sizes to indicate different speakers or types of speech.
Thought Bubble: A speech bubble used specifically to convey a character’s inner thoughts rather than spoken dialogue.
Caption: Text boxes used to provide additional information, narration, or commentary in a comic panel.
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds associated with their meaning (e.g., “Bang,” “Pow,” “Boom”).
Word Balloon: The overall term for speech bubbles and thought bubbles.
Action Lines: Dynamic lines or streaks drawn to convey movement or action in a static image.
Keyframe: The primary drawing in a sequence that establishes a specific moment in a story.
Inking: The process of adding ink to the penciled artwork, defining lines, and preparing it for printing.
Penciling: The initial sketching and drawing of comic book artwork before inking and coloring.
Lettering: The process of adding text, including dialogue, captions, and sound effects, to comic book panels.
Cross-Hatching: A shading technique using intersecting lines to create various tones or textures.
Splash Panel: A large, single panel that takes up a significant portion of a comic book page, often used for dramatic effect or to showcase a pivotal moment.
Background: The setting or scenery behind the main characters and action in a panel or page.
Foreground: The part of the panel or page that appears closest to the viewer, often used to draw attention to specific elements.
Ink Wash: A technique that involves applying diluted ink to create a grayscale effect or add shading.
Letterer: The individual responsible for adding text, dialogue, and sound effects to comic book pages.
Storyboard: A sequence of drawings or panels used to plan the layout and progression of a comic book or graphic novel.
Layout: The arrangement of panels, text, and artwork on a comic book page.
Continuity: The consistency of the story and its elements across different issues or volumes of a comic book series.
Cover Art: The illustration or design featured on the front of a comic book, often used to attract readers’ attention.
Variant Cover: An alternate cover for a comic book issue, often created by a different artist from the primary cover.
Crossover: A storyline that involves characters from different comic book series or universes.
Retcon: Short for retroactive continuity, it refers to altering previously established facts or events in a story.
Backup Story: A secondary story included in a comic book issue alongside the main storyline.
Annual: A special, usually larger-sized issue of a comic book series released once a year.
One-Shot: A standalone comic book that is not part of an ongoing series.
Trade Paperback (TPB): A collection of comic book issues or story arcs bound together in book form.
Graphic Novel: A book-length comic that tells a complete story, often intended for a more mature audience.
Lettering Guide: Templates or tools used by letterers to ensure consistent text placement and size.
Balloon Tail: The pointer that connects a speech or thought bubble to the character speaking or thinking.
Colorist: The artist responsible for adding color to comic book artwork.
Cover Swipe: An illustration that imitates or pays homage to a famous comic book cover.
Diamond Distribution: A major distributor of comic books and related merchandise to retailers.
Solicitation: A pre-release description and information about upcoming comic book issues provided to retailers and readers.
Trade Dress: The consistent design elements (such as logos, fonts, and layouts) that identify a specific comic book series or publisher.
Manga: Japanese comic books or graphic novels with distinctive artistic and storytelling styles.
Sound Effects: Visual representations of sounds through words or symbols in a comic panel.
Editor: The individual responsible for overseeing the production and quality of a comic book.
Gag Strip: A short, humorous comic strip typically focusing on a single joke or punchline.
Publisher: The company responsible for producing and distributing comic books.
Indie Comics: Comic books produced by independent creators or smaller publishers.
Character Design: The process of creating the appearance and visual traits of a comic book character.
Fumetti: A style of comic storytelling that uses photographs with added captions and speech bubbles.
Pin-Up: An illustration of a character or scene, often included as a standalone image in a comic book.
Decompression: A storytelling technique that stretches storylines across multiple issues by focusing on smaller story elements.
Filler: Content included in a comic book to fill space, often unrelated to the main storyline.
Variant Edition: A different version of a comic book issue with alternate cover art, sometimes with additional content.
Bleed: Artwork or color that extends to the edge of a comic book page without a border.
Foil Cover: A comic book cover with metallic or reflective elements for added visual appeal.
Splash Spread: A double-page spread featuring a single, impactful image or scene.
Speed Lines: Lines used to convey movement or speed in a comic panel.
Halftone: A printing technique that uses dots to create gradients or shades of gray in comic book artwork.
Splashback: A flashback sequence presented in a single, visually striking panel or page.
Mini-Series: A limited series of comic book issues with a predetermined number of installments, usually telling a complete story.
Backup Feature: Additional content, such as a short story or character profile, included in a comic book issue.
Credits Page: A page in a comic book that lists the creators involved in producing the issue.
Ink Brush: A tool used by artists for inking, providing varying line thicknesses and textures.
Panel Layout: The arrangement of panels on a comic book page, determining the flow and pacing of the story.
Artist Alley: A section at comic book conventions where artists and creators showcase and sell their work.
Speech Balloon Tail: The part of a speech balloon that points to the character speaking.
Sound Effect Lettering: The stylized text used to represent various sounds within a comic panel.
Cover Price: The retail price printed on the cover of a comic book.
Glossy Cover: A comic book cover with a shiny, reflective finish.
Digital Comic: Comic book content available in digital format for reading on electronic devices.
Fan Art: Artwork created by fans based on existing comic book characters or stories.
Title Page: The page in a comic book that displays the title, issue number, and creative team.
Editorial Cartoon: A single-panel or strip cartoon that satirizes current events or political situations.
Anthology: A collection of comic book stories or series published together in a single book.
Mascot: A character or symbol associated with a particular comic book publisher.
Manhua: Chinese comic books or graphic novels.
Trade Dress Variation: Alterations in the design elements of a comic book cover while retaining brand identity.
Retelling: A new version of a previously told story with alterations in plot, characters, or setting.
Webcomic: A comic published primarily on the internet.
Variant Subscription Cover: A cover available exclusively to subscribers of a particular comic book series.
Exclusive Cover: A cover available only through specific retailers or events.
Cover Gallery: A section in a comic book featuring various cover art variants.
Trade-In: Exchanging older comics for credit towards purchasing new ones at comic book stores.
Special Edition: A version of a comic book with added content, such as interviews or behind-the-scenes features.
Sticker Variant: A comic book cover with an affixed sticker, often denoting a special feature or event.
Marvel Omnibus: A collection of multiple storylines or issues from a specific Marvel Comics series in a single, oversized volume.
Gutterless Layout: A comic page design that lacks traditional gutters between panels, creating a seamless visual flow.
Character Arc: The growth and development of a character’s personality and traits throughout a story.
Inktober: An annual challenge encouraging artists to create ink drawings throughout October, popular in the artistic community.
Editorial Direction: The overarching vision or theme guiding a comic book series.
Cameo Appearance: A brief appearance of a character in a comic book unrelated to the main storyline.
Dailies: Comic strips published daily in newspapers.
Spinner Rack: Rotating display racks used in stores to showcase and sell comic books.
Trade Dress Logo: The consistent logo design used on comic book covers to signify a particular series or publisher.
Hardcover Edition: A sturdy, durable format of a comic book collected in a hardbound book.
Dynamic Posing: Artistic depiction of characters in action-oriented or visually striking poses.
Creator-Owned: Comic book properties wholly owned by their creators rather than the publishing company.
Foreign Edition: Translated versions of comic books for international markets.
Lettering Font: The style of typeface used for text in a comic book.
Artist Signature: The artist’s personalized mark or name often found on comic book artwork.
Variant Logo: A different version of a series logo or title design used on special comic book editions.
Splash Art: Highly detailed and visually impressive illustrations used for promotional purposes or covers.
Back Matter: Additional content included at the end of a comic book, such as creator interviews, sketches, or previews.
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