A
Action Figure
A small-scale, posable figurine, often based on characters from comic books.
Adventure Comics
A genre focusing on exciting and often perilous journeys or quests.
Alien
A character originating from a world other than Earth, often with unique abilities or features.
Alignment
A character’s moral compass, typically categorized as good, neutral, or evil.
All ages
Content suitable for readers of all ages, lacking mature themes or explicit material.
Alternate Universe
A separate realm or reality in which characters and events differ from the original.
Animation
The technique of creating a sequence of images to produce motion, often adapted from comic stories.
Anthology
A collection of short stories, often by multiple authors, compiled in a single volume.
Anthropomorphism
The attribution of human traits to non-human entities, common in comic characters.
Anti-Hero
A protagonist lacking traditional heroic qualities, such as moral integrity.
Arch-Villain
The main antagonist in a story, often the hero’s chief opponent.
Archetype
A recurring symbol, theme, or character type in storytelling.
Art style
The unique visual elements that distinguish a comic, including line work, color, and composition.
Artist (Comic Book)
An individual responsible for the visual elements in a comic, such as illustrations and layouts.
Artwork
The collective visual components that make up a comic book.
B
Back Issue
Older editions of a comic book series, often collected by enthusiasts.
Background
The setting or environment in which the action of a comic takes place.
Background Artist
An artist specializing in creating the environments and settings in a comic book.
Balloon (Speech/Thought)
Rounded or oval shapes containing characters’ dialogue or thoughts in a comic.
Binge-Read
The act of reading multiple issues or volumes of a comic in a single sitting.
Biographic
A genre focusing on the life story of a real person, can be adapted into comic form.
Blank Variant
A comic book with a blank cover, often used for custom art or autographs.
Bleed
When an image extends to the edge of the printed page in a comic book.
Body Horror
A subgenre focusing on deformity, mutation, or the malleability of the human form.
Border
The frame around a panel or a page in a comic book.
Breakdowns
Preliminary sketches outlining the arrangement of panels and elements in a comic book page.
Bronze Age
A period in comic history (approximately 1970–1985) marked by darker themes and more complex characters.
Bubble
See “Balloon (Speech/Thought).” Usually used interchangeably.
C
Callout
Text or symbols used to draw attention to specific parts of an image or panel, often for emphasis or explanation.
Cameo Appearance
Brief appearance of a character or real person in a comic, often not directly related to the main story.
Canon
Officially recognized events and details in a story universe
Caption
Text that provides narration or context
Cartooning
The art of creating images that tell a story or represent an idea, fundamental to comic book art.
Colorist
Artist responsible for adding color
Comedy
A genre that focuses on humor and often aims to entertain and amuse.
Comic-Con
Short for “Comic Book Convention,” a gathering for fans of comics and related media.
Composition
The arrangement of elements within a work of art.
Continuity
Consistent history or timeline across issues or series
Conundrum
A confusing and difficult problem or question. Relevant for plots and storylines in comic books.
Cosplay
The practice of dressing up as a character from comics, movies, or other media.
Cover Artist
The artist responsible for creating the artwork for the front cover of a comic book.
Creator
The individual or team responsible for originating a comic’s concept, characters, and/or storyline.
Crossover
Storyline that spans multiple series or characters
Cult Following
A dedicated fan base that may be smaller in size but is highly devoted to a particular comic or series.
Canon:
Officially recognized events and details in a story universe.
D
Dailies
Comic strips published on a daily basis, usually in newspapers.
Dark Horse
An American comic book publishing company known for titles like “Hellboy” and “Sin City.”
DC Comics
An American comic book publisher, famous for characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Decompressed
A storytelling technique that stretches action or scenes across more pages for emphasis.
Deconstruction
Analyzing or breaking down traditional conventions and tropes, often to critique or redefine them.
Dialogue
The written conversational exchange between characters in a comic.
Die-Cut Cover
A comic book cover with portions cut out to reveal underlying art or text.
Diegesis
The world in which the story takes place, including events, characters, objects, and settings.
Digital Comics
Comics that are published and read in digital format, often available through various platforms.
Direct Market Edition
Comics distributed directly to specialty stores, bypassing traditional magazine distribution methods.
Distribution
The act of supplying and delivering comics to retail stores or consumers.
Doodle
A simple, spontaneous drawing, often lacking detailed planning.
Double-Page Spread
An image or layout that extends across two facing pages in a comic book.
Draftsman
An artist skilled in drawing, often technical or detailed work.
Drawn (Pencilled)
The process of creating initial sketches for a comic, typically done in pencil.
Dynamic Framing
The use of varied camera angles and perspectives in a comic to add energy and movement.
Dystopian
A genre focused on a future society characterized by suffering, injustice, or post-apocalyptic settings.
E
Easter egg
Hidden references, jokes, or secrets embedded within a comic for attentive readers to discover.
Editor
Person who oversees production and content
Editorial Cartoon
A cartoon published as a commentary on current events, usually in a newspaper or magazine.
Eisner Award
An annual award recognizing achievements in the American comic book industry, named after Will Eisner.
Elseworlds
An imprint from DC Comics featuring stories that take place outside the main continuity.
Emblem
A symbol or design representing a character, group, or concept, often displayed on costumes or logos.
Encapsulation
The art of distilling a scene or sequence into a single comic book panel.
Endpaper
Sheets of paper glued to the inside covers of hardcover books, including some graphic novels and comic collections.
Environment
The setting or backdrop where the comic story takes place, including landscapes, buildings, and interiors.
Epic
A genre or storytelling approach characterized by grand scale, complex characters, and significant stakes.
Episodic
A story structure where each installment is a self-contained story while contributing to an overarching narrative.
Era
A distinct period in the history or development of comics, often marked by stylistic or thematic elements.
Event (Comic Book)
A significant storyline that spans multiple issues and often involves several characters or teams.
Exposition
Information conveyed through dialogue or narration to provide background on the plot, characters, or setting.
Expressionism
An art style focusing on representing emotional experience rather than physical reality, occasionally seen in comics.
Extended universe
Additional media like films, television shows, or novels that expand upon the world of the original comic.
Eye-Trail
The path that a reader’s eyes follow when reading a comic page, influenced by layout and design.
F
Fan Art
Artworks created by fans of a particular comic, character, or franchise, usually for non-commercial purposes.
Fan Fiction
Stories written by fans that feature characters or settings from an original work, like a comic series.
Fandom
The community of fans that engage with a particular comic, character, or franchise.
Fantasy
Comics that fall under the fantasy genre, often featuring magic, mythical creatures, and fantastical settings.
Fantasy Comics
A genre that features magical or supernatural elements, often set in imaginary worlds.
Fanzine
A non-professional publication produced by fans of a particular comic, character, or franchise.
Filler
Material used to occupy space in a comic, often less relevant to the main storyline.
Final Art
The finished, polished artwork that appears in the published version of a comic.
Flashback
A scene depicting events that occurred prior to the current action in a comic.
Font
The style and size of text used for dialogue, narration, and other textual elements in a comic.
Foreshadowing
Hints or clues about events that will occur later in the comic’s storyline.
Format
The size, layout, and presentation style of a comic book or graphic novel.
Fourth Wall
The imaginary boundary separating the characters from the audience; breaking it involves characters acknowledging their fictional nature.
Full Figure
A drawing of a character that includes their entire body, as opposed to just a portrait or bust.
Fumetti
A type of comic that uses photographs instead of illustrations for its panels.
Funny animal
Characters that are anthropomorphic animals with human traits, usually in humorous settings.
Furry
A subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters, also a genre featuring these characters in various media including comics.
G
Gag
A single-panel cartoon that contains a joke or humorous observation, often unrelated to a larger narrative.
Gag Cartoon
A joke or humorous element, often a single-panel cartoon or a short sequence within a comic.
Galactic
Pertaining to outer space or galaxies, often used in science fiction comics.
Gallery
A collection or exhibition of artworks, including comic art, usually for public viewing or sale.
Genre
A category of art, music, or literature, including comics, defined by its subject matter, style, or form.
Gesture
A movement or position of part of the body to express an idea or meaning, often exaggerated in comics for emphasis.
Ghost Artist
An artist who creates work credited to another, often more famous, artist.
Golden Age
A period in comic book history from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, marked by the emergence of iconic superheroes.
Graded Comic
A comic book evaluated for its condition and given a numerical grade by professional grading services.
Graphiation
The visual representation of a narrative, capturing how the story is told through graphical elements in comics.
Graphic Design
The art and practice of visual communication, relevant to the layout and presentation of comic books.
Graphic Novel
Long-form comic book, often with a complete story
Graphic Storytelling
The use of images, and often text, to narrate a story, as in a comic book or graphic novel.
Grid Layout
The arrangement of comic panels in a grid pattern, often used for clarity and easy reading flow.
GrimDark
A subgenre characterized by a grim, dark tone and a focus on the complexities and moral ambiguities of characters and settings.
Gutter
The space between panels
H
Halftone
A printing technique that simulates shades of gray by varying the size and spacing of tiny dots.
Hall of Fame
An honorary list recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to a particular field, including comics.
Hardcover
A book bound with rigid protective covers, often used for collected editions of comics.
Hatching
A technique of shading using closely spaced parallel lines, common in inked comic art.
Head Shot
A drawing focused on a character’s head, often used for promotional materials or character design.
Heartbreak
Emotional pain or suffering, often depicted in dramatic or romantic comic storylines.
Hero
A character who performs brave or noble actions; the protagonist in many comic narratives.
Hidden
Concealed or not easily noticed, often used in the context of Easter eggs or secret messages in comics.
Historical
Pertaining to real past events, often adapted into a comic book format for educational or dramatic purposes.
Homage
A comic book cover designed to pay tribute to a classic or iconic cover from the past.
Homage Cover
A work that pays respect or tribute to another work, artist, or style.
Horror
Comics that belong to the horror genre, often featuring supernatural elements, monsters, or suspenseful situations.
Horror Comics
A genre designed to create feelings of fear or dread.
Human Interest Story
A story that focuses on individual experiences or emotional aspects, often inspiring empathy or understanding.
Humor
The quality of being amusing or comic, often a genre in comics designed to entertain and amuse.
Hybrid
A combination of different elements, genres, or media, often seen in experimental comics.
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims for effect, commonly used in humor or to heighten drama in comics.
Hyperrealism
An art style characterized by extremely detailed and lifelike depictions, less common but occasionally seen in comics.
I
Icon
A symbol or character that has achieved lasting recognition and significance, often in the context of comics and pop culture.
Iconography
The visual images and symbols used in a work of art or a study or collection of these symbols.
Illustration
A drawing or picture used to visually represent a story, idea, or concept.
Illustrator
An artist who specializes in creating illustrations, often in the context of comic books or related media.
Imagery
The visual elements in a work of art, including illustrations and designs in a comic.
Imprint
A brand or line of comics under the umbrella of a larger publishing company, often with a specific focus or target audience.
In-Continuity
Events or stories that are considered part of the official timeline or canon of a series.
Indie
Comics produced and distributed by independent creators or smaller publishing houses.
Indie Comics
Independent or non-mainstream, often referring to comics produced outside major publishing houses.
Infographic
Visual representation of information or data, usually presented in a simplified or schematic form.
Ink
A liquid or paste used for writing, printing, or drawing, crucial for the inking stage of comic production.
Inked
Refers to the comic art that has been finalized with ink, often after initial pencil sketches.
Inker
Artist who traces over pencil drawings in ink
Inking
The process of finalizing pencil sketches with ink to prepare them for coloring and printing.
Intercompany Crossover
A story that features characters from different comic book companies interacting within the same narrative.
Iron Age
An informal term for comics from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, characterized by darker themes and more complex characters.
Irony
A literary or rhetorical device where the actual meaning is opposite to that expressed in words, often used for humor or emphasis.
Issue
A single, serialized installment of a comic book series.
J
Japanese Manga
A style of comic books and graphic novels originating from Japan, often serialized before collected in volumes.
Japanimation
An older term, largely replaced by “anime,” referring to animated works produced in Japan.
Jargon
Specialized vocabulary or terminology used in a particular field, including comics.
Jetpack
A device commonly used in science fiction comics, allowing characters to fly through the use of jets of gas or liquid.
Job Number
An identification number assigned to a project, often used for tracking in professional comic production.
Joint
Refers to the point of articulation in action figures, or a collaboration between creators in comics.
Jokester
A character whose main role is to provide humor, often through jokes or comedic acts.
Jokey
A term describing a humorous or light-hearted tone, often applied to certain kinds of comics or characters.
Journal
A periodical or record, often scholarly, that may include discussions or analyses of comics.
Journey
A character’s progression or path through a story, often involving challenges and growth.
Jump Cut
A sudden transition, often used in comics to show a scene change or the passage of time.
Jumper
A character or object that moves suddenly or quickly, often used for dramatic effect in comics.
Juncture
A critical point or moment in a storyline, often signaling a change or climax.
Justice
A common theme in superhero comics, representing fairness, law, and moral rightness.
Juvenile
Aimed at or appropriate for children and younger readers, often a category in comics.
Juxtaposition
The act of placing things next to each other for contrasting effect, common in comic layouts to create meaning or tension.
K
Kabuki
A traditional Japanese performing art; its dramatic themes and stylizations have influenced some comics.
Kamishi
A form of Japanese street theater and storytelling that has been considered a precursor to manga.
Kawaii
A Japanese term for “cute,” often used to describe a particular style of characters in manga and anime.
Key Issue
A comic book issue of significant importance due to a first appearance, major storyline, or other notable factor.
Kickstarter
A crowdfunding platform often used to fund independent comic book projects.
Kill Fee
A fee paid to a freelancer if their commissioned work is completed but not used.
Kinetic
Relating to motion; in comics, often refers to the dynamic depiction of action or movement.
Kirby Dots
A stylistic technique of representing energy or power, popularized by comic artist Jack Kirby.
Kirbytek
A slang term for the distinctive, often technical or futuristic, elements in the art of Jack Kirby.
Kismet
Fate or destiny, often a theme explored in various genres of comics.
Knockout
A character or scene designed to be especially impressive or impactful.
Krackle
A stylistic way to represent energy, sound, or magical effects in comic art; similar to Kirby Dots.
Krypton
A fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, the home world of Superman.
L
Lampoon
A form of satire that mocks or ridicules a subject; may appear in comedic or satirical comics.
Landscape
A horizontal orientation of artwork; can be used in some comic layouts.
Lasso
A looped rope used for catching animals; often seen in Western or action comics, also a weapon of Wonder Woman.
Layout
The arrangement of visual elements on a comic book page.
Lead Character
The primary focus of a story, usually the protagonist.
Legacy Character
A character who takes on the role or mantle of an existing character, common in superhero comics.
Legend
Textual information explaining symbols or references in a comic, or a traditional story that may inspire or appear in comics.
Leitmotif
A recurring theme or element, more common in music but can apply to recurring themes in comics.
Letterer
Artist responsible for adding text elements
Lettering
The craft of adding letters for dialogues, captions, and other textual elements in comics.
Licensed Property
A comic book based on characters or settings from another medium, like movies or TV shows.
Limited
A comic book series with a predetermined number of issues, often telling a complete story.
Limited Series
Often used to describe a comic series with a predetermined number of issues.
Linework
The outline or structure created by drawn lines in the artwork.
Literature
Written works, including comics, that are considered to have artistic or intellectual value.
Logo
A graphical symbol or text used to identify a comic book title or brand.
Longbox
A storage box designed to hold comic books in an upright position.
Lore
The accumulated facts, traditions, or beliefs about a particular subject, often the backstory or world-building in comics.
Love interest
A character who serves as a romantic partner for the lead character in the story.
M
MacGuffin
An object or goal that serves to move the plot forward, commonly used in storytelling including comics.
Manga
A style of comic book or graphic novel originating from Japan.
Manifesto
A public declaration of intentions or beliefs; uncommon but can appear in politically-oriented comics.
Marvel
A major American comic book publisher known for characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers.
Meme
An idea, behavior, or style that spreads within a culture, sometimes inspired by or originating from comics.
Metaphor
A figure of speech that describes an object or action as something other than what it is; often used in comic storytelling.
Mindscape
A mental or psychological setting, often depicted abstractly in comics to explore a character’s inner world.
Mini-Series
A short comic book series with a limited number of issues.
Mixed media
Artwork that combines various traditional and non-traditional media; can appear in experimental comics.
Modern Age
The most recent period in comic book history, generally considered to have started in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
Monologue
A long speech by a single character, sometimes used in comics for introspection or exposition.
Montage
A collection of images or scenes that are linked to create a single concept or theme; occasionally used in comics.
Motion Comic
A form of comics where the artwork is given limited animation, often with voice-over or music.
Motion lines
Lines used in artwork to indicate movement or speed.
Multiverse
A collection of alternate universes, commonly explored in science fiction and superhero comics.
Mystery
Comics that focus on solving secrets or crimes, part of the mystery genre.
Mystery Comics
A genre involving the solving of secrets or crimes; common in detective comics.
Mythology
A collection of myths or traditional stories, often inspiring or appearing in fantasy comics.
N
Narrative
The structured story or account of events that are represented in a work, including comics.
Nebula
A cloud of gas or dust in space; may appear in science fiction comics.
Negative Space
The space around and between the subject(s) of an image, important in comic art composition.
Neologism
A newly coined word or phrase; may appear in comics to create a sense of a different world or setting.
Niche
A specialized segment of the market or audience.
Noir
A genre characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity; exists in comics as crime or detective noir.
Nom de Plume
A pseudonym used by writers, including comic book writers.
Non-Sequential Art
Art that doesn’t rely on a sequence of images to convey a story; not typical of mainstream comics.
Nonfiction
Factual works, including comics that are based on real events or truths.
Nostalgia
A sentimental longing for the past, often leveraged in reboots or adaptations of older comics.
Novelization
The adaptation of a work into novel form; can happen with comics but is more common with films.
Nuance
A subtle or slight degree of difference, often in meaning, tone, or feeling; relevant to storytelling and art in comics.
Numbering
The system used to identify the order of comic book issues.
O
Obscure
Not well-known; can refer to lesser-known characters or comics.
Offset Printing
A commonly used printing technique where the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface.
Omake
An extra or bonus comic, story, or material often found in Manga.
Omnibus
A collection of works by one author or multiple works within one series in a single volume.
Omniscient
All-knowing; often refers to a type of narrator in storytelling.
One-Shot
A comic book that is published as a single, standalone issue.
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate sounds
Opener
The first page or first few pages of a comic, designed to draw the reader into the story.
Origin Story
A narrative detailing the background or origins of a character or setting.
Outline
A brief description or summary of the main points of a storyline or script.
Overlay
A layer of material or image placed over a base layer; used in digital and traditional comic art.
Overprinting
Printing one color over another; more relevant to the printing process of comics.
Oversize
Larger than standard size; can refer to special editions of comics.
Overstreet
Refers to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, a widely used resource for comic book pricing.
P
Pacing
The speed and timing of a narrative or story.
Panel
A single drawing on a page
Parody
A work designed to mock or humorously imitate another work.
Pastiche
A work that is an imitation of the style of another artist, writer, or period; not meant to mock like a parody.
Penciler
Artist who creates initial drawings
Perspective
The representation of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface; critical in comic art.
Piracy
The unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted material, including comics.
Plot
The sequence of events in a story.
Plotline
The narrative structure of a story, often considered in terms of its arc.
Pop Art
An art movement that draws from popular culture and media, including comics.
Prequel
A work that precedes the events of an existing work.
Print Run
The number of copies of a book or comic that are printed in a single batch.
Profile View
A side view of a character or object, used for different storytelling effects in comics.
Protagonist
The main character in a story, usually faces a conflict that is resolved during the course of the story.
Publisher
The company or individual responsible for the production and distribution of a comic book.
Q
Quadrant
A section of a page, often used in discussing the layout of comic book panels.
Quadrinhos
Portuguese term for comics.
Quality
A defunct American comic book publishing company, active from 1937 to 1956.
Quality Comics
Refers to the grade or condition of a comic book, also a descriptor for artistic or storytelling merit.
Quarter Bin
A bin where comics are sold for a quarter, usually older or overstocked issues.
Quasar
A very luminous object in space; can appear in science fiction comics.
Queer
Term used to describe sexual and gender minorities; relevant in comics that address LGBTQ+ themes.
Quest
A long or arduous search for something; a common narrative element in adventure comics.
Quicksilver
A Marvel Comics character, also known as Pietro Maximoff.
Quiet Panel
A comic panel with little to no dialogue or sound effects, focusing on visual storytelling.
Quip
A witty or funny comment or remark, often used in dialogue in comics.
Quirk
A peculiar behavioral habit; can describe characteristics of comic characters.
Quirky
Describes something that is odd or unique, can be used to describe art style or characters in comics.
Quotation
The repetition of someone else’s statement or thoughts; could appear in dialogue or narration in comics.
Quote Box
A box within a comic panel that contains a direct quote or piece of narration.
R
Reader
The person who reads the comic book.
Realism
An artistic movement aiming to represent subject matter truthfully; can be a style choice in comics.
Reboot
The restarting or refreshing of a character or series for new stories or continuity.
Recolor
To change the colors of previously created artwork.
Reimagining
A new interpretation or version of a previously existing work or character.
Relaunch
The reintroduction of a comic book series, often with new numbering or focus.
Renaissance
A revival or renewed interest; can describe periods in comic book history, e.g., “the Silver Age renaissance.”
Rendering
The process of adding color, shading, and texture to a drawing.
Resolution
The ending or conclusion of a storyline.
Retcon
A change in previously established facts or events
Rival
A character in competition with or opposed to the protagonist.
Romance
Comics that primarily deal with romantic relationships.
Romance Comics
A genre that focuses on love relationships.
Roughs
Preliminary sketches used in planning the layout and elements of a comic page.
Royalties
Payments made to authors or artists based on sales of their work.
S
Sci-Fi (Science Fiction)
A genre that deals with speculative concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, and parallel universes.
Self-publishing
The act of publishing one’s own work, often without the involvement of a major publishing house.
Sequential Art
The use of a sequence of images to convey a narrative or express an idea.
Sidekick
A secondary character who assists or accompanies the main character.
Silver Age
A period in comic book history from the late 1950s to early 1970s marked by a resurgence of superhero titles.
Sketch
A quick, informal drawing, often part of the preparatory process for comics.
Speculative Fiction
A broad genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical, or futuristic elements.
Speech Bubble
Rounded or oval-shaped enclosure for characters’ dialogue
Splash Page
A full-page drawing in a comic book
Spread
Two facing pages of a comic, often designed to work together visually and narratively.
Story Arc
A self-contained storyline within a series of comic books.
Storyboard
A visual representation outlining the sequence of events in a story, often used in planning comics.
Style
The unique way an artist or writer approaches their craft, often identifiable across different works.
Superhero
A character with extraordinary powers, often tasked with protecting the public.
Syndication
The practice of selling the right to publish comics to multiple publications.
T
Thought Bubble:
Cloud-shaped enclosure for characters’ thoughts.
Template
A preset format or structure, used for designing comic layouts or elements.
Thought Bubble
Cloud-shaped enclosure for characters’ thoughts
Thriller
A genre characterized by suspense, tension, and excitement.
Thumbnail Sketches
Small, preliminary sketches to plan the layout and elements of a comic page.
Tie-In
A comic that is directly linked to another form of media, like movies, TV shows, or video games.
Tone
The general mood or emotional quality of a comic.
Trade Paperback
Collection of comic book issues in one volume
Tragic Hero
A protagonist with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.
Transition
The process or a moment of changing from one state or condition to another, often used in discussing narrative flow between comic panels.
Trend
A general direction or movement, often referring to popular themes or styles in comics.
Tribute
An expression of respect or admiration, often through art or storytelling.
Trilogy
A series of three related works, not a standard term in comics but could apply to some series.
Tropes
Recurring themes or elements commonly found in storytelling.
Turtleverse
Refers to the fictional universe in which the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” exist.
Two-Shot
A panel featuring two characters, often used for dialogues or confrontations.
Typesetting
The process of arranging text for printing.
Typography
The art or procedure of arranging type or processing data and printing from it.
U
Uncanny
Describing something strange or mysterious, often used in the context of a character or atmosphere.
Uncolored
Referring to comic art that has not yet been colored, usually just inked or sketched.
Uncut Sheet
A full sheet of printed comic pages before they are cut into individual pages.
Underdrawing
Preliminary drawing used as a base for the final work.
Underground
Referring to comics produced outside the mainstream industry, often with unconventional themes.
Underground Comics
Comics produced independently of the mainstream comic industry, often tackling taboo or controversial subjects.
Unity
The feeling of wholeness in a piece of art, where all elements work together coherently.
Universe (as in Marvel Universe, DC Universe, etc
The fictional setting where a comic series takes place, often part of a larger shared universe.
Unlettered
Comic art that has not yet had text added.
Unorthodox
Something that deviates from what is standard or customary.
Unpublished
Work that has been created but not yet made publicly available.
Unresolved Ending
An ending that leaves key questions unanswered or conflicts unsettled.
Urban Fantasy
A sub-genre of fantasy that uses magical elements in a real-world, urban setting.
V
Vanity Press
A publishing house in which authors pay to have their works published.
Variant Cover
Alternative cover art for a particular issue
Vector Art
Art created using vector graphics software, scalable without loss of quality.
Vertigo
An imprint of DC Comics that specializes in mature, edgy content.
Viewpoint
The position from which something is observed or considered.
Vignette
A brief, descriptive scene or story.
Villain
A character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot.
Vintage
Denoting something from the past of high quality, particularly something representing the best of its kind.
Violence
The use of physical force intended to harm.
Visual Narrative
Storytelling through visual means, such as comics or graphic novels.
Voice-Over
Text in a comic that represents narration, not dialogue.
Volume
A collection of issues of a comic book series, typically bound in book form.
W
Wacky
Funny or amusing in a slightly odd way.
Wallbreaker
A character who “breaks the fourth wall” and interacts with the audience or shows awareness of being a fictional character.
Webcomic
A comic published primarily or exclusively on the internet.
Western
A genre that tells stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West.
White Space
Areas of a page without text or graphics.
Whodunit
A complex plot-oriented story that features a mystery.
Wide Shot
A panel that shows a broad view, often used for setting the scene.
Word Balloon
Rounded or oval-shaped containers for characters’ spoken dialogue in comics.
Work-for-Hire
A contractual arrangement where the creator does not retain rights to their work, which belongs to the hiring party.
Worldbuilding
The process of constructing the setting of a fictional world.
Wraparound Cover
A cover image that extends around to the back of the book.
Writer
The person responsible for creating the narrative of a comic book.
X
X-axis
In visual storytelling, refers to the horizontal axis on which elements can move or be arranged, relevant for layout design in comics.
X-force
A team of superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe.
X-height
In typography, the height of lowercase letters, relevant in lettering comics.
X-Men
A team of superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe, focused on characters with mutations that give them special abilities.
X-O Manowar
A comic book series published by Valiant Comics, featuring a superhero in a powered armor.
X-over
Slang for “crossover,” an event where characters or settings from different series interact.
X-rated
Intended for adult audiences, may refer to content that is sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise mature.
Xeric Foundation
An organization that provided grants to comic book creators and other artists.
Xeric Grant
A grant provided by the Xeric Foundation to support comic artists.
Y
Year One (as in Batman: Year One)
A term often used in comics to describe a character’s first year of activity, like “Batman: Year One”
Yellowing
The aging or deterioration of paper, relevant to the preservation of comic books.
Yelp
A sharp cry, often expressive of a brief, intense emotion; may be depicted in comics.
Yonkoma
A four-panel comic strip format commonly used in Japan.
Young Adult
A category of audience targeting readers typically between the ages of 12 and 18.
Young Heroes
Usually refers to a team or group of young superhero characters in comics.
Young Readers
A category of comics intended for children or preteens.
Z
Zany
Characterized by ludicrous, incongruous humor; may describe certain comedy comics.
Zap
A sound effect often used to indicate a sudden action or impact in comics.
Zero Issue
An issue of a comic book series that precedes the main run, often providing background or setting up the story.
Zig-Zagging
Changing direction or position frequently, often used to describe a convoluted plot or action sequence in comics.
Zine
A small-circulation, self-published work, often featuring comics, artwork, and writing.
Zip
A term for speed or energy, often used as a sound effect in comics.
Zombie Apocalypse
A catastrophic event in which zombies overrun civilization, a common theme in horror comics.
Zoom
A fast movement towards or away from an object, relevant for describing framing or action in comics.
Zzz
A symbol commonly used in comics to indicate that a character is sleeping.
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