Since I talk about comics a lot I thought I'd give a little run down on what they're all about just in case there are some people who starting to get into them.
The Terms
Comic Book is used as a general term but there is so much more behind it.- Single Issue: These are the magazine like issues that are around 30 pages with staples holding it all together. You can think of these as the episodes of a show or chapters of a book. I feel like people hardly buy these anymore unless they are collectors or they are really into the story and want to be able to read it right away. Most people that I know wait until they come out in a collected edition.
- Collected Edition: This is where multiple single issues are put together to make one or more story arcs. These would be the seasons of a show or a book in a series. For example, the Batman Gothic story collects Legends of the Dark Knight issues 6-10. Anywhere before or after those issues is part of a different story arc. This is what most people go for because it is a bit cheaper and easier to read because it's all there for you to read. Sometimes a story might include single issues from a multiple lines of comics, collected editions will organize and include even the random issues that might be necessary for the story.
- Trade Paperback: This is exactly what it sounds like, a paperback collected edition. Collects about 6-10 single issues and is often called a "trade".
- Hardcover: Same as a trade paperback, only hardcover. Sometimes it might collect a few more single issues than the trade paperback.
- Graphic Novel: People might use this word as a fancier term for comic but I use it strictly to describe an Original Graphic Novel. OGN is a collected edition paperback/hardcover that did not originally come out in single issues. So in other words the story all comes out at once in either a paperback or hardcover form.
- Mini Series: A story with a set number of issues, not part of a giant series with multiple stories. This series contains the beginning and end of the story.
- One-Shot: A story that takes place in one issue.
- Variant Cover: Single issues with a different cover than the original, usually done by a different artist.
- Crossover: When two different stories come together through multiple titles to create one storyline.
- Event: A giant crossover story that usually includes multiple characters and has an impact on future titles.
The Publishers
The Big Two- DC Comics: This is your Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Flash, Wonder Woman, etc. DC was founded in 1934 as National Allied Publications, they later changing their name to DC after its popular series Detective Comics.
- Marvel Comics: Here we have Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Wolverine, etc. Marvel was founded in 1939 as Timley Publications, they later were known as Atlas Comics until finally becoming Marvel the same year they launched The Fantastic Four.
Other Publishers That Have Made a Name for Themselves:
- Dark Horse Comics: Founded in 1986 this company is responsible for comics like Sin City, Hellboy, Aliens, The Thing, Terminator, Star Wars, etc.
- Image Comics: Founded in 1992 after multiple illustrators had a dispute with Marvel, this company has been successful with Spawn, The Crow, The Walking Dead, Saga, etc.
- IDW Publishing: IDW or Idea & Design Works was formed in 1999 and has given us titles such as Doctor Who, 30 Days of Night, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, etc
- Vertigo Comics: Vertigo is an imprint of DC Comics and was created in 1993 originally so they could release more graphic content. We can thank Vertigo (& DC) for titles such as The Sandman, Fables, Hellblazer, iZombie, Constantine, Swamp Thing, etc.
There are many more but these are the ones that I see as the most popular or familiar.
Where to Get Them
Physical Comics:
- Your local comic book shop is the perfect place to find single issues, collected editions, and graphic novels. If you live in a city where the comics go fast, you could set up a pull list to make sure you get all the issues you're wanting. You can locate where the nearest shop is to you using this website:
- Book shops, local and chain. Barnes & Noble specifically has been expanding their comic and manga sections. This is going to be collected editions & graphic novels only, they do not have single issues. For local book shops, you might stumble on a few single issues but most of the time it's going to be collected editions.
- Garage Sales & Thrift/Vintage Shops. I have found a ridiculous amount of my single issues and even collected editions at garage sales or from people on sites like craigslist. The best thing about going to these places are that 1. you never know what you are going to get (unless you go through every single issue) & 2. you can haggle the price. I've gotten deals like $4 for 40 comics or $30 for 150 comics.
- Amazon/Ebay. You can buy physical comics online, I have never personally done it so I can't tell you if it's reliable or anything but the option is there.
- Library! If you don't want to spend money on comics you can go to your local library and from what I've seen they have a decent amount of collected editions and graphic novels. Even if they don't have them there, I bet they'd order some for you if you know the titles.
Digital Comics:
These are an easier and cheaper way to read comics BUT it's not the best way to read them if you don't have a kindle, tablet, or one of those ridiculously huge phones. I suppose you could read it on a computer if you had an application or on your phone if you don't mind pinching to zoom into the tiny text of each page.- Comixology: An app that has a gigantic selection of comics both single issues and the collected editions. It is easy to navigate, buy, and read on.
- Publisher Specific Apps: There is a Marvel app, DC app, Dark Horse app, etc. All of these are almost exactly like the Comixology app only for their specific publishers.
- Amazon: You can buy and send collected editions to your devices or just download it to your computer.
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