What to Read After Watchmen > Glossary
Glossary
Artist
The artist for a comic book may fill one or more of three main functions (penciler, inker, or colorist), and may or may not also be the author of the work. Many independent comic authors fill all functions themselves. For high-production works, one or more artists may be tasked with any function.1
Colorist
The colorist adds color to the inked pages, using any number of tools including inks, acrylics, watercolors, or graphic art software.1
Comic
See: Comic book.
Comic Book
A comic book may be any medium or format which juxtaposes words and images in narrative form. Traditionally, a North American comic book is serially issued with a stapled spine and 32 color or black and white pages. Today, the term "comic book" is used more broadly and may refer to any format including trade paperbacks, or collected editions. All graphic novels are comic books, but not all comic books are graphic novels.1 Scott McCloud defines a comic as "Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer."3
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Comic Strip
"The comic strip presents a single idea – often but not always a joke or gag – that unfolds across several panels (usually three to five)."2
Comics
"The plural of comic is typically used as a singular (as 'politics' is) to refer to the entire medium or industry. Hence, 'comics industry' or 'comics creators.'"1
Composition
Refers to the overall assembly of visual images and text at either the panel or page level. Effective composition will convey the feeling desired by the writes(s) and artist(s), and allow readers to navigate each element without confusion.
Creative Team
The group of individuals responsible for the creation of the comic, usually consisting of the writer(s) and artist(s).
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Editor
As in the book publishing industry, the editor may have any level of responsibility in the development of a comic. He or she may simply correct grammar, spelling, and stylistic errors, or may have creative input in terms of the direction of the storyline or development of characters throughout a series.1
Eisner Awards
"The annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards recognize the finest stories, publications, and creators in the medium. The awards are named for Will Eisner, the writer/artist credited with creating the graphic storytelling format of the graphic novel, which showed the world that comics were more than just 'funny books' that told only superhero stories."1
Fotonovela
"The fotonovela may be comic book-like in its serial nature, or closed-ended, as is the graphic novel, but it is told through camera snapshots rather than drawing."2
Graphic Novel
A graphic novel typically has a longer, non-serialized narrative packaged within a small number of high-production volumes. However, there are exceptions as when a serialized but self-contained comic series is republished in graphic novel format, as with Watchmen, or book-format continuing series are published. Commonly abbreviated as GN. Original Graphic Novels (OGN) are first published in book-length format, rather than a series which is rereleased in the format.
"Increasingly, the term ‘graphic novels’ is used to include graphic nonfiction such as autobiography, reportage, and historical work. (The term ‘graphic narrative’ is gaining ground as an alternative.)" 4
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Grid
The layout of a comic is traditionally a grid-pattern of panels. Watchmen is known for its effective use of the nine-panel grid.
Gutter
The white space between each panel, including the fold between pages in a book.
HC
Hardcover
Independent
"Initially used to describe any comic book that was not published by the two major publishers, DC and Marvel. The term has come to encompass a broad range of material."1
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Layout
"The design elements that make up a comic book page."1 This may include the shape and placement of panels, the size and design of borders and the relationship between image and text. Layout is critical to the overall impression of a comic book spread.
Letterer
The artist who draws the words found in word balloons. He or she may also be responsible for drawing textual sound effects. Today, many creative teams forego hand lettering and develop a font for use in graphics design software.
Mainstream
"In the comic book industry, this refers to comic books that appeal not to the mass market mainstream but to mainstream comic book readers. As a result, the term usually denotes superhero comics and similar fare."1
Manga
The Japanese term for comic book. Mainstream manga is typically associated with a particular artistic style: black and white with exaggerated expressions, particular emotional signifiers, and large-eyed characters. Manga, however, encompasses all Japanese comics, and may not conform to these characteristics.
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Manwha
The Korean term for comic book.
Page
"A page is made up of panels. Each page in a comic book, when rendered properly, is a piece of art greater than the sum of its parts. A good comic book artist will consider pacing, time, and story flow when composing the page, so that the page conveys the mood and tone of the story appropriately."1
Panel
"A panel is a portion of a comic book page that is separated from other portions of the page. A single panel typically represents a moment in time, a single action, or a setting. The panel is the basic unit of storytelling in a comic book. [...] They may be any shape, any size, and may or may not contain borders at all. The construction of panels is one of the most basic creative decisions an artist makes."1
Splash Page
A splash page uses a full page as a single panel, usually to depict dynamically posed characters or detailed action.
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Spread
The two connected pages of an open comic book when used as a single panel.
Story Arc
Within a continuing series, a story arc spans typically between 1 and 6 issues. It is a self-contained narrative within the broader events of the characters of the series.
Trade Paperback
A trade paperback is a reprint of previously issued individual volumes bound together. A trade typically unites one story arc: between 3 to 6 issues, depending on the length of the original issues. A trade paperback has higher production than single issues, and may contain additional materials from the creators. Abbreviated TP.
Visceral Pull
A term used by Goldsmith to describe the reader’s immediate gut reaction to the visual meaning and construction of a comic. This is also present when watching a film or listening to music, but is requires more involvement to achieve for a printed text or stage play.2
Writer
The writer is responsible for creating the words in the comic, but additionally for developing the story and mapping it in a way that the artists can interpret it into visual format. The plot and dialogue may be handled by one writer, or a team of writers.1
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1Lyga, A.A.W & Lyga, B. (2004). Graphic novels in your media center : a definitive guide. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.
2Goldsmith, F. (2010). The readers' advisory guide to graphic novels. Chicago: American Library Association.
3McCloud, S. (1994). Understanding comics. New York, NY: HarperPerennial.
4Cornog, M. & Perper, T., eds. (2009). Graphic novels beyond the basics: insights and issues for libraries. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
