Types of Comics(Different Types of Writing)
• Comic Strips
• Web Comics
• Digital Comics
• On-Going Series
• Mini-Series & Limited Series
• Graphic Novel
Comic Strips
• Commonly published in newspapers and now online
• Yellow Kid (1897) was the first color comic in the Sunday comic section
• Many comic strips have a humorous tone, but they don’t have to – they only need to tell a story (Dick Tracy and Tarzan)
• With the rise in popularity of Superhero comics, newspapers had comic strip spinoffs (Spider-man and Superman)
• In 1960s, more underground newspapers started carrying comics
Defining Web Comics
• Comics made first for the web and published online
• Created by independent creators
• No corporate sponsorship
• Often digitally drawn and colored
• Normally strips
• Produced weekly (at least)
Web Comic Benefits
• Less expensive self-publishing and distribution• Allows writers and artists to release comics that the mainstream
industry and audience would reject• Gives writers and artists more artistic freedom• Can use real images and artwork, without worrying about
production costs• Easy to archive older comics
Web Comic Limitations
• Appeals to a smaller, specific audience – often related to gaming and computer coding
• Pixel depth
• Download times
• Scrolling
• Stigma that they are inferior to comics
Girl Genius by Kaja and Phil Foglio
JL8 by Yale Stewart
Digital Comics
• Electronic comic books
• Includes print titles converted to digital books and books originally published digitally
Digital Comic Benefits
• Cost• Free with some print issues
• Comixology sales
• Free first issues
• Bundle deals
• Subscriptions • Marvel Unlimited
• Space• Home storage
• Traveling
• Extra features
Digital Comic Limitations
• Value of issues
• Gaps in story arcs
• Many older stories not in digital format yet
• Need an internet connection to access or download issues
On-Going Series
• Continued story (unlike a One-Shot, self-contained story)
• Poses issues of continuity
• Often uses story arcs• Reintroduce characters in the
beginning• Plot lasts for about 6 issues• Intertwine these story arcs
together
Mini-Series and Limited Series
• Title that has a predetermined number of issues
• Usually between 3-6 issues
• Each issue needs:• A major change, development, or
reverse• Something important to happen• A turning point or surprise
• Sometimes needs to reintroduce characters
• Often ends each issue with a cliffhanger