Questions tagged [comics]

For use when asking questions about comics or comic books when a more appropriate specific work tag doesn't exist. For example, if asking about the comics canon of Marvel use this tag, but if asking about the specific The Infinity Gauntlet comic use the work tag [the-infinity-gauntlet] instead. Use to either identify the media on a [story-identification] question or disambiguate works where the tag covers the comics and its form in other media.

Comics are a hybrid graphic medium in which images convey a sequential narrative, most commonly accompanied with written text to provide dialogue or extra information.

Questions about comics are on-topic if the stories in them are also on-topic.

The most well-known US publishers of comics are Marvel and DC , though various smaller companies also publish notable comics, for example, and

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Why Are There So Many Double Initials in Comic Books?

Not being a comics expert, I can't be sure, but I think this applies mostly to Marvel comics. Why do so many characters have double initials? There's Pepper Potts, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Peter Parker and I think at some times there was Bruce…
Tango
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Does the order of the characters in the titles of "Superhero Versus Other Superhero" comics matter?

I've had this discussion before with my friend who likes Western comics and he didn't know an answer, so I thought I'd ask here. I'm more into anime & manga and usually the order of titles like personA x personB, can give you a good idea of what…
Toshinou Kyouko
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What is the Difference Between a Comic and a Graphic Novel?

This came up in an answer to one of my other questions. I've been in stores and seen paperbacks called "graphic novels." Is there a difference between graphic novels and comic books -- other than in length?
Tango
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Why do characters from Marvel and DC Universe have muscular physique most of the time?

From all comics I have read, characters from the Marvel and DC universes are shown to have a generic muscular build. Usually male characters have similar muscular structures, only to vary in size. By generic build, I mean male characters have broad…
GuruGulabKhatri
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Who has been dead (and gotten better) the longest?

In super hero comics it's not unknown for a someone to die, then a few issues later get better. But who holds the record for being dead for the longest time (real world time) and coming back?
System Down
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What are comics numbered #0?

I noted in this question an Avengers vs X-Men #0 was mentioned, which was news to me. When I went and looked it up, it seemed like it should be part of the series but the launch issue seems to be #1. What is the significance of a #0 issue? Are…
dlanod
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What does the small picture on the cover of comic books indicate?

What does the small stamp/picture (usually in the upper left hand corner) on comic book covers indicate? The Hulk below is the best example of what I am referring to (where he appears just below the "35¢" stamp). I was wondering if it was related…
Redtayln
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When did a ninja ever get sucked up into a jet engine?

I was reading my newly-purchased back issue of The Tick #3, which contains these panels: What the hell is the Tick talking about? A movie, I would assume, but I haven't been able to turn up which one by searching.
Sean
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What is TSR's Warhawks Comic-Modules issue number count

In the '90s, TSR produced several comic books. Many of these were based on some of the RPG settings TSR produced. The Comic-Module format often included either RPG stats for characters appearing in the comic, sometimes included campaign setting…
Jeffrywith1e
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How to determine printing edition of Robert Crumb's The People's Comics?

I have a copy of Robert Crumb's The People's Comics. On the inside of cover at the bottom of the page it reads: THE PEOPLE'S COMICS. Copyright (c) 1972 by R. Crumb. Published by Kitchen Sink Enterprises, a division of Krupp Comic Works, Inc.,…
WilliamKF
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Was there a Golden Age superhero named "Sergeant Strike"?

I recently picked up a batch of old 50¢ comics, including the first issue of Eclipse's "Strike" from 1987, written by Chick Dixon. The page below appears at the end, and purports to tell the story of a "Forgotten Hero of the Golden Age of Comics,"…
Sean
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How Frequent are Comic Series Reboots?

I know about "The New 52," and have heard about a lot of other retcons to handle changes, as well as other reboots. I think I remember, for instance, a reboot of Superman in the 80s that had him as a really strong guy who got that way from lifting…
Tango
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Is there a site that ranks comic runs by popularity, critical votes, etc?

When I am looking for new anime series to try, I often use Anime News Network to pick by popularity or quality of votes. Because I haven't watched a whole lot of anime, it's useful to pick out series that I may not have heard of due to age, etc, but…
dlanod
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Why don't more villains die/become crippled?

In the superhero genre heroes fight the bad guys daily. Not everyone is blessed with super-toughness and the like, so there will be casualties. Even if everyone is fighting with the best intentions, someone is bound to get hurt. Yet I rarely see a…
AncientSwordRage
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Why do only writers, pencillers, and inkers get credited on comic covers?

Comic books tend to have three surnames on the cover naming the artist, penciller, and inker for that issue. I’ve always wondered why this is, though? It seems a bit unfair that despite comics being full colour for some time now, even the colourist…
Martin Bean
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