As a product, a comic book is a single issue of a story that usually forms a part of a larger plot spread over numerous issues. These occur usually between 4 and 6 issues to complete one story arc. On the final issue the section of story usually concludes in some way ready to be collected into a graphic novel.

Most comics continue on into the next set of issues carrying over the history and some overarching plots into the next set of issues. However, these usually involve a number of reminders and references to past events to help people pick up the story.

Comics are like a magazine in presentation and tend to release monthly but there are also annuals and “one-shots” that are bigger comics and are just one offs that start and end or collect short tales.

As a term, the use of comic books can also be used in reference as a genre rather than a product. Meaning that they may actually not be referring to a single issue comic, but also including Graphic Novels and even Manga because of their content and style.

Quite simply, release day for comic issues! It’s much like the release of a TV show or video game, but with comics coming out all the time there is usually a new comic book day each week.

With Marvel, DC Comics, Image and smaller publishers like Boom! and IDW making comics it would not make sense for them all to come out at the same time.

Publishers schedule issues of their comics monthly, meaning that if a comic book will have 5 issues to complete it’s story arc they will run for 5 months on a particular date each month. All publishers choose which time of the month that is for certain comics but they usually come in on the same day of that week.

In the UK and at Pages N’ Pixels, comics are distributed to be delivered on Wednesday and usually on shelves the same day or Thursday. This would be new comic book day each week.

This can be tricky since you can have multiple versions of the same character in comics at the same time. Plus, long running characters like Spider-Man have a lot of issues overall and it can seem difficult.

First, we recommend following the author and the year of publication since a particular writer will get a run at a character for a time. The artist often follows this too until the overarching story of their run is concluded.

Most comic books are numbered and it’s best to start with issue #1 and follow the numbers up as far as they go. In a lot of cases the issues will tell you how many books there are in the set, for example it may show “Issue #2 of 6”. 

When a comic is released an artist makes the main cover for that issue. However, in a lot of case there are other artists brought in to also do a cover. These are called “Variants”, a lot like a collection of Loki’s: they are the same thing overall but look a little different!

Variants are usually just a different front cover and contain exactly the same story on the inside of the book.

While it would be incorrect to say all variant covers directly mean the book is worth more, they do tend to be on the rarer side generally. Signed and marked ones particularly are good signs it’s a rare comic book.

This all depends on a few factors. 1. How big the comic is in terms of number of pages. 2. The print quality selected by the publisher. 3. The cover content including variant covers and signed covers.

In general a comic will be somewhere between £3 and £5 for a standard issue. This means the normal front cover and a reasonably standard number of pages. Cheaper comics do usually come on less quality paper and therefore more likely to become tatty or damaged.

More expensive comics come in at over £5 and go to £9 or even £10. These are usually bigger editions or one-shot type books that are much bigger than a standard comic. You can also sometimes see variant covers such as foil and signed copies selling for more than standard price but this is rare.

I don’t want to sound patronising here, but it’s just that: a day where you can get a comic (or a few comics!) for ABSOLUTLY NOTHING! For some you could say this is the best day of the year…

Others who are pulling faces at that should come along and grab a comic and see what the fuss is about to properly understand why it’s so great!

All joking aside, you can come to most comic outlets and grab a free comic book on FCBD which is usually in May. Please note, the free comics are sponsored by other comics so do consider looking at some other books that day that do involve a small payment.

A graphic novel is usually a collection of comic books that have released in issues. Once those issues have reached the conclusion of a story or section of a wider story, the publisher will collect those issues into one graphic novel and refer to them in Volumes.

For example, BRZRKR from Boom! Studios and Keanu Reeves released 4 individual issues of the comic over 4 months. At this point the origin part of the story was concluded and BRZRKR: Volume 1 collected all 4 issues into one graphic novel.

Whatever volume you read of a graphic novel, you are getting a complete story rather than an episode of it. It will depend from series to series how necessary reading the volumes in order is.

For example, Watchmen you need to read all of it from start to finish (seriously, you should!) where as something like a Flash or Wonder Woman book you can usually enjoy any graphic novel in the set and have information filled in with references and in story summaries.

It can be the case though that rather than releasing any comics at all, an author and a publisher may decide to release their story as a graphic novel from release.

As comic books release in issues a graphic novel will be released when the final issue has been published. This usually means a narrative has a conclusion or the conclusion of part of a wider saga.

If a comic runs for 5 issues then the graphic novel will likely release 5 months following the first issue. This all depends on the publisher’s schedule and plan for each book.

For example, some graphic novels will release really close or on the same day as the final issue. Some will release much later. These then tend to release as Hardback (HC) and trade paperback graphic novels. Again, the publisher can decide whether or not to release both at the same time or not bother with Hardback copies at all.

Graphic novels are released in two formats: 1. Hardback or hardcover, 2. Trade Paperback or Paperback. The language here can be mixed meanings, but it can be simplified.

HC in the title or information means the cover is sold and will not bend. It may even be a bit fancy and involve some leather style effect or embossing etc. These are all usually more expensive and on a limited print.

TPB or TP in the title and you are looking at a paper cover meaning the book will bend and flex. These are usually less expensive and also less likely to be limited edition or have anything fancy on the cover.

In general the content is usually the same inside although in HC books the paper can also be more premium on the inside. In general, these are more suitable for display or for a gift where a TP is usually great to just read and enjoy the story and spend less money.

Unfortunately, this is a tricky one we try to explain in the shop since the meaning can change slightly from series to series or publisher to publisher.

What the terms have in common is they are usually collecting even more issues of comics than you would get in a traditional Volume that may hold 4 to 6 issues of a comic story.

Books and omnibus editions offten contain a number of volumes in one. For example, The Boys volumes are split into 12 volumes. But the omnibus editions collect two volumes per omnibus. This means there are only 6 of the omnibus edition.

There is no set number however, although compendiums always contain a very large number of issues and come in paperback format mostly. Omnibus editions have more variation and can be anything from a low price to hundreds of pounds, particularly signed or special edition versions.

A manga book as a product is a Japanese story that uses similar comic book structures to more western stories. They are, however more sketched and black and white with less emphasis on shading.

They are made in Japan and translated to English for us here in the UK but they maintain the need to read them from right to left. This includes not only the pages themselves, but also from one panel and bubble or callout on the page to the next as well.

As a genre, this can be used to interchange with “Anime” (see below) to include all Eastern style comic books that can stretch to include China or Korean books. These are usually fundamentally different and, for example, often read left to right and contain full colour.

This is an easy one to mistake since people can use the terms more flexibly than they should. In Japan, anime is something on the TV or in a movie. Even if this started as a Manga, the animated version in film or tv is considered “Anime”.

Manga is always written and drawn on paper or in digital eBooks.

In short, yes is generally the right answer! You read right to left (like dad with the sports pages in the newspaper!). This is for true manga from Japan you will find this, and it’s not just the pages it’s on the page as well.

You start from the top right panel and move right across the speech bubbles and callouts too. There’s a helpful image below.

For books that are in the Manga section but left to right, they have either been converted although this is rare. it’s more likely that they are not Japanese and from Korea or China but have been classified as “Manga” by Genre rather than product.

This is one that can get a little complex but we can keep it simple using some examples below.

• Kodomomuke: these books are for children and include titles like Pokémon, Kirby and other cute characters. Great for young ones to enjoy without much in the way of anything scary or inappropriate 
• Shonen: This is all about action stories for people that tend to like a bit of fighting and things exploding! Here you’ll find Manga interpretations of Super-Heroes like Dragon Ball or My Hero Academia. Consider though that there are lots of different variations here and even within this genre it’s worth checking for age-appropriate content.
• Shojo: These books are more romantic or cute in nature and tend to lean more to a female audience. You can include I’m a Cat Barista here or something classic like Sailor moon. Again, there are age ratings within this genre to consider
• Seinen/Josei: These are you adult Manga, just with a male and female lean respectively. This is more a language structure and content based around action on the male side and romance and sex on the female side. See these more as classifications more than anything else, all of it comes down to personal taste, but all of them are not meant for children. 

These are your main ones and then they break down into other terms such as the popular Isekai genre meaning you are transported into another fantasy world from real life. Or more recognisable terms like Psychological (Death Note), Adventure (One Piece) and Horror (Junji Ito books).

We’re very family-friendly here in Pages N’ Pixels and we tend to organise our in store books by age rating. Some Manga are certainly more for adult audiences and some are for more teenage years, others are suitable for most readers.

With Manga it’s really important to check the age rating of the book but also check the internet for the specific recommendations and content, just like movies or TV series.

Being from a different culture, certain aspects of character designs, even in younger ages books, might be something to check before you decide on what your child should read. This is of course something that can be said of all comics.

Typically you’ll find a few main things on any comic book page you need to be aware of. “Panels” are on page boxes containing a scene from the story. Within them there are bubbles, captions both of which are referred to as “Callouts” to convey speech, thought or narration.

There are also large words to convey “Sound Effects” to show what’s happening outside the speech.

Mostly, these are all you need to know to understand a comic structure, there are more technical terms you can find information on here. Otherwise, open the FAQs below for more details on each main structure item.

Panels: These are the boxes on the pages of the comic book. In western books you read these left to right starting at the upper most left box and move through the page. You read like a typical book reading the text inside the panel and enjoying amazing art.

Callouts: These are the text portions of the Panels. Inside each panel you’ll find text in different shaped bubbles to convey the thoughts, speech or narration of the story. Description is usually kept to a minimum given you have imagery to help you understand what is going on, unlike a novel that is just words on paper.

Generally thought bubbles are cloud-like in structure and contain what the character is thinking but not saying at the time.

Speech bubbles are more like solid ovals with a point towards the character saying the sentence. If the character sounds different or is being loud the writer may use different colours, shapes of bubble (such as spikes) or even font changes to show they are speaking in a different manner/accent to those around them.

Rectangular boxes, usually in yellow but can be in any colour, are to denote narration or information about where the characters are that might not be obvious from the images.

Sound Effects: To convey the big effects, a drawing can only do so much! So you’ll often see sounds like “BOOM” or the Spider-Man classic “Thwip!”. These are al just to convey the different sound effects going on the page and give a sense of big action to epic scenes.

Comic book panels are the boxes on the pages of the comic book. In western books you read these left to right starting at the upper most left box and move through the page.

You read like a typical book reading the text inside the panel and enjoying amazing art.

These can be small and convey quick progression from one quick scene to the next. They can also be larger or even whole pages to showcase truly big moments. A panel within another panel is often used as zoom in on a particular area of the outer panel.

There aren’t too many rules here that creativity can’t break, occasionally people or artwork can flow from one to the other or overlap in modern comics. Some characters even know you’re reading a comic and can refer to them! Looking at you, Deadpool.

Callouts, sometimes called bubbles, are the text portions of the Panels. Inside each panel you’ll find text in different shaped bubbles to convey the thoughts, speech or narration of the story.

In comics, description narrative is usually kept to a minimum given you have imagery to help you understand what is going on, unlike a novel that is just words on paper.

Generally thought bubbles are cloud-like in structure and contain what the character is thinking but not saying at the time.

Speech bubbles are more like solid ovals with a point towards the character saying the sentence. If the character sounds different or is being loud the writer may use different colours, shapes of bubble (such as spikes) or even font changes to show they are speaking in a different manner/accent to those around them.

Rectangular boxes, usually in yellow but can be in any colour, are to denote narration or information about where the characters are that might not be obvious from the images.

To convey the big effects, a drawing can only do so much!

So you’ll often see comic sound effects like “BOOM” or the Spider-Man classic “Thwip!” on a page. You should hear them in your head as they are written and feel free to make the sound with your mouth too if you want to have more of an idea.

(If you get funny looks, maybe rethink where you are making the sound!)

These are all just to convey the different sound effects going on the page and give a sense of big action to epic scenes. There can also be some effects to convey emotion too along with colour effects.

New to comics and need some guidance? First of all, use us to help. Get into the PnP Social Media Multiverse and check out our guidance or even send us a message. But check this out first…

While comics are new, what other things do you enjoy? Are you a film nerd or a TV series binge-a-holic? Do you love video games or are you into more real life RPGs and board games?

Whatever you love there is the chance there is something in the comic world around it. Do not ever feel limited by the assumption there are only “Superheroes” in comics. The independent market and publishers like BOOM! Studios, Image Comics and Dark Horse have amazing books based in fantasy, sci-fi and gritty real life.

Find an area, genre or character you want to try out and speak to us, we’ll set you down the right path.

Yes! Reading is great, including comics but there is of course a “but” to consider.

Children are all different and they like different things, don’t like others. So, it’s key to help them find something they enjoy but also what’s age appropriate and has content they are going to be ok with.

We have a children’s section that include books from Minecraft, Bunny VS Monkey and Dog Man etc. These are great for young children. As they get towards 10 and older most Marvel books are good and won’t have too many adult themes.

DC and Manga you need to be a little more attentive with the contents of some of the books in those series. Indie books are usually more adult but, again, check the age rating before you let them read.

But, if it’s in their age group and something they enjoy then it’s really good for their reading development. Particularly looking at story structures and characterisation which is part of the national curriculum currently in school in the UK.

Ok, breaking this down for you now guys. Yes you can usually sell your comics and you will make some money out of them if they are in good condition. However, there are a few factors to consider…

It’s not a quick process since there are a lot of comics worth maybe a pound (£1) or less each depending on condition. Why? Well, if we accepted every offer of people selling us comics we’d have a very full warehouse and a very empty bank balance.

There’s just so many! Out of 100 comics 10 of them may be worth more than the others, only one of them might be worth significantly more. Out of hundreds of comics, one or two might be a bit rare and worth some money.

This is the key, you have to either look through them all and find those rare comics and filter them out and try and get a price for the rest. Or, pay someone for their time to do that job and appraise them all for you.

It’s not a quick thing and, while you may make some money, the big money comics are things like Amazing Fantasy 15 or Superman #1. If you do find them, yes you may have a new house on the way. But mostly you’ll be looking good if you average £1 for every comic you have.