Understanding comic formats

When buying comics, it is important to understand the different formats they are sold in. They come in different shapes, sizes and prices, and are released at different times. These formats can be particularly puzzling when looking online - you might find yourself asking "Why is Batman Vol. 1 £10 when Batman #2 is only £3?" Knowledge of the different types of comic outlined below is essential for any prospective comic fan.

Single issue

Think of single issues like episodes of a TV series. They tend to cost only a few pounds (unless they are a special edition) and are released anywhere from every week to every month. Single issues tend to be small magazines, ranging from 20 to 50 pages. For the major publishers like Marvel and DC, new single issues are released every Wednesday, and are available from comic shops or digitally. Manga, however, is usually released in anthologies rather than single issues - for example, One Piece is serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump alongside other series. British comics tend to use the anthology format too, such as 2000 AD. 

Trade paperback/hardback

If single issues are episodes, then these are the whole season. "Trades" contain a selection of up to a dozen single issues in paperback or hardback format, meaning they're often hundreds of pages long. Unlike single issues, they're available in all good bookstores - they cost more, but are better value. Each trade in a series is usually released three months after the last, but it all depends on the release schedule of the single issues they collect. Series originating from an anthology get their own trade - you won't find any Dragon Ball stories in your Naruto paperback. 

Omnibus 

Omnibuses are massive tomes containing several trades' worth of stories. These are the most expensive format and are therefore usually only recommended to collectors who want a version of their favourite series that looks really great on a shelf. Manga omnibuses, however, tend to be the most cost-effective way of catching up on a series, often containing three volumes for the price of two.

Original graphic novel

The term "graphic novel" is used by many to refer to trades, but in some instances can refer to something slightly different. While trades are made up of content previously serialised in single issues, OGNs contain original stories created specifically for a book-length format - if a trade is a TV season, then a graphic novel is a movie.