How to Read Comics

Last updated on 2023-01-11
By Nicole

Summary: Almost everyone has been exposed to comic books in one way or another. Even if you’ve never read a comic book, there’s a good chance you’ve watched a comic book movie like The Avengers or X-Men. Once you’ve become interested in reading comics, actually g

Books - how to articles from wikiHowBooksGet comfortable and curl up with your favorite book—and wikiHow's Books category! These tutorials will help you become a great reader. They also guide you in determining the book's genre, how to quote a book and other useful information. You don't have to stop there! Give a book to a friend as a gift, and share the joy of reading with them!How to Read Comics

Nearly everyone has read comic books at some point in their lives. You're likely to have seen a movie about comic books, even if you don't read them. It can seem overwhelming to start reading comics once you are interested. You have a wide range of stories available, some that are ongoing for many decades. Reading comics is easy if you are familiar with the basics.

Method 1:
How to Read Comic Books ProperlyRead the article

Read Western comic pages (American) from top to bottom. Begin with the panel at the top. Start by reading the dialogue bubbles from the left, then move your eyes towards the dialogue at the bottom and right.
Go to the next panel once you've reached the right-hand side of the previous panel. Many comic pages only have one or two panels in the top row. For all the subsequent panels, you can continue reading the same way as the previous panel.

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These panels can be stacked one on top of the other to display two related actions, or parts of dialogue. They will be arranged in a different way to the others on the page and interact with each other. These panels may be angled to display dynamic action or share one or more speech bubbles. The panel on the top should be your first, and then you can read the one below.
Japanese manga is read from left to right. Japanese books can be read in the reverse order of American books. You can still go from top to bottom but they are read from left to right and back to front. Both the panels as well as the dialogue should be read from right to left. The entire book can also be read from the back.
Be aware of the shapes and colors of dialogue bubbles Dialogue bubbles of different shapes indicate that there are various forms and types of dialogue.
- The speech bubbles have a circular tail that points to the character speaking. This indicates that a character speaks aloud.
- A character may shout by using jagged bubbles or enlarged bold text.
- Thought bubbles are like puffy clouds and have dots that point toward the head. This indicates that the character thinks to itself.
- The narration panel is a series of rectangular or square blocks. These panels are either rectangular or square blocks.
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Method 2:
Choose a comic to readDownload Article

Find out which stories are most interesting to you. You can pick out comics like any book. There are many comics that focus on romantic stories. There are many comics for action lovers. Start by choosing a type and then start looking for comics that fit your needs.
Choose the work of one writer. There is no shortage of comic book authors. As you have probably researched various comics, you will likely be familiar with several of the most popular writers. Check out their entire library if you are interested in the stories they have written or the subject matter.
Choose a story featuring a character that interests you. Many of the greatest characters in comic books, including Spiderman, Wonder Woman and Superman. Begin with the character you are most interested in and then explore all of their stories. Choose a comic that you want to read, based on the part of a character’s story you are most interested in.
Begin with comics that have inspired you. There's a chance that you will love the comics from which they were sourced if you like these films. These comics can serve as a great starting point for other comics.
Find out more about the stories that interest you. After you have decided what kind of comics you want, it may be worth looking at the chronology. There are many comics that have been around for decades. This means you won't be able to read every story in one sitting. You can read up on the history of your favorite comic and then use those events as a starting point for where you want to begin reading.
- Online databases and encyclopedias dedicated to particular series or characters can be used as a starting point for researching comics and the characters they represent. Some great places to begin researching include https://www.comics.org/, http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/DC_Comics_Database, and http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Marvel_Database.^[14]
- Comic reference books can be purchased from any bookstore or library. You can also get comic reference books from a library or bookstore.
You can also check out other reading lists. Reading lists are a great resource for anyone who is interested in certain characters or publishers. Most reading lists can be found online. They are often written by avid readers and enthusiasts. Reading lists that are based on the storyline of a character will often recommend which series to begin.
- You can search Google for the following keywords: "DC reading list", "Marvel reading guide," and "Spiderman reading guide." The first word in your search phrase can be replaced with any publisher or character that you wish to read.
Get to know the terms used in comics. The way that comics are printed can be described in many ways. It will be easier to find what you are looking for if you know the meaning of these terms.
- Graphic novels and trade paperbacks are multiple comics that have been compiled into one volume. They break down the story into smaller chunks so you can read it all in one book.
- A "omnibus" can be described as a combination of a graphic novel and trade graphic books. However, it combines dozens of stories into one book. Although these are excellent finds, they are usually much more costly. This type of purchase is best for books you love!
- "Issues", or small sections of a storyline, are called chapters. These are typically published once per month. This is usually the best way to publish comics.
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Method 3:
Collecting Comic BooksDownload Article

You can browse comic shops frequently to purchase physical comic books. There are many books you can peruse as you choose what book to read. The advantage of physical comics is that they can be accessed even when the Internet goes down. It is also easier to show and display your growing collection. Before you begin collecting comics, make sure that you have enough shelving and other storage (boxes or bins).
Digital comics are a great way to organize your collection. Because digital comics can be stored in one location, they are much easier to organize. These are great if you have limited space or want to organize your comics as efficiently as possible.
- You might consider buying digital comics and then purchasing print copies to show your support for the creators.
- There is no need to pick one. Many comic lovers have digital copies and printed copies of their favourite comics. Many comic publishers offer digital copies at no additional cost to customers who purchase the printed version.
How you will store your comics. Comics can be a collectible item. You buy comics to enjoy them. However, it is important to keep them safe so that you are able to continue reading them many years later. To prevent them yellowing, place them on bookshelves. These books will be plastic and you can open and close them with tape.
- Some comics include special collector's boxes that are perfect for protecting them. ^[24]
- You won't have this problem with digital comics, naturally—though you may want to back them up on separate cloud storage (like Dropbox or Google Drive), just in case something happens to your device or current cloud service.
Get a couple of comic books free. Comic book fans love free comics! These giveaways are a great way to get started reading comics and start building your collection. Google will tell you when the next Free Comic Book Day is at your local comic shop. Make plans to visit there and find a comic that you love.
- Comixology offers a wide selection of comics issues for free online. Visit https://www.comixology.com/free-comics to browse around.^[26]
- You can borrow your comics at the library, or from a friend. You can read comics free of charge in many libraries. You can also ask your friend to let you read comics from his or her library.
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Method 4 from 4
Divers inDownload Article

You don't have to start with a particular story. It won't be difficult to find the right place within a storyline you are interested in. You can also use Wikipedia or Google to learn more about the parts that you don't know.
Choose one comic or series that you want to read. There are many great comics out there. It's important not to overburden yourself when you first start reading comics. Only read the first series that catches your attention. You can move on to the next series once you're done with the current issue.
Start with one story and then branch out to other stories. Don't rush. Look for similar stories by other authors or publishers if you enjoy one comic. You may discover stories that you have never read before, and you might even enjoy them!

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