I realized last week that I never really broke down the basics of comics. What’s an issue versus a volume? Where do people start in a series? What is the price of a comic book? I started thinking about how to explain it, did some research to make sure my facts were right, and then I found a short and simple guide. The article, “A Non-Geek’s Guide to Getting Into Comics,” covers all the question above.
In an article from Lifehacker, Abu Zafar talks with Anyone Comics owner, Dimitrios Fragiskatos, about how to get into comics and provides some great starter information for people who are new to comic books. I honestly wish I saw this video years ago as it would have helped me navigate the comic book world and its numerous offerings. I highly recommend watching the video if you want to hear what he has to say (it’s only about 4min), but in case you’re not video inclined I have provided some of the highlights below.
THE BASICS
Issue vs Volume:
When walking into a comic book store for the first time, you can easily get overwhelmed. I know I did. One of the biggest points of confusion I ran into was, “What the difference between an issue and a volume?”
An issue is a single piece of a story in a series or volume. As Dimitrios explained it, think of an issue as a single chapter in a story. Issues of a volume usually come about every month.
A volume is a bundle of issues, usually around five, but can vary depending on the run of title. A volume can be seen as the story.
You may also notice I mentioned title, what do you mean by that? The title is the name or character of the volume. Wolverine, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, these are the titles of the stories.
Another way to look at it:
Title > Volume > Issue -> Captain Marvel > Vol 7 > #15
READING ORDER
As a kid, I never read a story in order. I would sit down on the floor in our local grocery store near the magazines and look for either a gaming magazine or a dark horse comic to read. I just loved stories and seeing a story unravel before my eyes made reading more active, more vibrant. I didn’t care if there was an order or if I missed something in a previous issue. Comics should be about exploration.
That’s why you don’t have to read from the beginning of a volume. You get to see new stories and use your mind to piece together where they belong, making you active in learning about the universe you jumped into.
But, if you like following a certain series, there are plenty of resources out there to find the comics you’re looking for. A quick search on Fandom can help you find the comic book issues, giving you all the information you need to find the story you are looking for.
(If you are interested in Captain Marvel Volume 7, here is the link).
BUSTING OUT THE PIGGY BANK
When I was a kid, I never bought a comic. I didn’t have much money and I knew my parents wouldn’t buy them. It’s when you get older you start to finally inquire to the price of a comic. To my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as you think.
A single issue can be around five dollars and a volume can be around 15 - 20 dollars. I always look for sales so I can get more comics, even if they are older. In New York, on sale, maybe around 10 dollars for a volume. In Minnesota, we had deals on bins of old issues, usually like 5 for $1 or 25 for $5. Check your local comic book store to see what deals they offer. If you are really tight on money, you can find some comics that are free in public domain.
You can also get comic books online if that is something you are more comfortable with (I still recommend going to the comic book stores).
I hope you this guide helped you learn a bit more about comics and got you excited to find your own to read and enjoy. It’s never too late to start reading and encouraging other to as well.
If you want more guides on comic books and/or reviews, please let me know in the comments or on Twitter.
-J.J.