The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style
An Editorial Handbook for Print and Digital Comics
Learn the language of comics with this first-of-its-kind resource!
What’s so special about the capital letter I? Why do the dashes look like that? And how do you proofread “%#&@”?
In The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style, an expert copyeditor and proofreader presents an in-depth catalog of style traditions in comics and explains how they’re different from the standards in other types of media.
For editorial pros, see what readers and publishers expect for everything from punctuation and capitalization to sound effects, speech balloons, and more. You’ll also explore where you fit into the publishing process and how to work with both scripts and lettered panels.
For comics creators and publishers, understand the importance of editorial standards, how to create your own style, and how to get the best work possible from freelancers.
Whether you’re working with mainstream superhero comics, indie graphic novels, or self-published webtoons, The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style is your indispensable reference.
This ebook is intended for individual use. To use and share The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style within a company or team, please purchase a team license.
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This book will also be available in epub format, coming soon. Please see the Product Details section for information related to accessibility.
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Product Details
ISBN: 979-8-9901170-0-6
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Format: PDF, fixed layout, 142 pages
This full-color ebook is designed to be read as either individual pages or two-page spreads. It is embedded with both internal (cross-reference) and external links and includes a full index.
Accessibility note: There are inherent accessibility limitations to PDF as a format. This ebook contains alt text, but it has been designed primarily for a visual reading experience. For this reason, the forthcoming epub edition is strongly recommended over the PDF for an accessible reading experience. If the accessibility features you need aren't fully served by this edition but you decide to purchase it while waiting for the epub to be released, please contact hello@madeleinevasaly.com to arrange for a free copy of the epub when it's available.
Table of Contents
Introduction
What I Mean by “Comics”
Who This Book Is For
Notes on Terminology
Chapter 1: Editing, Proofreading, and the Comics Workflow Workflow
Overview
The Role(s) of the Editor
The Role(s) of the Proofreader
Chapter 2: Editorial Style What Is Style?
How to Use This Chapter
Capitalization
Punctuation
Numbers
Formatting
Captions, Notes, and Bursts
Special Symbols
Spelling
Chapter 3: Copyediting Scripts
The Case for Copyediting
Copyediting Scope
Script Format
Editing Tips
Chapter 4: Proofreading Layouts and Lettering
What Is Lettering?
What Is Typesetting?
Proofreading Scope
Marking Corrections
Typography
Balloons
Captions
Sample Style Sheet
Glossary
Resources
Index
