What Is a Comic Cell? Comic Basics

• A comic visualizes stories through images. Words appear in speech bubbles, sounds, and narration. Single scenes depict changes in action or location across multiple cells. The name "comic" started with political cartoons and other newspaper images that were often humorous. Not all comics are humorous.

Common Comic Terms

• Panel: A panel is an individual frame or drawing in a comic book. It contains a segment of action and is used to divide up the page for artistic or narrative purposes.
• DC Fans: Fans of DC comics are often called DC fans.
• Comic Collections: Compilations of comic books are called collections.
• Number of Panels: A comic page often has 5-9 panels. More panels mean smaller sizes, while fewer panels allow for bigger panels.

Types of Panels in Comics

• A panel (alternatively known as a frame or box) is one drawing on a page. There are several types of panels used in comics: full, partial, masked, and empty. Full panels are the most common type found in comics.