We would be remiss as part of the Comic as Object Project if we didn’t take at least a passing look at the format that probably most people would consider a ‘real’ comic book: the 6 5/8 inch by 10 1/4 inch 16 page plus cover saddle-stitched booklet format, known affectionately (or derogatorily, depending on your personal stance on such things) as the “floppy.”

Aside from being a larger page size but thinner overall, floppies share many of the characteristics described in our earlier post about comic digests: glossy cover, often cheaper paper inside, a UPC barcode rather than an ISBN.

First published in this size in 1933 (Kowalski), this format has since become an industry standard and, in combination with the distinct albeit varied style of comic book cover art, makes for an immediately recognizable form factor.

Again like the digest when compared to a paperback volume, comics and their close cousins the magazine are somewhat similar in ‘body type’…

… the difference in size is nonetheless different enough to maintain its distinctiveness…

… along with, once again, very distinct content and design.

Put a comic from 1993 alongside a comic from 2023 and it’s clear the visual dna is related.

From this most recognized of comic book formats has grown all the diversity of graphica, depending again on how you slice and dice the terminology… digests, bound editions, compilations, graphic novels in as many formats as there are for written books.

And just before we move on, one last comparison to make with our earlier post about comic digests, which we had rather cheekily titled “Living on the wrong side of the racks”: a picture of the ‘nicer neighbourhood’ racks of a comic book shop, in this case Variant Edition in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada…

… I would say a step up from the grocery store checkout rack?

Happy reading!

– Winston

References

Kowalski, J. (n.d.) Comics: Comic Books. Illustration History. https://www.illustrationhistory.org/genres/comics-comic-books