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NOTE 11 April 2026: The bug affecting the main pages should be resolved for good.

The Creator's Guide to Comics* Devices

An online library and meronomy of visual-narrative devices that are used in the medium of comics and other sequential art.

*sequential art, graphic narrative, graphic literary, visual-literary and all other euphemisms for comics

Table of Contents @ Site Index

Home

Frontmatter

It is recommended that you begin exploring the library with the Frontmatter in the order provided below, before looking at Devices

  • About
    The mission of the library and the wider taxonomy project.
    To Do List
    A substantial list of future updates to the library.
    Site Index (you are here)
    An index of all the pages in the library.
    Site Updates
    A log of major changes and updates.
    Contribute
    Ways for folks to contribute to the library.
    Links
    Other resources and readings focused on comics craft and scholarship.
    Newsletter
    Sign up to the newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox.
    – Store & Events
    Buy or sign up for stuff related to comics devices and comics craft from the curator.

  • Introduction
    The origin story and personal motivations behind the taxonomy project.

  • Defining Comics
    Comics have many names and definitions. This page briefly describes the taxonomy’s definition of comics for the intended use case of the library.

  • The Basic Blocks
    An introduction to the basic blocks of comics, providing context and scaffolding for the categories and language used by the taxonomy for its definitions.
    Panels and Gutters
    Time and Space
    Arrangement and Layout
    Language or Devices

  • A Note on the Devices
    A set of warnings, rules, recommendations and such for the best experience of using the library.

Devices

Devices

  • Archive
    The full library of devices.

  • Gallery (under construction)
    Galleries of comics pages and panels featuring the use of each device.

  • Curator-Taxonomist’s Footnotes (under construction)
    Articles explaining my reasoning for choosing the name and definition for the device, and an overview of the device in scholarly, practical and critical discourse if extant. Contains acknowledgements of creators, scholars and critics who contributed to the text of the devices.

  • Musings (under construction)
    Potential devices… or not?

Categories