Comics

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑmɪks/

Definitions

1. Visual narratives that merge text and illustrations, delivering stories often through humor or adventure
2. A medium where sequential artwork and written language interact to narrate tales, typically invoking various emotional responses
3. Artistic works that combine images in sequence to tell a story usually found in printed or digital form

Etymology: Ancient Greek had "kōmos," a festive revel, and from it came "kōmikos," meaning relating to comedy. Latin borrowed this as "comicus," and English took "comic" from that line, first as an adjective for plays and later as a noun for a comedian or a comedy. The root is a party, not a punchline. The medium's name outlived its original content. Early newspaper strips were mostly gag-based, so "comic" fit them well. Later, the form carried war stories, crime dramas, and superhero epics that were rarely funny, but the label stayed. "Comics" now names a medium defined by its mix of pictures and text rather than by humor.

Synonyms: graphic novels, comic strips