What Even Are Comics?

What is the foundational idea behind NerdSync, and what primary question does this episode aim to answer?

• To provide detailed analyses of specific comic book storylines; how to collect rare comics.

• To make comic fandom accessible without prerequisites; what is comics.

• To review new comic releases; what are the best comic artists.

• To debate comic book movie adaptations; what is the future of comics.

What are the two main approaches people take when trying to define comics?

• Historical vs. Modern

• Comprehensive vs. Fastidious

• Artistic vs. Commercial

• Narrative vs. Visual

Which of the following definitions of comics is attributed to Will Eisner?

• A series of cartoon drawings that tell a story or part of a story.

• Images will be multiple and correlated in some fashion.

• Sequential Art.

• A serially published, episodic, open-ended dramatic narrative.

According to Kunzle's definition, why would ancient paintings, carvings, and tapestries not be considered comics?

• They are not topical.

• They do not convey a moral story.

• They cannot be mass-produced.

• They are not sequential art.

What is the fundamental element that all discussed definitions of comics seem to agree upon?

• They must convey a moral message.

• They must be mass-produced.

• They must be a series of images.

• They must produce an aesthetic response.