| GCD Genre table |
| Genre |
Definition |
Examples |
| Adult |
comics not for sale to minors, usually of a salacious nature |
Zap, Trashman, Snarf |
| Adventure (action) |
Realistic action and adventure stories that rely on the efforts
of normal people to handle crises. |
Congo Bill, Indiana Jones |
| Animal |
Stories starring animals that are supposed to act like real animals |
Lassie, Rex the Wonder Dog, Fury, Black Stallion |
| Bio |
Biographies of real people |
Life of Pope John Paul II |
| Car |
Stories involving automobiles first and humans second |
Drag 'N' Wheels |
| Celebrity |
Fictional stories involving famous people, usually licensed |
Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Ricky Nelson |
| Children |
Stories involving, or for, children |
Little Lulu, Casper, Little Archie, Richie Rich |
| Crime |
Realistic action and adventures stories involving the solving or commiting
of crimes. |
Crime Suspense Stories, True Crime |
| Detective |
Stories centered around a particular detective |
Charlie Chan, Detective Dan, Roy Raymond |
| Fact |
Comics meant to teach |
Real Fact, Donald tells about Kites |
| Family |
Humor stories centered around family life |
Simpsons, Foxtrot, Arlo and Janis |
| Fantasy |
Comics featuring elves, fairies, magic |
Elfquest |
| Funny animals |
Stories involving animals, furry or otherwise, acting as people. |
Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny, Omaha the Cat Dancer, Usagi Yojimbo |
| Gags |
Usually a panel, or one or two page stories ending in a punch line |
Peter Puptent, Casey the Cop, Laffs |
| Horror |
Stories involving the inhumanity of man, generally with gruesome consequences |
Tales from the Crypt, Creepy, Eerie |
| Humor (comedy) |
Humorous stories that don't fit other categories |
Groo the Wanderer, Powerhouse Pepper, Torchy, Mutt and Jeff |
| Jungle |
Comics set in the rainforests of the planet Earth |
Tarzan, Kazar, Sheena |
| Kung fu (martial arts) |
Stories involving real or purported martial arts of the orient |
Master of Kung Fu, Judomaster |
| Medical |
stories involving the medical profession, usually with some actual medical
content |
Young Dr Masters, MD |
| Monsters |
Stories featuring regular people versus horrible creatures |
Creatures on the Loose, Frankenstein, King Kong, Godzilla |
| Occult |
Comics featuring the Supernatural, magic, demons, etc. Also known as mystery,
supernatural or ghost stories |
Adventures Into the Unknown, House of Mystery, Sandman, Dr Strange, Spectre |
| Period |
Comics using a historical background other than war or western |
Buccanneers |
| Political/ propaganda |
Material usually designed to put forth a political point of view or call
to action |
Battle for Survival, Steve Ditko's Avenging World, Real War Stories |
| Religious |
Stories centering around religious proslytizing |
Archie's One Way, Cross and the Switchblade |
| Romance |
Stories involving love, sex and romance, usually one shots. Continuing
series about Romance are usually considered Soaps |
Young Love, Secret Hearts |
| Satire |
Comics featuring humorous commentary on society and human relationships.
Incudes parodies |
Mad, Cracked, Crazy, Cerebus, Howard the Duck, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
| Science fiction |
Stories involving outer space, time travel and parallel worlds. |
Mystery In Space, Alien Legion, Star Wars, Dr Who, Twilight Zone |
| Sitcom |
Comics featuring comedy in a domestic or work situation involving continuing
characters |
Sgt Bilko, I Love Lucy, Millie the Model, Tessie the Typist |
| Soap |
Comics featuring continuing romantic dramas |
Love and Rockets |
| Sports |
Stories involving sports |
Baseball Comics, Strange Sports Stories |
| Spy |
stories involving spies and intrigue |
I Spy, Man From Uncle, Honey West, Nick Fury |
| Super-hero |
Stories involving people in outlandish clothing fighting crime. |
Superman, Batman, X-Men |
| Sword and Sorcery |
Comics using a combination of swordplay and occult themes |
Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser |
| Teen |
Humorous stories centering around teen age life |
Archie, Dobie Gillis, Scooter |
| War |
Stories featuring the armed forces in wartime |
Blazing Combat, Two Fisted Tales, Sgt Rock, Sgt Fury |
| Western |
Generally period stories centering on the American frontier. |
Tomahawk, Two Gun Kid, Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers |
