BISAC Subject Headings List, Comics and Graphic Novels
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If you can't find the code you're looking for please go back and review other Major Subjects to find an alternate code or use our Contact Form to suggest revisions to the next version of the list.
Step 2: Determine the specific term which describes your book.
An asterisk (*) denotes a heading that is new for the 2012 Edition.
Use subjects beginning with "JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" for such works aimed at young readers.
Use subjects beginning "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga" for works initially published in Asian territories, or for works published in the style of such Asian works.
For nonfiction works about sequential illustration and about those works done in that format, use "LITERARY CRITICISM / Comics & Graphic Novels".
Use "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" or "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:
Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie, television show, or media project do not have to be re-coded. It is recommended that when "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" or "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as well.
If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area.
NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE
Please note that the BISAC Subject Headings List is governed by the following copyright notice.
© 2012, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
If you can't find the code you're looking for please go back and review other Major Subjects to find an alternate code or use our Contact Form to suggest revisions to the next version of the list.
Step 2: Determine the specific term which describes your book.
An asterisk (*) denotes a heading that is new for the 2012 Edition.
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Use subjects in this section for works of sequential illustration in the style commonly associated with "comic books" or "comic strips."Use subjects beginning with "JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" for such works aimed at young readers.
Use subjects beginning "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga" for works initially published in Asian territories, or for works published in the style of such Asian works.
For nonfiction works about sequential illustration and about those works done in that format, use "LITERARY CRITICISM / Comics & Graphic Novels".
Use "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" or "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:
- a work (or works) of sequential illustration re-issued because of a movie, television show, or other media project
- a comics/graphic novel adaptation of a movie, television show, or other media project
- a comics/graphic novel based on an episode (or episodes) of a television show
- an original story (or collection of stories) told in comics/graphic novel form using characters or settings from (or based on) a movie, television show, or other media project
Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie, television show, or media project do not have to be re-coded. It is recommended that when "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" or "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as well.
| CGN000000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / General |
| CGN001000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Anthologies |
| COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Comics & Cartoons see HUMOR / Form / Comic Strips & Cartoons | |
| CGN008000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Contemporary Women |
| CGN004010 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Crime & Mystery |
| CGN004020 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Erotica |
| CGN004030 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy |
| CGN009000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Gay & Lesbian |
| CGN010000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction |
| CGN004040 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Horror |
| COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Juvenile Fiction see headings under JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels | |
| COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Juvenile Nonfiction see headings under JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels | |
| CGN006000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Literary |
| CGN004050 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / General |
| CGN004100 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Crime & Mystery |
| CGN004110 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Erotica |
| CGN004120 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Fantasy |
| CGN004130 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Gay & Lesbian |
| CGN004140 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Historical Fiction |
| CGN004150 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Horror |
| CGN004160 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In |
| CGN004170 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Nonfiction |
| CGN004220 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Religious |
| CGN004180 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Romance |
| CGN004190 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Science Fiction |
| CGN004200 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Sports |
| CGN004210 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Yaoi |
| CGN004060 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In |
| CGN007000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction |
| CGN011000 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Religious |
| CGN004090 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Romance |
| CGN004070 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction |
| CGN004080 | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Superheroes |
| COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Techniques see ART / Techniques / Cartooning |
If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area.
NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE
Please note that the BISAC Subject Headings List is governed by the following copyright notice.
© 2012, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.











