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BISAC Subject Headings List, Comics and Graphic Novels

Note: If you need to download and incorporate this list into your databases and systems, click here to obtain an End Users' License Agreement.

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.

CGN000000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / General
CGN001000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Anthologies
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Comics & Cartoons see HUMOR / Form / Comic Strips & Cartoons
CGN008000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Contemporary Women
CGN004010COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Crime & Mystery
CGN004020COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Erotica
CGN004030COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy
CGN009000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Gay & Lesbian
CGN010000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction
CGN004040COMICS & 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
CGN006000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Literary
CGN004050COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / General
CGN004100COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Crime & Mystery
CGN004110COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Erotica
CGN004120COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Fantasy
CGN004130COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Gay & Lesbian
CGN004140COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Historical Fiction
CGN004150COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Horror
CGN004160COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In
CGN004170COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Nonfiction
CGN004220COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Religious
CGN004180COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Romance
CGN004190COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Science Fiction
CGN004200COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Sports
CGN004210COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Yaoi
CGN004060COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In
CGN007000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction
CGN011000COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Religious
CGN004090COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Romance
CGN004070COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction
CGN004080COMICS & 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.

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