BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to suggest a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

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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" or "YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "YOUNG ADULT 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

CGN018000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Action & Adventure *

CGN012000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Adaptations

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

CGN013000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Dystopian

CGN004020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Erotica

CGN019000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology *

CGN004030

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy

CGN010000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction

CGN004040

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Horror

CGN014000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Humorous

CGN020000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / International *

 

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

CGN009000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+

CGN006000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Literary

CGN004050

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / General

CGN004240

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Action & Adventure

CGN004100

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Crime & Mystery

CGN004230

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Dystopian

CGN004110

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Erotica & Hentai

CGN004120

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Fantasy

CGN004330

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Food *

CGN004140

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Historical Fiction

CGN004150

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Horror

CGN004250

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Humorous

CGN004300

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Isekai

CGN004130

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / LGBTQ+

CGN004320

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Light Novel

CGN004260

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Magical Girl

CGN004270

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Mecha

CGN004160

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Media Tie-In

CGN004170

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Nonfiction

CGN004180

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Romance

CGN004280

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / School Life

CGN004190

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Science Fiction

CGN004200

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Sports

CGN004290

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Supernatural

CGN004210

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Yaoi

CGN004310

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Yuri

CGN021000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manhwa *

CGN004060

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In

CGN007000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / General

CGN007010

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir

CGN007020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / History

CGN007030

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Journalism *

CGN007040

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Science & Nature *

CGN016000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Occult & Supernatural

CGN015000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Reference

CGN011000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Religious

CGN004090

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Romance

CGN004070

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction

CGN004080

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Superheroes (see also FICTION / Superheroes)

CGN017000

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Supervillains

 

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Techniques see ART / Techniques / Cartooning

 

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Young Adult Fiction see headings under YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

 

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Young Adult Nonfiction see headings under YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

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

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