In
comics, an ongoing series is a series that runs indefinitely.
This is in contrast to
limited series Limited series may refer to:
*Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series
*Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered
* Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number ...
(a series intended to end after a certain number of issues thus limited), a
one shot (a comic book which is not a part of an ongoing series), a
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
, or a
trade paperback Trade paperback may refer to:
* Trade paperback, a higher-quality softcover version of a book
* Trade paperback (comics)
In comics in the United States, a trade paperback (shortened: TPB or trade) is a collection of stories originally published ...
. However, a series of graphic novels may be considered ongoing as well.
The term may also informally refer to a current or incomplete limited series with a predetermined number of issues.
Characteristics
An ongoing series is traditionally published on a fixed schedule, typically monthly or bimonthly but many factors can cause an issue to be published late.
In the past, the schedule was often maintained with the use of fill-in issues (usually by a different creative team, sometimes hurting quality), but increasingly the practice has been to simply delay publication.
An ongoing "might run for decades and hundreds of issues or be canceled after only a handful of issues".
When an ongoing series ceases to be published because the story has ended, it may be called "finished". If it ceases to be published because of low sales, editorial decisions, publisher bankruptcy, or other reasons, it is "cancelled".
An ending might be written for the last issues of a cancelled series, or the series may simply disappear without warning and never return.
If a series ceases to be published, but may be published again, it is called "on hiatus". Many series are placed "on hiatus" but do not return even after several years.
For series that are
creator owned, the copyright holder has the option of approaching other publishers to see if they would be open to resuming the title under their imprint. For instance, ''
Usagi Yojimbo'' has had four consecutive publishers.
Examples
Examples of ongoing series
* ''
Action Comics'';
"a series that has been published nearly continuously since 1938".
* ''
Detective Comics''; the first volume was published from 1937 to 2011 and then later continued in 2016. The series published 881 issues between 1937 and 2011 and is the longest continuously published comic book in the United States.
Examples of limited series
* ''
52''
Examples of finished series
* ''
Y: The Last Man''
* ''
Cerebus the Aardvark''
* ''
The Sandman''
* ''
Preacher
A preacher is a person who delivers sermons or homilies on religious topics to an assembly of people. Less common are preachers who preach on the street, or those whose message is not necessarily religious, but who preach components such as a ...
''
* ''
God Is Dead''
*''
The Walking Dead''
*''
Lumberjanes''; originally planned as an eight-part limited series, the comic was made an ongoing series following strong sales and critical acclaim. The comic series came to a close after 75 issues with a one-shot finale in December 2020, ending its six-year-run.
*''
Mickey Mouse''; a
Disney comic book series that first appeared in 1943 as part of the ''
Four Color'' one-shot series. It received its own numbering system with issue #28 (December 1952), and after many iterations with various publishers, ended with #330 (June 2017) from
IDW Publishing.
Examples of cancelled series
* ''
Slingers''
* ''
Justice League International''
* ''
Dungeons & Dragons: Fell's Five''
Examples of relaunched series
* ''
Superman'' (at least one relaunch in 1987 and 2011)
* ''
The Amazing Spider-Man
''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bim ...
'' (relaunched in 1999 and re-numbered to original numbering beginning with #59 (500))
* ''
Fantastic Four'' (relaunched in 1996 and again in 1997 as well as 2012)
* ''
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
'' (relaunched in 1996, 1997, 2010 and 2012)
* ''
Fallen Angel'' (cancelled by
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
, subsequently relaunched by
IDW Publishing)
References
{{Comics
Comics terminology