Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Comics

Flags

I saw the edits to the flags section. I'm not entirely sure why such a section even exists in this guideline, since it has nothing to say that is directly relevant to the comics domain. I suggest that it should be removed. --Izno (talk) 20:59, 2 May 2019 (UTC)

I guess the entire section is gone. Anyway, MOS:FLAGS exists and covers pretty much everything I would think. If there's some over-use of flags in the comics sector, then this page could just cross-reference MOS:FLAGS without reiterating its specifics (which might be an opportunity for WP:POLICYFORKing).  — SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼  06:34, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

SMcCandlish, that was me. :) --Izno (talk) 18:02, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Good call. None of that was particular to comics, and there doesn't even seem any need for a cross-reference.  — SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼  18:39, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Images, no?

I am scratching my head. Pardon me if I'm off base, but as an illustrator, I immediately noticed that in a certain page about a comic that I was checking, there was not a single image. Now whatever the challenges, copyright or other considerations, it seems a no-brainer that a single panel would be allowed and encouraged in each comic article for illustrative purposes. As Wikipedia fills an educational purposes this should fall under fair use.

So... I poked around and came to the comics portal and this style manual for comics pages that seems to have no suggestion for adding a simple single image. It boggles the mind. We have a talk page, wonderful. Comics are inherently not about talk. Talk about comics is not comics. Why would we not encourage a sample of the comic which would paint a thousand words? Baffled. APDEF (talk) 04:59, 21 June 2020 (UTC)

Copyright, actually, yes. WP:NFC is important, and particularly WP:NFCC#8. There's probably support there to pass the high bar of #8 if and only if the article is well-developed/referenced with content describing the art and theme of the comic strip. Not many comics articles do that. --Izno (talk) 13:26, 21 June 2020 (UTC)

@APDEF: to give the best response to your question, can you identify the article you're looking at? It would help to know if you're looking at a character, a series, a franchise, or something else. Argento Surfer (talk) 12:44, 22 June 2020 (UTC)

@Argento Surfer: can't even remember which page I was looking at first, it was an old syndicated comic from the 1950s. It had no image, and I thought it was pretty odd not to have a single frame showing what the cartoon looked like. But looking further the style manual doesn't even have a space allocated for an image. It's easy to say it's a copyright problem, but I think Wiki ought to qualify as educational use under fair use. How do we have a website this deeply developed, turned to daily for information, yet we are still walking on eggshells and not using images where I would think they are most needed. Now, that's comic! APDEF (talk) 09:58, 26 June 2020 (UTC)

Depending on depth of coverage, most articles on comics are able to support one image (usually a cover or promotional intended to be widely circulated by the publisher). If the interior art is discussed in detail (or varies significantly from the cover style), an panel or two might qualify as free use. Most articles on comic characters currently have too many pictures (one of each costume variation for a superhero created 80 years ago), and some editors are actively pruning them.

If you find an article without an image that you think needs one, feel free to add one yourself or request one be added at WT:COMICS if you're not comfortable doing it. Worst case scenario, it gets deleted with a clear explanation and you can avoid the same concern the next time. Argento Surfer (talk) 12:35, 26 June 2020 (UTC)

Comic strips remain in present tense even after they are no longer produced, right?

Funky Winkerbean - Immigrant laborer (talk) 21:44, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

Events in the real world - no. Events inside the fictional world of a creative work - yes. - jc37 22:00, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

Let me rephrase: Should a comic strip as a whole continue to be in present tense ("Funky Winkerbean is a comic strip") or past tense ("Funky Winkerbean was a comic strip") after it is no longer produced? Random samples of other strips (Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, Pogo (comic strip)) are all over the place. - Immigrant laborer (talk) 22:07, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

Real world event - "Funky Winkerbean was a comic strip"

Fictional world event - "Funky Winkerbean is a character in a comic strip"

Does that make more sense? - jc37 22:14, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

No. "Funky Winkerbean" is not an event, it's a thing. I'll just move on. - Immigrant laborer (talk) 20:56, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

Fair enough. Just for clarity, though - Funky Winkerbean is a created work, the creation of which is an event.

Another way to put it is to say that the comic strip was printed (past tense), but the character does exist (present tense).

Anyway, happy editing. - jc37 21:25, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

@Immigrant laborer: While not part of this MOS, you should look at MOS:TVNOW. The correct wording, per that and in my opinion, would be "Funky Winkerbean is an American comic strip that was created by Tom Batiuk." The comic existed, even if it is not currently published, and older strip in theory can still be accessed today. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 23:57, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

That is my understanding as well. The creative work was created, but now currently exists. See also: Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Writing about fiction. - jc37 00:29, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

Updating {{comic strip reference}} soon and eventually {{cite comic}}

 You are invited to join the discussion at Template talk:Comic strip reference § Pending update. Rjjiii (talk) 08:04, 24 June 2023 (UTC)

Discussion at Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style § Is "no." or "#" meant to be used on comic issues?

 You are invited to join the discussion at Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style § Is "no." or "#" meant to be used on comic issues?. Rjjiii (talk) 06:46, 3 July 2023 (UTC)