Prestige format
Encyclopedia
Prestige format is a term coined by DC Comics
and later came into wider use to refer to a square-bound comic book
with cardstock covers. A prestige format comic book is usually longer than a normal, stapled 32-page comic (sometimes referred to as a pamphlet
). Prestige comics typically also have higher quality paper and printing than pamphlet comics.
The first comic to be referred to as "prestige format" was Frank Miller
's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
, published by DC Comics in 1986. The term has been used regularly by DC since that time, and has seen use by other comic publishers as well, but is not used universally. Sometimes squarebound comics are simply said to be in a squarebound format.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and later came into wider use to refer to a square-bound comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
with cardstock covers. A prestige format comic book is usually longer than a normal, stapled 32-page comic (sometimes referred to as a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
). Prestige comics typically also have higher quality paper and printing than pamphlet comics.
The first comic to be referred to as "prestige format" was Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a four-issue comic book limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller, originally published by DC Comics under the title Batman: The Dark Knight in 1986. When the issues were released in a collected edition later that year, the story title for the first issue...
, published by DC Comics in 1986. The term has been used regularly by DC since that time, and has seen use by other comic publishers as well, but is not used universally. Sometimes squarebound comics are simply said to be in a squarebound format.