Minicomic

A minicomic is a small, creator-published comic book, often photocopied and stapled or with a handmade requisite. These are a common inexpensive way for those who want to make their own comics on a very small financial plan, with mostly informal means of distribution. A number of cartoonists have started this way and gone on to more conventional types of publishing, while other more established artists continue to produce minicomics on the side. Minicomics are even less main stream than optional comics.

The term was initially used in the United States and has a somewhat confusing history. Originally, it referred only to size: a digest comic measured 5.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall, while a minicomic was 5.5 inches by 4.25 inches. These sizes were convenient for artists using standard office supplies: a US letter page could be folded in half to make a digest or in quarters for a minicomic. These comics were generally photocopied, although some that were produced in larger quantities used offset printing. An early and unusually popular example of this minicomic format was Matt Feazell's Cynicalman, which began in 1980.