Trade paperback (comics)

A trade paperback (often abbreviated as TPB) is a collection of previously published comic book issues, typically bound together in a softcover format. They are often used to collect a story arc, a miniseries, or several issues of an ongoing comic book series.

Trade paperbacks serve several purposes. They offer a convenient way for readers to catch up on missed issues or to read an entire storyline in a single volume. They also provide a more durable and aesthetically pleasing format compared to individual comic books, making them popular for collectors. Additionally, trade paperbacks allow publishers to repackage and resell existing content, potentially reaching a wider audience than the original single issues.

The content included in a trade paperback is generally the same as the original comic issues, including covers, interior art, and sometimes supplementary material like variant covers, character designs, or creator commentary. However, the ordering of the content may be altered, and some editorial changes may be made to improve the reading experience.

Trade paperbacks are distinct from graphic novels, although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. While a graphic novel is typically an original, standalone story, a trade paperback is a collection of pre-existing material. However, some trade paperbacks may contain new material alongside the collected issues.