Wikipedia:Naming conventions (comics)

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✔ This page documents an English Wikipedia naming convention. It is a generally accepted standard that editors should follow, though it should be treated with common sense and the occasional exception. When editing this page, please ensure that your revision reflects consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.
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Our naming convention policy directs us to "use the most common name of a person or thing that does not conflict with the names of other people or things", and Wikipedia:Naming conventions (precision) directs that more precise is better.

When confronted with a difficult or complex naming issue, please check for community consensus at the WikiProject talk page.

Contents

[edit] The

Shortcut:
WP:NCC/THE
See also: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (definite and indefinite articles at beginning of name)

Note: Remember to only include initial "The" when appropriate:

  • a character: e.g. Sandman (not The Sandman)
  • a publication: e.g. The Sandman
  • a group of characters: e.g. The Fantastic Four (not The FF or FF - though a common acronym could possibly be a redirect).

However, you should not add "The" to the beginning of a publication title or group title when it isn't actually the name (e.g. Infinity Inc., not The Infinity Inc.)

[edit] Disambiguation

Following extensive discussion of naming conventions for comic book characters at Talk:List of Marvel Comics characters and Wikipedia Talk:WikiProject Comics, the agreed general disambiguation phrase used for articles related to comic books, graphic novels, comic strips, and comics creators is "(comics)".

In general, when naming an article, use the name itself, without further disambiguation (e.g. Jack Kirby) unless that leads to ambiguity, in which case, follow with "(comics)" (e.g. Ralph Macchio (comics)).

[edit] Phrases not used

  • NEVER disambiguate using Roman numerals unless the character or comic actually uses them in the text (in the case of a character) or the comic title (e.g. Death's Head II). This extends to the text of the articles, in addition to the article titles.
  • Due to the disambiguation conventions on this page, a character's article should never be disambiguated with (character).
  • Avoid these terms and phrases, as they are not helpful in clearing up ambiguity:
    • modern age, bronze age, silver age, and golden age.
    • comic and comic book series

[edit] Character article disambiguation

See also: Wikipedia:Naming_conventions (people)#Nick names, pen names, stage names, cognomens

Use the "most common name" as the rule, as stated above.

If a given character is best known by one specific codename (such as Jean-Paul Valley as Azrael, or Bruce Wayne as Batman), then that name should be the article name.

Conversely, if a character is best known by their "real" name, then that name should be the article name. For example: John Constantine is most commonly known by that name, rather than by "Hellblazer". Lois Lane rather than "Superwoman", for another example.

If a given character has been well-recognized in more than one identity such that no "codename" is necessarily better known than the other, naming the "overview" article (see below) after the character's "real name", may be appropriate. Henry Pym and Roy Harper might be two such examples.

[edit] "Codename" disambiguation

(Note: The term "codename" is used to mean the pseudonym, sobriquet, moniker, stage name, nom de plume, or any other alternate name, used or applied as the character's public persona.

In the case of several characters having the same (or very similar) codenames (Sandman, or Iron Man, for example), and when each identity has a separate article - a disambiguation phrase may be necessary.

To disambiguate between more than one character of a single codename, use the following format:

  • Codename (character name)

Using Green Lantern, as a potential example:

  • Green Lantern: An overview page of the characters who have used the name, summarizing the sub-articles per summary style. (This article may have several instances of the {{main}} template.)


  • Green Lantern (Hal Jordan): An article about Jordan as GL
  • Green Lantern (Guy Gardner): Gardner as GL
  • Green Lantern (John Stewart): Stewart as GL
  • Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner): Rayner as GL

(etc.)

However, if there is not more than one character of a certain codename (using Martian Manhunter as an example) there is no need for Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), but merely Martian Manhunter (and not J'onn J'onzz, though the latter is a suitable redirect).

[edit] Character name disambiguation

In the case of a single character having several codenames (Hal Jordan, or Henry Pym, for example), and when each identity has a separate article - a disambiguation phrase may be necessary.

To disambiguate between multiple codenames of a single character, use the following format:

  • Character name (codename)

Using Hal Jordan as a potential example:

  • Hal Jordan: An overview page of the character, summarizing the sub-articles per summary style. (This article may have several instances of the {{main}} template.)


  • Parallax (Hal Jordan): An article about Jordan as Parallax
  • Spectre (Hal Jordan): Jordan as the Spectre
  • Green Lantern (Hal Jordan): Jordan as GL

Notice how easily this disambiguates, the name itself does it. (As per Wikipedia:Manual of Style (disambiguation pages)#piping)

[edit] Disambiguation between media types

See also: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (films) and Wikipedia:Naming conventions (television)

When disambiguating between a proper name (a character name, a group name, a location, etc.), and another related eponymous work, use one of the following, as appropriate:

  • (comic book)
  • (comic strip)
  • (film)
  • (TV series)
  • (video game) or (video game series)

As noted in the last two examples, each of the above disambiguation phrases (except comic book, which is instead disambiguated by volume - see below) may be further disambiguated by year.

Examples:

[edit] Disambiguation between volumes

In cases of several comic book titles of the same name from the same publisher, X-men, volume 1; X-men, volume 2; etc. is the standard (note the use of a comma separating the publication from the volume number). This has the added benefit of essentially being the way the publishers themselves disambiguate between titles, and avoids a parenthetical disambiguation phrase. However, do not use this where only one volume exists. When using a volume number, do not add publication (or comic book - see above) to the parenthetical disambiguation, as that may be presumed.

[edit] Disambiguation between publishers

[edit] Disambiguation between characters of different publishers

Example:

  • Starman (DC Comics)
  • Starman (Marvel Comics)

[edit] Disambiguation between publications of different publishers

(Note: This is not directly covered under Wikipedia:Naming conventions (books)#Periodicals)

In most cases, comic books are periodicals, except when they are published as books for trade. In either case they are a publication.

If several comic book titles of the same name come from separate publishers, then default to publisher imprint: Starman (DC Comics publication) or Starman (Marvel Comics publication), for example.

Example of disambiguating between publisher and volume: Starman, volume 1 (DC Comics).

[edit] List of publisher disambiguations

In the case of companies that do not use the word "Comics" within their name, their name is followed by the word "comics" in lowercase to indicate the genre.

[edit] Disambiguation page example

In the case of the semi-complex case of The Sandman, these are some potentials for a Sandman disambiguation page:

  • Sandman (DC Comics), an overview page on the various characters published/owned by DC Comics who have assumed the Sandman identity
  • Sandman (Wesley Dodds), a comic book superhero first appearing in the 1940s
  • Sandman (Garrett Sanford), a comic book superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in the 1970s
  • Sandman (Hector Hall), Dr. Sanford's temporary replacement
  • Sandman (Daniel Hall), Hector Hall's son
  • Sandman (Morpheus), also known as Dream
  • The Sandman, volume 1, a title starring the Simon and Kirby character.
  • The Sandman, volume 2, a title starring Dream (aka Morpheus), the king of dreams, written by Neil Gaiman
  • Sandman (Marvel Comics), a Marvel Comics super villain who could transform his body into sand

This is clear, concise, and should aid in searches.

[edit] Lists

See also: Wikipedia:Lists (stand-alone lists)#Naming conventions

In general, lists are disambiguated as articles are, as described above.

The name of a comics-related list should use the following format:

  • List of <x> in comics-related media - when the list consists of such things as characters, devices, organizations, etc., which are in all comics-related media, such as comic books, comics strips, film, and TV series.
  • List of <x> in comics and animation - when the list consists of such things as the previous example, but only as what appears in comics or non-live action productions of TV or film (such as cartoons).
  • List of <x> in comics - when the list consists of such things as the previous example, but includes all comics (including comic strips), not just comic books.
  • List of <x> in comic books - when the list consists of such things as the previous example, but only includes such appearing in comic books.
  • List of comic book <x> - when the list consists of things or people who are associated with comic books in some way (such as publishers or artists).
  • List of comics <x> - when the list consists of such things as the previous example, but includes all comics (including comic strips), not just comic books.

So "x" in comic books/comics should be used when talking about something "in universe", or at least printed "in comics", and comic book/comics "x" is used when talking about things (such as creators) outside of the publication.

When using the "...in comics" or "...in comic books" disambiguation, the word "fictional" should be included in the name prior to <x>:

  • List of fictional <x> in comics

The use of "fictional" can be presumed when <x> is something clearly fictional, such as: "superhuman" or "superhero".

  • Examples:
  • "...<x> in comic books/comics"
  • List of alien races in comics and animation (In this case, "alien races" presumes fictional)
  • List of Hispanic superheroes in comics-related media ("superhero" presumes fictional)
  • List of superhuman powers in comics ("superhuman" presumes fictional)
  • List of fictional characters in comic books
  • List of fictional locations in comic books
  • List of fictional devices in comics
  • etc.
  • "...comics <x>":
  • List of comic strip creators
  • List of comic book publishers
  • etc.

If such a list become too long (See Wikipedia:Summary style), then the list may be split.

Lists "... in comics" are split by media type (such as comic strips or comic books, see above).

Lists "...in comic books" are usually first split by publisher, such as: List of fictional characters in Marvel Comics.

This may be further split if necessary, such as: List of fictional characters in The Sandman, volume 1. (Note the use of "the" because this is a publication which has "the" in its title, and also note the disambiguating volume number.)

Another way that lists may be further split is by reference to an in-universe location (nations, continents, planets, galaxies, universes, alternate dimensions, etc.), such as: List of fictional devices of the DC universe, or List of superheroes of South America. (Note that in this case, "of" is used rather than "in".) When <x> is located "in" the disambiguating location, use "in", such as: List of superheroes headquartered in New York City (DC Comics). (Note the use of "(DC Comics)" to further disambiguate between the fictional city published in DC Comics and any other publisher's version of New York City.)