An Anthology Comic is a comic containing multiple stories, often by different writers and artists. The different stories may or may not all be set in the same [[TheVerse 'verse]]. Some have art and writing house styles of various strengths.

Anthology comics used to be common in America, but are less visible nowadays. [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] and [[Creator/DCComics DC]], originally published several stories in one issue of their respective comics; only the most popular characters ever got a whole issue devoted to them, and even then it was typically a group of shorter stories about the character. Nowadays, Marvel and DC typically publish one or two stories per issue of each comic -- the DecompressedComic and WritingForTheTrade pretty much forced the end of the anthology at the Big Two. However, Marvel has recently attempted to revive the anthology format with ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents''; the first series lasted 175 issues but the second only 12. They've since tried giving it another go, this time re-using the ''ComicBook/StrangeTales'' title. A more successful attempt has been ''ComicBook/MarvelsVoices'', a set of themed anthologies, each one published annually, timed to coincide with events such as Pride Month and Black History Month.

It is also easier to find [[AlternativeComics independent comics]] that go down the anthology route.

In Britain, anthologies are the norm. Most are aimed at pre-teen children and consist primarily of a set of one-to-two page gag strips, though there are exceptions. If a comic is successful, a publisher may print a summer special, featuring longer stories which often revolve around some theme. Very successful comics may even have ''annuals'' printed. An annual, as its name suggests, is a hardback collection of new stories published once a year, typically just before Christmas. These stories tend to be considerably longer than those in the main comic, and the annual also often has things like quizzes, activities, and text stories.

If a certain character proves to be very popular, they may get their very own comic. This may be either a one-off or semi-regular extended story, or it may be a full-blown SpinOff. ComicBook/JudgeDredd is a good example - although, in typical British style, the spin-off ''Judge Dredd Megazine'' is itself an anthology.

Anthologies are also the norm in Japan. {{Manga}} will, at almost all times, go to the anthology route, having multiple comic series be serialized in larger magazines that are a few hundred pages long, with each one being about 20-30 pages in length (except for gag series and {{Yonkoma}}). Those aimed at teenage [[{{Shonen}} boys]] or [[{{Shojo}} girls]] often put the name of their demographic in the title, while those aimed at {{seinen}} or {{josei}} usually use words like ''young'' or ''youth''.

In Japan, if a series becomes popular enough, it will often be published in a series of softback collections known as ''tankobon''[[note]]effectively a small graphic novel volume[[/note]]. Tankobon are the primary format in which manga are published outside Japan.

Anthologies used to be common in France (and Belgium and the Netherlands) as well, using the same model as British ones though more of the featured FrancoBelgianComics were story-based. Some are still published, but do not seem to have made as much of an impact as the American or Japanese publications; though they are still the dominant and default form of comics magazines, it's just that the collected editions are seen much more as the real deal, the publication in anthology magazines (and papers) is seen as pre-publication, rather than as first edition.

See also AnimatedAnthology.
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!!Examples
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[[folder:America]]
* ''Magazine/EpicIllustrated''
* ''Magazine/ShonenJump'' (featuring different series from the Japanese version's history)
* ''ShojoBeat'' (ditto)
* Creator/MarvelComics
** ''ComicBook/WildWestern''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelTales''
** ''ComicBook/StrangeTales''
** ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery''
** ''ComicBook/StrangeWorlds''
** ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish''
** ''ComicBook/TalesOfSuspense''
** ''ComicBook/AmazingAdventures''
** ''ComicBook/AmazingAdultFantasy''
** ''ComicBook/AstonishingTales''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelFeature''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelSpotlight''
** ''ComicBook/SavageTales''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelPremiere''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelPresents''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelSpotlight''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelFanfare''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents''
** ''ComicBook/APlusX''
** ''ComicBook/MarvelsVoices''
** ''ComicBook/YellowClaw'', which was published by Marvel's predecessor Atlas Comics. Short tales about the VillainProtagonist and his heroic opponent Jimmy Woo were mixed with unrelated crime and spy tales, including some short text stories.
** Marvel's ''Unlimited'' line from the 1990s:
*** ''ComicBook/FantasticFour Unlimited''
*** ''ComicBook/SpiderMan Unlimited''
*** ''[[ComicBook/Marvel2099 2099]] Unlimited'' -- The first six issues showcased Hulk 2099, until he got his own monthly. Additional stories featured either ComicBook/SpiderMan2099 or Doom 2099, and additional stories with a random assortment of new characters serving as WorldBuilding for the 2099 universe.
*** ''ComicBook/MidnightSons Unlimited'' -- Featuring supernatural characters such as ComicBook/GhostRider, ComicBook/{{Morbius}}, ComicBook/{{Blade}}, ComicBook/WerewolfByNight, and ComicBook/DoctorStrange.
*** ''ComicBook/XMen Unlimited'' - The longest-running of all the series, lasting 50 issues over ten years, later relaunched for another 14 issues.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek Unlimited'' -- Ran for ten issues, featured the ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Original Series]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Next Generation]]'' casts.
* ''Mome''
* ''ComicBook/Flight2004'' and ''Flight Explorer''
* ''Yen Plus''
* ''Magazine/{{Creepy|Magazine}}'' and ''Eerie''
* From Creator/DCComics during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, when anthology comics were the standard format and character-centric solo series were the exception:
** ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' – Birthplace of ComicBook/{{Batman}}, introduced as its main feature in issue #27, which eventually took over the series.
** ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' – Birthplace of ComicBook/{{Superman}}, which eventually took over the series.
*** ''Action Comics Weekly'' was an attempt to revive the anthology format, with ComicBook/GreenLantern as the main recurring feature; it lasted 42 issues before returning to a monthly Superman series.
*** ''Action Comics'' #1051 marks the return of the anthology format, with three stories per-issue focusing on Superman and his SuperFamilyTeam (e.g. [[Characters/SupermanJonathanSamuelKent Jon]], ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} the Irons family]]). Stories starring Superman himself, of course, continue to take precedence.
** ''Flash Comics'' – Birthplace of ComicBook/TheFlash (naturally), ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} and ComicBook/BlackCanary.
** ''More Fun Comics'' – Birthplace of ComicBook/TheSpectre, ComicBook/DoctorFate, ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}, ComicBook/GreenArrow, and ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. From issue #108 onwards was {{Retool}}ed as a non-superhero comedy book, with its superhero characters moved over to...
** ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' – Birthplace of Sandman (the original, not the Creator/NeilGaiman one), ComicBook/{{Hourman}} and ComicBook/{{Starman}}. Was eventually taken over by ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, then the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, then ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. Unusually, in issue #425 it ''returned'' to the anthology format, and afterwards [[LongRunners continued to last for a long time]] while frequently changing its main feature and backups. Taken over entirely by ComicBook/DialHForHero for issues #479-490. Finally ended up as an anthology comic again, albeit digest-sized and consisting of mostly reprints, before being canceled at issue #503 in 1983. Its revival in 2009 originally had Superboy (the new one) as a main feature and the Legion of Super-Heroes as a backup, but the Legion soon took over the book entirely again: it remained a Legion book until being canceled again at issue #529.
** ''All-American Comics'' – Birthplace of ComicBook/GreenLantern and ComicBook/TheAtom. From issue #103 onwards was {{Retool}}ed as ''All-American Western''.
** ''ComicBook/WorldsFinest1941'' – Originally featured separate solo stories of Superman and Batman (being DC's two most popular superheroes), plus a few other characters. Eventually taken over by Superman & Batman team-up stories.
** ''ComicBook/AllStarComics'' – Originally featured solo stories for all DC's most popular characters apart from the top two. In issue #3, the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica was introduced as a framing device; eventually the series evolved into a genuine team title. From issue #58 onwards was {{Retool}}ed as ''All-Star Western''.
** ''ComicBook/ComicCavalcade'' – Fulfilled the original purpose of ''All-Star Comics'' by featuring separate solo stories of Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern, these being the other three DC superheroes with their own solo series.
** ''ComicBook/SensationComics'' – Had ComicBook/WonderWoman as its main feature[[note]]although she debuted as a backup feature in ''ComicBook/AllStarComicsNumber8'', surviving drafts of that story indicate it was originally slated for ''Sensation'' #1[[/note]]; also the birthplace of ComicBook/MisterTerrific and ComicBook/{{Wildcat}}. Wonder Woman was phased out after issue #106, and the title was changed to ''Sensation Mystery'' from #110.
** ''Star-Spangled Comics'' – Birthplace of the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, ComicBook/{{Guardian}} and the Newsboy Legion. Later had ComicBook/{{Robin}} as its main feature, followed by ComicBook/{{Tomahawk}}. From issue #131 was {{Retool}}ed as ''Star-Spangled War Stories''.
* Other notable anthologies from [[Franchise/TheDCU DC Comics]] and related companies include:
** ''Whiz Comics'' – Published by Fawcett Comics, birthplace of [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]])
** ''National Comics'' – Published by Quality Comics (oddly enough, ''not'' by National Periodical Publications, DC's official name at the time). Birthplace of Max Mercury (then named Quicksilver).
** ''ComicBook/SecretOrigins''
** ''ComicBook/SensationComicsFeaturingWonderWoman''
** ''Mystery in Space''
** ''Tales of the Unexpected''
** ''House of Secrets''
** ''House of Mystery''
** ''Strange Adventures'' -- a sci-fi series notable for the first appearances of Animal Man, Enchantress and Deadman
** ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'' (five short Batman stories in each issue, each from a different writer and artist)
*** Followed later by companion series for other characters such as ''ComicBook/SupermanRedAndBlue'' and ''ComicBook/WonderWomanBlackAndGold''.
** ''DC Pride'' (2021) & ''ComicBook/DCPride2022''
** ''ComicBook/WednesdayComics'' -- presented in a newspaper comic format.
** ''Funny Stuff'' (a humor title, taken over by its stars, ''The Dodo and the Frog'')
** ''DC Universe Presents'' (has a slightly different format, as each character has whole issues to themselves before switching to the next one)
** ''ComicBook/SensationalWonderWoman''
** ''ComicBook/BatmanUrbanLegends''
* Most titles published by EC Comics in UsefulNotes/{{the Golden Age|OfComicBooks}}, including ''Tales from the Crypt'' and ''Crime Suspenstories''.
* ''ComicBook/GarfieldHis9Lives'', which also got an AnimatedAnthology adaptation.
** Magazine/{{MAD}} began as one.
* ''ComicBook/StarWarsTales''
* ''ComicBook/{{Tattoo}}''; each story is inspired by a Music/ToriAmos song (yes, some are rather weird). Also something of a {{Doorstopper}}.
* Creator/ImageComics seems to release a lot of thick anthology books like Popgun, a general collection of indie artists, 24 Seven, different stories set in a world inhabited entirely by humaniod robots and Liquid City a collection consisting of work by artists from South East Asia. Image's head publisher Erik Larsen has said he really loves anthologies, which works out nicely for readers who also like them.
* ''Creator/CrossGen Chronicles''
* [=WildStorm=]'s ''ComicBook/NewLineCinemasTalesOfHorror'' was a series that would have alternated between telling two stories set in either the ''[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Nightmare]], [[Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre Chainsaw]]'' or ''[[Franchise/FridayThe13th Friday]]'' Universes, or a combination of two of the three. It [[ShortRunners had only one issue]].
* Many graphic novels of Creator/CliveBarker's ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'' series were anthologies by various writer/artist teams.
* ''Death Rattle'', a 1990s horror anthology comic series with some recurring characters/storylines (such as the Alcoholic Janitor).
* Dark Horse Comics has published ''Dark Horse Presents'' off and on for a over a decade.
* ''TalesFromTheAniverse'' is a variant. The comics consist of several short stories with varying cast members, all set in the same universe and occasionally overlapping.
* ''ComicBook/DizzyDames''
* ''ComicBook/DarkHorseMonsters'', a 1997 comic with four different stories involving monstrous creatures.
* ''[[ComicBook/AlbedoErmaFelnaEDF Albedo Anthopomorphics]]'' began like one at first until the late 90s when the anthology part was removed after all the remaining stories were canceled or moved to solo magazines, and it become focused into the titular heroine Erma Felna exclusively to this day.
* ''[[ComicBook/IceCreamMan Ice Cream Man]]'' is a horror anthology comic that connects a series of disparate stories, all of which involve the eponymous Ice Cream Man, a malevolent supernatural entity.
* ''ComicBook/TheSilverCoin'' is, similarly a horror anthology comic where each of the stories involves a cursed Silver Coin.
* ''ComicBook/DarkSoulsLegendsOfTheFlame'' is an anthology of stories based on ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''.
* ''ComicBook/BigBangComics''
* ''ComicBook/AlienWorlds'', a science fiction anthology comic book published by Creator/PacificComics, and later Creator/EclipseComics, in the early 1980s.
* ''ComicBook/StuckInTheMiddle'' is an anthology of comics about middle school.
* ''ComicBook/KillingAndDying'' is comprised of six unrelated stories, all written and drawn by the same artist.
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[[folder:Britain]]
* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' is home to numerous different series, some of which are anthologies in their own right as well:
** ''ComicBook/TalesFromTheBlackMuseum'', a horror anthology set in the ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' universe.
** ''ComicBook/TalesOfTelguuth'', a fantasy horror anthology.
** ''ComicBook/ThargsFutureShocks'', a sci-fi anthology.
* ''Battle''
* ''ComicBook/TheBeano''
* ''ComicBook/TheBeezer''
* ''Blast!''
* ''ComicBook/{{Buster}}''
* ''ComicBook/{{Bunty}}''
* ''Buzz''
* ''ComicBook/CaptainBritainMonthly''
* ''ComicBook/CaptainBritainWeekly''
* ''Cracker''
* ''Crisis''
* ''ComicBook/TheDandy''
* ''The Daredevils''
* ''Hoot''
* ''Hulk Comic''
* ''ComicBook/{{Jinty}}''
* ''Judge Dredd Megazine''
* ''ComicBook/{{Mandy}}''
* ''Marvel Super-Heroes''
* ''The Mighty World of Marvel''
* ''ComicBook/{{Misty}}''
* ''Monster Fun''
* ''Nutty''
* ''ComicBook/{{Oink}}''
* ''Overkill'' – reprinting stories from the 1990s Creator/MarvelUK comics.
* ''Shiver and Shake''
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' initially started as one of these, with stories from many different Sega games appearing in the comic, including ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'', ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi}}'', and the most successful ''VideoGame/DecapAttack'', amongst others, before Sonic started taking more and more of the space, eventually phasing them all out. [[Webcomic/SonicTheComicOnline The Online Continuation]] has tried to continue this, adding stories about ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'', ''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}'', and ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead''.
* ''Sparky''
* ''ComicBook/{{Tammy}}''
* ''ComicBook/TheTopper''
* ''Twinkle''
* ''ComicBook/TwistedDark''
* ''ComicBook/{{Viz}}''
* ''ComicBook/WhizzerAndChips''
* ''Whoopee!''
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[[folder:France]]
* ''Pilote''
* ''[[Magazine/HeavyMetal Métal Hurlant']]''
* ''Lapin''
* ''Magazine/{{Spirou}}'' (weekly)
* ComicBook/DisneyMouseAndDuckComics are [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff big in France]] with ''Le journal de Mickey'' (weekly), ''[[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Picsou]] Magazine''[[note]]Picsou is Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s French name[[/note]] (monthly), ''Mickey Parade'' (fluctuates between monthly and quarterly), ''Super Picsou Geant'' (bimonthly)...
* ''Le journal de Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' (weekly, 1946-1988)
* ''Fluide Glacial''
* ''Pif Gadget''
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[[folder:Japan]]
* ''Afternoon''
* ''Big Comic''
* ''Comic Gene''
* ''Magazine/CoroCoroComic''
* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}} Ace''
* ''Halloween''
* ''Magazine/HanaToYume''
* ''Magazine/LaLa''
* ''Magazine/MangaTimeKirara'' and its spinoffs.
* ''Margaret'' and ''Bessatsu Margaret''
* ''Morning''
* ''Magazine/{{Nakayoshi}}''
* ''Magazine/{{Ribon}}''
* ''Shonen Ace''
* ''Magazine/ShonenJump''
* ''Magazine/ShonenMagazine''
* ''Magazine/ShonenSunday''
* ''Manga/ToshiDensetsu''
* ''Young Jump''
* ''Young Magazine''
* ''Magazine/YuriHime'', ''Yuri Hime S'' (since combined with ''Yuri Hime''), and ''Yuri Hime Wildrose'' (now ''Girls Love'').

...and many, many, MANY others.
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[[folder:Other Countries]]
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[[folder: Australia ]]

* ''ComicBook/SoliloquyDownToThree''
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