Glossary

Please refer to this page to understand how terms are used in this database.

Series Type

Publication status

complete No further pages, issues, or volumes are anticipated.
current Further pages, issues, or volumes are anticipated.

Serialization

series The work is collected in multiple volumes.
stand-alone The work is collected in a single volume.

Availability information

available in print The work has been collected in a print format.
free online The work is legally available to read online, in full and at no cost.

Art Styles

black and white Scenes and objects are rendered either in shades of gray or black and white.
bright Saturated colors evoke a light tone.
cartoony Characterized by simplified forms, rounded shapes, and flat colors.
dark Desaturated colors evoke an oppressive atmosphere.
full-color Scenes, characters, and / or objects are rendered in more than one color at a time.
manga/manhua/manhwa Features stylization and proportions typical of Japanese, Chinese, and / or Korean sequential art.
mixed media Either composed of replicating the effect of multiple media. Includes collage.
painted Characters and scenes are either rendered in paint or presented in a style that is visually similar to painted images.
realistic Proportions of characters and objects attempt visual parity with real-world references.
sketchy Linework has not been smoothed or “cleaned”. Hatching and / or cross-hatching may be used to suggest light and shade
stylized Proportions are exaggerated or otherwise distorted. Simplified characters or objects can also be considered stylized.

Queer Representation

Gender

trans A character that identifies in a way that is distinct from or beyond their assigned-at-birth sex. An umbrella term for gender terms listed below.
genderfluid A character that does not identify exclusively with one gender.
nonbinary or genderqueer A character whose experience with gender cannot be adequately described by the label “male” or “female”. Our tag includes characters that identify as agender, bigender, or other variations.
trans female A character that identifies as female but was not assigned female at birth.
trans male A character that identifies as male but was not assigned male at birth.

Sexuality

aromantic or asexual A character that either does not experience sexual or romantic feelings, or does so only situationally. Our tag includes  demiromantic, demisexual, gray aromantic, and gray asexual characters, as well as characters who are aromantic or asexual and some other identity (e.g., homoromantic asexual).
queer female * A female character that experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to women. 
bisexual or pansexual female A female character that experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to more than one gender.
lesbian A female character that predominantly experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to women.
queer male * A male character that experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to men.
bisexual or pansexual male A male character that experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to more than one gender.
gay male A male character that predominantly experiences sexual and / or romantic attraction to men.

* Note that the use of “queer” exclusively to refer to same gender attraction in these tags is not meant to imply that LGBTQ individuals who do not experience same gender attraction are not “queer”; it is thusly applied for simplicity’s sake until we find a more appropriate term that will be understood by our users.

Content Warnings

antisemitism The expression, through words or actions, of negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals who practice Judaism or whose cultural origins are tied to Jewish peoples.
biphobia The expression, through words or actions, of negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals who experience or express bisexuality.
child abuse A parent, guardian, or other caregiver acts or fails to act in such a way that it results in serious physical and / or emotional harm, or sexual abuse and / or exploitation of a child.
domestic abuse Behaviors which physically or emotionally harm, manipulate, and / or intimidate are present in the home or familial environment, or between partners in an intimate relationship. Our tag includes domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and relationship abuse.
eating disorder An individual experiences persistent eating behaviors which negatively impact health, emotions, and ability to function.
gore Blood, viscera, and / or other indications of bodily harm are depicted.
homophobia The expression, through words or actions, of negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals who experience or express same-sex attraction.
islamophobia The expression, through words or actions, of negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals who practice Islam.
nudity The human body is presented unclothed, with features such as buttocks, breasts and / or genitalia visible.
racism The expression, through words or actions, 0f negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals or groups based on racial, national, or cultural origin.
self-harm Deliberate, non-suicidal actions in which an individual harms their own body, often as a means of coping with mental or emotional agitation.
sexual assault Sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.
sexually explicit Sexual acts are shown or described.
suicide An individual makes plans and / or takes action to end their own life. We have not tagged for passive suicide ideation (a desire to die without plan or action).
transphobia The expression, through words or actions, of negative attitudes or feelings towards nonconforming gender presentation and / or identity.
violence Behavior involving physical force which results in injury or death.