Gag-a-day

A gag-a-day comic strip is the style of writing comic cartoons such that every installment of a strip delivers a complete joke (or other kind of artistic statement). It is opposed to story or continuity strips, which rely on the development of a story line across a sequence of the installments.[1] Most syndicated comics are of this type.[2] Another term for this distinction is non-serial (gag-a-day) vs. serial strips.[3]

Compared to single-panel cartoons ("gag panels"), gag-a-day comic strips can deliver a better timing for the narrative of a joke.[2]

The distinction between continuity and gag-a-day strip may be blurred: a continuous story may still be delivered in the gag-a-day format.[2] In fact, Lynn Johnston recommends it for story strips, to keep the readership and engage new audience which may be not very familiar with the background of the story.[4]

References
  1. Brian Walker, "The Comics: Since 1945", 2006, ISBN 0810992604, p.13
  2. The Art of Cartooning & Illustration, 2014, ISBN 1600583636, p.98
  3. Encyclopedia of Humor Studies, ed. Salvatore Attardo, 2014, ISBN 148334617X, p.156
  4. Cartoon Success Secrets: A Tribute to 30 Years of Cartoonist Profiles, p. 311
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