Yonkoma

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Yonkoma manga (4コマ漫画, "four cell manga", or 4-koma for short), a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom. (They also sometimes run right-to-left horizontally or use a hybrid 2x2 style, depending on the layout requirements of the publication in which they appear.) Though the word yonkoma comes from the Japanese, the style also exists outside of Japan in other Sinosphere countries as well as in the English-speaking market.

[edit] Uses

These comic strips appear in almost all types of publications in Japan, including manga magazines, graphic novels, the comics section of newspapers, game magazines, cooking magazines, and so forth. The plot often ends within the four panels, although some serial development may pass on to future installments, creating a more continuous story. Some yonkoma also tackle serious topics, though most do so with humor. Some manga occasionally use yonkoma, usually at the end of a chapter or bound volume, as a non-canon joke to complement the story.

[edit] Example yonkoma manga

Well-known manga drawn using the yonkoma style include:

• Sazae-san
• Nono-chan
• Baito-kun
• Azumanga Daioh
• Lucky Star
• K-On!

Several Western webcomics use the vertical format, including Ghastly's Ghastly Comic, Nelshael and Sexy Losers.

[edit] See also

• Kishōtenketsu - A writing technique specific to 4-panel comics.