Trade paperback
𐑑𐑮𐑱𐑛 𐑐𐑱𐑐𐑼𐑚𐑨𐑒
In the context of comics, a trade paperback (or trade for short) is a paperback book collating up to about a dozen comic book issues.
It can collect a year's worth of issues into a single volume, or group together disjointed issues based around a single theme. In the Modern Age, starting with The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, it more often forms a complete self-contained limited series.
Trade paperbacks are technically distinct from graphic novels, which are exclusively released in the longer format, not divided up into shorter issues first and then grouped together later on. Having said that, most people use the terms interchangeably.
Contrast with a compendium, which combines many more issues.
Comic formats: Comic book | Compendium | Graphic novel | Omnibus | Trade paperback
Trade paperbacks: Superman: Birthright | Watchmen
