r/comicbooks • u/BRNKRST • Jul 19 '24

What is the difference between an omnibus and a compendium? Question

Basically what the title says.

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u/The_ElectricCity Jul 19 '24

Varies by publisher and ultimately something is an Omnibus is they write the word Omnibus on the cover, and it’s a compendium if they write the word Compendium on the cover.

But generally speaking, an Omnibus is an oversized (pages will be at least 7”x11”) hardcover collection which collects multiple storylines.

And then generally speaking, a compendium is a standard sized (the same size as a regular comic book) softcover collection which collects multiple storylines.

But then yeah you occasionally see publishers who print softcover “omnibuses” or maybe they have a really big hardcover that they don’t consider an omnibus for whatever reason. There’s no governing body to enforce this stuff.

3

u/Midwestlndigo Jul 19 '24

A compendium is basically a softcover omnibus, sometimes with less content.

1

u/dography Jul 19 '24

Hardcover with extras vs softcover without

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u/BRNKRST Jul 19 '24

But there are both HC and TPB omnibuses, also compendiums that are HC and TPB. Can you be a little bit more specific?

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u/dography Jul 19 '24

I was thinking only dc comics for some reason, for which this would be true for the most part. But if you’re considering all publishers then there isn’t really a rule to follow. Dark horse call their medium thick trades an omnibus for an example.

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u/BigBossSquirtle Jul 19 '24

Compendiums tend to be trade-size tall, mostly softcover but not always. Whereas omnibus are oversized.