BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to suggest a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

To download and incorporate this list into your databases and systems, you’ll need to purchase an End Users' License Agreement. 

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

Use subjects in this section for works of sequential illustration in the style commonly associated with "comic books" or "comic strips."

Use subjects beginning with "JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" or "YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels"for such works aimed at young readers.

Use subjects beginning "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style" for works initially published in Asian territories, or for works published in the style of such Asian works.  Subjects specific to Manga can be found in headings beginning with "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga".  For Manga works with a broader subject, use subjects outside of the Manga tree and "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / General".  For example, a Manga graphic novel about Sports would get both "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Sports" and "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / General".  The subjects "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manhua", "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manhwa", and "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / European Style (incl. Bandes Dessinées)" can be better described by using an additional genre found within the "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS" section.

For nonfiction works about sequential illustration and about those works done in that format, use "LITERARY CRITICISM / Comics & Graphic Novels".

Use "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:

• a work (or works) of sequential illustration re-issued because of a movie, television show, or other media project
• a comics/graphic novel adaptation of a movie, television show, or other media project
• a comics/graphic novel based on an episode (or episodes) of a television show
• an original story (or collection of stories) told in comics/graphic novel form using characters or settings from (or based on) a movie, television show, or other media project

Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie, television show, or media project do not have to be re-coded.  It is recommended that when "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as well.

CGN000000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / General

CGN018000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Action & Adventure

CGN012000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Adaptations

CGN022000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / African American & Black

CGN001000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Anthologies

CGN023000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Asian American & Pacific Islander

                                  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Comics & Cartoons see HUMOR / Form / Comic Strips & Cartoons

CGN024000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Coming of Age

CGN008000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Contemporary Women

CGN004010  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Crime & Mystery

CGN036000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Disability *

CGN025000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Diversity & Multicultural

CGN013000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Dystopian

CGN004340  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / General

CGN004050  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / General

CGN004110  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Erotica & Hentai

CGN004300  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Isekai

CGN004260  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Magical Girl

CGN004270  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Mecha

CGN004210  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Yaoi (Boys' Love)

CGN004310  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manga / Yuri (Girls' Love)

CGN004350  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manhua

CGN021000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / East Asian Style / Manhwa

CGN020000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / European Style (incl. Bandes Dessinées)

CGN004020  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Erotica

CGN019000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology

CGN004030  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy / General

CGN004360  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy

CGN004370  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures

CGN004380  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy / Epic

CGN026000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Feminist

CGN004330  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Food

CGN027000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Hispanic & Latino

CGN010000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction / General

CGN010010  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction / Ancient

CGN010020  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction / Medieval

CGN010030  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Historical Fiction / World War II & Holocaust

CGN004040  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Horror

CGN014000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Humorous

CGN028000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Indigenous

CGN029000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island

CGN030000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Jewish

                                   COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Juvenile Fiction see headings under JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

                                   COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Juvenile Nonfiction see headings under JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

CGN009000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / General

CGN009010  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Bisexual

CGN009020  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Gay

CGN009030  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Lesbian

CGN009060  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Nonbinary & Genderqueer *

CGN009040  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Transgender

CGN009050  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer

CGN004320  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Light Novel

CGN006000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Literary

CGN031000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Magical Realism

CGN004060  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In

CGN032000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Native American

CGN007000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / General

CGN007010  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir

CGN007020  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / History

CGN007030  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Journalism

CGN007050  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Medicine

CGN007060  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Politics & Philosophy

CGN007040  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Science & Nature

CGN007070  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Self-Help

CGN016000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Occult & Supernatural

CGN015000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Reference, Guides & Companions

CGN011000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Religious

CGN004090  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Romance

CGN033000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Satire

CGN004280  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / School Life

CGN004070  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction / General

CGN004390  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction / Alien Contact

CGN004400  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic

CGN004410  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction / Cyberpunk

CGN004420  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Science Fiction / Steampunk

CGN034000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Slice of Life

CGN035000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Spies & Espionage

CGN004200  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Sports

CGN004080  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Superheroes (see also FICTION / Superheroes)

CGN017000  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Supervillains

                              COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Techniques see ART / Techniques / Cartooning

                                  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Young Adult Fiction see headings under YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

                                  COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Young Adult Nonfiction see headings under YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels

If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area. NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

© 2024, Book Industry Study Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of these lists or any attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.