Multiissue

Multiissue is a term used in publishing to describe content that appears across more than one issue of a serial publication, rather than in a single standalone issue. Although most often encountered in comic books, the concept also applies to magazines, newspapers, and online serials that run stories, features, or investigations over multiple installments. In comics, a multiissue arc refers to a narrative that unfolds across several issues, typically four, six, or more. This approach allows writers to develop plots and characters over a longer period and enables crossovers, foreshadowing, and more intricate pacing. Publishers often group these arcs into collected formats such as trade paperbacks or omnibuses, which republish the entire sequence in a single volume.

In magazines or newspapers, serialized content may appear as ongoing feature stories, investigative reports, or opinion series that advance across issues. Serialization can help maintain reader interest between issues and support ongoing readership.

Production and scheduling considerations accompany multiissue stories. Writers and editors plan story beats across issues, coordinate with other titles for crossovers, and align with release calendars. While multiissue formats can deepen storytelling and reader engagement, they also raise risks for readers who miss earlier installments and for publication schedules kept flexible by delays.

In summary, multiissue describes any content designed to span multiple issues of a serial publication, most commonly used in comics to reference story arcs that extend beyond a single issue, with subsequent collections making the sequence accessible in one volume.