About the ComicsPRO Metadata Working Group

About the COMET Standard

The ComicsPRO metadata working group consists of stakeholders from across the industry, including representatives from major comics publishers, distributors, software developers, and retailers.

What is the COMET Standard?

The Comet Standard establishes guidelines for metadata including standardized series codes, genre categorization, the spelling of creator names, and additional aspects, ensuring consistency and accuracy in book-related information.
Formed in February 2023, the ComicsPro Metadata Working Group addresses the pressing data challenges within the comics industry. This diverse committee includes stakeholders from all sectors, such as major comics publishers, distributors, software developers, and retailers, coming together to examine the historical development and current issues plaguing comics metadata.

The group’s discussions have resulted in advocating for the Comet Standard, a strategy designed to standardize comics metadata through the use of atomic data principles and the integration of the BISAC categorization system. This initiative aims to ensure data consistency, enhance accuracy, and simplify operational processes for retailers, distributors, and publishers alike. The committee has set an ambitious goal to achieve industry-wide adoption of the Comet Standard by the end of 2025.

February 2023

Founded

90+

Participants

20+

Hours of Meetings

February 23, 2024

Initial Draft

The ComicsPRO Metadata Working Group Steering Committee

The COMET steering committee is made up of representatives from the distributor, retailer, and software development communities who each have extensive and varied experience with comics and metadata.

Katie Pryde

Katie Pryde

Chair – COMET Standard

Jessica Wells

Jessica Wells

Chair – Categorizations

Django Bohren

Django Bohren

Co-Chair – Formats & Standards

Brian Garside

Brian Garside

Co-Chair – Formats & Standards

Marco Davanzo

Marco Davanzo

Executive Director – ComicsPRO

The COMET White Paper

The COMET white paper was produced by the ComicsPro Metadata Working Group during 2023 and released formally on February 23rd 2024 to address growing data concerns in the comics industry. The Comet Standard aims to create a standardized approach to comics metadata by implementing atomic data principles and adopting the BISAC categorization system in order to achieve consistency, improve data accuracy, and streamline processes for retailers, distributors, and publishers.