Flatulence in Comics and Graphic Novels
Comics are the only medium that must depict sounds visually — and farts are part of the standard repertoire of this representational art. From the simple 'PRRRT' onomatopoeia in children's comics to philosophical farts in adult graphic novels: the depiction of flatulence in comics tells a story about how the medium negotiates physicality, comedy, and language. No sound effect has been depicted, researched, and varied more frequently.
Onomatopoeia in Comics: The Fart Sound Effect Archive
Comics face the unique challenge of representing sounds without audio. The solution: onomatopoeia in speech bubbles or freely placed in the image. Fart onomatopoeia in comics worldwide is incredibly diverse: English comics use 'PRRRT', 'TOOT', 'BLARP', 'FFFT', 'POOT'. German comics: 'FURZ', 'PFFFT', 'BRRP', 'RÜLPS' (the latter for belches). Japanese manga: 'プゥ' (puu), 'ブー' (buu), 'プスス' (pususu for quiet ones). French BDs: 'PROUT', 'PRRRRT'. Arabic comics: 'بيب' (beep/bieep). Comics researchers have analyzed these onomatopoeias and found that they actually exhibit phonetic patterns: voiceless consonants (P, F) dominate, vowels encode volume (short 'i' = quiet, long 'O' = loud), and the length of the written form correlates with the duration of the event.
Fart Clouds and Visual Codes: What Cartoonists Invented
Beyond onomatopoeia, the comic visual language developed a code for flatulence. The best-known depiction: a wavy or jagged cloud emanating from the rear area of a figure, often rendered in green or yellow tones, sometimes with fly frames or 'stink lines' (parallel lines symbolizing odor). The international consensus on these symbols is remarkable: comic readers from Japan, the USA, Germany, and Argentina interpret the 'fart cloud' symbol correctly and consistently — evidence of visual-cultural universals. In superhero comics, the fart gag was often deployed as a deflating device: the heroic moment, broken by an unheroic gas release, creates comedic incongruity.
From Children's Comic to Graphic Novel: The Full Spectrum
Farts in comics range from infantile slapstick to philosophical reflection. At one end of the spectrum is the 'Captain Underpants' universe by Dav Pilkey (USA), in which farts are central plot drivers — the series has sold over 80 million copies and is one of the most-read children's books in the world. At the other end: the French-Belgian graphic novel tradition, in which physical acts are occasionally used by authors like Bastien Vivès or Luz as markers of realism and intimacy. Alison Bechdel, author of the autobiographical graphic novel 'Fun Home', has spoken in interviews about the difficulty of depicting physical normalcy in a serious graphic novel without sacrificing dignity. Her result: sparse, non-embarrassing physicality — but no farts.
Manga Tradition: Farting as Cultural Code in Japan
In Japan, the fart in manga has a long tradition that connects directly to the He-gassen scroll paintings of the 13th century. In shōnen manga (for young men), fart gags are standard repertoire for comedic scenes. Particularly interesting: manga distinguishes very precisely between 'otoko no ko no onara' (boy's fart = loud, proud, funny) and 'onna no ko no onara' (girl's fart = secret, shocking, shameful) as dramaturgical distinctions. This gender-specific coding of the fart is less pronounced in Western comics. Shoujo manga (for young girls) avoids the topic almost entirely, while it appears in josei manga (for adult women) as a statement of realism — when a female character farts, it is treated as a sign of normalcy and self-acceptance.
Did you know?
- 'Captain Underpants' by Dav Pilkey has sold over 80 million copies — farts are a central plot element.
- Comics researchers have shown that fart onomatopoeia follows phonetic patterns: short 'i' = quiet, long 'O' = loud.
- The visual 'fart cloud' symbol is correctly interpreted by comic readers across cultures worldwide.
- Japanese manga distinguishes precisely between male and female farting as a dramaturgical category.
Fun Fact
Cartoonist and publisher Bill Elder, who worked for MAD Magazine in the 1950s, was reprimanded by the censorship body (Comics Code Authority) because a fart noise was depicted in onomatopoeic writing in one of his panels. The Comics Code Authority had explicitly prohibited depicting 'indecent bodily functions'. Elder responded that he had merely depicted 'exhaust from a radiator' — and drew a radiator into the panel. The case is known in comic history as 'The Fart Footnote' and is considered one of the most absurd examples of McCarthy-era censorship.
Sources
- Sabin, R. (1996). Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels. Phaidon Press.
- McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. HarperCollins.
- Gravett, P. (2004). Manga: Sixty Years of Japanese Comics. Laurence King Publishing.