A
story arc is an extended or continuing
storyline in
episodic storytelling media such as
television,
comic books,
comic strips,
boardgames,
video games, and
films with each episode following a
narrative arc. On a
television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story arc is much more common in
dramas than in
comedies, especially in
soap operas. In a traditional Hollywood film, the story arc usually follows a three-act format.
Webcomics are more likely to use story arcs than
newspaper comics, as most web comics have readable archives online that a newcomer to the strip can read in order to understand what is going on. Although story arcs have existed for decades, the term "story arc" was coined in 1988 in relation to the television series
Wiseguy, and was quickly adapted for other uses.