* Early Comic Books: In the early days, most comic books *were* humorous. They featured funny strips, cartoons, and gags. Think of early characters like "Mutt and Jeff" and "The Katzenjammer Kids."
* The Name Stuck: The name "comic book" became ingrained in the culture. Even as the content shifted to superheroes, horror, and other genres, the name remained.
* Humor Can Be Subjective: What's funny to one person might not be funny to another. Many comic books, even those with serious plots, still use humor as a storytelling device.
* The "Funny" Aspect: While not always outright comedic, comic books often rely on a sense of drama, action, and excitement, which can be seen as a form of "entertainment."
* Modern Usage: "Comic book" is now often used as a broader term encompassing all genres of sequential art, from superhero epics to graphic novels.
So, while the name "comic book" might not always be accurate, it's a term that's been used for so long that it's become synonymous with the entire medium.