Metadata
Configure ComicVine, MyAnimeList, Metron, and comic file tagging settings.
Comicarr pulls series and issue metadata from external databases and can embed that metadata directly into comic files using ComicTagger. Comics use ComicVine (with optional Metron enrichment); manga use MyAnimeList as the primary source with MangaDex providing chapter data (see the Manga guide for details).
ComicVine
ComicVine is the primary metadata source. You need a free API key from the ComicVine website.
API Settings
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CVAPI_RATE | int | 2 | Maximum API requests per second. ComicVine's limit is 200/min; 2 per second is safe. |
CV_VERIFY | bool | True | Verify TLS certificates for ComicVine API calls. |
CV_TIMEOUT | int | 30 | Request timeout in seconds. |
CV_ONLY | bool | True | Prefer ComicVine as the primary metadata source. |
CV_ONETIMER | bool | True | One-time metadata refresh behavior for newly added series (see code for exact semantics). |
CV_USER_AGENT | string | — | Custom User-Agent header for ComicVine requests. Leave blank for the default. |
Caching
Comicarr caches ComicVine responses to reduce API calls and speed up repeated lookups.
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CV_CACHE_ENABLED | bool | True | Enable the ComicVine response cache. |
CV_CACHE_TTL_SEARCH | int | 86400 | Cache TTL for search results in seconds (default: 24 hours). |
CV_CACHE_TTL_METADATA | int | 604800 | Cache TTL for issue/series metadata in seconds (default: 7 days). |
CV_CACHE_TTL_ARC | int | 259200 | Cache TTL for story arc data in seconds (default: 3 days). |
Imprint Handling
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CV_SKIP_IMPRINT_VALIDATION | bool | False | Skip publisher imprint validation checks. |
IMPRINT_MAPPING_TYPE | string | CV | Source for imprint-to-publisher mapping: CV (ComicVine) or JSON (local mapping file). |
Parallel Requests
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CV_PARALLEL_PAGINATION | bool | False | Fetch multiple pages of results in parallel. Speeds up large series lookups. |
CV_MAX_PARALLEL_REQUESTS | int | 3 | Maximum concurrent requests when parallel pagination is enabled. |
Batch Limits
ComicVine may throttle or block accounts that make too many requests in a short window.
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CV_BATCH_LIMIT_PROTECTION | bool | True | Enable automatic throttling when approaching batch limits. |
CV_BATCH_LIMIT_THRESHOLD | int | 200 | Number of requests in a batch window before throttling kicks in. |
Disabling CV_BATCH_LIMIT_PROTECTION risks getting your API key temporarily blocked by ComicVine. Leave it enabled unless you have a specific reason.
Ignored Publishers
Configure a list of publishers to exclude from metadata lookups. Issues from ignored publishers are skipped during searches and imports. Manage via config.ini or any UI control exposed for ignore lists (there is no dedicated Settings → Metadata tab; ComicVine/Metron options live under Settings → API & providers).
MyAnimeList
MyAnimeList is the primary metadata source for manga when enabled. MAL provides titles, authors, cover art, synopses, and cross-references; MangaDex provides the chapter data.
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
MAL_ENABLED | bool | False | Use MyAnimeList as the primary manga metadata source. When disabled, Comicarr falls back to MangaDex for manga metadata. |
MAL_CLIENT_ID | string | — | MAL API v2 Client ID. Register an application at myanimelist.net/apiconfig to obtain one. Stored as a password field in the UI. |
Configure MAL in the UI under Settings → API & providers.
Cover images (ComicVine, Metron, MangaDex, and MyAnimeList) are loaded through server-side fetches and/or an image proxy that only allowlist known CDN hosts. That reduces SSRF risk when caching or proxying artwork, and routing through Comicarr's origin also sidesteps browser CORS failures for external cover CDNs.
See the Manga guide for the full MAL + MangaDex configuration reference.
Metron
Metron is an alternative comic metadata database. It can supplement or replace ComicVine.
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
USE_METRON | bool | False | Enable Metron as a metadata source. |
METRON_USERNAME | string | — | Metron account username. |
METRON_PASSWORD | string | — | Metron account password. Encrypted at rest. |
USE_METRON_SEARCH | bool | False | Use Metron for search results in addition to metadata. |
Comic Tagging
Comicarr can embed metadata directly into CBZ/CBR files using ComicTagger.
General
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
ENABLE_META | bool | False | Enable comic file tagging. |
CMTAGGER_PATH | string | — | Path to the ComicTagger binary. Leave blank if it is on $PATH. |
CBR2CBZ_ONLY | bool | False | Only convert CBR to CBZ without writing metadata tags. |
UNRAR_CMD | string | — | Path to the unrar binary, required for CBR conversion. |
Tag Formats
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CT_TAG_CR | bool | True | Write ComicRack (CR) tags. |
CT_TAG_CBL | bool | False | Write Comic Book Lover (CBL) tags. |
CT_CBZ_OVERWRITE | bool | False | Overwrite existing tags in CBZ files. |
CT_NOTES_FORMAT | string | — | Template for the Notes field in tagged files. |
Volume Handling
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CMTAG_VOLUME | bool | False | Include the volume number in tags. |
CMTAG_START_YEAR_AS_VOLUME | bool | False | Use the series start year as the volume number. |
SETDEFAULTVOLUME | bool | False | Set volume to 1 when no volume information is available. |