It's not neutral or generic and is no less problematic than comic or manga in differentiating on what is included and what isn't. It's a rather unknown term created by Eisner and further established by McCould, it doesn't look like there is much on those term that's not in conjunction with them. No need to muddle the waters even further by yet another term for the same thing.

As for what can one do:
Not umbrella them, if apparently not term serves to umbrella them.
(Or umbrella them one a monthly basis. January goes to Bande dessinée, February goes to Manga, March can be Comic