Write a Funny Comic Strip

Comic strips have become a fun way to pass time for those who love pictures and a good story. You might have read a few - or many - but have you ever been struck with the urge to make one on your own? If your fingers itch to create, this article will guide you on the journey to drawing a comic strip with cool characters. All you need is the desire to draw, a good imagination and a moderate sense of humor. Also, use the proper reading strategies to help you with trying to find a setting. Look at other comics for an example.

Steps

Sample Comics

Doc:Comic Book,Comic Strip,Political Comic

Writing Your Own Funny Comic Strip

  1. Practice drawing. In order to ensure that you're at your very best, create sketches of basic items. People, animals, backgrounds, and props are excellent subjects to begin with. By familiarizing yourself with the shape and structure of general items, you'll find it easier to draw your comic strips, especially since you'll be making less mistakes.
  2. Create your characters. Choose catchy names for them. Experiment with all types of characters, not just ordinary people. Try super-humans, aliens, or inanimate objects coming to life. Additionally, animals make excellent companions because they can mimic or enlarge certain characteristics that you want the main character to portray. For example, you could have an owl with a large head for a brainy girl, a dog with a frown for a grouchy man, or a hyena with a cheesy smile for someone who always sees the funny side of life.
    • Practice drawing your characters. Play around with different body positions and facial features. By establishing their basic structures and main faces, you'll be able to draw them with more confidence.
    • Dip deep into your character. After selecting their name and personality, fill up their skeleton with extra details. While you may not reveal all of their quirks to your audience, their personal details will help them feel more real to you. This will help you connect to them, and you'll be able to bring them to life in your comics
  3. Think of a short, amusing tale or a humorous skit featuring a joke for your comic. Once you establish a basic plot, write down the main story with additional details. Scribbling down your characters' dialogue will also be useful. Also, adapt your jokes for the age group that you intend this comic for. For example, complicated jokes will be more appropriate for teenagers or adults rather than young children.
  4. Make a rough copy of your first comic. Determine its structure, as well as the size of the boxes that will be containing the characters and their story. Use stick figures or quick drawings to figure out the basic skeleton of your comic. Do not worry about doing your best, as this is a rough draft.
  5. Create a unique name for your comic. Be sure it blends with the subject of your comic. Avoid choosing popular or dull names; otherwise, people will be reluctant to read your work. If you have trouble thinking of one, surf the Internet for suggestions or read other people's titles for inspiration.
  6. Create a good copy of your comic. A "good copy" is the real version of your comic where the details and colors are completed. This step should be finished once you have established a basic structure of your comic. Sketch out the characters and their surroundings, being sure to add detail to your drawings. Once you are satisfied with the drawings, go over them with black ink for a professional look. To color the comic, you can either scan it into the computer and digitally color it. Otherwise, you can use special color pencils or markers.
  7. Show the comic to your family and friends. Ask them to read it and give you a critique. This will help you to gauge how funny and successful your comic is, which will guide your future comic-making.
  8. Keep your comic in a safe place. Continue practicing and creating new comics. You may consider publishing your works in the future.

Tips

  • Carry a notebook with you wherever you go. You never know when a funny idea will strike, so be ready to write it down, because chances are you'll forget it.
  • Start drawing rough copies with an erasable pencil and once you get better at doing this, you can draw the comic straight out, using just a pen and paper.
  • If you tend to write long-winded comics and your artistic skill is salvageable, maybe you should look into a graphic novel. These, though extremely time consuming, can be very fun and rewarding to do.
  • There is no harm looking at existing comic strips for ideas and style suggestions but don't copy. It is very important to develop your own style.
  • Make sure when you draw the rough draft of the picture, draw as light as a feather. That way, there are not a lot of eraser marks and also that you can see it clearly.
  • Not all comics are strips. You can do a "Sunday comic" (long, usually takes up a lot of room) or you can do a "weekday comic" (short, usually three to four panels), or even a one-panel comic! The New Yorker has a ton of these short gag comics.
  • If you mess up your comic, don't get mad, just try again.
  • Don't really go by what your parents say. Even if it is terrible they will tell you anything you do is great.
  • Sometimes, families can be of great inspiration! Try portraying a funny moment or story in your comic. If you do this, though, make sure that it isn't too long, and it doesn't reference "inside jokes" or "running gags" with your family that would need to be explained, as these tend to make the comic far less funny.
  • Make your comic age-appropriate, based upon the intended audience.
  • When you do your comic, use a pencil and draw as light as a feather, so if you mess up you can easily erase it.
  • Once you have drawn everything, go over it in pen.

Warnings

  • Do comic in pencil. Doing in pen is a bad idea because you could mess up on one little thing and have to start the comic all over again.
  • Don't copy other comics. People will know immediately and besides possibly breaching copyright, you're not likely to make it as a comic artist because your reputation will be ruined.
  • Never have the people in your comic tell jokes straight. If you make them do a similar action, it will be 15 times funnier.

Things You'll Need

  • A pencil or pen
  • Some paper
  • Your imagination
  • A moderate sense of humor
  • Bunch of Ideas

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