creative writing comic strip 7

Other Free Design Resources

100+ free comic strip templates for your visual stories, by sandra boicheva.

3 years ago

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Comic strips are sequences of drawings in interrelated panels that tell a story. A comic strip page usually features a couple of panels with images, narrated with text in balloons of captions. In this article, I have gathered 100 free comic strip templates from 16 different sources from around the web. 

These free resources will help designers, artists, teachers, and students craft their amazing visual stories faster. 

Comic by Victoria Zayakina

“I believe comic books and superheroes affect our culture so much because they serve to remind us of this powerful and deeply ingrained fact: we matter.” ― Sebastien Richard, Lead Like a Superhero

10 Free Comic Strips for Creative Assignments

Tracee Orman made these 10 free templates for creative assignments, especially for students. 

• Files: PDF, 10 ready-to-print comic strips
• License: For Personal Use

200+ Free Comic Strip Templates

Cartoons.co exclusively offers a diverse collection of over 200 unique comic strip templates, showcasing various styles and panel arrangements, all available for free.

• Files: PDF, 200 ready-to-print comic strips
• License: For Personal and Commercial Use without Attribution

8 Comic Strips to Tell Stories

This is a collection of 8 PDF templates for comic books by Mark Warner.

• License: For Personal and Commercial Use with Attribution

Free Big Three-Panel Top Action Comic Page Template

This template is ideal for a big opening action scene as the angled top boxes allow you to display your artwork and make it look more dynamic.

• Files: PDF, 1 ready-to-print comic strip

Free Double Size Opening and Ending Template

This free comic panel by  PrintablePaper has a double-sized opening and ending, so your comic page can have a big start as well as a big finish. 

5 Free Printable Comic Strip Pages

Here we have a set of 5 blank comic book pages with a different number of panels, depending on your story. The PDFs are printable and great for teachers and homeschoolers to help foster creative writing.

• Files: PDF, 5 ready-to-print comic strips

5 Free Comic Strip Printables with English and Spanish Headers

You can click on any of the images below and “save as” or you can copy and paste onto a Word document.

24 Free Blank Comic Strip Worksheets

Most of these are comic book strips, but they’ve also included two pages of speech bubbles and geometric shapes.

• Files: PDF, 24 ready-to-print comic strips

6 Free Printable Blank Comic Book Pages

These comic book templates are a perfect introduction to the graphic arts and the art of comic books. Requires subscription for downloading.

• Files: PDF, 6 ready-to-print comic strips

10 Free Printable Comic Strip Templates

This printable comic strips set has 10 templates in A4 and US Letter sizes, including layouts with and without speech bubbles. 

8 Free Dynamic Comic Book Page Templates

This collection by PrintablePaper offers 8 different dynamic blank comic book pages with a variety of panel numbers and arrangements.

Free Arch Top Comic Template

A dynamic blank comic book page with an arch opening and 8 panels.

Free Printable Comic Strip Maker

This template offers the elements to combine as you wish and create your own pages.

21 Free Comic Strip Writing Templates

Another free resource for teachers for a twist on your traditional writing in the classroom. 

• Files: PDF, 21 ready-to-print comic strips

These were the 16 sources that offer blank comic book pages for your projects. Especially valuable for teachers, the templates are free and ready to print.

Nevada-Comic Gràfica Radiant by Mayte Alvarado

Comic page by George Bletsis

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101 Comic Story Ideas to Spark Your Imagination

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page, waiting for that spark of inspiration to ignite your next big comic idea? Fear not!

Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, I've compiled an eclectic list of 101 comic story ideas to stimulate your creative juices.

From superheroes and science fiction to relatable characters and real-life scenarios, these ideas cover a broad spectrum of themes , genres, and possibilities.

Comic story ideas

1. The Artists' Duel: A world where comic creators wield their pens as swords and battle in an epic art form tournament.

2. Time-Traveling Librarian: Armed with graphic novels, she rights the wrongs of history, one comic book story at a time.

3. Iron Chef Superheroes: Captain America, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman in a cooking showdown to create the perfect comic book idea.

4. Fantasy World Classroom: A young wizard teaches character development in a school for future comic book writers.

5. Small Group Rebellion: Join forces with a small group fighting against bad guys who want to censor comics across the world.

6. The World of Stan Lee: Explore a world where every person, street, and city is a tribute to the great comic book legend.

7. Art Spiegelman's Mice Adventure: A fun comic strip series guided by the wisdom of Art Spiegelman, focusing on the life of anthropomorphic creatures.

8. Real Life in Panels: A comic book depicting real-life stories, with every chapter revealing a hidden facet of life.

9. Science Fiction Meets Comic Strips: An adventurous journey through a technologically advanced universe, visualized in stunning comic panels.

10. Wonder Woman's Day Off: Explore a short comic strip where Wonder Woman tackles mundane tasks with superhero flair.

11. Creating Your Own Comic Book World: Build a fantasy world within the pages where readers' initial assumptions are constantly challenged.

12. Iron Man's Art Class: A light-hearted comic based on Iron Man teaching art to aspiring superhero artists.

13. Neil Gaiman's Dream Factory: A series inspired by Neil Gaiman's creative writing style, full of mythical creatures and more inspiration.

14. The Ultimate Graphic Novel Guide: A fictional tour guide helps new readers explore the greatest graphic novels of all time.

15. The First Comic Ever: Dive into the adventure of discovering the world's first comic, hidden in the pages of history.

16. New Ideas Symposium: A comic series where characters from various comics meet to brainstorm new ideas for saving their universes.

17. War Zone Comics: A gripping series focusing on soldiers who find solace and inspiration in comic books during wartime.

18. Superhero Family Drama: Explore the household dynamics and strange noises when superheroes return home after saving the world.

19. Comic Form Experimentation: A story that changes its comic form with every chapter, from comic strip stories to full-fledged graphic novels.

20. Young Wizard's Diary: A coming-of-age series about a young wizard documenting his life through comic panels.

21. Establishing Shot of Life: A profound comic series where each chapter begins with an establishing shot, leading readers to philosophical insights.

22. Own Time Adventures: Characters from various time periods come together in their own time to solve a mystery that spans history.

23. The Comic Book Restaurant: Customers order dishes inspired by famous comic characters and get served with a short story .

24. DC Comics Detective Agency: Join forces with Batman, Superman, and more to solve mysteries within the DC Comics universe.

25. The Comic Con Heist: A great comic book is stolen during Comic Con, and a group of fans turn detectives to retrieve it.

26. The Good Comic Book Club: A fun series where characters discuss what makes a good comic book and set out to create their own.

27. Captain America's Retirement: A heartwarming series depicting Captain America's life after hanging up the shield.

28. Relatable Characters Anonymous: A support group for comic book characters struggling with real-life problems.

29. Wonder Woman's Guide to Empowerment: A graphic novel focusing on empowerment, leadership, and strength, narrated by Wonder Woman herself.

30. Superhero Dating App: A humorous comic strip series about superheroes trying to find love through a specialized dating app.

31. Science Fiction Writers' Retreat: A group of writers at a retreat find themselves living their science fiction story ideas .

32. Comic Book Writing School: A how-to guide turned into an engaging story about a school dedicated to training future comic writers.

33. The World in Comics: A visual storytelling tour that takes readers around the world, showcasing culture through comics.

34. A Day in Stan Lee's Shoes: What if you woke up as Stan Lee? A comedic comic strip explores the possibilities.

35. Small Group Adventure Tours: Join a small group of comic enthusiasts exploring various comic series within a fictional comic universe.

36. Finished Product Nightmares: A horror series where finished comics come to life and interact with their creators.

37. The Comic Book Coffee Shop: A place where characters from various comic series meet for coffee and share stories.

38. Superhero High School: A teen drama with all your favorite superheroes in high school navigating friendships, love, and powers.

39. The Robert Kirkman Library: A magical library where every book transports you to one of Kirkman's comic worlds.

40. Comic Creators' Vacation: A lighthearted series following famous comic creators on a holiday, full of fun and unexpected twists.

41. Writing the World Right: A superhero who rights the world's wrongs by writing new realities through comic book stories.

42. Art Form Evolution: A visual guide showcasing the evolution of comic art form from primitive drawings to digital masterpieces.

43. The Fun Factory: A factory where comic ideas are manufactured, featuring wacky machines and zany inventors.

44. Superhero Courtroom Drama: A legal series where superheroes are lawyers fighting justice in both the court and the streets.

45. Wonder Woman's Diary: A personal look into Wonder Woman's thoughts, dreams, and daily life through her diary entries.

46. Imagination Run Wild in Class: A classroom where students' doodles come to life, leading to educational adventures.

47. Co-Authored by Time: A graphic novel where authors from different eras co-author a masterpiece through time-traveling pens.

48. The Comic Book Hospital: A hospital where characters go to recover from their battles, showcasing their vulnerabilities and strengths.

49. Neil Gaiman's Dream Comic Shop: A comic shop where every comic is a gateway to a different dream world, curated by Neil Gaiman.

50. The Short Story Express: A train where every compartment tells a different short story, explored through visual storytelling.

51. Comics for Life Lessons: A series that translates life's complex lessons into engaging and understandable comic strips.

52. Strong Foundation University: A school for superheroes focusing on building a strong foundation for young heroes in training.

53. Iron Man's Technology Fair: A tech fair hosted by Iron Man featuring inventions from across the comic universe.

54. The Great Comic Book Time Capsule: A journey to find a time capsule containing the works of the greatest comic book writers.

55. Character Development Camp: A camp where aspiring characters learn to grow, guided by renowned comic book mentors.

56. Art Spiegelman's History Lessons: A historical series where Art Spiegelman guides readers through important historical events.

57. Superhero Office Drama: Imagine superheroes working in an office; a funny series filled with mundane tasks and superpower mishaps.

58. Bad Guys Rehabilitation Center: A center where bad guys are taught to become good through comic book therapy.

59. Writing the Future: A science fiction series about a writer whose comic stories start coming true, leading to a race against time.

60. Stan Lee's Guide to Becoming a Hero: A self-help graphic novel narrated by Stan Lee himself on how to be a superhero in real life.

61. Comic Book Idea Incubator: A place where comic book ideas are nurtured and developed by characters from various comic series.

62. War Zone Comic Relief: A series about soldiers in a war zone who find comfort and connection through comic books.

63. World of Comic Strips: An amusement park where every ride is based on famous comic strips, with adventures around every corner.

64. Creative Ideas Workshop with Neil Gaiman: Join Neil Gaiman in a workshop where creative ideas turn into fantastical comic stories.

65. The Superhero Family Reunion: A family drama revolving around a family of superheroes gathering for a reunion, with secrets revealed.

66. Comic-Based Reality Show: A reality show where contestants must live out scenarios from various comic books, with twists and challenges.

67. Imagination Run Wild – The Theme Park: A theme park where your imagination shapes the rides and experiences in real time.

68. Storytelling Through Dance: A comic series that tells stories through the art of dance, illustrated in mesmerizing panels.

69. The Strange Noises Mystery: A detective series centered around solving mysteries related to strange noises occurring in a small town.

70. Finished Product Festival: A grand celebration where creators present their finished comics with surprises and magical elements.

71. The Superhero Art Gallery: An art gallery where every painting is a gateway to a different superhero world.

72. The Comic Book Writers' Retreat: A retreat where comic book writers share ideas, collaborate, and co-author new masterpieces.

73. Life Lessons from Iron Man: A self-help series where Iron Man shares life lessons, wisdom, and motivation.

74. The Bad Guys' Support Group: A humorous series following bad guys who gather to share their failures and seek moral support.

75. Science Fiction High School: A high school in the future where students learn through advanced technology and explore science fiction themes .

76. The Comic Creators' Olympics: An Olympics event where comic creators compete in storytelling, drawing , and character creation.

77. Reader's Initial Assumptions Challenge: A series designed to challenge readers' initial assumptions through plot twists and unexpected turns.

78. Fantasy World Cruise Ship: A cruise ship that takes passengers on a journey through various fantasy worlds within comics.

79. The Good Comic Book Café: A café where dishes are inspired by good comic books, and every meal comes with a story.

80. The Family Drama Supermarket: A supermarket where family drama unfolds, led by relatable characters with extraordinary abilities.

81. Captain America's History Tour: Join Captain America on a historical tour, exploring different eras through engaging comic panels.

82. The Short Comic Strip Theatre: A theatre where actors perform short comic strips live on stage, with audience participation.

83. Superhero Life Coaches: A series where superheroes act as life coaches, helping ordinary people achieve their dreams.

84. First Comic Book in Space: Join a group of astronauts discovering the first comic book in space, with cosmic adventures.

85. Robert Kirkman's Survival Camp: A survival series guided by Robert Kirkman, where characters must survive in a post-apocalyptic world.

86. The Comic Form Experiment Lab: A laboratory where scientists experiment with different comic forms, leading to unexpected outcomes.

87. Imagination Run Wild Safari: A safari where every animal is a character from different comics, leading to wild adventures.

88. The World of Comic Street Food: A food tour where every dish is inspired by comics, narrated through mouthwatering visual storytelling.

89. Wonder Woman's Leadership Academy: An academy where Wonder Woman teaches leadership, courage, and empowerment.

90. The Young Wizard's Comic Store: A comic store run by a young wizard, where every comic has magical properties and adventures.

91. New Readers Welcome Center: A welcoming center in the comic universe where new readers are guided through different genres and series.

92. The Art Form Museum: A museum that showcases the evolution of art forms in comics, from cave paintings to digital marvels.

93. Superhero Space Mission: A space adventure where superheroes must save Earth, combining science fiction and cosmic battles.

94. The Comic Book Time Machine: A time machine that takes you to witness the creation of iconic comic book stories and meet the creators.

95. The Creative Writing Club for Superheroes is where superheroes meet to share their creative writing, poems, and comic strip stories.

96. Life through Comic Panels: A slice-of-life series that narrates characters' ordinary life through beautifully drawn comic panels.

97. The Great Comic Book Castle: A castle where every room is a library filled with great comic books from different eras and genres.

98. The Ultimate Superhero Concert: A concert where superheroes perform music, showcasing another aspect of their talents and personalities.

99. Strong Foundation Building Co.: A company that builds strong foundations for buildings and characters, guided by top comic book mentors.

100. Wonder Woman's Fun Carnival: A carnival filled with games, rides, and fun, all hosted and designed by Wonder Woman.

101. New Ideas Brainstorming Tower: A tower where characters, writers, and readers meet to brainstorm new ideas, creating endless story possibilities.

And there you have it! A long list of 101 comic story ideas , each with the potential to unfold into a gripping story or fascinating world. I hope these ideas have ignited a spark and fueled a roaring fire of imagination within you.

Don't hesitate to mix, match, and morph these ideas into something uniquely your own. The next great comic book, graphic novel, or iconic character could be just a thought away.

Happy creating, and may your comics entertain, inspire, and resonate with an audience across the globe!

Frequently asked questions about comic story ideas

What's the secret sauce behind great comic book ideas.

Ah, the magic potion of comics! It's a delicate blend of imagination, art form, and the written word. Mix in characters, relatable elements, and a splash of strange noises (for good measure), and voila! Your comic story ideas brew to life!

I want to write my own comic book. Where do I start?

Well, dear future comic book writers, begin with a solid foundation. Draft your main character, think of a unique world, be it a fantasy world or a war zone, and then let your imagination run wild! Remember, even Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman started with a single comic book idea.

How do I create relatable characters like Wonder Woman or Iron Man?

Character development is key! Dive into real life for inspiration, and don't be afraid to add some family drama or traits from a young wizard. The best comic books have characters with depth, quirks, and flaws , just like us regular folks.

What if I want to make a comic strip or graphic novel instead of a full-fledged comic book?

More power to you! Comic strip stories and graphic novels are fantastic platforms for storytelling. Whether you're co-authored or flying solo, keep the visual storytelling engaging, employ creative writing, and don't forget the establishing shot for your scenes!

Can I combine genres like science fiction and fantasy in my comic series?

Absolutely! Mix and match to create new ideas. Ever wondered what Captain America would do in a fantasy world? Now's the time to find out. The sky's the limit, so don't be afraid to explore.

What's the difference between comic book story ideas and comic ideas?

A comic book story encompasses the full arc, filled with twists, turns, and bad guys. Comic ideas might be shorter, maybe for a short comic strip or a single panel. Think of the story as a full-course meal and ideas as the tasty appetizers!

I'm stuck! How do I find more inspiration for my comic book stories?

Fear not! Turn to existing comic series, read works by artists like Art Spiegelman, or indulge in a short story or two by Robert Kirkman. Join a small group of fellow comic creators, share ideas, and, most importantly, have fun!

Any advice for new readers exploring the comic world for the first time?

Welcome to the world of comics! Start with some classics (DC Comics, anyone?) and gradually explore different genres. Whether you love superhero tales, fun adventures, or complex graphic novels, there's a universe waiting for you.

How do I know when my comic is a finished product?

Great comic book making is an art, and knowing when to put down the pen is part of it. Review it, perhaps with the fresh eyes of new readers, tweak it, polish it, and when it feels right, take a bow. Your comic is ready for the world!

Any last words of wisdom for aspiring comic artists and writers?

Always keep writing, experimenting, and letting your ideas evolve. Embrace your own time and pace. Stay true to your style, be it a comic form or graphic novel, and never forget: Every strong superhero or exciting adventure begins with a simple idea.

I help filmmakers sell their ideas, get more clients, and make more money.

101 Character Death Ideas That Will Transform Your Writing Forever

101 captivating betrayal story ideas to spark your creativity.

• How-To Guides

How to Create a Comic Strip in 6 Steps

Everyone loves a good comic, whether you’re a comic book geek or just the casual reader of a comic in your local newspaper – Comic Strips are great! While some comic strips just take a few minutes or less to read, don’t underestimate the difficulty of creating one! And because May 5 th is comic book day, we decided to give you some step-by-step instructions for creating your first ever comic strip. Follow these instructions and you’ll be creating awesome comic strips in no time! Here is how to create a comic strip in 6 simple steps.

What is a comic strip?

Step 1:  write your ideas for your comic, step 2: draw the three-frames, step 3: use basic shapes to draw, step 4: add in the speech and lettering, step 5: add detail to your cartoon, step 6:  go over your comic in pen, how to make a comic book, how to draw comic strip characters, comic strip ideas, comic strip examples, are you ready to create a comic strip.

A comic strip is a sequence of images with a small amount of text in each box. This text is normally inside balloons or written as captions. Comic strips (or comic books) are a form of story-telling, which uses drawings or cartoon characters to tell a story. Most comic strips are created for humour, while some can be serious.

Comic strips are most likely to be seen in newspapers or magazines. While entire comic books or graphic novels can be found at your local library or bookstore. Superman is one of the best-selling comic books of all time. You might know of other examples of comic strips or books that you’ve seen or read.

In the professional world, comic strips or comic books are created by cartoonists or professional graphic artists. But today we’ll show you how to create your own comic strip at home with no experience needed!

How to create a comic strip

As this is your first-ever comic strip we will focus on creating a three-frame comic. But when you become a master at creating short comic strips, you can make yours much longer and filled with way more characters.

A comic strip is no different from writing a short story . It still needs a beginning, middle and ending. Because this is a three-frame comic strip, break your story down into 3 parts. Write down your ideas for the characters, settings, expressions and even speech. Make sure each part has some action and that your ending is powerful with an awesome punchline.

On a new piece of plain paper, draw your three frames using a pencil and a  ruler. Make sure each frame is equal size. You can even put small light marks on the paper to mark out where the speech bubbles will go. As a bonus tip, you might want to make your frames twice as big as you want them to be, so you don’t run out of space.

Don’t want to draw your own comic strip frames? Check out this highly-rated blank comic book for kids on Amazon (Amazon Affiliate link):

This is a whole book filled with blank comic strip grids. All your kids need to do is draw in their comics and they’ll have a complete comic book in no time!

One of the hardest parts of creating a comic strip is drawing out your characters. We recommend you use basic shapes to draw out your characters. As this is your first comic strip you might even want to use stick figures to keeps things easy. Also, sketch in the speech bubbles and any starbursts for sound effects. Oh and don’t forget, please use a pencil at this stage, so you can erase any mistakes.

Now add in the lettering for your speech into your speech bubbles and don’t forget to double-check your spelling. Remember the size of your lettering could show whether a character is shouting or whispering. For example, lettering in full capitals shows that your character is shouting.

Now go back to your characters and add any extra details, such as facial expressions, movement lines, and shadowing on the floor. And also draw in the background for each frame.

Now, you can finally use a felt-tip pen to go over your pencil drawings and rub out any pencil lines. Your first-ever comic strip is now complete – well done! You can leave it as it is or even add some colour.

A comic book is like a super long comic strip that requires more than one page. The process of creating a comic book is almost similar to creating a comic strip. However, there are a couple of extra steps you need to take to make a comic book. 

If you’re looking for a readily made comic book or blank comic book templates, see this amazing blank comic book template for kids (Amazon Affiliate Link):

Here is a super quick step-by-step tutorial on how to make a comic book out of paper:

• Pile together at least 3 A4 pages. This will give you 12 pages for your comic book. Then fold all of them in half:

• Staple the folded papers together. This should give an A5 sized booklet. Then fold the area with staples in slightly like in the image below:

• Fold another A4 paper in half. This paper will be for your comic’s cover. We used an A4 piece of card to give our comic book a sturdy cover:

Then apply glue on the tiny folded over part of your booklet – On the side where you can see the staples. Next, stick the cover and booklet together to form your comic book.

• Sketch out your cover using a pencil. And now the fun part: Outline your pencil drawing with a pen and then colour it in like a colouring book:

• Plan on your comic on a separate paper. You should ideally plan out each frame. Think about what the characters will say, what the scene might look like and any other small details. For inspiration, take a look at this post on how to come up with good ideas . 

Once the planning is done, sketch out your frames and cover over them in black pen. 

• Draw in your frames using a pencil. Remember to include speech bubbles, special effects and facial expressions on your characters. Once happy outline the drawing with a black pen and colour it in using your favourite colours:

Carry on doing the same with the other pages in your comic book until complete. 

Hooray! Your comic book is now complete. Now that you have done your first comic – Don’t stop now! Create your own comic book collection and amaze your friends with your bedazzling story-telling skills! You could even be the next Stan Lee!

Making a comic book is a great school project which can be applied to any lesson, whether it’s art, science or English. Comic books are a great way to encourage creativity in kids and build on their story-telling skills. You can even ask students to create comic books to test their understanding of a complex subject or topic. 

One of the hardest parts of creating a comic strip is drawing out the characters. As a beginner to the world of creating comic books, try not to worry too much about your drawing skills. For now, even a simple stick figure will do – In fact, there are many famous comics on the internet drawn entirely using stick figures!

If you want more than just stick figures, you can try out the simple steps below on how to draw your own comic strip characters. For this method, you’ll start off using a light pencil to sketch your character and then you’ll add in the colour:

• Start with a simple circle.
• Draw two circles for the eye and a mouth. And don’t forget a tiny curved dot for the nose!
• Sketch any rough hairstyle. Add in the eyebrows over the hair.
• Draw a triangular-looking rectangle for the body.
• Roughing sketch in the legs and tiny shoes.
• Add in your character’s arms.
• Draw in the smaller details. Don’t forget to add the tiny hands.
• Go over your sketch with a black pen.
• Colour in your character
• Your comic strip character is complete!

Here is a little cheat sheet of all the steps involved in drawing your own comic strip character:

By following these simple instructions, you’ll be drawing cool comic strip characters in no time! If you need more help drawing characters for your comic strips, then we recommend this book on how to draw cartoon character for kids (Amazon Affiliate Link):

Now you know how to create your own comic strip the next step is to start creating more! Here are some fun comic strip ideas to try out:

•   School Day: Create a comic about your best/worst day at school.
• Travel Comic: Create a travel comic about a recent trip or holiday you went on.
• Friendship: Write a comic about your best friend or a friend and give it to them as a gift .
• Fairy Tales: Recreate your favourite fairytale as a comic strip.
• Superhero: Design your own superhero and write a comic strip about their adventures. You can check out these superhero writing prompts for inspiration.
• Family: Write a comic strip about a family member and give it to them as a present.
• Music: Write a comic strip based on your favourite song, singer or band.
• The Future: Create a comic strip based on how you will be like in 10 years time.
• Anti-bullying: Write a comic about bullying to help anyone who is being bullied .
• Endangered Species: Raise awareness of an endangered species through creating a comic strip.

These comic strip ideas are great for school and at home. Why not challenge yourself and create a comic strip for all 10 of the comic strip ideas above! For more inspiration take a look at our post on coming up with story ideas .

We all need a little inspiration now and then. To inspire your comic strip creation, here are some simple and fun comic stripe examples:

Why not continue the comic strips in these examples or create your own using these characters?

Creating comic strips is so much fun. And it’s easy too! Just make sure to sketch out your ideas before creating your comic strip and make sure you keep your characters simple (as you may have to draw them many times in different positions.) Now sharpen your pencil and get creating!

What do you think of our step-by-step instructions on how to create a comic strip? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. In the meantime, why not take a look at our monster flip book activity or learn how to write your first-ever Haiku ?

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Kami Blog > 10 Comic Strip Templates

Inspiration

10 comic strip templates.

Children love stories . Whether they’re telling them or experiencing them, there are real benefits to immersing our young people in a world of stories. Learning to tell a story is a fundamental part of English language arts (ELA) lessons and a child’s education. Kami is here to help you with writing templates to take the concept of storytelling from an idea to a fully formed story in the classroom.

Why comic book strips?

Once upon a time, comic books were seen as a distraction for kids, but not anymore. The format is great for turning reluctant readers into enthusiastic readers. As comic books are less text-heavy they do not intimidate kids when reading. Using images means kids get better at understanding the meaning of the images along with the text. This means the stories are more impactful. They do say that a picture is worth a thousand words . The combination of both text and images means kids can expand their vocabulary whilst still gleaning lots of image detail. For all these reasons it is good to use this format in your lesson plans to teach your students to tell their own stories.

Kami’s blank comic strip worksheets

Kami has collated some high-quality panel comic strips for your students to break their stories into manageable chunks. The blank comic book templates have different designs, as you will see, but all are valuable storyboard templates with speech bubbles that are editable and the students can customize. These free printable comic strip templates are designed to cover all students and bring fun (and structure) to creative writing. They can be used as a printout or completed digitally.

1. Blank comic strip — black and white

Kami’s black-and-white blank comic book page for 3rd to 10th graders is blank for the kids to edit and make their own.

2. Blank panel comic strip — black and white

Kami’s panel comic strip is rectangular for more free-flowing stories, again, for 3rd to 10th graders.

3. Color panel comic strip — red and blue

This red and blue comic strip template is great for getting creative with classroom assignments that require narrative structure, such as comic drawing and storyboard plotting.

Complete with six blank boxes for drawing, and speech and thought bubbles for dialogue; you’ll be giving your students a fresh way to express their learning and understanding. Hello, voice and choice!

4. Color blank comic strip template — blue and yellow

Kami’s blue and yellow comic strip template is inspired by the cartoon templates to give the students some creative inspiration when writing their stories.

5. Blank comic strip template — colored boxes

This color-boxed blank comic book template enables your students to create their own comic strips with our customizable template! Add your own characters, dialogue, and backgrounds for endless storytelling possibilities. It is suitable for all grades.

6. Comic strip boxes — speech bubbles

This colored speech bubble comic book template is a fun comic book template for those looking to invent their own comic.

7. Comic strip template — storyboard

Kami’s storyboard template is suitable for all students and grades. Use the black storyboard template to really plan out the structure of the stories and ask the students to use the text boxes and image boxes to their fullest. Remember the templates are fully editable so the students can customize, add their own background, resize, and make it all their own.

8. Comic book strip

Kami’s comic book strip is, again, suitable for all students and grades. This is the one for those fully content to tell their story with images and add text themselves as they customize the comic book strip template.

9. Comic book strip — blue and pink

If you want your students to focus on the technical task of writing, then use this colorful blue and pink comic book strip template . The bright colors will make those students happy to customize themselves.

Make your own comic book!

It’s helpful for your child to use visuals (pictures, graphic organizers, drawings, icons) when learning the structure of a story. This multistory component helps develop creative writing skills and makes abstract concepts more tangible and concrete for the most reluctant writers. Use Kami’s comic book strip templates to get those stories flowing. Let us know if anyone moves on and writes their own graphic novel!

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Comic Creator

About this Interactive

Related resources.

The Comic Creator invites students to compose their own comic strips for a variety of contexts (prewriting, pre- and postreading activities, response to literature, and so on). The organizers focus on the key elements of comic strips by allowing students to choose backgrounds, characters, and props, as well as to compose related dialogue (shown at left). This versatile tool can be used by students from kindergarten through high school, for purposes ranging from learning to write dialogue to an in-depth study of a formerly neglected genre. The tool is easy to use, made even easier with the Comic Strip Planning Sheet , a printable PDF that comic creators can use to draft and revise their work before creating and printing their final comics. After completing their comic, students have the ability to print out and illustrate their final versions for feedback and assessment.

• Strategy Guides
• Lesson Plans

Students will enjoy this blast from the past as they read the works of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein to analyze the way social issues are addressed in selected works.

Henry and Mudge is used in this lesson to build students' word recognition through rereading, high-frequency word banks, word studies, and writing.

Students will be introduced to persuasive techniques used in advertising, analyze advertising, and explore the concepts of demographics, marketing for a specific audience, and dynamic advertising.

This resource is an introduction to William Shakespeare's tragic play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , through the study of universal themes using multiple-perspective investigations of betrayal scenarios.

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• Kindergarten K

Comic Strip Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

Comic strips are more than just humor on paper; they’re a creative outlet that blends storytelling with visual artistry. Whether you’re a seasoned cartoonist or a beginner looking to explore the world of comic strips, finding fresh ideas can sometimes be challenging. Here, we’ve curated a list of comic strip ideas and prompts to ignite your imagination and help you craft engaging comic strips.

Learn how to make a comic strip from scratch and use Creately’s comic strip maker to get started right away.

Funny Comic Strip Ideas

• Ready to use
• Fully customizable template
• Get Started in seconds

Kitchen chaos

A series set in a chaotic restaurant kitchen where chefs and waitstaff navigate absurd culinary disasters and eccentric customers.

Surreal roommates

A mismatched group of roommates includes a germaphobe, a conspiracy theorist, and a pet who communicates only through interpretive dance.

Misadventures of a forgetful superhero

A superhero with amazing powers constantly forgets where they put their cape, leading to comical situations during crime-fighting.

The world’s worst detective

A detective with a knack for solving cases in the most roundabout and nonsensical ways, often stumbling upon the truth by accident.

Time-traveling tourist

A tourist accidentally discovers a time machine and bumbles through history, unknowingly causing major historical events while trying to take the perfect selfie.

Office antics

Follow the daily shenanigans of quirky office workers who engage in pranks, office politics, and absurd team-building exercises.

Pets voice their hilarious grievances about their owners' odd behaviors and their own mischievous antics.

Awkward family gatherings

Capture the hilarity of family reunions with embarrassing relatives, awkward conversations, and unexpected drama.

Tech troubles

Characters face absurd challenges with modern technology, from voice assistants that misunderstand commands to gadgets with minds of their own.

Neighborhood watch

A neighborhood watch group of overly enthusiastic but clueless residents creates more problems than they solve while trying to keep the community safe.

Fantasy and Science Fiction Ideas

Dragon’s day off.

Follow a lazy dragon who prefers napping and collecting shiny objects over terrorizing villages, much to the dismay of their ambitious dragon family.

Galactic baristas

Baristas in a space station cafe serve bizarre alien customers with peculiar caffeine preferences and cosmic gossip.

Wizarding school hijinks

Students at a wizarding school navigate spell mishaps, quirky professors, and magical creatures that disrupt their studies.

Space explorers anonymous

A support group for retired space explorers recounts their absurd and dangerous missions, sharing tall tales of alien encounters and intergalactic mishaps.

Robo-pet rebellion

In a futuristic city, robotic pets gain sentience and rebel against their owners' commands, seeking independence and causing mechanical mischief.

Questing failures

A group of inept adventurers embarks on epic quests, only to bungle their way through challenges with hilarious results.

Intergalactic mailman

A space courier delivers packages across the galaxy, encountering strange planets, peculiar aliens, and delivery mishaps.

Mermaid high school

Mermaids attend an underwater high school, dealing with typical teenage issues, magical subjects,

Comic Strips for Students

The adventures of classroom cat.

A mischievous cat secretly resides in a school classroom, causing mayhem and providing comedic relief during lessons.

Teacher troubles

Students conspire against a well-meaning but clueless teacher, pranking them with elaborate schemes that backfire hilariously.

The homework chronicles

Follow a group of students as they procrastinate on homework assignments, navigating distractions, creative excuses, and last-minute panics.

School lunch saga

Students navigate the unpredictable world of school cafeteria food, encountering bizarre meals, cafeteria politics, and epic food fights.

The school newspaper scoop

A group of ambitious students runs the school newspaper, investigating school mysteries, interviewing eccentric teachers, and reporting on student life with humor and wit.

Various school clubs compete for members, leading to humorous rivalries and over-the-top recruitment tactics.

Student superpowers

Ordinary students discover they have superpowers and must balance their school life with their newfound abilities.

Field trip fiasco

Students go on a series of field trips where things never go as planned, leading to funny and unexpected adventures.

Detention diaries

Students in detention bond over their shared misadventures, leading to humorous stories about how they ended up there.

Superhero Comic Strip Ideas

The reluctant hero.

A superhero who just wants a normal life keeps getting pulled into action, often at the most inconvenient times.

Superhero in training

Follow a wannabe superhero learning the ropes, struggling with their powers, and facing everyday challenges.

Supervillain support group

Villains meet regularly to discuss their hero troubles, failed schemes, and the ups and downs of villainy.

Undercover superheroes

Heroes hide their identities while managing daily life, balancing their superhero duties with normal jobs and relationships.

Superhero school

Young heroes attend a special school to learn how to use their powers and navigate the challenges of superhero life.

Retired heroes club

Retired superheroes meet up to reminisce about the good old days, share stories, and occasionally get back into action.

The sidekick diaries

The often-overlooked sidekicks share their perspectives, dealing with their superhero partners' antics and trying to step out of the shadows.

Historical Comic Strips

Ancient civilization antics.

Daily life and humorous events in ancient times, featuring characters like farmers, artisans, and nobles.

Famous figures follies

Historical figures in exaggerated, funny scenarios that highlight their personalities and quirks.

Time-traveling historians

Historians from the present day accidentally alter history in humorous ways as they travel to different eras.

Medieval misadventures

Knights, dragons, and peasants navigate daily life in the Middle Ages with a comedic twist.

Invention inanity

The inventors of the past face absurd challenges and funny setbacks as they try to bring their creations to life.

Pioneer problems

Settlers on the American frontier face funny challenges and mishaps as they try to build new lives.

Slice of Life Comic Strip Ideas

Everyday embarrassments.

Characters navigate daily awkward moments and misunderstandings.

Parenting perils

Humorous takes on the challenges of raising children, capturing both the heartwarming and frustrating moments.

Roommate ruckus

The ups and downs of living with quirky roommates, highlighting the humorous side of shared living spaces.

Workplace woes

Characters deal with the daily grind and workplace humor, from office politics to bizarre co-worker habits.

Fitness follies

The humorous side of attempting to stay fit and healthy, capturing the struggles and small victories.

Adventure Comic Strips

Lost in the wilderness.

Characters face humorous challenges while surviving in the wild, with unexpected and funny situations.

Treasure hunters

Adventurers search for hidden treasures and face funny obstacles and traps along the way.

Island escapades

Stranded characters create funny solutions to survive on a deserted island, discovering strange and amusing island secrets.

Mystery solvers

Amateur detectives bungle their way through solving cases, with each clue leading to more comedic misunderstandings.

Explorer exploits

Characters explore uncharted territories, encountering humorous and exaggerated versions of legendary creatures and phenomena.

Pirate adventures

A crew of bumbling pirates embarks on sea voyages, facing humorous challenges from rival pirates, mythical sea creatures, and treasure hunts.

Cursed artifacts

Characters find ancient artifacts that lead them on wild and humorous adventures, often dealing with the quirky consequences of the curses.

Creating comic strips is as much about inspiration as it is about practice and creativity. Use these comic strip ideas as a springboard to develop your own unique comic strip style. Remember, the key to great comics lies in capturing the humor and human experience in ways that resonate with your audience. So, grab your pen, let your imagination soar, and start drawing those laughs!

Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.

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Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.

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Online Comic Maker

One amazing free comic creator, multiple editions for your creation needs, comics in education.

Encourage reluctant readers or reluctant writers to get more involved in their schoolwork by making a comic strip online!

Comics in Business

Boost morale and get the point across with some fun relief. Creating your own custom comic strip can strengthen collaboration!

Comics in Life

Using our comic book maker online, you can create a comic book, graphic novel, or comic strip for a blog, social media, or printing!

What is a Comic Strip?

A comic strip is a sequential art form that tells a story through a series of illustrated panels. It typically combines images and text to convey narratives, humor, or messages in a visually engaging format. The panels are arranged in a specific order to guide readers through the storyline, and dialogue or captions are used to provide additional context or convey character thoughts and emotions.

They are often published in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms, providing entertainment and commentary on a wide range of subjects. Comic strips offer a unique and creative way to engage readers, express ideas, and explore storytelling through the power of visuals and words.

Comics in Education!

With a comic creator online, students create their own masterpiece to show they understand a process or concept:.

• Reinforce reading comprehension
• Enhance understanding of complex literary topics like conflict and irony
• Address differentiated learning types
• Develop creative writing skills
• Reinforce understanding through the retelling of a historical event

Find more examples of why Comics are Great in education!

Learn more about our education edition and start your Free Trial.

For Your Business or Team!

Work doesn't have to be a stressful place. humor can help boost morale and get the point across..

• Fun in difficult situations
• Work environment process with pictures
• Motivational pictures to drive innovation
• PSA or positive thoughts for your employees to enjoy
• Workplace safety, health, and injury prevention comics

Strengthen collaboration by having your team create something together. Find more great examples why Comics are Great for your company!

Learn More about our business edition and start your Free Trial

Comics for Personal Use

We love posting and sending funny things to our friends and to the world. making your own masterpiece is easy and fun with comic strip generator like storyboard that. try it today for:.

• Your Website
• Presentations
• Social Networking Sites
• So much more!

Why Do People Like to Use Storyboard That to Create Comics?

Our comic strip creator is not only a fun and engaging tool, but it also offers great educational value. Teachers can use it to enhance their lessons and make learning more interactive. With our platform, students can express their ideas, showcase their understanding of a subject, or even become a comic character creator for a class project. The possibilities are endless!

Whether you're creating for entertainment, education, or personal expression, our free comic maker for kids provides you with the freedom to bring your ideas to life. So, don't wait any longer. Get started with our comic creator free and unlock a world of creativity today!

Creating captivating and impressive projects is a breeze with our comic book maker. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, Storyboard That will help you unleash your creativity and make something amazing.

Love Comics? Comic Book Creator

Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of comic strips? Our creator is the perfect tool to unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life. Whether you're a student looking to create something educational, or you are a budding artist wanting to explore the art of storytelling, our free comic strip maker for students and adults is here to help you every step of the way.

With our user-friendly interface and a wide range of templates, you can easily create your own masterpiece in just a few clicks. Let your imagination run wild as you design captivating characters, craft compelling dialogue, and set the stage for your unique stories.

Comics are Great For

Some of our favorite reasons to create comics.

• Reading Comprehension
• Social Studies
• Character Education
• Retell a Historical Event
• Explain a Process/Concept in STEM (and beyond)
• Artistic Expression
• Creative Writing
• Literary Satire
• Learning About Your Family Tree
• Sequence of Events
• Classroom Decorations
• Non-threatening PSA
• Ice-breaker
• Presentation Starter/Finisher
• Addressing HR Issues
• Team Building Activity
• Explaining a Process
• Commercial or Ad Creation
• Addressing Company Cultural Issues
• Newsletters
• Safety Cartoon Comic
• Instructions for Your Customers

Storyboard That Comic Book Templates

With our comic character maker and builder, and other powerful features, you have all the tools you need to create your own masterpiece. Unleash your imagination, experiment with different styles and techniques, and have fun expressing your creativity through art. Start creating amazing projects today with our comic strip maker and let your storytelling skills shine!

Take your skills to the next level by exploring other exciting features on our website. Our storyboard maker allows you to visually plan and organize your story ideas, while our book maker enables you to bring your ideas to life in a professionally designed book format. Dive into the world of storytelling with Storyboard That and unleash your creativity like never before.

How To Make a Comic Strip

Click on the “create a storyboard” button.

This will bring you to our state of the art, easy to use comic maker.

Give Your Masterpiece a Name

Be sure to call your project something specific so that you can easily find it in the future.

Choose a Layout

Use the comic generator to choose a layout. To do this, click on the “layout” button in the right hand menu. This is where you can add and delete cells, and add titles and descriptions if you would like.

Find the perfect scenes for the setting; all of our scenes are customizable! Simply drag the scene into the cell, and edit as you wish. Look for the "Edit Scene" button on the menu!

Add Characters and Items

Find and customize characters. We have TONS to choose from! Use our filter to help narrow your search. Next, choose from our thousands of items. Check out the "items" category, or search for anything in the search bar.

Add Dialogue

Add dialogue and thought bubbles by clicking on the “speech bubbles” categories. We have all kinds of styles to choose from.

Add Additional Text

Did you include a title and/or description box in your layout? Add your text in the boxes to make your comic even more exciting and unique!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your work, click the button in the lower right hand corner to exit. From here you can print, download it as a PDF, share it digitally, and more. Well done!

Frequently Asked Questions about The Comic Maker

Why make comic strips.

They are a fun and engaging way for students to show what they know, and they are excellent visual tools. Our comic strip maker for students allows students to use characters, images, scenes, and speech bubbles to tell a story. When they create art rather than typing or writing out a summary or essay, students hardly feel like they are working!

Can I make a comic book online?

Yes, you can! Storyboard That makes it simple to create comic strips and make your own comic book! Check out our images, scenes, characters, and so much more today!

What is a graphic novel maker?

A graphic novel is often synonymous with a comic strip or book. Our comic maker online makes it simple to create either from scratch! Check out our graphic novel templates and comic strip templates to help you get started!

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Script Writing for Comics: Explore Visual Storytelling

A course by fred van lente , writer.

Learn to create professional scripts for comic books and graphic novels featuring scene descriptions, characters, and dialogue

• Information

“Comics are a medium of infinite possibilities.”

Exploring those creative possibilities is what has led best-selling writer Fred Van Lente to work for brands like Marvel on titles including The Amazing Spider-Man , Iron Man Legacy , and Wolverine: First Class .

In this online course, he teaches you the two key aspects of writing a successful comic : solid visual storytelling and a professional-looking script. Learn to produce professional comic book scripts that are ready to be submitted to editors and artists. Bring stories from your imagination to life on the page.

What will you learn in this online course?

14 lessons & 14 downloads

• 95% positive reviews ( 111 )
• 5,373 students
• 14 lessons (1h 24m)
• 14 additional resources (2 files)
• Online and at your own pace
• Available on the app
• Audio: English
• English , Spanish , Portuguese , German , French , Italian , Polish , Dutch
• Level: Beginner
• Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Write a six to eight-page comic script that’s ready to be presented to an editor or artist.

Projects by course students

By peterkosmas

By victorcarvalho96

By guilhermeasalves

Who is this online course for?

This course is for anyone who wants to write compelling scripts that bring their story ideas to life in comic book form.

Requirements and materials

No previous experience is required.

In terms of materials, you will need basic drawing materials as well as something to write with.

campeonloyola

very good. I will love he goes more in details in aspects like when he mentionThe panel is the equivalent of a sentence in prose, but overall very good

canepavideo49

El curso es excelente Preciso y claro

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a_relax_end

Great course, comes from the heart and explained well with wonderful audio and video.

catarinesilvasa

O curso é interessante, o conteúdo é bom, o professor fala um pouco rápido e tem alguns momentos que eu sinto que falta um pouco mais de interação. Mas o curso é ok, dá para aprender algumas coisas novas.

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Fred Van Lente A course by Fred Van Lente

Fred Van Lente is a best-selling writer specializing in comic books and graphic novels. He fell in love with the medium as a child, teaching himself to read via comics at four years old and experimenting with drawing his own. He went on to study film at Syracuse University and join the school comics club where he met a group of illustrators and comic book artists. They later moved in together in New York City and set their sights on breaking into the comics industry.

Together, Fred and his university alumni created the crime comic The Silencers which caught the attention of Marvel Comics. He then spent the next decade working for Marvel on comics like The Amazing Spider-Man , Iron Man Legacy , and Wolverine: First Class . Fred also co-wrote The Incredible Hercules and wrote a how-to book for Random House called Make Comics Like the Pros . He has written comics that have been used for movies such as Cowboys & Aliens , and is a published novelist and playwright.

Introduction

Learning the basics.

• Important Terminology
• Thinking in Pictures
• On the Same Page
• Talking in Balloons

Developing the Comic

• Roughing It: The Pages
• Roughing It: The Scenes
• Designing Characters
• "The Stitch Up"

The Last Steps

• The Anatomy of a Script
• Assembling the Team

Final project

What to expect from a domestika course, learn at your own pace.

Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

Learn from the best professionals

Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

Meet expert teachers

Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

Certificates Plus

If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

Get front-row seats

Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

Share knowledge and ideas

Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

Connect with a global creative community

The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

Watch professionally produced courses

Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

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• Fiction Writing
• Storytelling

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How to Make Creative Writing Fun with Comic Strips

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement . Thanks for visiting!

Comic strips are awesome ways to enjoy creative writing fun with kids . Pairing drawing with writing, this activity provides kids with opportunities to tap their imagination and practice sequencing and more. Find out how my boys use these printable comic strip resources and get your free pack today!

Why We Love Comic Strips for Creative Writing Fun

When I announce that our homeschool creative writing time is about to begin, I often hear moans and groans. My boys do not like to write, even a list or a fun story. This frustrated momma (who adores writing) struggles with finding new ways to encourage her boys to put pencil to paper for writing time.

Over the years, I tried everything that I can think of to get my boys interested in writing. I was reluctant to start a formal writing program. My idea was to engage the boys in topics and methods of writing that would spur a lifelong passion (or at least not toppling over into a fetal position at the mere word). Despite all of my efforts, I had a hard time making creative writing fun!

We tried daily writing in notebook journals to record thoughts, feelings, and ideas. I would set a timer and let them go. These episodes would often end in tears of frustration with shrieks of, "But, I can't think of anything to write!"

Not one to throw in the towel quickly, I came up with journal prompts . Initially, the boys fussed a bit less over these prompts but the whining ensued shortly thereafter.

We tried workbooks , too. Nothing seemed to stick. I started to worry. What if I couldn't find a writing curriculum that would work ?

Creative Writing Fun for Kids Using Comic Strips

I wanted a writing activity that all of my boys could participate in some way. Comic strips seemed like a logical solution. Even my youngest can pick up a pencil and doodle a picture.

I knew this activity would be perfect for Smiley, an enthusiastic artist often found doodling away the day . He also is a talented storyteller, weaving stories filled with adventure and intrigue (well, at least to his mom!).

When Bear heard me tell Smiley about these comic strips for homeschool creative writing fun , he wanted in. Bear is doing well with reading but still at a beginner writer level. Comic strip writing would be an excellent way for him to practice writing and his love of drawing, too.

How Comic Strips Boost Creative Writing

Comic strips require a good bit of thought and planning . Different abilities and skills are tapped as your child draws, colors, and writes . Kids also benefit from:

• planning a story with its characters, scenery, and plot
• punctuation
• imagination

My boys and I also love to celebrate fun holidays in our homeschool. These DIY comic strip resources are fabulous for  May 5, Cartoonists Day !

I created this printable pack that includes a Comic Strip Planner to spark Homeschool Creative Writing Fun . It has been a huge hit! All of my boys have spent hours creating comic strips to share with our family and friends. I even got in on the act:

[bctt tweet="Comic Strips for Homeschool Creative Writing Fun + Printable Pack. Add a boost to your #homeschool day! #ihsnet"]

This printable pack includes 4 pages of Comic Strips Fun plus a comic strip planner to help you and your kids plan out individual comic strips or a series.

When you click on the image below to subscribe and join the Rock Your Homeschool community, you’ll receive this printable pack in a PDF download in an email, along with a super secret password that opens the library to all RYHS freebies.

In addition to your freebies, you’ll be added to our email list and I’ll update you with ways to have easy fun with kids plus instant downloads to all new freebies.

(Psst! Current RYHS members just need to access the  Subscriber Freebies  page and enter the password in your welcome email. Or get the instant download in the email the week of this post)

Click HERE   or on the image below to subscribe and get started with these  free printable pack for Comic Strips for Creating Writing Fun !

Let the writing fun begin!

This post is part of a fantastic link up at iHomeschool Network of FREE PRINTABLES.

As a homeschool soccer mom to 5 boys (with 2 graduates!) with over 13 years experience, Amy loves to use all that she learned as a mental health therapist to positively make life + learning fun. She shares easy-to-use and creative resources, tips, and tools so you can make the most of this special time with your kids.

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Comic Strip Template

Free Comic Strip Templates are the perfect resource for any homeschool, preschool, kindergarten, and first through fifth-grade classrooms. Each template has a variety of frames for students to create a comic strip. Our blank comic strips promote problem-solving, creative writing, along with creativity for your students. Want more writing fun? Check out our Ready Yeti Writing Bundle .

Comic Strips Template

Our comic strip story templates for elementary students make writing fun and easy. Your students will be able to let out their creativity while also practicing proper grammar, writing sentences, and grade-level writing practice. These free comic strip templates are free and easy to use. Download now and use them immediately in your classroom!

Comic Strip Template PDF

Comic strip story templates can be downloaded now for use during your next writing lesson! Students can write anything from simple sentences to complex stories while using these templates. Let your students’ creativity shine through the use of these adorable templates. Students will need a pencil and colored pencils or crayons to complete these printable templates.

Comic Strips Templates

Want to get the most out of these comic strip story templates for elementary students? Simply print these templates and have students create short comics or long storytelling comics. Once students have completed their writing and storytelling, bind the pages together into a comic book. You could add this book to your classroom library or bind individual student pages into personalized comic books to send home as a fun read-aloud for families to share. For more writing practice, check out our Kindergarten Writing Paper.

Explore our free printable comic strips for kids! Comic strips offer a gentle way to spark creativity and keep children entertained.

Download our free comic strips and easily print them at home today! Creative comic writing is simple and enjoyable activity for young readers!

Our free printable comic strips provide quiet entertainment for kids. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon of creative writing!

Comic Strip Templates Bubbles

Bring stories to life with our free comic strips! They are easy to print and ideal for young children who need to practice creative writing.

Blank Comic Strip Template

Keep children entertained this year with a creative creative and unique for of story telling!

Comic Strip Templates

Our free printable comic strips are great for nurturing creativity in children. Download, print, and enjoy the simple fun.

Comic Book Strip Template

Keep kids quietly entertained with our free comic strips. They are simple to print and filled with different and engaging strips.

Free printable comic strips that kids will enjoy. They offer a calm way to inspire creativity and storytelling.

Comic Strip Template Blank

Our free comic strips offer a delightful escape for young minds. Easy to print and perfect for imaginative stories.

Comic Strip Template Printable

Comic strips allow students to visualize their stories when creating each scene of the comic strip.

Printable Comic Strip Template

Inspire creative writing with our free printable comic strips for kids. Perfect for developing storytelling skills in a fun and engaging way.

Comic Strips Templates Printables

Our free comic strips are a great tool for budding writers. Download, print, and watch your child’s storytelling abilities flourish.

Comic Strip Template Free

Spark your child’s imagination and writing skills with our free comic strips. A wonderful way to promote storytelling and creativity.

Blank Comic Strip Templates

This is an open black and white comic strip that includes a variety of different lengths of boxes for your students to fill in.

Free Comic Strip Template

Comic strips can be a great activity for the whole class! Have students create their own story and share in fromt of the class!

3 Box Comic Strip Templates

Want to engage your students in a fun writing activity? These free printable comic strip templates featuring 3 frames are perfect for your preschool and kindergarten students.

3 Panel Comic Strip Template

Let your students’ creativity run wild with this 3-panel comic strip template. This template promotes early writing and creativity.

Comic Story Strip Template With 3 Boxes

Free and easy-to-use 3-box comic strip templates make the perfect preschool or kindergarten writing lesson. Print yours today!

3 Frame Story Comic Template

Choose this 3 box template for your next preschool creative writing lesson! With creativity and engagement at the top of the list, you can’t go wrong with this template!

Blank Comic Strip Template with 3 Frames

3 frame comic strip templates are blank so your early elementary and preschool students can create their own writing experiences. Fun and engaging are the best words to describe this printable!

3 Frame Comic Strip Story Template For Elementary Students

Want your preschool students to show their creative writing skills? Students prove they can write a story’s beginning, middle, and end with these 3 frame printable templates.

Keep your students engaged in the writing process all year long with this 3 panel comic strip printable template.

Comic Strip Template For Elementary Students With 3 Boxes

This 3-box free printable comic strip template makes creative writing a breeze! Download this free printable today!

4 Panel Comic Strip Templates

Our 3-4 panel comic strip templates are perfect for preschool students. These shorter pages with fun graphics are sure to excite your PreK students during writing lessons. You can even share your Would You Rather answers using these comic strips!

4 Frame Comic Strip Template

Show your kindergarten and first-grade students they are authors when you incorporate this free printable comic strip template into your next writing lesson!

Comic Strip Story Template For Elementary With 4 Panels

4 panels of comic strips creating fun are what this template has to offer! Students will engage in creative writing when using this template.

4 Box Comic Strip Template For Elementary Students

Writing sequential stories with your kindergarten and first-grade students? Check out this free comic strip story printable today!

This comic strip template includes 5 frames of writing space along with dialog boxes! Your preschool and kindergarten students will love this free template!

Elementary Comic Strip Template With 4 Boxes

Check out this comic strip template featuring 4 boxes of writing and drawing experiences for early learners.

4 Boxes Comic Strip Template

Each box in this comic strip printable template gives students a new space to be creative and write a sequential story. With being free and easy to use, you can’t go wrong when you use this template!

Comic Strip Template 4 Frame

Our comic strip printable template with 4 frames for early elementary students provides basic writing skill practice. Along with writing, students can show off their creativity.

5 Frame Comic Book Templates

Want your Kindergarten students to love writing? Include these 5 box comic book templates to improve writing fluency and creativity.

5 Panel Comic Strip Template

Each box in our 5-panel templates allows students to write fun sequential stories. This encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

Comic Strip Template with 5 Boxes

Comic strip template with 5 boxes for elementary students to write, draw and show off their creativity. Want your students engaged in writing? Print this template today!

5 Box Comic Strip Printable

These comic strips include 5 boxes with writing space and speech bubbles to help with story writing and creativity. Our comic strips with lines are fun and engaging! If your kindergarten students like superheroes, print this!

Comic Strip Template 5-6 Frame

5 frame comic strip templates make writing fun and easy! Keep your early learners engaged with adorable superheroes, text boxes, speech bubbles, and more!

Printable 5-6 Box Comic Strip Template

Teaching writing in sequence to your elementary students? Check out this 5 box printable comic strip template. It provides students with opportunities to write in sequential order.

5 Frame Comic Strip Story Template

Keep your elementary students engaged in creative writing all year long with this 5 framed comic strip story template. Download now for free!

Printable Comic Story Strip Template 5 Frame

Picking a story outline for elementary students just got a whole lot easier! Try writing a story outline using this 5 framed printable comic strip template for your next writing lesson!

Keep your students’ writing fun and easy when you incorporate this 5 paneled comic strip template.

5 Frame Comic Story Strip Template

Free printable comic strip templates feature 5 frames and speech bubbles. Your students are sure to love writing out a comic strip!

6 Panel Comic Strip Templates

Our 6 Panel Comic Book templates can be used for older elementary students in 4th and 5th grade levels. These story templates include 6 blank boxes with bubbles to write fun sentences and super hero characters to color and get creative.

6 Box Superhero Comic Strip Template

Download this awesome 6 frame comic strip with superhero that your students can color and write a fun story about a new character!

6 Panel Comic Strip Template

Each box in our 6-paneled templates allows students to write fun sequential stories. This encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

Comic Strip Template For Elementary 6 Frame

Check out this free downloadable 6-framed comic strip template. Creative writing lessons are so much more fun with these templates!

8 Box Comic Book Templates

Your fourth through sixth grade students will be begging you to write every day when you incorporate these fun 8-10 box comic book templates. Students can use one page or mix-and-match pages to create a longer story to share.

Printable Comic Strip Template With 8 Frames

Free printable comic strip templates feature 8 boxes, speech bubbles, and a cute superhero. Your students are sure to love writing out fun a comic strip!

8 Box Comic Strip Template

Do your students love superheroes? Download this 8-box comic strip template today! Students will grow their creative writing, problem-solving, and letter formation skills with this template!

8 Panel Comic Story Strip Template For Elementary Students

Free comic strip printable template. This 8-paneled template is perfect for your elementary classroom. Take your students on an imaginative superhero trip with this cute template.

8 Frame Comic Strip Printable

Each box in our 8-paneled templates allows students to write fun sequential stories. This encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

These comic strips include 8 boxes with writing space and speech bubbles to help with story writing and creativity. Our comic strips with lines are fun and engaging! If your students like superheroes, print this!

8 Panel Comic Strip Story Printable

Picking a story outline for elementary students just got a whole lot easier! Try writing a story outline using this 8 framed printable comic strip template for your next writing lesson!

9 Frame Comic Strip Templates

These awesome 9 Panel Comic Strip Templates give students who are older elementary students or at a more advanced level to create, from scratch, their very own comic strip story. Kids get the giggles as they practice creativity, problem solving, and story telling skills.

9 Panel Comic Strip Printable

Keep your students’ writing fun and easy when you incorporate this 9 paneled comic strip template. Developed for fifth and sixth grade levels.

Printable 9 Frame Comic Strip Template

Our comic strip printable template with 10 frames for older elementary students provides basic writing skill practice. Along with writing, students can show off their creativity.

Elementary Comic Strip Template With 9 Panels

Free and easy-to-use 9-box comic strip templates make the perfect tool for older elementary writing lessons. Print yours today as these blank templates are so fun!

9 Box Comic Strip Story Strip Template For Elementary

10 box comic strip template.

Don’t miss out on these 10 Panel Comic Strip Templates when your students are ready for more advanced story telling lessons. Whether in upper elementary or middle school, kids will love to write their own comics while they color and create their very own masterpiece.

10 Frame Comic Strip Template

Our comic strip printable template with 10 frames for upper elementary and even middle school students provides basic writing skill practice. Along with writing, students can show off their creativity.

10 Box Comic Strip Story Printable

Each box in our 10-paneled templates allows students to write fun sequential stories. This encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

Printable Elementary Comic Strip Template 10 Frame

Choose this 10-box template for your next elementary creative writing lesson! With creativity and engagement at the top of the list, you can’t go wrong with this template!

10 Panel Comic Strip Story Template For Elementary Students

These comic strips include 10 boxes with writing space and speech bubbles to help with story writing and creativity. Our comic strips with lines are fun and engaging! If your kindergarten students like superheroes, print this!

Free Comic Strip Printable Template With 10 Boxes

Keep your students’ writing fun and easy when you incorporate this 10 paneled comic strip template.

Free Printable 10 Frame Comic Strip Template

Picking a story outline for older students can be a challenge. If your students are ready, Try writing a story outline for your next writing lesson in this plain 10 box comic strip template!

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How Your Child Can Create a Comic Strip

Then you might want to inspire him to create a comic strip.

Comic strips are a great motivating writing project for a reluctant writer. That’s because they can be full of adventure or drama or humor or whatever your child wants. Best of all, they include a lot of drawing.

Let’s take a look at how to create these comical writing projects. (Sorry about the pun)

*This post contains paid links. I earn a small commission from the sale of products purchased via these links. Please see my disclosure for details.

How to Create a Comic Strip

First, here’s what you’ll need.

• Sharp pencil
• Good eraser
• Colored pencils
• Cardstock (optional)
• Drawing books (more on this below)

Two Types of Comic Strips

There are two types of comic strips that your child can choose from. One is the short humorous comic strip. The other is the long comic strip that has a story. Here’s more about them.

Short Humorous Comics

These are the quickest and easiest comic strips to create. They only need to be about 1-4 panels in length. Here’s what your child should think about before starting.

• What joke does he want to create a comic for?
• Who does he want for characters?
• Does he want a setting or background? If so, what?

Long Comics

Long comics involve a story line so your child will have to consider more things when developing it.

He’ll want to jot down his ideas on paper first. They can be in the form of an outline, a summary, or just general notes. They will make it easier for him when it comes time to create the actual comic strip.

Here is what he should think about.

• Plot – What happens in the comic strip?
• Characters – Who is in the comic strip and what kinds of personalities do they have?
• Setting – Where does it take place?
• Dialog – What do the characters say or think?

Creating the Comic Strip

• Draw the boxes for the panels. Rulers help with this.
• Draw the characters and any important miscellaneous props. Drawing books can help here. More on that in a minute.
• Draw the word or thought bubbles and write in the text. Printing is the conventional form of writing for comic strips.
• Draw the background if desired.
• Color with colored pencil.

Done! Then all he has to do is the most important part…share it with friends and family. Now about those helpful drawing books…

Drawing Books

There are many drawing books on the market that not only help children learn to draw, but also inspire creativity. Here are some that are available:

Some of my daughters’ all time favorites were the books by Mark Kistler. He’s both funny and inspirational. Here are his books.

  Ed Emberley makes drawing very easy for kids using simple lines and shapes. Here are some of his books.

  1-2-3 Draw is another great series for teaching drawing. It’s perfect for kids who want more detailed, realistic drawings.

  Hopefully you and your child will find these books useful.

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Creative Writing Lesson for Elementary Students

Picture this. Everything has gone great so far in your day of teaching. There were no early meetings that could have been an e-mail. A parent donated Clorox Wipes(which is equatable to gold) and your students are finally mastering two-digit multiplication. Everything is going all lovely until you look at your lesson plan and see it there practically shouting at you. “Writing time.”

Teaching writing is sometimes a dreaded concept to teach. I personally think that the reason every teacher has a favorite subject is that they liked it themselves as a kid. I was never good at math and instead loved spending my time writing. One of my favorite memorable lessons I did as a kid was creating a comic! 

Writing: A Throwback 

Even before I properly learned how to write, I was writing. My best friend and I would write stories scrawled out poorly with drawings that were laughable(and haven’t gotten much better). My cousins and I would write up newspapers about what was going on in the world. Then after moving twice in the span of a few years, writing letters to all of my friends was a given.

Thinking back on all my time writing I was wondering what led me to want to write more. I chalk it up to my teachers who made writing fun. I remember one project was to make a magazine complete with a comic. This was kind of like our own take on Highlights Magazines. I loved reading comics in the Sunday paper and in the Highlights Magazine. Props if you remember the best comic strip, The Timbertoes .

As a teacher I wanted kids to be able to learn how to write in a way that could make it fun and one way was to have them make their own comic book! This was a fun way for kids to get into writing because I think anytime you can involve drawing and/or superheroes, you can engage most kids.

Graphic Novels: The Fun Way to Read

I first heard about graphic novels recently and let me tell you, they are a great way to intertwine reading and writing! As a former teacher of younger grades, I had several chapter books in my classroom library, but most were hand-me-downs and I didn’t know what a graphic novel was until I saw them in a store years later. When I saw Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels, my world changed.

Basically graphic novels take chapter books and put them into comic format making them more engaging to read! I admit that I was skeptical about how much difference this could make in a person’s willingness to read. That is until I tried to read Marie Kondo’s “ The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up .”

As a  lover of reading, I thought I would have no trouble getting through this book. By page two I was bored out of my mind and content with having all my possessions in disarray. Then I found the manga (a type of Japanese comic) version of the book….and I read the whole thing in a day! I essentially was getting the same information and text but in a much easier format!

Ideas for Using and Creating Comics in the Classroom

There are many chapter books that are now graphic novels. To use comics and graphic novels in the classroom here are just SOME ideas!

• Make photocopies of pages of popular graphic novels or comics. Then white out any speech bubbles. Make a new copy for students to fill out the text.
• Have students work in groups to learn about sequencing. One person will start the panel and then pass it to the next person.
• In pairs, students can delegate who will draw and who will write. Working on different tasks will require them to use lots of details so their partner knows what to draw or write.
• Don’t just stop at writing! Comics are a great way to teach grammar! Adjectives and onomatopoeia are especially fun to teach with comics!
• Using a picture or chapter book, have students create a comic for it. For a more integrated lesson, have them create a comic page for each chapter to show their understanding of the novel.

Comic Book Writing

If you are psyched to introduce a fun way to teach creative writing, but at a loss at how to fit in different factors of writing, my best-selling Comic Book Writing Lesson has everything you need to teach students about characterization, plot, setting, dialogue, brainstorming, and much more!

Students will start by brainstorming the hero, villain, plot, setting, problem, and solution.

This is where you will begin to see your student’s creativity soar! When breaking apart each aspect of a comic (characters, setting, plot, problem, solution) it’s easier for students to grasp each component rather than trying to teach all of it at once!

During this unit (which can be broken into mini-lessons), students will also learn about many comic-related topics such as common vocab used for using comics!

They will also learn how and why adjectives and dialogue are important when creating comics.

Finally, your students will get to create a comic! My unit contains many different templates so they can create comic strips, panels, or even full comic books! Included are hands-on elements such as narration boxes and speech bubbles they can add to their comics! There are even digital options for those tech-savvy students!

For the unit, I used a superhero theme, but comics can be about anything! Encourage your students to get creative and share comics that are about things other than superheroes. For example, Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes, Family Circle, Archie, Richie Rich, etc. (My age is shown here). No matter what topic they choose to write about, your students are guaranteed to have fun writing! Grab this unit today by clicking here or the image below! Comic Book Writing Lesson.

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Printable Comic Strip Templates with Story Starters

June 18, 2019, join the conversation, categories/tags:, ages 5-7 ages 8-10 things to make and do, want these great ideas sent right to your inbox sign up for the newsletter..

Use these comic strip templates to challenge kids to write and draw their own comic strip! This fun activity makes a fabulous boredom buster, and can also be a valuable writing lesson. Kids who don’t love to write may really enjoy creating their own comic strip!

Print the templates from this post. It will be so much easier for elementary aged kids to make their own comic strip when the boxes are already drawn. These comic strip templates have a fun superhero theme, but I have also included some completely blank templates so that kids can write about any topic.

This FREE printable pack includes:

• 4 pages of superhero themed comic strip templates – choose either boy or girl images and different skin tones
• 2 pages of completely blank templates (no theme). One has a title box and the other does not.
• 4 story starter comic strip templates

Superhero Story Starters

My 2nd and 5th graders LOVED drawing comic strips! This is definitely a high-interest writing activity. Sometimes, though, kids may be really interested in writing a comic strip but may not know what to write about or how to get started, so I’ve included four story starter pages in this printable pack. The first box in each template has the beginning of an exciting story – kids can choose the story they like best!

My 2nd grader (entering 2nd grade in the fall) really loved this! He asked me how to spell several words and phrases, so I’m thinking that the next printable I’ll offer will be a superhero themed word bank/spelling guide. Leave me a comment if you could use something like that!

Ready to print your Comic Strip Templates?

This file is free for email subscribers to our weekly newsletter. The newsletter is full of kids’ activities, crafts, LEGO ideas, learning games, and more. Don’t worry if you have already subscribed. You can go ahead and enter your name to print your comic strip templates. You won’t be added to the email list twice.

Need more Superhero activity ideas?

• You’ll definitely want to check out our Superhero Creative Writing Pack!

Cheryl Tate Jun 19, 2019

I would absolutely love a word bank or story prompts. It would be fun and interesting to watch their imaginations bloom.

Shelley Jun 19, 2019

Thank you so much, my boys are creating their own stories right now as they are so inspired by your comic templates. I'm thrilled to have found your website.

Mandy Jun 19, 2019

I think that my boys. especially my younger twin, would love to have a super hero word bank!

Thera Dijkmans Mar 16, 2020

Thank you so much for the inspiration

Oat Apr 12, 2020

Thank you so much

Barbara May 30, 2021

Thanks for the great ideas. I have 6 grandchildren from age 3-9. Your ideas are often part of our fun times together on our “Grandmom Tuesdays!”

Leslie Gardiner Jul 17, 2021

I would love a word bank opportunity!!! I love your site and newsletter; thank you!!!!

Nonhlanhla Aug 11, 2022

I love your ideas and if it wasn't for my teacher I would have never known this website

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Create Your Own Comic Strip: A Fun Writing Activity for Kids

by Studentreasures | Apr. 12, 2024 | Classroom Activities

Unlock the power of your student’s imagination with one of the most entertaining and fun writing activities for kids available today—comic strip creation! This is a playful and effective strategy for fueling their excitement. 

With comic book writing, students can explore their imagination and create stories that reflect their unique perspectives and ideas. From playful characters to creative worlds, writing activities like these not only entertain students but also foster essential developmental skills. Whether your students are budding artists or creative writers, this guide offers something for every young creator.

Join us as we journey into the world of comic strip creation and discover how Studentreasures can help transform your students into proud, published authors!

Benefits of Writing Activities for Student Development

The importance of writing activities for kids cannot be overstated. From structured essays to creative storytelling, each form of writing plays a unique role in nurturing various aspects of student development, preparing them for future challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

Enhancement of Literacy Skills : Literacy-building activities are integral in nurturing a student’s reading and writing abilities. Crafting stories, poems or even simple narratives can significantly bolster vocabulary, grammar and an understanding of language structures.

Stimulation of Creative Thinking : Creative writing encourages students to explore their thoughts and feelings, paving the way for innovative ideas and solutions. It teaches them to think outside the box and to envision various perspectives.

Boost in Emotional Intelligence : By articulating their emotions through words, students learn to handle complex feelings and develop empathy. This self-expression is a safe outlet for their innermost thoughts and contributes positively to their mental well-being.

Improved Academic Performance : There’s a clear link between educational activities for students, such as creative writing, and their performance in school. Students often see improvements in their concentration, memory and overall academic readiness.

Increased Self-Esteem : As students complete writing projects and receive positive feedback, their confidence soars. The sense of achievement they gain from expressing themselves clearly and creatively is incredibly affirming.

Enhanced Communication Skills : Regular writing helps students articulate their ideas more fluently, making them better communicators. This skill is valuable not only in academic settings but throughout life.

Why Comic Strips Are Perfect for Young Storytellers

If you want to ignite your classroom’s creative spark, comic strips are a great choice. Not many storytelling activities offer the unique blend of visual and textual learning that comic strips do. These visual narratives not only captivate young minds but also encourage them to express their own stories in a dynamic and engaging way.

• Comic strips promote visual learning, a crucial aspect in developing storytelling skills for students who often think in pictures before words.
• The format naturally breaks down narratives into manageable segments, making it easier for students to structure their stories.
• By incorporating dialogue and sequential art, students learn the essentials of plot development and character creation in an entertaining way.
• Storytelling through comic strips can be a highly collaborative activity, inspiring students to share ideas and receive feedback from their peers.
• The fun of creating comics can help sustain interest in writing projects longer than traditional writing tasks might.

Activities like these give students a platform where their language skills can flourish and improve their ability to communicate and share ideas, all while having a blast. The doors of imagination swing wide open, welcoming young storytellers into a realm where anything is possible, piece by piece, panel by panel.

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Understanding the basics of comic strip creation.

Comic strip creation can be a fun journey into the world of imaginative writing. By breaking down a story into sequential panels, students learn the importance of pacing, the impact of visuals and the power of dialogue—all through an art form they can truly make their own.

The Structure of a Comic Book Panel : This is where the magic happens. Each panel serves as a snapshot of action, a canvas for dialogue and a piece of the overall narrative puzzle. Students can play with sizes and shapes to influence the reader’s experience of the story’s rhythm and flow.

The Elements of a Plot Within a Strip : Just like any good story, a comic strip needs a beginning, middle and end. This structure teaches students how to set scenes, introduce characters, build up action and resolve scenarios in a concise and engaging way.

The Dialogue and Captions : These are the voices of the characters and the narrator. Students learn how to express emotion, advance the plot and reveal key information to readers, all within the confines of punchy, snappy text balloons and boxes.

The Expression Through Art : While the words tell a tale, the pictures bring it to life. Through the interplay of images and text, students find out how posture, facial expressions and backgrounds contribute to the totality of their storytelling.

With every line drawn and word written, your students participate in imaginative writing exercises that entertain as much as they educate. This unique blend of education and fun is what makes creating comic strips such a powerful tool in a student’s developmental toolkit.

The Various Components of a Comic Strip

From character design and dialogue to panel layout and visual storytelling, each aspect of comic strip creation plays a vital role in crafting a compelling narrative. Understanding these components can help your students have more fun when creating their comic strips.

Panels : The size of the panels can vary, but it’s a good idea to provide larger panels for younger students so they have more room to draw and place the narrative. 

Gutters : The space between each panel is referred to as a gutter.

Characters : The characters often include protagonists, antagonists and supporting characters. 

Dialogue Bubbles or Speech Balloons : These small areas hold the character’s dialogue and thoughts. Even the shape of the balloon can reveal the tone of the speech. For example, a jagged edge might be used if the character is shouting or upset. 

Captions : Caption boxes contain narrative text that provides background, explains what is happening or sets the scene. Typically, the captions are placed outside of the panels, so if your students are going to write captions, be sure to leave lots of room around them. 

Sound Effects : Teach your students to use words that mimic sounds like ‘crash,’ ‘boom’ or ‘bang.’ 

Artwork : Let your students shine with their artwork. Story-creation activities for kids are a great way to foster a love of drawing. The drawings will set the tone of the comic strip. 

Expressions and Body Language : A comic strip has limited space, so drawing the characters with exaggerated expressions or body language is a great way to encourage your students to express their emotions. 

Lettering : In a comic strip, even the text can help to show a character’s voice (i.e., bold lettering could indicate shouting.)

Teaching the above is a great way to spend a class letting students know the significance of each of the components when using a comic strip to tell a story.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating A Comic Strip

Whether you’re an educator guiding a classroom or fostering creativity at home, these steps will help your young writers bring their stories to life!

Brainstorming and Storyboarding

Start with imaginative writing exercises that stimulate creativity and set the stage for your narrative. Encourage students to think of story ideas that excite them, exploring different scenarios and characters. Then, translate those ideas into a storyboard , sketching out the flow of panels that will form the comic strip. This visualization is a crucial step in developing interactive storytelling ideas.

Choosing a Theme

With interactive storytelling ideas brimming, it’s time to choose a theme that resonates with your students. The theme is the backbone of your story, directing the characters and setting. Is it a superhero adventure, a mystical journey or an everyday tale with a twist? The chosen theme should inspire students to dive deeper into their imagination and fuel their passion for storytelling.

Writing Captivating Dialogues

Dialogue brings characters to life and moves the plot forward. Teach the art of brevity and wit in comic writing, focusing on how to make each word count and each exchange impactful. Dialogues are the voice of your comic strip, so make sure they’re captivating!

Creating Character Profiles and Backstories

Characters are the heart of any story, and having well-developed profiles and backstories enriches the narrative. Engage students in writing exercises that allow them to flesh out their characters, from their appearance to their quirks and motivations.

Each stage of the comic strip creation process plays an important role in your students bringing their story to life. Here are a few additional steps to remember when helping your students take their comic strip from concept to final product:

Pick the Number of Panels : Decide how many panels you want your students to create in order to illustrate and tell their story. Typically, a good starting point is a three to four-panel comic strip. 

Print the Comic Panel Sheets : Print sheets with panels that are pre-drawn for each student to fill in. 

Explore Ideas : Encourage students to explore appropriate comic strip ideas that can feature people or animals that are brimming with personalities. 

Start to Draw : Let students use markers to draw scenes in each panel. The scenes should showcase the key moments of the story. The drawings convey the story’s meaning, so there is very little need for dialogue.

Add the Text : Let your students use fun bubbles for the narrative of each panel. The text should be concise and to the point, but encourage students to also have fun with the dialogue.

Start Coloring : Finally, it’s time for students to color their comic strips and share them with the class! 

Storyboarding: Planning the Comic Strip Layout

Storyboarding is a pivotal step in crafting engaging comic strips. Think of storyboarding as a roadmap, guiding each scene from conception to the final panel. This visual outline impacts the clarity and pacing of the plot, ensuring that readers can follow the flow and progression of the comic’s narrative.

• Students should Identify the key moments that drive the plot forward.
• Allow students to estimate the number of panels they’ll need to depict these moments.
• Let students determine the priority of information in each panel to enhance focus.
• Have them experiment with different layouts to find the most impactful sequence.
• Help students to keep the reader engaged by varying the size and shape of their panels.
• Each student should consider the placement of speech bubbles for natural reading flow.

The process of storyboarding not only streamlines the creative direction of comic strips but also ignites the excitement of bringing characters and stories to life. Investing time into this planning phase sets the stage for a memorable and visually engaging writing project that will captivate and inspire your students.

The Basics of Writing Engaging Dialogue

Effectively incorporating dialogue is a cornerstone of creative writing for students, particularly when crafting comic strips. Let’s explore the process of teaching students how to write speech bubbles that breathe life into their characters and move the story forward.

• Encourage students to think about their own conversational style and how it differs when they talk to different people. This personal reflection can help them shape the distinct voices of their characters.
• Introduce the concept of ‘show, don’t tell’ to explain emotions and actions through words. This technique makes for more expressive and impactful dialogue.
• Prompt students to have conversations with each other and observe how they speak. This can help inform the rhythm and content of their characters’ speech.
• Discuss the importance of brevity in comic strips, as space is limited. This lesson in editing can enhance creativity as students learn to say more with less.

Interactive Storytelling Ideas for Comic Strips

When it comes to interactive storytelling ideas, comic strips offer a canvas brimming with possibilities for young creators. To help your students create stories that leap off the page, consider these approaches that will capture the reader’s imagination.

• Include choose-your-own-adventure panels where readers decide the protagonist’s fate, which encourages decision-making and provides multiple story outcomes.
• Integrate puzzles and hidden codes within the artwork, which not only add layers to the narrative but also make the reading experience more engaging.
• Create stories with multiple endings to encourage readers to revisit the comic strip and explore alternate scenarios.
• Use interactive storytelling ideas such as fold-out pages or pop-ups to add depth, which can be particularly exciting for action scenes or to reveal crucial plot points unexpectedly.

Remember, the key to effective imaginative writing exercises is to craft stories that resonate with the audience. By integrating these interactive storytelling ideas, you’ll not only support your comic strips with interactivity but also foster a deeper, more memorable connection with readers.

Turning Classroom Stories into Published Books with Studentreasures

The value of engaging writing activities like comic strip creation transcends the classroom walls, influencing your students’ literacy, cognitive development and personal growth. By encouraging your students to embark on these exciting projects, you are amplifying their writing skills, strengthening their ability to think critically and giving them confidence to express their thoughts.

Unlock the creative potential in your students with Studentreasures Publishing!

With our FREE classbook publishing kit , igniting the spark of creativity in the classroom has never been more fun. Our unique book publishing kits provide every tool you’ll need to guide your students as they create a book that’s uniquely theirs, offering an exciting opportunity to express themselves and learn valuable writing skills!

Sign up for your FREE classbook publishing kit today and let us help turn your students’ writing into a memorable literary adventure! Don’t forget to explore our blog and online Teacher’s Lounge for more innovative ideas and resources to ignite a love for writing in your classroom​​.

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Free Printable Comic Strip Template Pages

Make a comic book with our free printable comic strip template pages . The perfect kids activity.

These blank comic strip templates are the perfect indoor activity for kids. I started to create these comic book layout templates and immediately my boys gathered around and gave me their input and started begging for me to print them a copy. After printing them a few blank comic pages they were off to create and stayed busy for more than a half hour. These comic book panels are a great free resource for teachers and homeschoolers to help foster creative writing in the classroom , but also just to get yourself some quiet time without resorting to screens . Graphic novels and manga have captivated reluctant readers in recent years and these comic book pages are a fun way to captivate reluctant writers. Stand back and watch kiddos add their speech bubbles and captions to the frames.

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Knowledge Base > Ebooks > 10 Creative Comic Strip Ideas

10 Creative Comic Strip Ideas

When Stan Lee was asked where does he get his ideas from, he said “I sneak up to other author’s offices and rifle their desks”. Truth be told, ideas are all around you, and if you want to create your comic strip or a webcomic, you need to learn to find them on your own.

If you want to create your comic books and you need more story ideas, you can try out our ebook creator . Our realistic flipbook technology lets your comic book look like it’s a real-life one, and you can use it to showcase your creative ideas to your readers.

You can also find new and interesting ideas for your comic strip if you pay close attention to the people, events, and actions you encounter every day. Everyday activities such as commuting to work, grocery shopping, and going to the park can be great ways to get ideas. Try to imagine “what would happen if zombies attacked my bus” or “what a day is like for a robot living among humans.” Neil Gaiman said that the first question when writing is “What if.” Comic strips are all about anything different from ordinary life. If you’re still considering how to make a comic book , you can check out our list of recommendations. Draw motivation from your own life, including events, emotions, and connections. Think of funny or interesting things that have happened to you and how they can be used in a comic strip. Adding a bit of your personality to a comic strip can make it more interesting and understandable – especially if you make things more interesting.

How do you make a cool comic strip?

To create a cool comic strip, you need to be good at art, know how to tell a story, and pay attention to details.

Think through the idea well – developing a clear idea will help you make artistic choices and make the strip look the same all the time.

Plan the story or plot of your comic strip. Think about how your story will begin, continue and end. Many webcomics don’t have a well-thought-out plot – they can go on for years and still be popular. Make your characters interesting by giving them goals, challenges, and reasons why they do what they do.

Think about who the characters should be. If your idea of a comic is “conflict between rich and poor,” you know that your characters can’t be “in the middle,” and each should reflect one side of the conflict. Their appearance should reflect their character, and help readers identify with them!

Make sure your comic’s graphic style, character styles, and panel layouts are the same. This helps build the graphic characters and makes the reader more familiar with the book. Cartoon characters should not exist in the same world as realistic superheroes!

And finally, consider publishing your comic book. Comic strips can be collected in a booklet and promoted as a Publuu’s flipbook. Check out our guide on self-publishing to learn more!

What are some good ideas for a comic strip?

To create a great comic strip you must practice, experiment, and be open to learning. A successful animated strip requires a balance of storyline and funny, relevant, and style-appropriate characters. Try new things and mix styles to create something unique. If you’re still struggling to create your comic strip, here’s a list of ideas we’ve prepared just for you!

“Alien Faux Pas”

A group of aliens come to Earth and try to blend in with human society, but struggle with understanding human customs and social norms.

This idea for a comic book story can be used as a drama and telling stories about differences and outsiders, but it also has great comedic potential. You can use seemingly funny comic strip ideas to tell serious stories in your graphic novels.

“Secret Hero”

A superhero who gains their powers from a magical object, but must keep their true identity hidden from their loved ones to protect them from their enemies.

Superhero comic books are a staple of the genre for American comic strip creation. To create awesome comic strips you need to play with the conventions and include your spin on comic ideas that have been done to end and back!

“Urban Zoo”

A group of animals living in a city, each with their unique personality and quirks, getting into all sorts of adventures and mishaps.

This has the potential for a long graphic novel or a short comic strip with a gag a day. Animals can showcase human flaws and your comic book can make use of interesting characters that can be seen as an allegory or something on his own.

“Time Warp Chronicles”

A time-traveling duo who go on adventures through history, but often get caught up in sticky situations and have to find their way out.

Visual storytelling works great if you contrast your characters with various settings and comic book tropes and time travel is perfect for that. It’s an opportunity to develop a comic strip based on history – and make it educational and funny.

“Noir Detectives”

A detective and their sidekick solve mysteries and crimes in a noir-inspired city, dealing with corrupt officials and dangerous criminals.

Graphic novels often feature serious themes, and creating comic strips can be easier thanks to creative writing and changing comic strip ideas into user stories. Be sure to add your spin to your comic book, so that the story about your detective is different

“Super Family”

A family of superheroes who must balance their crime-fighting duties with their everyday lives, including school, work, and family drama.

This is one of the simplest comic strip ideas, but very effective. Comic book stories are often about very relatable characters and Marvel comics creator, Stan Lee, often stressed the importance of your main character – if the reader can’t identify with your hero, they will put your comic book down!

“Coffee Crew”

A group of friends who work at a coffee shop, navigating their relationships and personal lives while dealing with the eccentric customers who frequent the shop.

This is a good premise for a regular webcomic – in this example, the setting becomes one of the characters. If you create a comic based on a location, you can easily come up with comic strip stories that could reflect any event that could take place in a café.

“Mythical Mingle”

A group of mythical creatures, such as unicorns, dragons, and centaurs, living in a modern world and trying to fit in while also preserving their unique heritage and culture.

A lot of comic book ideas can be based on various myths from all over the world. Comic creators can often create comics based on their mythology and native culture – if you can subvert the reader’s initial assumptions, the comic can surprise them!

“Prankster Siblings”

A pair of mischievous siblings who are constantly pulling pranks on each other and their friends, but always manage to make up in the end.

In a list of comic strip ideas, we need to include one that’s based on contrasting characters. You can create comics basing your characters, using different styles of cartoon drawings or comic panel designs.

“Odd Couple Mysteries”

An unlikely duo, such as a cat and a dog, team up to solve mysteries and save the day, despite their natural animosity towards each other.

One of the best aspects of this comic book idea is that it can work with various stories. Consider basing the characters on your friends – one of the basic rules is “writing what you know”.

You can set out to create interesting comic strips, taking ideas from everyday events and adding your own life experiences. A great comic strip has a well-thought-out story and interesting personalities that people can relate to. Find a good mix of story and fun, and make sure each panel has a charm that fits the story and style. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas and mix styles to create a truly unique comic, and don’t steal ideas from DC comics or old comic strip templates.

Remember that these comic strip ideas can also come from different places and myths, they can tell stories about strange events or tell jokes. Let your imagination run wild and let your ideas come up with amazing stories that will amaze and entertain your readers. Have fun creating comics!

You may be also interested in: Online Yearbooks – A Quick Guide How to Make a Recipe Book? A Complete Guide

Aesthetics and minimalism enthusiast. Loves to explore the world, and travel is the meaning of her life. Amateur photographer and passionate about dogs. At work, she points her energy into crafting content that reflects her interest in literature and design.

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10 genius far side comics about writer's block (& other creative woes).

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Gary Larson's Final Words On His Career Are Bizarre, Touching, & Perfect For The Far Side

"what else didn't i draw": gary larson on the far side comics left unproduced by his retirement, 10 genius far side comics featuring the invention of fire, the wheel, & more.

• The Far Side featured a number of hilarious depictions of writers – from famed authors Herman Melville and Edgar Allen Poe, to canine creative writers, to Gary Larson himself – which any aspiring creators can relate to.
• Larson cleverly portrayed the creative struggles writers and artists of all kinds face, from finding the right opening sentence to a novel, to figuring out the perfect rhyme to make a song iconic.
• Gary Larson's cartoons about writing and creativity are at once inspirational and cautionary, depicting writer's block besetting even the greatest creative minds.

Repeatedly throughout its run, The Far Side depicted writers – from the iconic to the unknown – struggling to get words out on the page, as well as creators working in other mediums suffering similar set-backs as they attempted to craft their masterpieces. In each case, Gary Larson offered hilarious and relatable takes on the creative process.

As an artist working in multiple mediums, as well as a musician, Gary Larson was acutely attuned to the ups-and-downs of inspiration, and the hard work it took to fully realize an idea on the page. That is why his panels about the " curse " of being creatively blocked are still incredibly meaningful to this day, especially to young artists, performers, and creative types of all kind seeking to learn a valuable lesson from The Far Side .

From literary greats, to ambitiously creative canines , these panels about writers represent some of The Far Side's most fascinating cartoons.

In his final essay from "The Complete Far Side," Gary Larson went on a tangent which delightfully encapsulated the heart of his long-running comic.

10 Herman Melville Struggles With The Opening Line Of "Moby Dick"

First published: february 6, 1982.

Gary Larson repeated this joke several times throughout The Far Side's run, but it is hard to argue that this wasn't the most effective iteration. Here, a harried Herman Melville tugs at his hair, as he agonizes over the opening line of Moby Dick , cycling through variations including " Call me Bill ," "Call me Larry ," " Call me Al ," and more, as the iconic " Call me Ishmael " alludes him for the time being.

As any writer knows, perfection is the enemy of completion – especially when it comes to first, handwritten drafts; surely, if the Far Side version of Melville gets up and steps away from his desk for a few, perhaps going for a quick walk down to the marina, he'll be more likely to find inspiration striking, and the right name for his narrator popping into his head after all that turmoil.

9 Every Writer Knows That Sometimes The Words Just Come Out All Wrong

First published: january 24, 1983.

Readers who have strummed – or more accurately, tuned – a ukulele will recognize " my dog has fleas ," as a device used to help get the sound of each string precisely right. Evidently, this Far Side panel depicts the origin of this musical tradition, and in Gary Larson's conception, it was more difficult than one might expect.

In this panel, a frustrated man tweaks the tuning on his ukulele once more, as he sits next to a chalkboard with variations on the mnemonic crossed out, including " dog fleas my has ," " my has fleas dog ," and " fleas my dog has " – with his closeness to the right answer suggesting that while readers find this innovator at a moment of peak frustration , it can be surprised that he is on the precipice of a breakthrough.

8 One Of The Far Side's Rare Writers On A Roll

First published: august 9, 1985.

Most of the entries on this list deal with creative frustration, in one form or another. This is the stand-out exception; captioned " creative dog writing ," it depicts a spectacle-clad, cigarette-puffing dog clacking away at a story about biting a mail carrier . Gary Larson's strong detail work makes this panel memorable, as he perfectly captures the vibe of an inspired late night writing session with touches such as the open dog food can on the desk, and the wastebasket full of crumpled papers from previous drafts subtly poking out from the bottom of the frame.

Of course, one of the most basic pieces of writing advice is " write what you know ," and despite the routine absurdity of The Far Side , this was exactly what Gary Larson did , as his humor was always the product of some insight or observation that he made.

7 Sometimes Writers Have To Wait For Inspiration To Appear

First published: june 26, 1987.

Though not about a prose writer, per se, this Far Side panel has all the familiar signifiers of Gary Larson's typical depiction of writers: a man in a dark room, a bright light shining directly over him, sitting at a typewriter trying to figure out what to put down next, with a previous draft stuffed in a nearby trashcan. That said, the bizarre twist here is that the man is composing a list of " little animals [he] has eaten ."

The caption elaborates on this further, noting that " by a lucky coincidence, Carl had just reached the 'm's' ," as an unfortunate moth twirls around his head. In the most bizarre way possible , Gary Larson once again illustrates the importance of inspiration – and it can be said, outside influence – on the writing process.

The Far Side Complete Collection

Fans of the far side can't pass up this master collection of Gary Larson's finest work. Originally published in hardcover in 2003, this paperback set comes complete with a newly designed slipcase that will look great on any shelf. The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever published, which amounts to over 4,000, plus more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book and even some made after Larson retired. 

6 Edgar Allen Poe Struggles To Write "The Tell-Tale...What?"

First published: november 5, 1987.

In a reprise of his earlier Herman Melville joke, Gary Larson depicts another famous writer struggling to get an iconic literary idea out on paper. Featuring " Edgar Allen Poe in a moment of writer's block ," the author is depicted with his hands clasped behind his back, pensively staring out his office window, desk litered with crossed out variations on the title of what will eventually become "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Having rejected several organs as unsuitable for the story, Poe is shown to have done the right thing here – stepping away and allowing his ideas to percolate, his creative juices to bubble up to the surface, so that when he sits back down and once more takes up his pen, or in this case quill, he's that much more likely to realize that only a beating heart fits his tale of murder, paranoia, and madness.

5 Gary Larson Knows ​​Sometimes A Writer's Creations Can Turn On Them

First published: october 28, 1988.

Though The Far Side is often described as running continuously from 1980 to 1995, that is not entirely true. Artist Gary Larson took several breaks over the years, most notably, taking off the entire years of 1989; during this time, newspapers ran reprints of Far Side cartoons, meaning that the strip remained in continuous publication, though no new illustrations were produced between this strip and the start of 1990.

Though this hiatus helped to mitigate Gary Larson's creative burnout, it could only delay the inevitable; The Far Side ran for five more years, until Larson retired from cartooning at the start of 1995.

The Far Side had its share of fourth-wall-breaking jokes over the years , with this being a particularly memorable one, as it features a Far Side -style version of Gary Larson himself sitting at his desk writing The Far Side , only to turn around and discover a mob of weapon-wielding cows coming for him .

Captioned " The End (Act One) ," this proved to be the hilarious punctuation on the first half of The Far Side's run. Cows made the perfect choice for the animals to rise up and attack their creator, of course; not only were they proliferate, appearing constantly throughout the comic's run , but a cow was also the focus of what is still considered to this day to be the most confounding Far Side cartoon .

4 General MacArthur Struggles To Write His Farewell Address

First published: june 8, 1990.

In one of The Far Side's jokes ripped straight from the pages of a real history book , American General Douglas MacArthur can't find the right words to start off a big speech he has to give the next day. Despite his heroics druring World War II, MacArthur's legacy is complicated, particularly by his role as the military overseer of the Phillipines in the aftermath of the war.

As a result, some readers might understandably find this Far Side joke controversial ; others will appreciate the juxtaposition between the gravity of this real-life historical moment and Gary Larson's irreverent portryal of the general, who struggles to start his speech with opening lines ranging from banal to silly, including " Well, here I go ," and " see you later alligator ," In any case, Larson once more keenly portrays the extravagant weight writers place on opening lines.

Reflecting on his career several years into retirement, Gary Larson admitted that he fleetingly felt haunted by the Far Side comics he never drew.

3 Songwriter's Block Is Still Writer's Block

First published: june 7, 1993.

Though professionally a writer and illustrator, Gary Larson's true passion was for music , which invariably played a significant role in his creative approach. Here, Larson depicts " the curse of songwriter's block ," in a panel reminiscent of his Edgar Allen Poe cartoon – as a man steps away from his piano, leaving a crumpled page of discarded lyrics sitting on the keys, and goes over to his window to watch the sunset, hoping the right words will come to him as he's partially distracted.

Hilariously, Larson repeats his trick of making the lyrics the man is struggling with familiar to the reader, meaning the joke derives from the fact that the solution to the man's creative woes is right there in front of him, as he attempts to complete the line " Jeepers, Creepers, how'd you get those ...." by cycling through a list of synonyms for " eyes, " without landing on the obvious, and iconic, " peepers ."

2 Support Your Writer Friends, People; They Need It

First published: september 23, 1993.

This Far Side panel deviates from the formula Gary Larson frequently used to depict authors, but in a way that is no less relevant to the actual struggles of being a writer. In most case, Larson depicted the trials and tribulations of writing as a solitary pursuit – here, though, he evokes the need for writers to have a support system in their lives for when the going gets rough.

That isn't exactly the case here, to hilarious effect; coming down to the basement and finding his dog laboring over a typewriter, with an overflowing wastebasket full of discarded pages next to his desk, a man smirks, only for his dog to threaten blackmail . " I wouldn't laugh, Jack ," the frustrated canine scribe says, ominiously adding " I know things about you " in order to assure that his literary aspirations are taken seriously, by any means necessary.

1 Gary Larson's Perfect Analogy For His Own Career

First published: november 8, 1994​​​​​​​.

Though this panel depicts " the curse of mad scientist's block ," it actually encapsulates Gary Larson's creative process more precisely than any of his cartoons about writers. With Herman Melville and Edgar Allen Poe, Larson might have offered a general account of writing's bleaker moments using specific examples, here he does the opposite, making a specific point about his own idiosyncratic work under the cover of a general "mad scientist" gag.

Standing at a chalkboard with a variety of ideas for outrageous experiments crossed out, this scientist is representative of the chaotic creative energy that Gary Larson brought to the drawing board throughout his career. In particular, he excelled at converging and recontextualizing elements that no other creator was likely to mash together, making The Far Side truly the product of an unhinged – in the best possible sense of the word – and unique writer, illustrator, and thinker.

The Far Side

The Far Side is a humorous comic series developed by Gary Larson. The series has been in production since 1979 and features a wide array of comic collections, calendars, art, and other miscellaneous items.

10 Best Indie Comics For Fans of The Umbrella Academy

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The Umbrella Academy is one of the best and most successful indie comics of the last couple of decades. After its success as a comic book, the series was turned into a TV show on Netflix, which ran for four seasons. Season Four of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix has just ended, and viewers who miss the show might want to know about some other comics similar to The Umbrella Academy.

By the final season of The Umbrella Academy , the TV show had departed a fair way from the original comic book series. The obvious comic book for fans of the TV show to check out is the original The Umbrella Academy series. Several other comics share characteristics with The Umbrella Academy, though. These comics should interest anyone looking for a new story to enjoy now that The Umbrella Academy Netflix show has ended.

10 The Wicked + The Divine Assembled Teens With the Power of Gods

The main characters in The Umbrella Academy were all born with special gifts and assembled into a family by their adoptive father. In The Wicked + The Divine , a group of teenagers have been granted extraordinary powers as the short-lived reincarnations of various deities. Due to their inherent differences from the rest of the population, these characters formed their own sort of family.

The Wicked + The Divine begins with a murder mystery but expands into a larger crisis. The characters are all unique and distinct, with a fatalistic attitude resulting from their short life spans that parallels the attitudes shown by most of The Umbrella Academy . The Wicked + The Divine also has a terrifying villain for the other deities to fight against in an epic struggle of good versus evil.

9 The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys Is From The Same Author as The Umbrella Academy

Best Indie Comics Coming Out In August 2024

From The Power Fantasy to Black Cloak, August 2024 promises to be an exciting month for indie comics from Image, Boom! and Dark Horse.

For any reader or viewer who enjoyed the plot of The Umbrella Academy , it makes sense to check out other works that Umbrella Academy writer Gerard Way has written. In addition to a new series, Paranoid Gardens , which has just begun, Gerard Way’s best-known indie work apart from The Umbrella Academy is The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys .

In addition to writing comics, Gerard Way is the lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance. The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys comic book is a sequel to a My Chemical Romance album. The series features a group of rebels in post-apocalyptic California fighting against a mega-corporation that tries to strip people of their individuality. The intersection of music and comics is another similarity this series has with The Umbrella Academy .

8 Locke & Key Gave Siblings Access to Extraordinary Abilities

In The Umbrella Academy , the characters are siblings who endured a traumatic upbringing together and reunited as adults to try and save the world. Locke & Key is a comic that similarly features siblings who have been through a traumatic experience together and adults who had similar experiences as children and are now reckoning with the consequences.

In Locke & Key , the Locke family has moved into their historic family home in Massachusetts. The three Locke children begin discovering mysterious keys throughout the house that give them extraordinary abilities and lead to the discovery of a disturbing family legacy. With its creative and chilling exploration of generational trauma, Locke & Key is one of the best indie comics of the 21st Century.

7 Chew Used Food to Bind Together a Superpowered Family

10 Best Indie Comics of All Time, Ranked

From The Walking Dead to Invincible, the greatest indie comics left a significant mark on history and often transcended the comics medium.

With its distinctive sense of humor and cartoonish art style, The Umbrella Academy had a very distinctive look and feel as a comic. One series that shares many resemblances with The Umbrella Academy is Chew . Written by John Layman, whose distinctive sense of humor suffuses the book, Chew is one of the best indie comics of all time, making it a solid recommendation for any comic book fans.

Like The Umbrella Academy , Chew features a dysfunctional family with remarkable abilities. In this case, however, those abilities relate to food. Tony Chu is an FDA agent who can see the history of anything he eats. He uses his powers to solve murders, but in doing so, he becomes embroiled in an even bigger conspiracy. With dynamic stylized art by Rob Guillory, the style of Chew is not too far from that of The Umbrella Academy comic.

6 Something Is Killing the Children Features a Darker Secret Academy

Although The Umbrella Academy has horrific elements in its story, it fits more into the superhero, action, or sci-fi genres than horror. Despite that fact, the excellent horror comic Something Is Killing the Children has several parallels with The Umbrella Academy. However, the tone of Something Is Killing the Children is much darker and more serious.

In Something Is Killing the Children , a mysterious organization called the Order of Saint George recruits young kids and trains them to become monster hunters. The Order is a dysfunctional family of antiheroes, much like The Umbrella Academy. For anyone open to a bit of violence and horror, the series and its spin-off, The House of Slaughter, are an excellent, if unsettling, read.

5 Nights Gathers An Unusual and Powerful Group of Teens in an Alternate America

REVIEW: Image Comics' Nights #1

Wyatt Kennedy and Luigi Formisano's Nights #1 taps into a variety of genres to deliver an emotional tale about the turbulence of adolescence.

Characters in The Umbrella Academy sometimes do bad things, but they ultimately try to be decent people who help the world. The characters also have a range of supernatural abilities, including speaking to the dead. Many of these characteristics are also present in the recent indie comic series Nights , set in a version of the U.S. where vampires and undead creatures live alongside everyone else.

In Nights , the comic follows a young, formed family of two cousins and their close friends, a vampire and a ghost who appear as a walking, talking skeleton. The characters have secrets and personal issues, and many have extraordinary abilities, though they aren’t always used for the heroic purposes that The Umbrella Academy pursues. The series mixes serious and heartfelt moments with humor, which should appeal to fans of The Umbrella Academy .

4 W0rldtr33 Reunites a Team Trying to Save the World From an Otherworldly Online Threat

A group of skilled young people assembled to try and save humanity from a terrifying, world-ending threat. Years later, the group came together again, laden with the baggage of their respective pasts, to save the world again. This plot description applies to The Umbrella Academy. Still, it could just as easily describe the plot of technological horror-thriller W0rldtr33 , one of the best indie comics from the past year .

In W0rldtr33 , an otherworldly presence threatens reality by attempting to breach the boundary between dimensions using the internet. A young group of software engineers stopped it years ago, but it has reared its head again, even stronger. Now, the group must re-form and try once again to protect the world from a threat it is completely unaware of but which could destroy reality completely.

3 Die Forced Teenage Gamers to Return to a Dangerous Fantasy Realm

10 Best Image Comics Since 2015, Ranked

Series like Ascender and Paper Girl continue to shine a light on the fantastic creator-owned comics coming from Image Comics in the last decade.

The art style in The Umbrella Academy is stylized and distinctive, with a cartoon-like flair. The art in Die , fully painted by incredible illustrator Stephanie Hans, could not be more different. The story, however, bears some resemblance to The Umbrella Academy in its use of a group of characters who had a remarkable but traumatic experience as kids and are later gathering together as adults to face a similar threat.

In Die , a group of friends who played role-playing games together as teenagers are transported into the world of their game. They make it back to the real world but lose one of their friends to the dangerous fantasy realm. Later, as adults, they are forced to return to that realm, which is full of life-threatening perils. Each character is haunted by their own demons that they must overcome to work with their friends and return to their real lives.

2 Minor Threats Explores the Less Glamorous Side of Superhero Worlds

At its heart, The Umbrella Academy is an irreverent tale about nontraditional superheroes. The characters’ powers are strange and unexpected, and they certainly don’t fit the mold of teams like The Avengers or The Justice League. Minor Threats is a series about minor characters in a world of superheroes, written by comedy TV writer Jordan Blum and actor Patton Oswalt.

The original Minor Threats series follows the exploits of a group of minor villains who are struggling to survive in a hero-heavy city. Other spin-off series like The Alternates and Barfly revolve around B-list heroes and masterless henchmen, respectively. For anyone who enjoys the offbeat superhero vibe of The Umbrella Academy , this world of unsuccessful heroes and villains may be the right fit.

1 Deadly Class Created a Darker Sort of Boarding and Training Academy

Much like the characters in The Umbrella Academy were gathered together into a boarding and training academy to form an elite squad of heroes, the characters in Deadly Class were also assembled in a boarding school. Deadly Class isn’t about creating heroes , however, as the students are being trained to become professional assassins.

The teenagers who populate the school in Deadly Class come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with appalling secrets and violence trailing each of them on their journey. Much like the group in The Umbrella Academy , the students in Deadly Class are often at each others’ throats, quite literally. Deadly Class has a much darker tone than The Umbrella Academy but still shares some of its main characteristics, making it a good option for Umbrella Academy fans craving more.

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Project 2025: A wish list for a Trump presidency, explained

It is billed as a policy "wish list" for the next Republican president that would vastly expand presidential powers and impose an ultra-conservative social vision on the US.

Donald Trump has disavowed the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 document, though many of its authors worked for his previous administration.

Links between the Trump campaign and Project 2025 have been highlighted by the former president's critics, and this attack line will likely continue at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this month.

Here's your guide to what the document contains.

Who wrote Project 2025?

It is common for Washington think tanks of all political stripes to propose policy wish lists for potential governments-in-waiting.

The conservative Heritage Foundation first produced policy plans for future Republican administrations in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was about to take office.

It has produced similar documents in connection with subsequent presidential elections, including in 2016, when Trump won the presidency.

A year into his term, the think tank boasted that the Trump White House had adopted nearly two-thirds of its proposals.

The Project 2025 report was unveiled in April 2023, but liberal opposition to the document has ramped up now that Trump has extended his polling lead.

The Republican nominee himself has distanced himself from the proposal.

"I know nothing about Project 2025," he posted on his social media website, Truth Social. "I have no idea who is behind it.

"I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal."

But the team that created the project is chock-full of former Trump advisers, including director Paul Dans, who was chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management while Trump was president.

Mr Dans left the project in late July, clearing the way for Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to take over. He said he was leaving during the presidential election season in order to "direct all my efforts to winning, bigly".

Russell Vought, another former Trump administration official, wrote a key chapter in the document and also serves as the Republican National Committee’s 2024 platform policy director.

More than 100 conservative organisations contributed to the document, Heritage says, including many that would be hugely influential in Washington if Republicans took back the White House.

The Project 2025 document sets out four main policy aims: restore the family as the centrepiece of American life; dismantle the administrative state; defend the nation's sovereignty and borders; and secure God-given individual rights to live freely.

Here's an outline of several of its key proposals.

Project 2025 proposes that the entire federal bureaucracy, including independent agencies such as the Department of Justice, be placed under direct presidential control - a controversial idea known as "unitary executive theory".

In practice, that would streamline decision-making, allowing the president to directly implement policies in a number of areas.

The proposals also call for eliminating job protections for thousands of government employees, who could then be replaced by political appointees.

The document labels the FBI a "bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization". It calls for drastic overhauls of this and several other federal agencies, as well as the complete elimination of the Department of Education.

What does the Republican party platform say?

The party platform includes a proposal to "declassify government records, root out wrongdoers, and fire corrupt employees", pledges to slash regulation and government spending. But it stops short of proposing a sweeping overhaul of federal agencies as outlined in Project 2025.

Immigration

Increased funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border - one of Trump's signature proposals in 2016 - is proposed in the document.

Project 2025 also proposes dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and combining it with other immigration enforcement units in other agencies, creating a much larger and more powerful border policing operation.

Other proposals include eliminating visa categories for crime and human trafficking victims, increasing fees on immigrants and allowing fast-tracked applications for migrants who pay a premium.

Not all of those details are repeated in the party platform, but the overall headlines are similar - the party is promising to implement the "largest deportation programme in American history".

What a Trump second term would look like

Climate and economy.

The document proposes slashing federal money for research and investment in renewable energy, and calls for the next president to "stop the war on oil and natural gas".

Carbon-reduction goals would be replaced by efforts to increase energy production and energy security.

The paper sets out two competing visions on tariffs, and is divided on whether the next president should try to boost free trade or raise barriers to imports.

But the economic advisers suggest that a second Trump administration should slash corporate and income taxes, abolish the Federal Reserve and even consider a return to gold-backed currency.

The party platform does not go as far as Project 2025 in these policy areas. The platform instead talks of bringing down inflation and drilling for oil to reduce energy costs, but is thin on specific policy proposals.

Abortion and family

Project 2025 does not call outright for a nationwide abortion ban.

However, it proposes withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, and using existing but little-enforced laws to stop the drug being sent through the post.

The document suggests that the department of Health and Human Services should "maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family".

On this issue at least, the document differs fairly substantially from the Republican platform, which only mentions the word "abortion" once. The platform says abortion laws should be left to individual states and that late-term abortions (which it does not define) should be banned.

It adds that that access to prenatal care, birth control and in-vitro fertilisation should be protected. The party platform makes no mention of cracking down on the distribution of mifepristone.

Tech and education

Under the proposals, pornography would be banned, and tech and telecoms companies that allow access would be shut down.

The document calls for school choice and parental control over schools, and takes aim at what it calls "woke propaganda".

It proposes to eliminate a long list of terms from all laws and federal regulations, including "sexual orientation", "gender equality", "abortion" and "reproductive rights".

Project 2025 aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and government departments as part of what it describes as a wider crackdown on "woke" ideology.

Project 2025's proposals in this policy area are broadly reflected in the Republican platform, which in addition to calling for the abolishing the Department of Education, aims to boost school choice and parental control over education and criticises what the party calls the "inappropriate political indoctrination of our children".

Social Security

Although Heritage has long supported reforming the country's public pension plan, Project 2025 barely touches this third rail of American politics.

The platform says Social Security is a "lifeline" for millions of retired Americans and Republicans will "restore Economic Stability to ensure the long-term sustainability" of the programme.

The plan's future

Project 2025 is backed by a $22m (£17m) budget and includes strategies for implementing policies immediately after the presidential inauguration in January 2025.

Heritage is also creating a database of conservative loyalists to fill government positions, and a programme to train those new workers.

Democrats led by Jared Huffman, a congressman from California, have launched a Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

And many of the proposals would likely face immediate legal challenges from Trump's opponents if implemented.

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