Over time, comic books have become very popular, from Marvel and DC superheroes to manga. Now in the digital world, the new comics are conquesting multiple platforms, and you can be part of that conquest with these comic book ideas to find your own Style! So keep reading because this is about to start!
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Of course, let’s go to the basics before diving into this territory! So, what do you imagine when the word Comic comes to your ears?
Over time, the term "comic" came to be associated with humor, amusement, and entertainment. And in the context of visual storytelling, the word "comic" is used to describe the combination of images and text that elicit laughter, engage readers, and convey narratives sequentially and often humorously.
Accordingly to the above, when combining sequential art, illustrations, and text to tell a story and connect through emotions, you’re creating a comic book.
Comics typically feature panels containing images and dialogue, presented in a specific order to create a narrative flow. They can cover various genres, including superhero adventures, fantasy, science fiction, romance, crime, and more.
On the other hand, comic books often incorporate vibrant artwork, expressive characters, and engaging storytelling techniques to captivate and immerse readers in the narrative. As you can see, they can be standalone stories or part of an ongoing series, and they have a rich history and cultural significance in many countries worldwide.
Whether you want to share your daily life or embark on an epic fantasy adventure, combining your stories with eye-catching art can have a powerful impact. With a well-crafted comic, you can evoke laughter, suspense, excitement, and other emotions to engage your audience uniquely and compellingly.
If you want to develop your style and expand your knowledge of comic book genres, this list of types you can use is an excellent starting point.
Each offers valuable insights and techniques to help you bring your comic ideas to life, no matter if you're interested in creating social media strips with slice-of-life humor, diving into the world of graphic novels and memoirs, or drawing heroic characters inspired by the likes of Marvel and DC, there's something in this list to spark your creativity and get your ideas flowing.
Superhero comics have a distinctive style that contributes to their iconic visual appeal. Here are some notable style elements commonly found in superhero comics:
Image by: Marvel.com
Image by: R/Spiderman on Reddit
Image by: Freepick.
You can use this inspiration and create your superhero, or use the style panel to create the comic you have in mind!
This Japanese drawing technique dates back to the late 19th century when Japan was undergoing rapid modernization and opening up to Western influences. And since then, the popularity of manga has grown worldwide.
On the other hand, unlike Western comics that are read from left to right, manga is traditionally read from right to left. This means that the panels and speech bubbles flow in the opposite direction, starting from the right side of the page. However, you can use some other features to create your comic with a manga style by understanding the following characteristics:
Image from: My Hero Academia 188 pg 12
Image from: Bara To Juddan. Spanish translation
These characteristics, among others, contribute to the distinctiveness and popularity of manga, making it a beloved and influential medium in Japan and worldwide.
On the other hand, the character design with these big eyes and cat-ish faces is another thing that Mangas frequently use. Besides, many mangas are monochrome, but you can always use colors to
Then you have another category, common in newspapers, also known as Funny strips. In this case, the comic is short and aims to tell a joke that is easy to relate to.
Image from: Archies Comic by Fernando Ruiz
Hence, as you can see, you can summarize this category on the following points:
Newspaper comics, also known as comic strips, have unique characteristics that differentiate them from other forms of comics. Here are the main attributes of newspaper comics:
Newspaper comics have a long and rich history, with iconic strips like Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, and Dilbert leaving a lasting impact on popular culture.
With time, they continued diving into their characters, and the daily or weekly publications were transformed into books you can have in your house today.
"Personal experience" comics, also known as autobiographical or slice-of-life comics, are a subgenre that focuses on the creators' personal lives, experiences, and perspectives.
And as you may wonder, this subgenre came from newspaper comics. That’s why they share features like visual simplicity or concise storytelling.
Image from: Catana Comics.
However, there are other things you need to consider when creating a comic based on your personal experiences, emotions, or observations. Here are the main characteristics of personal experience comics:
Personal experience comics offer a glimpse into the lived experiences of the artists, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and find comfort in the shared human condition with humor and empathy!
The main point of this style is simplicity. That’s why the visual elements are stripped down to their essential components.
Minimalist comics employ clean lines, limited color palettes, or even monochrome and minimalistic panel layouts to convey the story and meaning with simple details.
The focus is on conveying the narrative and emotions with a few strokes allowing readers to fill in the gaps and engage their imagination.
Image by: Bored Panda on Pinterest
In comic books, the abstract is a style that deviates from representing reality literally or symbolically. Instead, abstract comics employ non-traditional and unconventional artistic techniques to convey ideas, emotions, or narratives.
Therefore, these comics often use experimental visual elements such as abstract shapes, patterns, colors, and textures to create a unique and subjective visual language.
The emphasis is on exploring the expressive potential of visual art and pushing the boundaries of storytelling through innovative and abstract approaches. The interpretation of abstract comics can vary greatly, inviting readers to engage in subjective and personal interpretations of the artwork.
Image by: Behance on Pinterest.
Monochrome in comic books refers to a style that predominantly uses a single color or a limited grayscale palette to create visual compositions. This type can be challenging if you prefer realistic or high-detailed drawings because this style relies on shades of a single color, usually black, white, or gray, to convey the visuals and evoke a specific mood or atmosphere.
Moreover, this style can evoke nostalgia, enhance contrast and shading, or transmit a more somber or dramatic tone. Monochrome comics can be visually striking and allow for a focus on composition, line work, and textures.
Picture from: Pinterest.
And finally, colorful comic books refer to those that prominently feature vibrant and diverse color palettes throughout their illustrations.
The use of bright and varied hues enhances the visual impact of the artwork, bringing the characters, settings, and action to life. Besides, colorful comics often employ bold and expressive color schemes to convey mood, atmosphere, and emotions.
Hence, you can use colors to capture readers' attention and contribute to the overall storytelling by adding depth, dimension, and visual appeal to the narrative. All these create a visually captivating experience that immerses readers in the dynamic world of sequential art you are showing!
Image from: Tintin Comin on Pinterest.
Finally, there are several popular platforms and websites where you can share your comics and gain exposure to a broader audience. Here you have some of the best options and what you can expect from each:
Image from: Lore Olympus on Webtoon.
Image from: Long Exposure on Tapas.
Ultimately, remember to research each platform to understand its terms of use, community guidelines, and any monetization options available! And who knows? You eventually would promote your comics through social media or collaborating with other creators and participating in comic-related events!
Maybe at this point, you already have the idea for your comic book, but you’re not sure how to start drawing.
Don’t worry! Skillademia has the solution. You can access our creative courses and learn how to create your own comic book, how to start in the drawing world, or how to start using Procreate!
So what are you waiting for? Try Skillademia and achieve your goals! Good luck!
