This document provides guidance on creating a comic, including defining key elements such as panels, balloons, and thought bubbles. It explains that a comic tells a visual narrative through sequential images and follows conventions of storytelling. Additionally, it recommends choosing a great story, visual style, and format that suits both the story and style. Finally, it outlines steps for developing a comic such as selecting a setting, characters, conflict, and tone before encouraging the reader to create their own comic.

1. Next project:
CREATE A COMIC
A comic is, at its most basic level, a narrative told through
sequential images, called frames or panels. Even a single-
frame comic has to have a sense of forward movement. In
that sense, a comic is not really different from any other form
of storytelling, and thus follows certain conventions
Comics have a way of making us feel. Whether that be
laughter, sadness, intrigue, excitement, or any other
emotion, the power of a visual story cannot be denied.
Creating your own can be a rewarding experience.

2. What do you need to make a good comic?
1. A great story
2. Decide on a style
Because you are creating a comic, your visual style will
be the first aspect of your comic that the reader
encounters (anime, manga, superheroes,…)
3. A format that suits both
CREATE A COMIC

3. • Balloons
The objects that are used to contain the
dialogue that the characters in the comic speak.
Balloons are frequently rounded, but can take
many shapes including rectangular. They
typically have smooth edges, but can also have
jagged or irregular edges.
Some Comic Vocabulary

4. • Emanata
Text or icons that represent what’s going on in
the character’s head.
Some Comic Vocabulary

5. • Narratory Blocks
Rectangles or squares in which
a narrator or a character from
the story shares special
information with readers.
The box usually narrates
something that is happening
in the scene or that happened
before the scene in the panel.
Comic Vocabulary

6. • Sound Effect
Words that indicate a sound that accompanies
the comic panel.
Comic Vocabulary

7. • Thought Balloon
Objects used to contain a character’s thoughts.
These text containers are sometimes called
thought bubbles because of the trail of little
bubbles that connect the thought balloon to the
character in the comic.
Comic Vocabulary

8. • Panel
Rectangles or squares where the action of the
comic is drawn. The example here tells the story
in four panels.
Comic Vocabulary

9. Developing the comic

10. 1. Choose the Setting
Every story is set somewhere. Even if the
background is just plain white, that’s still a
setting. The setting is the backdrop for the
actions of your characters, and depending
on your story can be an integral part of the
narrative.

11. 2. Choose the Characters
You need actors for your story. Your
characters move the action, they speak the
dialogue, and they are who the reader
connects with. Develop your characters over
time; this is especially important for strips
that form longer narratives.

12. 3. Choose a Conflict
Every story needs a conflict to drive it. This is the
basis of the story, the “why” of what your
characters are doing. This can be as simple as
checking the mail or as complex as saving the
universe.

13. 4. Choose the Tone
This is the vibe of your comic. Are you writing a
comedy? Is your story more of a drama? Maybe
you’re looking at doing political cartoons. Your
possibilities are endless. Your tone will be
expressed through dialogue, narrative text, and
visuals.

14. There are several websites where you can create
your own comic:
https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/create-online-comics/
It’s an individual work
It has to have between 6 and 10 panels
The deadline is: 23rd January
5. Let’s do it!!!