A comic strip differs from a comic book in that it is typical simple and stands on its own. Even ongoing comic strips in newspapers tend to have a stand-alone theme or joke for each installation of the strip. Creating a good comic strip is a combination of drawing imagery and writing text that delivers a single concept in between five and ten panels and leaves readers satisfied at the end of the strip.
Instructions
1. Brainstorm a concept that you can capture in a limited number of panels. Satire, simple jokes, or odd predicaments are often ideal for the comic strip setting. Ten panels is an exceptionally long strip. Between three and five is ideal. The number you use is up to you, but each panel should deliver the maximum amount of story through its artwork and any text used.
2. Draw your panels. Use a ruler and blank (no lines) paper. The panels can be any size you like, depending upon the appearance of your strip, but leave plenty of room for you to draw the artwork.
3. Sketch your artwork in each panel. The object of a strip is to lead the reader's eye from one panel to the next, so placement of your artwork in a strip is important. Keep the main action of your first panel to the right side of the panel. Don't put a lot of detail in the back. Draw the action of your strip in the second panel more centered, then draw the action of your third panel more toward the left of the panel. This pattern can be repeated and helps focus the eye on the artwork.
4. Draw characters and images that speak to the reader as clearly as the words you write. If an image can showcase the concept better, don't feel as if you need to explain the joke with words as well.
