Brainstorm Ideas for your own Comic strip-
- We learned from our interview with Jim Kraft that the writing for the comic strip usually comes first; creating a comic strip is just another form of storytelling.
--> So just like when we start brainstorming for writing a short story, we need to think about, decide and write down answers to the following:
1. What is going to be the situation? This is called the "comic gag".
- (Think of odd or funny observations you make in a day, or reflect on a funny situation you or a friend found themselves in. Brainstorm how you could make light of or tease about something that you find irritating or bothersome. Think about what would happen to a situation if you changed something about it. For example, I find it annoying when I find lights on in a room that no one is in. I'm going to figure out how to make this situation funny.)
- Often comic strips are funny because something unusual, sarcastic or misunderstood is happening.
- Some ideas if you can't think of your own: long line in the drive-thru, family reunion & you don't know anybody, parade on a hot day, you don't like eating vegetables, the electricity went out, you can't get to your locker, your pet is scared of fireworks, you forgot to do your homework, you shared a picture or video on social media and it went viral, there is nothing on TV...
- Will they be humans, animals or object?
- What relationship are the characters to each other?
- What are their rough ages?
- What unique characteristics do the characters have, if any? (crazy hair, funny nose...)
- What personalities do your characters have? (bully, innocent, over-protective, nervous, over-achiever...)
- What emotions will your characters show?
- 1, 2, 3, or 4 panels?
- Vertical or horizontal
- Colors?