Funny Comic Ideas: How to Come Up With Comic Strip & Comic Book Ideas
Some comic ideas are action-packed, full of heroes, villains and possible world destruction. And yes, those can be ridiculously fun to write. But in my humble opinion, some of the best funny comic ideas and comic stories come from real-life moments. Unless, of course, you're the next Steven Spielberg!
The story doesn't need to be completely factual. You might create a fictional story but weave in moments from real life, whether they're from your own life or someone else's. This works whether you're looking for a short comic strip idea or developing a story for a longer comic book.
My name is Aura Gold, and I've been writing comics for years. Just when I think I must have created every story possible, I'm proved wrong. Every day, my clients arrive with new and original ideas — and I'm still amazed by how many completely different comic stories can come from ordinary life.
How Do You Come Up With Good Comic Ideas?
You might have an idea for your comic story, but will it actually make a great story? The best place to start is by brainstorming all your ideas, however crazy they seem. Make a big long list and keep going. Then pick your favourites and start to flesh them out a bit.
Your ideas will probably be quite different, but the main thing you need to figure out is: what's the hook of the story? A problem to solve, a kingdom to conquer, a lost love to find, a funny twist — without a strong hook, you might not have a great comic story idea yet. Keep going until you're convinced that you do. If you aren't engaged, your readers won't be either.
I often get clients coming to me with what seems like a great idea, but once we start brainstorming together, we find there isn't actually much to get our teeth into. So don't cut corners at the ideas stage. Really put some time and energy into it. I help my clients every step of the way, but having a strong idea at the start gives us much more to work with.
Coming Up With Funny Comic Story Ideas
If you want to create a funny comic story, one of the most important things is relatability. Otherwise, no one will laugh because no one will “get it”. Not everyone has to relate, of course — it can be niche. Most importantly, you must relate to it. You must find it funny.
That's exactly why webcomics like Sarah's Scribbles, Heart and Brain and Poorly Drawn Lines work so well. They take tiny everyday experiences and exaggerate them just enough to become funny.
If you're struggling to come up with funny comic ideas, stop trying to invent something huge. Pay attention to the ridiculous things already happening around you.
Some of the funniest comic ideas I've written have come from moments that were probably mortifying at the time. I've had clients tell me about a bride fainting at her wedding and a groom farting during the ceremony. You couldn't make it up! But those little disasters can make brilliant comic stories because they're personal, unexpected and genuinely funny. You don't need an elaborate plot to create a funny comic strip. Sometimes one ridiculous moment is all you need.
My advice? Make it about something you're passionate about, whether it's your local football club, your family, climate change or fashion. It gives you the head start you need. It's always much better to create a story you would love to read than to try to come up with something you think other people will love.
Where Comic Ideas Actually Come From
People love to imagine that great comic ideas arrive like lightning bolts. In reality, the ideas worth pursuing tend to grow and grow. They keep coming back to you, the idea starts to naturally blossom in your mind, and it's almost as though your brain can't help building on it.
I had a client who wanted to create a sci-fi comic about her boyfriend, who loves sports and gambling. Now, I don't know much about sport or gambling, LOL — but strangely enough, I was invited to a casino that same week. While I was there playing blackjack (very badly), the idea started to come together. That said, it is much harder to write a story about a subject you know nothing about. I don't recommend it.
Anyhow, that idea stuck with me all week. Every day on my daily walk, I found myself building on it until I finally found the hook — the overarching storyline that made it sci-fi while also including everything the client wanted. It's such an “aha!” moment when that happens.
This was an especially difficult comic story to write and, in the end, it became a 12-page comic book. But not all comic ideas need to be so complicated — or so long.
Funny Comic Strip Ideas to Get You Started
Sometimes the hardest part of creating a comic is coming up with the initial idea. But you don't need an elaborate storyline or a superhero saving the world. Some of the funniest comic strips are based on ordinary situations that take an unexpected turn.
If you're struggling for inspiration, here are a few funny comic ideas to get you thinking.
Everyday life gone wrong: Think about something ordinary, like a disastrous first date, a family holiday or a job interview. Now imagine everything that could possibly go wrong does go wrong. The more ridiculous the situation becomes, the funnier your comic could be.
A superhero with a useless superpower: What if your superhero could read minds, but only when people were thinking about food? Or had the ability to fly, but only two feet off the ground? Sometimes turning familiar comic book ideas upside down creates the funniest stories.
Animals behaving like humans: Imagine a cat interviewing prospective owners, a dog secretly running the household or a group of animals holding a neighbourhood meeting to discuss their humans. Giving animals very human personalities can lead to some hilarious comic stories.
An unexpected twist: Start with a familiar situation and lead your reader towards an obvious conclusion. Then surprise them with something completely different. A good twist can turn a very simple comic idea into something memorable.
Two completely different perspectives: Take one event and tell it from two characters' points of view. Perhaps a couple remember their first date very differently, or a dog thinks it's protecting the house while its owner thinks it's destroying it.
These are just starting points. The fun comes from taking an idea and making it your own. Think about your experiences, your sense of humour and the characters you love. The more personality you bring to your comic story, the more original it becomes.
Are you Inspired to Create Your own Comic?
Enter the Comic Creator Challenge - just $5
The best comics all started with one thing: an idea. Some were funny, some sad, some plain weird. None of them started as finished masterpieces, the themes and ideas evolved over time.
If you've been reading this blog thinking, "I've actually got a great idea for my own comic!". Well why not enter the Comic Creator Challenge! It's only $5, the price of a coffee. You submit your comic story idea and if you win we will turn your comic idea into a 1-page, 10-panel comic strip!
One winning idea is selected each month, by Make Me A Comic's founder, and Art Director, Aura Gold. The winner gets their idea brainstormed by Aura and then written and drawn by a professional comic artist and author.
How to Create Original Comic Book Characters
You might have a brilliant comic book idea, but what about your characters? Sometimes I think creating a memorable character is even harder than coming up with the storyline itself.
Think about some of the most recognisable comic characters. Garfield is lazy, sarcastic and obsessed with food. Charlie Brown is forever hopeful, despite everything going wrong. And Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes, has an imagination that constantly gets him into trouble.
What makes these characters so memorable isn't just how they look. It's their personalities, their flaws and the way they react to the world around them.
When I'm developing comic characters, I like to think about what makes them tick. What do they want? What annoys them? What are they afraid of? What ridiculous habits do they have? Sometimes one small personality trait can inspire an entire comic story.
For example, imagine a character who is desperate to become famous but is absolutely terrible at everything they try. Or someone who is obsessed with following rules but lives in a world where nobody else follows them. You've already got the beginnings of a funny comic idea, simply by putting that character in situations that challenge their personality.
And don't feel that your characters have to be superheroes or larger-than-life personalities. Some of the best comic characters are wonderfully ordinary people with very recognisable problems.
My advice is to create characters you'd actually enjoy spending time with. If you find them interesting, funny or completely infuriating, there's a good chance your readers will too.
Superhero Comic Ideas: Creating Your Own Hero Story
I LOVE writing superhero comics. You can let your imagination run completely wild, invent extraordinary characters, create terrifying villains and dream up worlds where almost anything is possible.
But where do you start? Well, think about some of the greatest superheroes ever created. Spider-Man is an ordinary teenager dealing with extraordinary powers, Batman has no superpowers at all, and the X-Men are a group of mutants who are often feared by the very people they're trying to protect.
What makes these characters interesting isn't just their powers. It's their personalities, their weaknesses and the challenges they face.
When you're coming up with your own superhero comic ideas, try turning the usual rules upside down. What if your superhero discovers that their powers are slowly disappearing? What if the villain is actually their best friend? Or what if the person everyone believes is the hero turns out to be the real villain?
And don't forget about the story itself. Perhaps your superhero has to save an entire city, travel to another dimension or stop a villain who's discovered how to control time. Give your hero a seemingly impossible problem to solve, then make things even worse!
I particularly love a good plot twist. Imagine your superhero finally defeating their greatest enemy, only to discover that the villain was protecting the world from something far more dangerous. Suddenly, you've got the beginnings of a whole new comic book story.
You don't need to invent the next Marvel universe to create a great superhero comic. Start with one interesting character, give them a problem that seems impossible to overcome, and see where your imagination takes you.
Pet Comic Story Ideas
I'll start by saying that dogs are ALWAYS heroes and cats are ALWAYS villains, LOL. I don't know why, but whenever I'm writing a comic involving dogs and cats, they somehow naturally end up playing these roles!
One of my favourite ways to create a pet comic story is to tell it from the animal's perspective. Imagine what your pet might be thinking, how they would speak or what they really think of their humans. Giving animals human personalities can lead to some hilarious comic ideas.
And remember, even if your dog is a superhero saving the world, they're still a dog. So of course they might have to stop and smell some poop halfway through an epic battle!
But pet comic ideas don't need superheroes, villains or enormous adventures. Sometimes the funniest stories come from everyday pet behaviour. Imagine a cat convinced it's the ruler of the household, or a dog who believes every visit from the postman is a life-threatening emergency.
And not every comic story needs to be funny.
I once wrote a comic called Billie's Best Day. Billie was an elderly dog whose family knew they were going to lose her soon. I created a story about her perfect day to commemorate her life. It was incredibly touching, and a reminder that some of the strongest comic ideas come from real experiences and emotions.
Whether you're creating a funny comic about a mischievous cat or a heartfelt story about a much-loved dog, my advice is to start with the animal's personality. Their habits, quirks and little routines can provide all the inspiration you need for a wonderful comic story.
How to Make Readers Feel Something
A good comic idea is only the beginning. You also need to give your reader a reason to care about what happens.
Make them laugh, cry, sit on the edge of their seat or completely surprise them — if you make them feel something, you've drawn them into the story. Sentimentality and nostalgia can be particularly powerful, especially when you're writing about real people, places and memories.
How to Make Readers Care About Your Characters.
You can have the most exciting comic story in the world, but if your readers don't care about what happens to your characters, even the biggest plot twist might fall flat.
Most of the comics I write have an element of real life in them, and I often include the recipient as a character. That makes my job considerably easier. If you're reading a comic about yourself, you're already emotionally invested in what happens!
But what if you're creating a completely fictional comic? How do you make someone care about a character they've never met?
I think the trick is to give your readers something to root for. Perhaps your character is an underdog who never quite gets things right, a reluctant hero who's terrified of failing, or someone who desperately wants something but keeps making terrible decisions.
Think about Spider-Man. We don't just care whether he defeats the villain. We care about Peter Parker, his friendships, his problems and the sacrifices he has to make. That's what makes his story so engaging.
And remember, your readers don't necessarily have to like your characters. Some of the most fascinating comic book characters are villains! They just need to be interested enough to find out what happens next.
My advice? Before you start writing your comic, ask yourself one question: Why should anyone care what happens to this character? If you've got a good answer, you're already on the right track.
What Makes a Comic Idea Feel Professional?
A great idea is important, but I don't think there's one type of story that automatically makes a comic feel professional. Almost any idea can become a great comic story if it's told well.
A lot comes down to how you bring that idea to life — the drawing style, the characters, the layout, the lettering and the colouring. But that doesn't mean a comic needs to be incredibly detailed or technically difficult to work. Sometimes the simplest drawings tell a story brilliantly.
Just look at the number of successful stickman comics out there. Remember Bitstrips from years ago? They were SUPER popular, yet incredibly simply drawn.
So don't spend too much time procrastinating over whether your comic idea is good enough. My advice is to just go for it. If you don't feel comfortable drawing it yourself, there are plenty of comic artists who can help bring your idea to life.
If You Have a Comic Idea but Want Someone Else to Create It
Not everyone wants to write, draw or design their own comic, and that's absolutely fine!
I've been helping people turn their ideas into professionally written and illustrated comics since 2012. Sometimes clients arrive with a fully developed story, and sometimes they have little more than a funny memory or the beginnings of an idea.
Either way, we can help you develop the storyline, create the characters and turn your idea into a finished comic.
If you'd prefer us to do the creative work for you, have a look at our custom comic strips and custom comic books.
