Hey. I've been wondering about running my own sprite comic and probably posting it here, but I have some questions that I'd like to be answered by someone who at the very least KNOWS how to make them.

1. The one, single program I have capable of making Sprite comics, is MS Paint. And I am well aware that it's very hard to work with and, well, all in all just ISN'T meant for Sprite Comics. Now, I dont have photoshop... does anybody have an idea of a free, safe program I can use to make Sprite Comics, or a way to make MS Paint work for me?

2. I've been trying to use SPRITE SHEETS. And my biggest problem is taking a single sprite off of the sheet, cleanly... how do I do that in a way that isn't long, painstaking, and just difficult to get a clean crop or whatever?

3. Finally, what kind of Sprite Comics would be the most popular? Comedies, actions, dramas, whatever? I need to know what to make once I know how to make them.

What i do is make my comic's base (Figures and what they are doing) with MS paint, then touch it up with photoshop (Blur, Words, ETC). However, i don't have much popularity
on my comic yet, so i'd be happy for a Co-Author. If you have a good comic idea, send it to me and i'll set it up, touch it up and everything else, then post it! And if you sent me your spritesheet, i could include you as well. I also would suggest GIMP for making some interesting effects. However, i'd only do the same thing as in photoshop. Anyway, there you go. i tried to help the best i can. Good luck, and i look forward to your reply.

Ok, you see I had an idea, basically about the adventures of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and other Sonic characters and their comedic mishaps. Sometimes it will mock the way that the Sonic series is right now, such as in the one comic I've actually made. Im trying to figure out how to post it here.

Hiya episonic. I used to make alot of sprite comics back in the day so I hope I can somewhat help.

With regards to your first question. Don't be quick to dismiss MS paint. While it is basic you can easily make a majority of your comics with it. That is if you know what you are doing (more on that later). Now if you're looking for a more affordable substitute for photoshop, I recommend using Gimp. It has all the basic features of adobe's photshop. However it is a litle more complicated to use. I don't actually have a link for it (just google it), but it's readily available on the internet, and it's free (I think)! If your using windows make sure you get th one for windows and not Mac. It actually an easier mistake to make than it sounds!

Your second question. there is an extremely simple way to take single sprites from a sheet without having to go through the painstaking process of cleaning up backgrounds. Make your background color the same color as the background of your sprite sheet. To do this all you have to do is simply right click on to sprite sheets background color with the eye dropper tool, or simply right click the color you want from your choices at he bottom. That's the first part. After that you should make your selection and copy it then paste. When the sprite appears (still with the background) you should see a box appear beneath your tools pannel. This is your transperency tool. Click the bottom most icon (the one with a dotted square line) and the background color should vanish if you did the first part (changing background color) properly. One rule about sprites, NEVER RESIZE MANUALLY!!!! That is important. It will throw the sprite off balance and make them look funny. If you need to resize just right click on your selected sprite and resize from there using the same numbers for the heighth and width.

And your last question. Funny sprite comics are generally what you want! Sprite comics with drama or serious plots don't usually do very well. So keep it silly!

I hope that helped somewhat. I tried to be as detailed as I can in my instuctions, but if you still find yourself lost just ask me and I will do my best to help in anyway I can!

I can do that, But would you like to supply a character for yourself? I can set up a thing where Sonic, Tails and Knuckles actually come into the swing of things...
See my 'Ell 'Lo Ell' strip.

This isn't exactly a comic starring myself, mainly because I cant make sprite...

While I can't say I have Eggpire's experience I have experimented with sprite comics in various ways and fashions. Having read a ton of sprite comics I can say this much, your idea is far from original, in fact, it's pretty much the sprite comic cliche. My thought is to take the time to come up with an original idea, something you've never heard being done before (but something that you can actually do with your skills.) and go with that.

Using an example I had, I intended to make a comic called Cappuccino Check Point, it revolved around the story of Mario and Luigi (as they think about their life while mysteriously trapped in a desert.) Mario and Luigi would constantly be bickering about how things actually happened and such. Basically, the story is pretty standard to begin with, then it gets a bit insane. Mario and Luigi are the love children of Yoshi and Samus, who happen to meet while in an boot camp (on another planet, mind you.) Eventually, Metriods attack and Yoshi and Samus send Mario and Luigi to Earth under the protection of the gay couple Fox and Falco (Starfox for the those who don't know.) Eventually, they grow up and go to high school, where Mario becomes a football star and Luigi joins a garage band. Where it goes from there...well I have to keep some things secret!

Basically what I'm saying is, take the time to come up with an idea like that, start simple and build on it. Complexity always starts out simple.

What about a Sonic vs. Shadow slapstick comedy?

That MAY work. But how about this, i use an older spritesheet of mine i just about NEVER used, and make it so it's you, and then BOOM! You can be in it if ya want! We can be co-authors...
Here's an idea. Two guys in a house with some sonic characters, and wacky plots with combat, gags and comedy!

Hey, it sounds like a pretty good idea. How about this... I write the comic in script form, you turn it into a comic? Do you know how to read a professional script?

The idea works, but maybe you guys should collaborate on it a bit (this is just my opinion as a guy who's read really good sprite comics and really terrible ones.) Collaborate and bounce ideas off each other, start out simple, the idea you have is a nice, simple start. Than start thinking of things that can happen that you've never seen or heard done in a comic before. Creativity is what can really draw people, provided you have the skill to go with it.

Well for practice, I scripted 3 strips based on what Leraku gave to me... it starred me and him, and Sonic Tails and Knuckles appeared. I think they're pretty good. :-/

Hmm... It may work! but i might make some tweaks here and there because i come up with some interesting ideas myself, like say, some battle plots here and there...
I mean, it'd suck if i made all those attack sprites for nothing.

Right, right, sure... I'll PM the practice scripts to you, ok?

Well then I look to see future awesomeness!!! Good luck!

Hey what should the strip be called? Maybe "The Good, the Bad, the Hedgehog"

I like that. The Good, The Bag, And the Hedgehogs. (Prob is my char is a hedgefox... Hm.. the good, the bad, and the Mobians?)

Ok, I just read the first comic... and, well, ok... I didnt really like it. I think it actually would've been funnier if we used my idea. If you're worried about not getting to use your combat sprites, I can write combat plots, if that's what you want.

It's fine. The only problem is, with them just APPEARING and saying 'we're right here' i've seen things like that, not very funny. But i'm just getting started! i have an idea of how the others appear...