20+ comic strip ideas to inspire your next cartoon.

Comic strips are more than just bright artwork on the page. They tell great stories and have inspired some of the world’s biggest movies. But you don’t have to be a comic legend like Stan Lee to create your own comic strip. You can make one for fun, for a card, for a gift, or for a project.

Whatever the reason, read Adobe Express’s guide to find over 20 ideas for comic strips and get inspiration for your next story.

5 funny comic strip ideas.

Comic books feature a range of stories and genres, but some of the most famous strips are funny (Garfield being a fan favourite!). You might want to make a funny comic strip for a birthday card, a mini comic for a friend, or to send to colleagues at work. Whatever the reason, take a look at our funny comic strip ideas below.

1. Funny office-inspired comic strip.

This funny comic strip can be in black and white to showcase the traditional black, white and grey colour scheme of office wear. Your comic can feature a manager character who loves to make rules (maybe the other employees don’t follow them) or you can have each strip as a new day at the office.

• Day 1: Signing a group birthday card and the chaos of tracking everyone down to sign it.
• Day 2: Someone steals another employee’s chocolate bars from the fridge.
• Day 3: Someone hits ‘reply all’ on an email, causing a chain reaction.

2. Meme-style comic strip.

Meme-style comic strips are usually made up of four small squares that make up a larger square. A meme features images and captions that people can relate to. You could make a meme about a little fly that finds it easy to come into a house but struggles to find the exit, for example. Learn how to make a meme.

3. Chaotic pet antics.

A dog that escapes, a cat that leaves home one morning for an adventure, a hamster that leaves its cage when the owner heads to work. This comic strip could follow different pets and the antics they get up to.

4. Problematic parenting fails.

This could be a great comic to send to new parents to show the fails they might encounter. From forgetting to pack nappies on a day out to doing the school or nursery run in odd shoes.

5. Cooking disasters.

From burning simple food like pasta, to forgetting to add a key ingredient in your birthday cake. A cooking disaster comic strip can be a fun gift for someone moving into their first home.

5 easy superhero comic strip ideas.

One of the first and most popular costumed superheroes that we all know today is Superman, first debuted by DC in 1938. Now it’s time to bring your superhero to life in your very own comic strip.

1. Super pet.

From Captain Cat to Danger Dog, turning favourite pets into superheroes can be a fun and exciting comic strip for the pet-lover in your life. You could even create a crime-fighting group of pets that come together to save their neighbourhood from the villain.

2. Villain’s day off.

In this comic strip, the hero is looking for things to do as the villain has taken the day off. You could then have the comic strip follow the villain to the beach, to the supermarket or while they take their pet for a walk.

3. Captain Obvious.

This is a simple one: a superhero who simply states the obvious. ‘Oh look, a meteor is coming towards us!’ or ‘Oh look, a cat stuck up a tree!’. Does he save the day? Maybe. Or is his power simply making people aware of the situation?

4. The everyday life of a superhero.

This can be a fun comic designed like a diary. For example:

• 7am: Wake up and have breakfast.
• 8am: Get dressed in my super suit (and then place my fake moustache disguise on!)
• 9am: Fight crime!

You can create each little square as a new time all the way until it’s time for bed.

5. Sidekick stories.

Every superhero has a sidekick, and this comic strip can focus on their side of the story. Are they holding the hero’s cape to stop them getting stuck? Have they taken the hero’s suit to be dry-cleaned?

5 fantasy comic strip ideas.

For something a little magical, look to create a fantasy comic strip. Filled with spells and whimsical tales, this can really capture the imagination.

1. The reluctant chosen one.

Every fantasy story can have a chosen one. An all-powerful individual who has been selected to save a magical world. However, this comic strip has a chosen one who doesn’t want the power. They’d rather stay in bed and watch a dragon take over instead of fighting it.

2. A day in the life of a fairy godmother.

A fairy godmother has a lot on her plate. From granting wishes here to making dreams come true there. This comic strip can follow a day in her life. Is she just assigned to one person or multiple people? Does she have rules that need to be followed (no wishing for more wishes!)?

3. Wizard school fails.

Potions mixed wrong, a broken wand that makes spells 10 times more powerful, turning teachers into cockroaches – there are plenty of wizard school mishaps that can make for a fun and exciting comic strip.

4. Magical pets.

Talking pooches, a cat with wings and a guinea pig that cleans the house. There are many quirky magical pet adventures you can use to create a comic strip. You can even have the magical pets meet up to form an alliance.

5. A quest reality show.

We have Big Brother, I’m a Celeb and Love Island, but how about a comic strip that features a group of people on a magical quest to discover the legend of the sword in the stone? You can design a quest that is filled with adventure and magic around every corner.

5 comic strip ideas for students.

We have some ideas for comic strips for students too. If you need to design one for a project, to promote your school, or if you’re a teacher looking for new ways to give students information, there are plenty of ideas here you can use.

1. Group project mishaps.

Ever been part of a group where the workload was anything but equal? This comic strip can tell the tale of missing work, late nights to hit deadlines and wrong assignments handed in. Juggling teamwork is the plot for this comic strip.

2. The forgotten exam.

Waking up late and forgetting you have a test. Opening the exam paper and answering the wrong questions. There are plenty of exam mix-ups you can create a comic strip about.

3. Lost in the corridors.

This can be a good comic strip to promote getting around your school. This is way more entertaining than a classic map. Add little side stories about certain classrooms and corridors too.

4. First day at school.

Everyone has a first day! This can be a nice comic to make someone feel more comfortable and excited about starting their new adventure. Each square can be a little insight into what the recipient can expect on their first day.

5. AI homework gone wrong.

As more and more students turn to AI to help with their homework, how about making a comic strip about how it can go wrong? From multiple students handing in the same work, to getting the work completely wrong! This can be a good way to educate students on the dos and don’ts of using AI for schoolwork.

How can Adobe Express help you make a comic strip?

Adobe Express has a wealth of tools that can help you make a comic strip. Here’s how you can use it to make yours.

1. Create your own comic book from scratch.

Have an idea of a comic you want to make? Head to Adobe Express to get started. Choose a range of graphics and icons to bring your comic strip to life. Start creating a comic strip today.

2. Make the most of free comic strip templates.

Get inspired with a variety of comic strip templates to choose from. You might have an amazing idea but just don’t know where to start. Picking a template could help get your comic strip idea off the ground.

3. Edit your images and comic strip designs.

Want to use your images to create a comic strip? Use Adobe Express to edit your images. Crop, filter and amend as you need to fit your comic strip idea.

More short and simple comic strip ideas from Adobe Express.

Turn your comic into a card or poster with the AI template generator.

Adobe Express’s AI template generator can help you transform your comic strip into something special. Create stunning cards or posters with just a push of a button. Simply enter your prompt and the AI template generator will get to work. Your finished comic strip will be ready in minutes.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

How do you come up with ideas for a comic?

As well as taking a look at all the ideas in this guide, you can come up with your own comic strip ideas by finding inspiration in your day-to-day life. From someone who saves people that are late for work due to traffic, to wishing your pet could speak to tell you why they’re barking. Simple situations can lead to a story.

How do I create my own comic?

You can create your own comic strip by coming up with an idea and using Adobe Express to help you design it. With a range of templates to choose from, it’s never been easier to create your own comic.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.