One of my favorite things to do is to draw comics. There are many methods that people use to create their comic pages and the one method that I find effective is:
    Plan > Layout > Sketch > Outline > Color

Step 1: PLAN

    It is important to plans things out. It is easier to sketch a comic page when you know exactly what goes where, who says what, and what action is occurring in the panel. Not many people like to put their precious time aside for “scripting” but you will find that “scripting” gets the hard stuff out of the way firsthand !

Let’s decide what we want our comic strip/page to be about.
How many panels do we want ?

Example:
    I want to do a four-panel comic strip about me trying to study.

    Script:

Panel One- Me sitting at my desk with an opened book in front of me. I am biting the eraser-end of a pencil as I concentrate.
Dialogue: Study, study study..

Panel Two- My expression changes, I appear to be increasingly frustrated at the opened book in front of me.

Panel Three- I have my head resting against the desk.
Dialogue: *sigh* Maybe I should rest my eyes for a minute..

Panel Four- I fall asleep.

Step 2: Layout

    The hard part is over ! Next, we sketch the layout of the comic strip. How many panels are there ? How do you want them placed ? What are the character placements?
    I decided to do a simple four-panel comic strip so I will sketch (with a ruler) four panels lightly (it is best not to press down too much since I will be erasing the pencil lines later on).
    After that, I will lightly mark down where ‘I’ will be placed in my comic and the placement of the dialogue.

Step 3: Sketch

    Now we are ready to sketch out the entire script ! Look over your script and carefully sketch out your panel-work. If you plan to color your comic strip/page without digital-means then use the ruler to make a couple of lines as ‘guides’ to write your dialogue on (we want our dialogue to look nice and neat) and go ahead and sketch a “dialogue” bubble.
Since I will color my comic strip digitally, I will lightly write down my dialogue so I know where it is and erase it later when I start coloring !

Step 4: Outline

    We’re almost done ! Next is what some artists would call “nerving,” outlining ! I recommend using the handy Uniball Micro pens. There are many different sizes that are perfect for specific areas of outlining. Otherwise, you could also use simple thin-sharpie markers. They work just as well. Some artists find outlining to be very difficult because mistakes can be easy. Keep your hand steady !
If you are not coloring your comic digitally, go ahead and write over your dialogue with your markers/pens carefully. Also outline your “dialogue bubbles” and your panels (with a ruler).
    I plan to not ink my dialogue or panels because I plan to do that digitally as I color.

After inking, erase those pesky pencil lines thoroughly.

Step 5: Color

    Coloring your comic is optional, you may choose any medium.
    Personally, I enjoy coloring my comics through Photoshop. There, I can form my panels and dialogue with better precision.

Conclusion:

    There you have it ! Be sure to date and signature your work !


With regards,
Avie