The Tools

It's fun to use specialty software, but you can use tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Publisher if you don't have Comic Life. Also, think about open source tools such as OpenOffice.

If you're using PowerPoint, simply paste in your photos. Then choose a thick line and you'll have a nice frame around your comic. You can use the Autoshapes to locate call-outs to use as speech bubbles.

Software Tools

• Animation-ish. Draw pictures and make animations. Available for both Mac and Windows
• Comic Book Creator. Available for Windows.
• Comic Life. Available for both Mac and Windows - FAVORITE

Online Tools

• Build Your Own Comic from the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Create your own comic using their backgrounds and characters. Just add your own balloons. Intended to print and color.
• Disney's Comic Creator. Choose among four characters and a single panel cartoon.
• Garfield's Comic Creator. One of my favorite online tools, this comic strip builder uses Garfield characters and also lets you create your own. *
• Kabam! Comic Creator. From the Center for Disease Control, this tool lets you tell a story. Unfortunately the developer doesn't have much control.
• Kiddonet
• Make Your Own Graphix from Scholastic. Make comics using a set of characters, objects, and settings.
• MakeBeliefsComix. One of my favorite tools, this website provides characters with different emotions and the option for 2, 3, or 4 panels. Great tool for all games to make simple comic strips. - FAVORITE
• Pixton - Make simple comics. Great for schools. - FAVORITE
• Scholastic's Captain Underpant
• ReadWriteThink Cartoon Creator. Make a comic strip using a set of visuals

Social Networks and Comic Creators for All Ages (potential for inappropriate content)

• Bubblir!
• Strip Generator
• ToonDoo
• Toonlet

Cartoon and Caption Creators

• PicBite - choose a picture and add a caption
• Picture History - choose image, write about it and email
• Picture Poetry - choose picture and write a caption
• Captioner - choose picture and add a caption

Comic Sharing

• ComicArt School. Learn about comics and share.
• HyperComics. Publish your own comics online.

Let's have some fun! Start by exploring the tools at Garfield's Comic Creator. Then compare these tools to one of the other options such as MakeBeliefsComix or Make Your Own Graphix from Scholastic. Which do you like best? Why?
Develop a standards-based activity using a comic creator.
Design a collaborative activity asking students to take on the role of the characters.

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