24 Hour Comics Day

What is a 24 hour comic?

The 24 hour comic challenge is for a cartoonist to completely create a 24 page comics story in 24 straight hours. A "24 hour comic" is any comics story you make while facing the challenge, even if you take more than 24 consecutively-awake hours to make the comic or if you end after 24 hours with a story that's shorter than 24 pages. For more details on the challenge, click here.

Is this really the best way to make a great comic?

Probably not (although some really cool comics have been made this way), but that's not the real goal. The goal is to have the experience of trying. It's a creative exercise that can teach you a lot about what you're capable of.

Who came up with the concept of 24 hour comic?

A cartoonist namd Scott McCloud. Scott is the leading theoretician in the comics field, a position he achieved with the release of Understanding Comics, an analysis of the comics form in the comics form. Head on over to www.ScottMcCloud.com to learn more about Scott and his insights.

How many 24 hour comics have been done?

Over 1000 people have taken the challenge so far.

Who is the youngest person to have drawn a 24 hour comic?

Duncan Lowell, who took the challenge at age seven during the first 24 Hour Comics Day in 2004.

What is 24 Hour Comics Day?

It's a celebration of creation of 24 hour comics. The first day was held in 2004, and a second is scheduled for 2005. This is a day when people are encouraged to create 24 hour comics. Some folks gather at the official event sites to work on comics side by side, while other folks work on their stories at home alone or in private gatherings. Many of the official event sites are open for the public to come and watch the effort.

So, if I want to do a 24 hour comic, I have to do it on 24 Hour Comics Day?

No! Hundreds of folks did 24 hour comics before there ever was a 24 Hour Comics Day! Whenever you feel moved to do one and have 24 hours to spend, do it. The "Day" is just a good time for doing them in groups. Also, many people who have always wanted to do a 24 hour comic find it's good to have that one scheduled day to keep them from just putting it off.

My friend and I want to work on a 24 hour comic together...

No, you don't. If you and a friend do a comic together, that's not a 24 hour comic. A 24 hour comic is one person's work, making it more of a marathon effort. But... so what?! If you and a friend want to spend 24 straight hours together collaborating on a comic, great! Do it! In fact, many of the 24 Hour Comics Day event sites have folks working on collaborative comics, as well as other people doing their own thing in an atmmosphere of creativity.

Where can I go to read 24 hour comics?

Lots of folks post their 24 hour comics on their websites. And there are now books collecting some fine examples of 24 hour comics.