I used illustrator to make my comic Etoile a few years back. I admit when I first started using illustrator I didn't like it but I saw it as a challenge and now it's my preferred medium! (you can see more of my art at my tumblr) I love how smooth and clean it can be and it really helped me improve my art. Photoshop does have the pen tool to let you create vexel art as well.
I use illustrator for my panels and wordbubbles, but I do the art in a mix of traditional and photoshop.In my opinion, Illustrator is great for design stuff but I don't like drawing in it.
You need like 10. To get in you need to submit 10 illustrations and at least one has to get through (used to be 6)
