Getting back into it

[okellymx]

I haven't created a personal comic in a while. Now drawing has felt more like a chore, I'm doing quite a few commissions and need to do something I want. I was thinking about getting back into making my own comics so I'd actually love what I'm doing and not just someone else's orders. The problem is I'm worried about how everything will turn out or if I'm wasting my time or if anyone would bother with it. Typical artist fear thoughts. I'll be starting off with some oneshots.

Here are some concepts, I hope you like it.

[MidZM]

The ideas are cool and the art is extremely well made, though in my personal opinion the comic concepts seem a little overdone to me (Magic girls with magic abilities/powers), although that's just me .
Also that character on the top looks almost EXACTLY like Terra from the original Teen Titans TV show.

Not sure if that was intentional?

[emkay]

I really like the Lightning Girls concept art! Is there anything else about them, like their personalities, powers, what kind of universe they live in?

[okellymx]

Concept ideas being overdone is irrelevant to me as the execution is what matters not necessarily the idea. These aren't magical girls like Sailor moon if that's what you're thinking of.

I will die if someone else says that looks like Terra. Maybe because it is in black and white, people want to think it is Terra. She was based off of Max Goof and King of Fighters characters; Leona & Rock Howard.

Anyway thanks for the comments.

[MidZM]

Hair part on the right, long hair, a top, slender body, those gloves, and oddly enough the eyes are the problem there (Mostly the gloves). While I'm sure in color she may look different, but If you do make a oneshot/comic about that character I would suggest an overhaul in design otherwise you'll end up like @60Six, and want to kill everyone who makes the comparison to said character (And because of TTG their may be quite a few)

[Kayke]

The proportions in the character line up seem a bit off if everyone is supposed to be of the species/style. I think the size of Alicia's head is what's making it really noticeable, but if would be worth your time to go in and figure out how tall everyone is in comparison to the other characters, lock down their body sizes, and standardize things a little.

And I'm on the same page with lanky geomancer girl wearing a crop top and big gloves making me think of Terra.

From a writing standpoint, if you're looking to practice doing one shots you might want to choose a concept with a smaller cast and a finite plot. It takes a long time to properly introduce 7 characters.

[okellymx]

Well, that ruined my day.

[okellymx]

For Lightning Girls, these aren't character designs though. It was just a concept of the overall comic to get my ideas across.

I wasn't disagreeing that she didn't look similar to Terra but I think it is a bit of a stretch. Her eyes are completely different shapes, has two different sized gloves and she has ears like Goofy. I'm not going to debate whether or not she does or not look like Terra as I already said what character she was based on.

The cast of the girls isn't a problem because the series itself is a series of one-shots, so not all the girls will be introduced at the same time.

[okellymx]

I don't have in-depth character descriptions or personalities yet, just a few traits. Their pictures symbolize those.
Alicia loves to horde candy for when she is hungry.
Leah loves acting and impersonating people(disguises).
Rose sleeps a lot.
Isabella is strong and like a mother to the girls.
Himari is shy and doesn't like making eye contact.
Penelope does whatever she wants.

I have other one-shots that will be finished before these ones for manga competitions.

[60Six]

Try to not let comparisons get you too down! You could have the most unique character in the world and you'll still get some comparison eventually, no matter how much of a stretch.
All the images seem to have disappeared since then, but I even made a topic about this once, and even without the images, I'm sure you can imagine some of the stretches people make with comparing characters.
Unfortunately, comparisons are just one of the annoyances that comes with the territory. Nothing's really gonna stop it and you shouldn't let it get you too down because it's just gonna happen, just like people complaining about things like paywalls or slow updates.
Like @MidZM said, I have one character that falls victim to this a lot but I recognize most people don't make the comparison with ill intention. It's annoying and a little disheartening, but short of a few people that have flat out accused me of stealing the design (these are the only people that actually make me angry), nobody's intention is to make me feel bad. She's still a character I love and am proud of, it's just a coincidence she happens to look like someone else. That doesn't mean I didn't work hard on her, just as I'm sure the fact your character shares a few traits with Terra doesn't mean you didn't put a lot of thought into her.

[okellymx]

Them looking like the character isn't what annoys me or people thinking it, it is how them looking like the character becomes the focus rather than the actual work itself. So, in other words, I don't want to talk about it anymore because it is irrelevant to the original post. I don't want this post to fill up with how she looks like Terra. Oh and me being down was referring to the suggestion of rehauling a character design because people think it slightly looks like someone else.

[SleepingPoppy]

The problem is I'm worried about how everything will turn out or if I'm wasting my time or if anyone would bother with it.

You said you want to make a comic because you want to do something you'll love, so that right there proves it wouldn't be a waste of time. The concept art is quite cute, though it's hard to know what the comic itself would look like from character stills. But I like what I do see. I'm sure you'll make something great!

At any rate, you're not going to know how it will turn out without giving it a try.

[Kura]

She was based off of Max Goof and King of Fighters characters; Leona & Rock Howard.

I don't know why that is such a friggen cool concept/combo to me haha. I actually really enjoy her design personally (Sorry to touch on that topic again)

When I went from commissions to comics is a lot more relaxing for me, even though I had to do a LOT more work to get even close to the same amount of funds I would get off them. I just find working on commissions so robotic and empty, even though the commissioners are usually really really happy with them. I duno, it's just a lot more... liberating working on your own stuff.

So I say go for it, you're not going to know how it'll turn out unless you try, and if it doesn't work out don't look at it as a waste of time, it's all experience.

[okellymx]

I duno, it's just a lot more... liberating working on your own stuff.

Probably right. Maybe I just forgotten it has been a while.

[okellymx]

You're right but that didn't stop me from doubting myself.

[SleepingPoppy]

You're right but that didn't stop me from doubting myself.

The absolute worst thing that will happen is that you learn more about making comics and sequential art. That's the end of the world worst case scenario. Anxiety is kind of a beast, because it doesn't necessarily care about the reality of the situation, but please don't let that stop you from doing what you want. Artists gotta art!

[mechafeedalert]

I think you shouldn't listen to anyone that can't even do proper drawings.

Secondly, there's millions of people with the same hairstyle. Even those edgy alternative style tumblr artists have basically share the same wardrobe/hairstyles. Like their characters all went to the same barber shop in Brooklyn or subscribe to the same mainstream alt fashion tips tumblr, thinking how cool and different and cool they are.
So i don't have problems with your hairstyle.

I think overall the character design is okay. Just the gloves may seem a bit off-putting. Also you need to spot your blacks more consistently it's just the style makes it more apparent when you don't do that. I too have problem with black spotting myself.

As for the proportion I think youre not drawing to 1:1 scale for each character so I don't think there's any problem there.

As for how good the comic will be, that'll depends on your execution.