make a terrible comic day is observed on june 24 of every year, from now until there is no one left to observe it. we observe make a terrible comic day by making a terrible comic. if you are aware of the existence of make a terrible comic day (and by reading this text, you have been made aware), your participation in its observance is mandatory.
make a terrible comic day was first observed in 2024. On June 23, 2024, comic artist Darryl Ayo posted the following advice to fellow artists: "Make a bunch of terrible comics that even you don't like. Keep doing it until they become less terrible" (link). In response, comic artist Emma Elliott jokingly claimed that the following day was Make A Terrible Comic day (link). She then hastily drew a terrible comic of her own explaining the concept of the day and posted the comic shortly before midnight (link). A lot of people participated that first year, so Emma decided to do it again the following year.
make a terrible comic day has a low barrier of entry by design. It is meant to welcome the new artist to experiment with sequential art without the pressure of creating something polished. It challenges experienced comic artists to take a step back from their work and make something first and foremost for the joy of making it, and not to create something to be widely consumed. It is intended to be the start of a habit.
traditionally, comics made on make a terrible comic day are shared on social media. for ease of reference, the same tag is used across all social media sites: "makeaterriblecomicday"+"[the current year]". if you would like others to view your terrible comic, it is recommended that you use this tag. the social aspect is part of the fun for many participants, but sharing your work is not required.
If you find a comic that someone made enjoyable or interesting, it is recommended that you leave a comment to that effect and share it with others.
what is make a terrible comic day?
make a terrible comic day is a day where we all make a comic. here, "we all" means literally everyone, because participation in make a terrible comic day is mandatory for everyone who knows about make a terrible comics day, which now includes you. A lack of experience is no excuse -- and in terms of making a terrible comic it's a head start.
is participation in make a terrible comic day really mandatory?
yes.
what happens if i do not participate in make a terrible comic day? is there's a punish ment? what are you going to do to me huh are you going to hurt me? Are you gonna physically assault me or something? You think you're so big?
wow ok hold on
I will not "hold on," you tell me right now what are the consequences of not observing this so-called mandatory art holiday
look it's fine, there are no consequences. it's just supposed to be fun. It's only "mandatory" in the sense of giving people a concrete deadline so they're not like "ok I'll make it tomorrow" and then they never do. The "mandatory" thing is a joke, but one I'd like you to play along with.
For the purposes of make a terrible comic day, what constitutes a "comic"?
What a fantastic question. Traditionally, a comic is some juxtaposition of images and text, presented with some sort of sequentiality as to convey meaning -- but all of this is negotiable. For the purposes of make a terrible comic day, a comic is something you make when you make something with the intent of it being a comic. (In short, "follow your heart.")
What should i make a terrible comic about
You tell me. Literally whatever you want
I'm going to make my comic an hour-by-hour log of everything I've done today
I mean. That's really more of an "Hourly Comic Day" thing, but like. You do you. We encourage short-form work so you're less likely to give up partway through, but there are no guidelines for the form or content of your terrible comic. Make what you want and try to enjoy the process of making it.
I can't make a comic. I can't draw.
That is incorrect. If you can make a mark on a surface, you can make a comic. Join the long lineage of humans conveying meaning through stick figures and talking shapes. Take photos and put text over them. Trace your hand and draw faces on the fingers. Creatively arrange emoji. I truly believe you can do this.
Can I use AI to generate a comic?
Shut up. Fuck you. Get away from me before I physically assault you, this time I'm serious. Fuck you. Your ancestors are ashamed of you. Be a fucking human and make something
thank you for your interest in make a terrible comic day! please direct any further inquiries to highpriestessemma@pseudonymjones.com
terrible comic resources.
add'l comics reading.
webpage hand-typed into notepad++ by ♡emma