20 Webcomic Starter Ideas: Sustainable Series Concepts
Start your webcomic with a sustainable premise. These 20 ideas are designed for ongoing series—easy to begin, flexible enough to continue indefinitely.
The best webcomic premises are sustainable—easy to generate new episodes while maintaining reader interest. These 20 ideas are designed for the long haul.
Workplace Series
1. The Night Shift
Employees at a 24-hour establishment—convenience store, hospital, diner. Each shift brings new customers, new problems, and ongoing workplace dynamics.
2. The Agency
A creative agency, law firm, or detective business. Client-of-the-week structure with ongoing character development and office politics.
3. The Support Team
Technical support, customer service, or help desk. Each call is a self-contained story; the team dynamics carry episode to episode.
4. The Unusual Business
A very specific business that generates varied situations—pet psychologist, professional mourner, monster exterminator. The specificity creates comedy and story.
Living Situation Series
5. The Roommates
Incompatible roommates making it work. Domestic situations generate endless material; character relationships can deepen over years.
6. The Building
Residents of an apartment building. Each episode can focus on different residents or interactions. Large cast means no single character must carry every strip.
7. The Family
A family across generations. Grandparents, parents, kids, pets. Holidays, milestones, and daily chaos provide structure.
8. The Household
A household that’s slightly unusual—haunted, magical, cross-dimensional. Normal domestic situations plus supernatural complications.
School and Learning Series
9. The Academy
Students at a school for something specific—magic, monsters, superheroes, extremely niche careers. Academic structure provides built-in progression.
10. The Study Group
Students navigating education together. Tests, papers, and social dynamics create episodic and ongoing stories.
11. The Mentor
Someone learning from a mentor. Each lesson can be self-contained while the relationship deepens and the student grows.
Hobby and Interest Series
12. The Club
Members of a club pursuing a hobby—gaming, crafting, collecting, competing. The hobby generates episodes; the friendships create continuity.
13. The Shop
Customers and employees at a specialty shop. Each customer brings a story; the staff provides continuity.
14. The Competition
Ongoing competition in a specific field—cooking, gaming, sports, art. Each round or match is an episode; rankings and rivalries persist.
Genre Series
15. The Monster-of-the-Week
A format where each episode features a new creature, mystery, or challenge. Team dynamics and overarching mystery provide continuity.
16. The Patrol
Characters who patrol an area—superheroes, security guards, paranormal investigators. Each patrol finds new situations.
17. The Tavern
A fantasy tavern where adventurers gather. Each episode can feature new adventurers or follow regulars. Built-in excuse for storytelling.
18. The Afterlife
Characters navigating an afterlife—processing, adjustment, what comes next. Endless new arrivals and ongoing relationships.
Experimental Series
19. The Anthology with Hosts
An anthology format with recurring host characters who introduce diverse stories. Flexibility of anthology, continuity of hosts.
20. The Journal
A character’s ongoing journal or diary. Intimate format that can cover any topic. Natural voice for commentary and observation.
Sustainable Webcomic Design
Plan for flexibility: Choose premises that can expand, contract, or shift as you learn what works.
Build in variety: Premises that allow both standalone episodes and ongoing arcs give you options.
Start with what you know: Premises connected to your interests and experience are easier to sustain.
Leave room to grow: Don’t define everything upfront. Discovering your world alongside readers creates investment.
Launch Your Webcomic
Ready to start a sustainable series? Multic’s platform supports ongoing projects with tools for planning, publishing, and building audience—everything you need for the long haul.
Related: Series Planning Guide and Update Schedule Mistakes