Show Us Your Favorite Comic Books
Make a mini display and short review of your favorite comic books: design covers, write summaries, and share why each comic inspires you.
About this activity
Make a mini display and short review of your favorite comic books: design covers, write summaries, and share why each comic inspires you.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather your favorite comic books and the materials from the list.
- 2
Step 2
Clear a table or floor area to use as your workspace.
- 3
Step 3
Choose 3 to 5 of your favorite comics to feature.
- 4
Step 4
Decide the order and exact spots for each comic on your cardboard or shoebox display.
- 5
Step 5
Draw and color a mini cover for each chosen comic on paper using your coloring materials.
- 6
Step 6
Cut out each mini cover carefully using scissors.
- 7
Step 7
Write a short 2 to 3 sentence summary for each comic on a sticky note or index card.
- 8
Step 8
Write one sentence on each card that explains why that comic inspires you.
- 9
Step 9
Attach the mini covers and their cards to the display base in the order you planned using glue or tape.
- 10
Step 10
Decorate your display with stickers drawings or extra details to make it eye catching.
- 11
Step 11
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I make a mini comic book display and write a short review?
Pick 3–6 favorite comics and decide whether to display originals or photocopies. Make mini covers by photocopying or scanning pages, resizing and printing them, then glue to cardstock and trim. Build stands from folded cardstock, clothespins, or a small shoebox diorama. On index cards write 2–3 sentence summaries plus one line that says why each comic inspires you. Add decorations, arrange the display, and rehearse a short oral review to share with family or class.
What materials do I need to make a mini comic book display and reviews?
You'll need comic books (or photocopies), cardstock or construction paper, a printer or copier if resizing, scissors, glue or double-sided tape, markers or colored pencils, index cards for reviews, stickers or washi tape for decoration, small clothespins or mini easels, a shoebox or cardboard for a backdrop, and clear sleeves or laminating sheets to protect covers. Optional: ruler, hole punch, string for hanging, and a tablet or camera to record the review.
What ages is this 'Show Us Your Favorite Comic Books' activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages 5–14+. Children aged 5–7 enjoy decorating, tracing covers, and dictating simple reviews with adult help for cutting or writing. Ages 8–11 can independently design mini covers, write 2–3 sentence summaries, and arrange displays. Ages 12+ can create critical short reviews, compare themes, and present to peers. Adjust complexity, provide templates for younger kids, and supervise scissors, glue, and screen use as needed.
What are the benefits, safety tips, or variations for this comic book display and review activity?
Benefits include improving reading comprehension, summarizing skills, creativity, and confidence when presenting. It builds fine motor skills through cutting and decorating and encourages critical thinking by asking why a comic inspires you. For safety, supervise scissors, adhesives, and printing; use child-safe scissors and non-toxic glue. Variations: create themed displays (heroes, humor), host a comic swap party, make a digital slideshow or video review, or adapt to graphic novels for older k
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have a shoebox, sticky notes, or glue listed in the materials?
If you don't have a shoebox for the display, substitute a piece of cardboard folded into a stand or a large file folder, use small cut pieces of paper instead of sticky notes or index cards, and secure everything with double-sided tape, a glue stick, or clear tape as described in the attach step.
My mini covers ripped or the cards keep falling off—what should I do?
If mini covers tear while cutting or cards fall off, redraw or glue each cover onto thicker paper before cutting, use a glue stick or double-sided tape instead of wet glue, and press or weight the pieces until the adhesive sets as you attach them to the display base.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger children, have an adult pre-cut the mini covers and help write one-sentence inspiration notes while they color and stick 1–2 comics, and for older kids let them feature 4–5 comics with 2–3 sentence summaries, detailed decorations, and precise placement planning on the cardboard or shoebox display.
What are simple ways to improve or personalize the finished display before sharing on DIY.org?
To enhance the finished creation, laminate or cover the mini covers with clear tape, add stickers and extra drawings per the decoration step, glue a small pocket to hold extra index-card summaries, and outline the display edges with battery-powered LED fairy lights to make it more eye-catching.