INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pour the water into an empty, clean aquarium or fish tank. Measure out the right amount based on the number of Triops you currently have or expect to have after hatching. Use natural spring water, which has calcium to help the animals grow.  You can also use tap water, as long as it’s been treated to remove all chlorine, which is toxic to Triops. Do not use mineral or distilled water. The mineral level in mineral water is too high, whereas distilled water doesn’t have enough calcium for the Triops. Because Triops need warm water to hatch and thrive, set a lamp over the top of the tank to maintain a mild water temperature. Position either a fluorescent or incandescent light about 12 inches (30 cm) above the water.  Put an aquarium thermometer in the tank to monitor the water temperature. If the tank is sitting somewhere in the sun or in a warm room, you may not need the light to heat the water. Line the tank with soil, gravel, or sand so the Triops can dig around. Fill the bottom with about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of your chosen substrate to protect any larvae and prevent the Triops from mistaking the eggs for a snack.  You can buy the substrate at a pet store or from an online retailer. Wash the substrate with plain tap water before putting it in the tank to remove any potential chemicals or dirt. While Triops don’t require any plants or extra items, like large stones or fake castles, in their tank, you can put some in if you’d like it to look more appealing. Only use plants or decorations that are safe for aquarium use, however, so you don’t accidentally poison the Triops. Never put things you find in nature, like a rock or a log, in the tank as they can contain harmful bacteria. To keep the water fresh, replace about 1/4 of it on a weekly basis. Scoop it out with a cup or bucket, then pour clean, natural spring water in. Be careful not to scoop up the Triops with it! Do not use soap when cleaning your tank. It’s poisonous to Triops.

SUMMARY: Fill a tank with .5 to 1 gallon (1.9 to 3.8 L) of natural spring water per Triops. Place a heat lamp above the tank to keep the water between 72 and 84 °F (22 and 29 °C). Add substrate to the tank if you'd like to recreate their natural habitat. Choose plants carefully if you want to add decoration. Change out about 25% of the water in the tank once a week.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: amusing tale or skits for your comic. Come up with a joke you want to share with the world. Scribbling down some basic dialogue for your characters may be helpful. Make use of subjects that interest you and what you find funny, then try to fit it into your own sense of humor.  A lot of literary work comes from personal experience. Your past may be rich with stories you can tell. You can also put yourself in new situations to get more inspiration. For example, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes is about a boy and his stuffed tiger. Scott Adams’s Dilbert lampoons office culture. Ask yourself what age group your comic is meant for. Complicated jokes are more appropriate for teens and adults, for instance. Tone down the joke if you’re writing for children. Before setting pencil to paper, make a final decision about your comic’s subject matter. This is very important since it determines how you design the rest of your comic. Select a scenario that is easy for you to imagine. It may not seem laugh out loud hilarious yet, but it can be a good starting point. Even ideas that seem insignificant at first can turn out to be very funny. For example, imagine drawing a child pretending to be Superman. You can take this concept in many different directions. Once you have settled on the story you want to tell, think of who you need in the comic to tell it. Most short comics involve a limited number of characters, usually less than 3 or 4 at a time. The comic’s story can be driven by the personalities of a few characters and how they interact.  You do not need to have multiple characters. For instance, picture a child blowing bubble gum until it pops all over her. Her actions and reaction, driven by her personality, create the humor. If your comic is short, having a lot of characters can be overwhelming and obscure the writing. Keep your comic simple so it stays funny. Ask yourself what your characters are doing. You should have a basic idea of this from brainstorming funny ideas earlier. Expand on your idea before beginning to draw. Any characters you use should contribute to the joke presented in your comic.  This may help you come up with more amusing situations or dialogue. Take into account the character’s personality. Keep their actions true to their character. The reason doesn’t have to be complex, but it does keep the humor cohesive. For example, a child may dress up as a Superhero because superheroes are fun and they want to fly. The setting may be a very important part of your joke. If this is the case, you will need to draw the setting into your panel. Close your eyes and try to imagine your characters in the location you chose. You should be able to see the background and any important plot details you need to draw in.  If your character visits a zoo, for example, plan on drawing cages, animals, and possibly walkways and other scenery. If your comic can take place anywhere, having a specific setting isn’t necessary. Many black and white comics use a white background. Color comics keep the background an unobtrusive color like blue. Think about when your comic takes place. The time of day, season, or year may not make a difference in some situations. For others, it can be very important. Many comics are funny because they address present-day issues that readers relate to. Also, your choice of time period can affect your comic’s background.  For instance, a comic set in autumn looks different than one set in summer. Instead of a bright, radiant sun, you may end up drawing piles of leaves. For example, Hagar the Horrible is about a viking. The setting is the Middle Ages, so you won’t see cars, vending machines, skyscrapers, or computers laying around. Most funny stories can be told within 3 or 4 individual panels. Each panel gives you space to tell a part of the joke. The first panel sets up a situation, the second panel shows what happens, and the last panel explains what happens, completing the joke.  Many short comics have a 3-act structure, similar to lots of books and plays. Having a beginning, middle, and end is a simple, classic way to arrange comics. Not all comics are in this format. Many good comics are 1 panel, such as those printed in magazines like The New Yorker and Women’s World. Comics can also be much longer than 4 panels.

SUMMARY:
Brainstorm Choose a topic for your comic. Determine who will be in your comic. Come up with a reason why your characters are in the comic. Establish where the comic takes place. Choose a time period for the comic to take place in. Plot out how you will tell your story in a comic format.