Dear reader,

Who of us at some point in our life, whether when we were very young or even today when some of us are older, hasn’t had or wished for an imaginary friend? Someone to share our deepest thoughts and jokes with, our heartaches and happy moments.   I even read recently about a man who when he was little looked upon the wall near his bed as an imaginary friend and would talk to it.  The shape of the ‘’friend’’ just didn’t matter.  All that mattered was having a friend to share and confide in.

Imaginary friends can come in all sizes and shapes as you can see from the new set of imaginary friends whom we asked Eric Carlton, one of MakeBeliefs’ wonderful cartoonists, to draw for you to play with. (Eric also drew the popular Sock Puppets and Munster-Funster series.)

Which of his new characters shown here might you want to have as an imaginary friend?  And, do you have a name for them?  I particularly love the little doggie – he or she or it really gets to me and is hungry for a hug. You can choose as many imaginary friends as you wish for your comic stories. Exchange ideas with the characters, and let them even ask you questions to draw out the things on your mind. Such friends can be very wise and offer us positive feedback. Let the comic strips you create convey the actual conversations you and your imaginary friend have. It is up to you whether or not you want to share these with others. Start using them for your comics on the Create Comix!  Then click on the Imaginary Friends icon in the top tray at the bottom to view the characters.

Here are a few things you can do with these new-found friends for your comic strip stories:

• Start a dialogue in which you share a dream you had, and what it may mean. Maybe the imaginary friend can help explain it or share one of its own
• Express a fear or nightmare you have had
• Share a worry or problem
• Do you or your imaginary friend feel lonely at times?
• For a dialogue, one character asks, ‘’Do you love me?’’ and the imaginary friend answers
• What’s on your mind? Share
• Talk about the time you told a lie or someone told one to you
• Let your imaginary friend teach you something
• Share something good that happened to you recently
• Is there something you feel sad about? Tell your friend
• Talk about hope or dream you have
• Talk about your other best friend or someone you love or admire
• Who is your hero?  What makes them so special?
• Question your imaginary friend about their own life
• Tell your favorite story to your imaginary friend
• What are you proud of? What goal have you accomplished or hope to achieve?
• Tell a joke, with one of you starting it and the other finishing it?
• Talk about something you hate or feel strongly about
• Exchange ideas on favorite foods
• Favorite toy
• Favorite ice cream flavor
• The best day in your life
• Your best ride in the amusement park
• How you feel about other family members
• A comic about a mistake you made and what you learned from it
• Trouble in school, or better yet, success in school
• Talk about what’s in your heart. When were you courageous?
• Whom do you want to forgive?
• What makes you happy?
• Did someone ever bully you or make fun of you?  How does your imaginary friend deal with bullies?
• Tell about a funny thing that happened to you

Your comic with an imaginary friend character(s) can be anything you want it to be.  Just have fun with it and see how your friendship develops.  We welcome your feedback on our new characters, as well as your suggestions or sketches for future ones.  Send them to billz@makebeliefscomix.com; please include your name and email address.   Have fun and please share your new imaginary friends with your real friends and family!

Sincerely,
Bill Zimmerman
Creator, MakeBeliefsComix