While one would not notice it from a single comic, the writing of sprite comics and drawn comics both have their own unique flavor. Because sprite comics use low-resolution images anyone could see in a game, and due to the constant reuse of the same positions, sprite comics need to maintain high-caliber, humorous, easy to follow scripts in order to gain recognition (see 8-Bit Theater), while drawn comics can have a horribly uninteresting, ridiculous and contrived plots with hackneyed jokes and gags—sometimes none at all—but still remain popular due solely to quality art (see Superman). Due to sprites’ origins, sprite comics rarely have original characters, usually using the characters from the game the sprites came from, though generally giving them new (or slightly tweaked), more comical personalities (see Get Blue Spheres). Because of this, most sprite comics are fan-fictions, sometimes even reenacting the events of a game in a comedic way (see Pokémon-X). Also, due to lack of utilizable poses, few sprite comics take on a serious nature (see The Fortuna Saga), usually relying simply on comedy with a slight plot (see Spright Komak).

Another difference is the influences from the comics. Due to copyrights, sprite comics are confined to the Internet. There they create large cult followings, forming sub-groups, inside jokes, and references in other sprite comics, Flashes, and signatures on bulletin boards. Unfortunately, again due to legal restraints, all merchandise must be original art, so characters can’t be on a shirt in their sprited form. Also, if the comic were ever to outsource to other mediums, such as television or movies, it could not do so as sprites (unless, of course, if the original source allows it). Drawn comics, unlike sprite comics, which have only appeared in recent years, have been around forever. Thus they have had time to leak into a variety of places, including newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and book-collections. Because of their high availability, knowledge of drawn comics is wide spread among the populace. While a character stating “I like swords” on a sitcom would cause quite some confusion, a proclamation of “Good grief” would be rather accepted. Indeed, the original Marvel and DC superhero comics have had a plethora of spin-offs and merchandise, including action figures, video games, board games, tabletop RPGs, t-shirts, Halloween costumes, TV shows, movies, and even other comics. Anyone would recognize Archie Andrews, but few would know who Psyguy is. Lastly, the Otaku community holds in high regards manga (Japanese comics), of which there are hundreds, and they span many genres, from fantasy to science fiction and beyond. Most book retailers even have an entire section for them.

The last difference I’m going to discuss here is that of the general public’s opinion. Many people dislike sprite comics, claiming the makers are just too lazy to draw, that using sprites is stealing other’s art, and that a majority of sprite comics are low-quality and for the most part unreadable. Supporters argue that some people simply cannot draw, that most comics give credit to the companies, and while many sprite comics are horrible, there is also a gigantic list of great ones. Many people also prefer sprite comics to drawn comics, finding it easier to differentiate characters since most poses look extremely similar, and that the characters are easily recognizable because they look exactly as they do in their games.

These are but a few differences in a vast ocean of variance, with the real scope equal to that of cartoons and live action shows. But, while they have many differences, sprite comics and drawn comics, along with their creators, are also very similar, and the two can unite under a single community, with the only real difference being style of art.