What Is Hourly Comics Day?
Hourly Comics Day is a yearly event on February 8th where people around the world draw a comic panel or page for every hour they are awake. Anyone can participate, but the event is very popular in the English-speaking indie comics world.
2026's edition is the 20th anniversary of the event!
What Do I Need To Participate?
All you need is a pen, paper, and you! Substitute pens and paper with your tools of choice.
Why The Date Change?
HCD was previously observed on February 1st. February is also recognized as Black History Month in many places. In prior years, Black cartoonists have noted that when social media and blogs are saturated with posts from non-Black cartoonists focusing on their daily lives, it can make the first day of this important month feel like an afterthought. And so, the suggestion was made to move Hourly Comic Day so both Black History Month and HCD are celebrated without dividing attention each other.
How Did HCD Start?
Hourly Comics Day began as a personal project by Simone Veil, creator of Pictures for Sad Children, on January 1st, 2006. Since then, the creative challenge has gone on to become a much beloved annual event. In 2026, the Cartoonist Cooperative preserved the website and began hosting the domain thanks to volunteer efforts and donations, supporting the website's continuation for years to come.
Who Can Run A HCD Event?
Anyone! No one owns Hourly Comic Day. Regardless of if you're a seasoned professional or someone who thinks drawing a comic might be fun, anyone can gather a group of like-minded individuals to draw comics together. Your event doesn’t necessarily have to be on the 8th either (the 8th isn’t always on a weekend!), we simply ask that you share your work publicly on or after the 8th out of respect for Black History Month celebrations.