my #1 go-to art program. it's particularly good for comic artists. as of now there are options for both a one-time perpetual license purchase and for monthly subscriptions. i've got a perpetual EX license. the base PRO version has everything most people need, i would only recommend upgrading to the EX version if you plan on animating/printing books or would like to conduct in-software group projects.
KRITA is a free art program. while i haven't used it much, it is extremely robust and you can do great stuff in it. probably best for people who prefer working in painterly styles. has has a very different layout compared to a lot of other art programs, but if you take the time to learn it then it can be a good friend to you.
program for making sprites and pixel art. extremely helpful for anyone looking to make those things. i do not make pixel art or sprites very often, but it's come in extremely handy for the few times i have made those. PRICE: $20 perpetual license.
allows you to create and export fonts. it is a free program, but it runs on donations, so i would recommend donating if you can. useful if you'd like to make a font based on your handwriting for comics.
ALIENMELON'S ELECTRIC ZINE MAKER
free program that helps in making zines. i would highly recommend it for beginners. i used a template from it to create this zine.
free tracker music software. tracker softwares are laid out and work a bit differently from DAWs like FL Studio, so be mindful. OpenMPT is a very powerful little thing, and i would recommend it to anyone trying to get into creating music.
free DAW music software. this has a more familiar layout to people who are used to programs like FL Studio.