What are the copyright and intellectual property considerations for creating or distributing Countryball comic books?

Countryball characters themselves, being based on national flags and originating as a meme, generally exist in a gray area regarding copyright. The concept is largely considered public domain or community-owned. However, specific original comic strips or collections created by an individual *can* be protected by copyright. When creating and distributing Countryball comic books, it's generally safe to assume that the concept itself is free to use, but unique artistic expressions and narratives would belong to the creator. Commercial use might be more complex, requiring careful consideration of any unique elements added.