JensK's DUNCE Brushes: 25+ Rough Sketch…: is this $5 stack worth it for Comics & Graphic Novels?

If your ink lines look too clean, your shading feels sterile, or your comic pages just don’t have that gritty, hand-drawn energy you’re chasing, you’re probably fighting against the default Procreate brushes. They’re smooth. They’re predictable. They’re not yours. JensK’s DUNCE Brushes exists to break that polish. Built specifically for the expressive, rough style of award-winning Norwegian comic artist Jens K Styve, this $5 pack isn’t just a collection of random textures; it’s a toolkit for artists who want their digital work to feel like it was pulled off a sketchbook page. If you’ve been trying to replicate that messy, dry-brush look in Procreate 4 and ending up with muddy blobs or overly smooth gradients, this set is a direct answer to that frustration.

Quick answer

What you’re actually buying

At $5, you’re not just getting a few generic “sketch” brushes; you’re getting a curated ecosystem designed to work together. The core of the JensK DUNCE brush set revolves around three main pillars: rough ink, dry shading, and flat color. You get dedicated versions of every major tool in both a textured “rough” mode and a “pure black” hard-edge mode. This is a massive time-saver for comic workflows. You can sketch and ink with the gritty, broken-up DUNCE INK or DUNCE DIRTY brushes, then switch to the DUNCE INK black version for clean, flat coloring or newspaper-print style layouts without changing your line weight or pressure settings.

The set goes deeper than just line art. You get specific tools for the details that make a comic page pop: DUNCE SPLATTER for dramatic ink flicks, DUNCE POLKA DOTS (eight different screen tone variations) for adding texture to backgrounds, and DUNCE SHADER for those dry, scratchy shading effects that are notoriously hard to fake with a standard pencil brush. There are also DUNCE PAINTER brushes for broader, textured fills and DUNCE LETTER pens for rough hand-lettering. It’s a complete pipeline for a specific aesthetic, not just a random assortment of textures. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

The bonus content is where the value really spikes. Along with the main 25+ brushes, you get the XMAS MAGIK MESSY INKER set (15+ optimized brushes) and the PINKLEY Pressure brush from the seller’s other packs. That means you’re effectively getting 40+ distinct brush behaviors for the price of a coffee. Plus, the listing includes JensK DUNCE COLOR swatches, giving you a pre-mixed palette that complements the rough, desaturated vibe of the brushes. If you’re building a comic strip or a graphic novel page, having the line, shade, tone, and color all pre-tuned to match each other saves hours of tweaking. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Why it’s on our radar

This pack stands out because it solves a very specific problem: consistency in a “messy” style. Most brush packs give you a lot of variety but little cohesion. This set is dedicated to one artist’s specific visual language, which means every brush—from the DUNCE PENCIL to the DUNCE ERASER—is calibrated to work with the others. It’s rare to find a $5 product that includes both the textured versions and the flat black counterparts for every single tool; that dual-mode approach is a workflow accelerator that most competitors don’t offer at this price point. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

The fact that it’s built for Procreate 4 and includes free lifetime updates is also a strong signal. The seller, GeorgBrush.club, has a catalog of 2,000+ brushes, which suggests these aren’t one-off experiments but refined tools that have been tested in real comic production. If you’re working on a project that needs to look “hand-made” but with the efficiency of digital, this is a low-risk, high-reward addition to your library. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

What actually matters

Before you hit buy, check your Procreate version. The listing specifies Procreate 4, so if you’re on an older version or a different tablet OS, these files won’t import correctly. Confirm that your device meets the minimum requirements for Procreate 4 to avoid a frustrating installation process. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Second, look at the brush count vs. utility. You’re getting 25+ core brushes, but many come in pairs (rough + black). Ask yourself if you actually need the flat black versions. If you only do sketching and never do flat color or print-ready work, you might be paying for brushes you’ll rarely use. However, if you do full comic pages, the black versions are essential for clean inking and coloring. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Finally, consider the style fit. These brushes are designed for a “rough,” “messy,” and “dry” aesthetic. If your work is hyper-realistic, clean line art, or digital painting with soft gradients, this pack will fight your style. It’s a tool for a specific look: expressive, gritty, and hand-drawn. If that’s your vibe, it’s a perfect match. If not, look elsewhere. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Mid-check

If you’re ready to test the grittiness of these brushes on your next comic page, you can See current options to confirm the latest version and any new bonuses before checkout.

FAQ

Do these brushes work with Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity?

Yes. The listing mentions PINKLEY Pressure and notes that you can adjust the StreamLine setting to fit your technique. The brushes are designed to respond to pressure for natural line weight variation, which is critical for the “messy ink” look. You can also use them as smudge tools to maintain a consistent texture. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Can I use these brushes for erasing?

Yes. The FAQ section explicitly states that all brushes can be used as an eraser as well as a smudge tool. This is a huge plus for comic artists who want to maintain the same rough texture when removing lines or shading, rather than switching to a clean, smooth eraser that can look out of place. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Are there tutorials included?

The listing points to a FAQ and step-by-step tutorials for downloading and installing the brushes. While it may not be a full video course, having installation guides is crucial for Procreate brush packs, as importing files can sometimes be tricky for new users. Check the seller’s page for the latest tutorial links. (JensK’s DUNCE Brushes: 25+)

Bottom line

If you’re a comic artist or illustrator who wants to achieve that raw, hand-drawn look without spending hours tweaking brush settings, JensK’s DUNCE Brushes is a no-brainer at $5. It’s a cohesive, style-specific toolkit that covers line, shade, tone, and color, with the added bonus of flat black versions for clean workflows. The free lifetime updates and bonus brush sets make it an even stronger value. If your current brushes feel too smooth and your pages lack that gritty energy, this is the pack to add to your library.