Right. So. Two questions from a newbie to webcomics/comic drawings!

First off, I'm thinking about having the first page be a large picture, fully colored and in detail. The thing is, I'm not sure if I should have my main character in it, or have her weapon in it. Not to mention the comic will be in black and white - will this first page be setting up my readers for disappointment? If so, is there a way I can change the first page seen, and still add in a large "cover" picture before the story starts?

Also with the cover, I was wondering if I should try coloring it on the computer, or with markers/colored pencils/etc. My style would look similar to this: http://zvart.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2nn067 though a bit more "darker" as the setting of my comic will have a darker tone than these characters have.

Second question!

Sound effects! I don't want to resort to using Japanese sound effects, which is what I'm use to seeing in most of the types of comics I read. The thing is, I'm not sure how to properly use English letters for things without seeming like a cartoon - which is not the tone I'm going for. :( The most used sound effect would be gun shots. Is there any references, or any suggests you all have?

Thank you so much!
MJ

It's probably best if the main character appears on the first cover. If her weapon is an important plot element that shows up early on it's a good idea to include it too, otherwise it doesn't matter matter if it's there or not but it would probably add interest. Plenty of black and white comics have full color cover images, you're not setting up anyone for disappointment here.
As for how you should color it... I confess, I'm a complete jackass when it comes to coloring.
As for sound effects, it's important to choose a letting style that's appropriate for each sound effect, also I think that louder sounds should have larger lettering. I personally prefer sound effects be lettered by hand, something like a gunshot I'd suggest being done in a angular, blocky style. As for references here's some artists that I think are great at lettering and sound effects:

Nate Powell
http://www.seemybrotherdance.org/

I also thought that the Scott Pilgrim books had some really snazzy sound effects but I'm not sure that's what you were going for. Another thing I've found helpful is just finding font styles in posters, book covers and such and trying to recreate them. Hopefully that's helpful.

Morning_Jay
First off, I'm thinking about having the first page be a large picture, fully colored and in detail. The thing is, I'm not sure if I should have my main character in it, or have her weapon in it. Not to mention the comic will be in black and white - will this first page be setting up my readers for disappointment? If so, is there a way I can change the first page seen, and still add in a large "cover" picture before the story starts?

I think there's only one rule to a cover; it should make the reader want to read your comic. Whether it's a great shot of your character, or whether it's a mysterious silhouette, color or b&w, doesn't really matter. There are very simple covers that are very compelling while detailed, color covers are boring. And then there are great color covers compared to boring, flat simplistic covers. There's no right or wrong, the only question is whether it compels the reader to want to read more. That's the one and only question to answer.