Which is better for Illustration/Comics? (I can't get both...)

I like both, but haven't used Illustrator in a long time so it's hard to say how it is now...but I do have Photoshop and is the one I've used for the past several years. Photoshop can easily handle illustration, etc as well.

Photoshop is probably your best bet, but it depends on how you plan on using the software. If you are going to draw the comics by hand, scan them in, and then edit them digitally I would say definitely get Photoshop. If you plan to do the entire creation and drawing process digitally you might find it easier to draw the initial characters in Illustrator, but, with some patience and creativity you can draw in Photoshop too. Also, Photoshop will allow you a greater variety of effects and greater ease of color manipulation once you've got the basic character rendered, whether it be by manually drawing it and scanning it in or by drawing it on the computer.

When you say you can only get one of the programs I am assuming you mean because of the price of the software. I don't know if you're a student or not, but be aware that there are student software packages (which are just as powerful as the professional versions) that are priced MUCH lower than the professional versions. Last month I purchased the entire student version of the Adobe CS2 Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, plus Acrobat 7 and Dreamweaver at my college's bookstore for $400. Seperate versions of each individual program were also available, but I didn't check the prices on those. You can buy from a college bookstore even if you're not a student, but if you're not near a college bookstore look around on the internet, as there are PLENTY of sites that sell educational versions of Adobe and other design software for dirt cheap, but many of them require some sort of proof of being an active student to get the special discounted rates.

Whatever you do, avoid buying the software directly from Adobe's website. I've done a lot of price comarison lately and that is absolutely the most expensive price I found! (Sometimes upwards of $2,000 for the EXACT same thing I just purchased for $400.)

Good luck!

This is so ironic! I was asking this same question about the same time you posted it. A friend just gave me Photoshop Elements. I have used Illustrator for years. I use it mainly for freehand drawing. I really like the drawing tools in Ill. I can see there is a lot in Photoshop but I just feel I can express myself more fully with the Illustrator tools. Then again I could draw in Ill and pump it up in Photoshop. Best of both worlds.
Listen to the lady who spoke of student copies.
Then again, my first couple of editions of Illustrator came from friends who had outgrown them.