How important is a drawing tablet for creating comic digital art, and what features should I look for?

A drawing tablet is *highly* recommended for comic digital art. It provides pressure sensitivity and a more natural drawing experience than a mouse. Key features to look for include pressure sensitivity levels (8192 is standard), tilt recognition, tablet size (medium is a good starting point), and screen resolution (for screen tablets). Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen are popular brands.