Do I need to credit my friends under these circumstances?

Question

I've just started to work on a comic book that I plan for to be published in the future, but I got a problem:

Some of the character's personality and looks are based off my friends and I'm using their first names. (ex. Julie, Stephanie, Jane, Michelle, etc.)

Is it ok to publish without their consent, or do I really need a written and signed permission? Can I just change the names of the characters and use without any legal problems or issues? It's just a comic book about random everyday life :0 Nothing bad written about them.

Best answer will be rewarded properly!
Thanks for reading!

Answer 1

Yes, you will need a signed consent form. People not only own their image but also their likeness (cartoon image). There have been countless lawsuits to back this up. One of the more notable of late is that of the Romantics and the producers/writers of Guitar Hero Three. They sued because a song on GHT and their likeness is so similar to their own that people might mistake it for themselves and their work.

Answer 2

It's best to change the names of the characters.