If you want something without much of a learning curve, you might try paint.net
http://www.getpaint.net/It's not vector, so you have to draw everything full size.
It has layers and transparency, so you can accomplish a lot of things with it.
(it's not as photo-editing 'centric as the website makes it appear. Most of the tutorials are about making things from scratch)
Once you get the hang of it, install the outline plugin.
It's good for adding shading, glowing,...and of course outlines.
With that and the Virtual Pinball font collection, you can get decent results.
I really need to learn how to use Inkscape and vector images, but I keep going back to paint.net because it's easy.
EDIT: Basic Tutorial on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAA560F9E4F5986A9&feature=plcp