Confused with Layers vs. masks for background fill

[hankjank]

I'm using Photoshop 7.0. The help pages explaining masks and layers is sending me in circles! My image is an old 8 x 11 drawing of 40 or so color cartoon characters drawn on white paper. I'm trying to find a simple way to mask off all these detailed little characters and fill the white background with a color. It's next to impossible to try and draw a marquee around all these small drawings. Thanks for any advice!

[tombothetominator]

My preferred method for cutting people out: http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-pentool.html

The pen tool gives you the ability to do lots of detail work. Then, after you have penned around all your characters, use your path to create a selection - select:inverse - create layer mask. Then just throw a layer in between your cartoon layer and your background layer, and fill with whatever color/pattern you want (you could just do this on the background layer as well)