The History and Techniques of Comic Book Lettering

[@prajwaljayaraj5887]

I want you to do more obscure topics in the future despite fan demands. Cause I want to learn about new things than watch someone talk about stuff I already know. Love your work. And keep talking about comics.

[@Abbotttdesign]

Coming back to this after so many years! 🏆 Thanks again, Chris!

[@diegoalejandro7136]

"Oh, you caught me learning the alphabet" lol

[@kuldas9299]

Well, you actually made the history of lettering interesting. So I had to become a patron. Great work as always. I am currently the artist on ElfQuest at Dark Horse. I'd love to see an episode about my mentor Wendy Pini.

[@Abbotttdesign]

Coming back to this after so many years! 🏆👍 Thanks again, Chris!

[@MechaWrecka]

Really interesting topic I never really gave much thought to. I have a feeling I will be paying way more attention to lettering from this point on.

[@dantecrottogini529]

great video about one of the most underapreciated part of comics. I'd love to see a video about sound effects exclusively

[@comicswatching4851]

This was a really cool video about a topic I had no idea I was so interested in, nice research to pull all this together and thanks for doing it!!

[@nebolevar3583]

Awesome! Lettering definitely gets the short end of the stick in terms of recognition. And I didn't know a lot about the history of the craft! I'd love to see more videos about the process of making comics.

[@theajshow]

The opening bit of you getting caught "learning the alphabet" had me gagging, ha! Now this was a really interesting episode and I can honestly say I learned a lot. Being someone who likes to look at the credits, I've always seen the letterer on there, but never gave much thought about the process or history behind it. This episode was great and I loved it. For those the want to truly study comic books, this episode is a must watch!

[@johnathan2684]

Thank you. Reading a book with microscopic lettering, so I searched for video on lettering. This vid was an education. Thank you.

[@mrcomix5948]

You have the best comic book channel on KZbin in my opinion....

[@haunshaul7222]

If anyone is interested in further reading on this topic, Todd Klein still maintains an extensive blog that discusses the styles of various letterers, the history of hundreds of logos, and tons of other aspects of this surprisingly complex skill.

[@REIQ]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!

[@guillermobolasdemadera345]

jaja el reinaldo, alto crossover!

[@neiljackson3133]

Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this episode. As a type obsessive and occasional calligrapher this was really great. Thank you.

[@lordofthemound3890]

When I was young, I practiced lettering in “comic book style” thinking that would be an easy way into the industry. I still (in my 50s) print in block letters that way!

[@makaiev]

This is gold... just shared it with a friend who's trying to create a web comic... that sort of question is way more relevant than backstage drama and and marketing gimmicks disguised as social statements...

[@wiiagent]

Watching this years later and it's still a good video you made, thanks

[@show280]

Very interesting and informative! I'm reminded of how the speech balloons in the US version of Transformers G1 were jagged rectangles. That was strange because the UK version was also being published at the same time and they used regular style balloons. (This became glaringly obvious when the two versions ran side by side in issues printed in the UK.)

[@Changetheling]

Wow; I've been reading comics for nearly 30 years and I'm a logo nerd, but NOT ONCE have I heard or read about the old methods. This was a really humbling and VERY informative episode! Thank you very much!

[@Rometiklan]

Truly an outstanding vid, Chris. Having been a draftsman working in an architectural firm back in the day, I'm familiar with the Ames' lettering guide. I love printing and designing logos. If I didn't love drawing so much, I think I would have aspired to be a letterer. I remember John Byrne lettered a couple of issues during his run on the Fantastic Four...the font was really tiny and it seemed liked maybe Byrne has a slight tremor in his hands because the letters seems shaky. Tom O was my favourite letterer and some recent digital software seem to have fonts based on his style although I stand to be corrected. Thanks, Chris for posting about a topic I've always loved about comics!

[@whitneypang]

Such an in-depth discussion on the history of lettering that I never knew despite being a comic fan. Thank you!

[@JerekBilbar]

Still out here appreciating your videos every day! Keep going at this you have brought so much to the community I’ve just been watching all your Kirkman interviews

[@GonLeproso]

Great vídeo! I'd never stopped to think how much history there was behind lettering

[@Donnakilluminati]

Please do more videos about lettering, this was phenomenal. There are a few other videos about lettering (one by Vox, another by Nerdsync), but none of them are as long, in depth, or informative as this one is.

[@audieorlandolilybassoff4069]

This was a really neat look at a facet of comics I honestly hadn't thought much about until now. It's nice to find more out about these unsung heroes. I'd love to see more videos like this.

[@Nikke283]

Guess what? I actually had lettering--alongside regular typography in school . (Way back in 1995!) And I sucked...but it change my view on lettering forever :) great video!

[@countrysidegallery]

Wow! I love the focus on the history of the comic book. Your episodes capture my attention everytime, but this one on something most readers take for granted really puts in perspective the history of the lettering process and its adaptation over time. A+

[@KTF0]

It was actually because of comics lettering is because I corrected a teacher in HS on grammar on the interrobang. When you see "?!" It's an emphasis on the question while "!?" is questioning the emphasis. I noticed that most book writers used it sparingly or loosely and sometimes even incorrectly, while comic letterers almost always uniformly used it correctly and made it easier to understand.

[@jeremiahholes1246]

I really enjoyed the lettering and ballooning(verb?) in the Mirage TMNT comics. It was the first time I stopped reading to admire how artistically the words were incorporated into the page. Soul's Winter especially got wild with the lettering. Great video!

[@wetdroidedition2549]

I love that you do this kind of topics, like when you talk about comics distribution. I learn and I appreciate even more the comic industry and the comic as an art. Thanks!

[@officerbanana9096]

It's Amazing the amount of art and evolution that went into just the lettering of comics. I've only done digital comics and while there is an art to making sure the bubbles and words flow well with the artwork, I never would of thought of it being THIS in depth during the beginning! Loved this video (even though I'm like 5 years late)

[@perfectblue8443]

This kind of topics is the reason your channel is so great. Incredibly interesting

[@falcoproudneck]

Chris, your videos are fantastic. Your historical videos on technique evolution are fantastic. I'm constantly learning tons. Really hope your audience grows soon.

[@zerocool6121]

Great, informative video. The first letterer I remember noticing was Workman. His work just fit Walt's Thor stuff so well. I think it was the first time I looked at the whole page as a piece of art, instead of just the drawings in the individual panels.

[@Tony-tf6im]

Great Video...still. 2 years later, still great. I loved Jim Novak's lettering in the eighties when I started reading. He seemed to give his lettering a slight slanting, italicized look that imparted more energy than other letterers. John Costanza seemed a more elegant letterer. I recall his work from the earlier Romita Jr./Layton Iron Man issues.

[@cuellarlopez]

I have been watching your videos for a few months, and I must say that it really shows you really are a big comics fan. A video about lettering? the kind of stuff only someone really passionate would do. Keep up the good work

[@alvaromurga5994]

Todd Klein have an excellent site where he shows how some comics logos evolved. Good work .

[@danielnaranjo6321]

Chris your videos always put a smile on my face

[@mikefutcher]

That's a nice board game collection you have there!

[@shaneluttrell532]

Dave Sim, the most innovative letterer ever. Also Tom Orzechowski and Ben Oda! I love the art of lettering.

[@kaitling989]

This was a really interesting video. I barely read comics but your channel has become my favorite. I watch at least one of your videos every day. Please keep making awesome videos!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

This is an amazing topic that rarely discussed.

[@jasonnorton2821]

Superb! Captivating insight on a vastly integral, yet often overlooked component of comics. Every bit as much of an art form as the art itself. Thanks for pulling back the curtain!

[@pitsahat7068]

I really needed this video! It's not easy to find this information put in context. Thanks a lot!

[@morriscolautti9822]

I do like the board game collection in the background.

[@edgar2dnd]

I just would like to say that I'm really glad I found this channel.

[@MrZkinandBonez]

1:24 Well, if you grew up reading comics in Scandinavia (I can't speak for other countries) then that looks pretty normal. I don't know why, but you hardly ever saw hand-lettered text in Scandinavian translations of American comics unless it was a sound effect (though they mostly just kept the originals) or if dialogue was shouted or if it required some special emphasis. The only times I've seen hand-lettering used regularly was in some French/Belgian comics like Asterix or Spirou.

[@paulkokenes6205]

One of your best episodes

[@kevrulz06]

This was really great! Very informative. I suppose my favorite letterer is Todd Klein. He's done so much work. Even though you suggests that the letterer shouldn't draw attention to the way the actual bubbles and letters look so it doesn't take away from the art, I like when letterers get creative (like Klein) and make bubbles and letter fonts that are unique to certain characters. A great example of this is obviously Sandman, but I've never read that. How about the Batman: Hush arc? There is a fine balance to making the bubbles and letters "artistic" and making them so artsy that they just blend into the rest of the comic art. Yeah, I like when bubbles and letters can be more than just black letters in a white bubble with a black outline. Your choices for examples were pretty good. Thanks for reminding me of Black Science. I have the first two trades of that. LOVE Matteo Scalera's penciling, and the colors are fantastic. The zig-zag or break in the tail of the bubbles is great for conveying that the characters are communicating using a radio transmitter in their helmets. I would have had to give this video a down vote if you didn't mention Klein. I don't know if you already did a video about this, but how about doing one just like this but on colorists, and the coloring? My first favorite colorists was probably Alex Sinclair, but only because I liked Lee and Williams' work so much. I think my favorite right now might be Tomeu Morey, particularly for his work on Hal Jordan and the GLC. Such great work!

[@RH-jl8qr]

What a great topic! I know lettering isn’t sposed to draw attention to itself but... just try doing it yourself! I tried to self publish, EEK! Lettering was a nightmare!!!!!! Good on u sir for choosing this topic! Keep it up!

[@Mustardknuckles]

I feel like a boob!! I've been reading comics since I was 8 years old, and I never knew that a lettering took ever existed! Thank you for this education in one of my passions!

[@alexdawson2322]

Oh wow...I wasn't sure how interesting I'd find an episode on lettering, but that was really great! 😁

[@TheUndeadMew]

i love the topics you talk about. i never think about these things.

[@mohammedhanif6780]

Gaspar Saladino's lettering of the Moonshadow comic from the 80s. The best.

[@alonghallway]

I was very excited to see your board game shelf at the start of the video!

[@Emperor_Oshron]

yeah, it can be interesting to look into how different lettering can be between individuals. i've noticed in my own handwriting that i tend to run the letters together in one almost pseudo-cursive line and, particularly, a lower-case T at the end of a word seems to usually end up looking like an incomplete star since i usually move straight to the top from the bottom of the previous letter, then down to the bottom, then up to the left "arm" of the letter, and then right to form the rest

[@jeremycline9542]

The June 85 DC issues featured a loving tribute to Ben Oda written by Andrew Helfer. It describes Oda as DC's "most prolific letterer" who also did a lot of work for Kirby in the forties and later with Kurtzman at EC. Most interestingly, for King Features Syndicate his letters graced strips like Prince Valiant and the Phantom. Anyway, it's cool that you posted this today as I was just having my eyes opened to the role guys like this played.

[@ComicTropes]

I wish I could have mentioned every letterer. I am familiar with Oda's work and it's really good. It's kind of like John Workman's in a lot of ways.

[@jeremycline9542]

Not sure how significant Charlton's "A Machine" was...

[@ottomattix86]

This is interesting and should be seen by more folks.

[@batmantis235]

Holy hell, man; I never thought I’d see Shatter ever again. Well done, sir

[@cyclone927]

I LOOOVEEE this video cus I dont really be thinking about letterers at all. I learn a lot!

[@steakcrust558]

I always wondered about the "I" in comic books, why some had those cross brackets and some didnt; and i never knew about the lettering guide. I'm also working on some fan art for the show specifically dont know when ill be finished

[@crimsonmask3819]

Usually referred to as an "Ames" guide. Here's a video that goes more into it by Max Douglas (AKA Salgood Sam): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJa9e6yFlqegaa8

[@Rorschach9001]

I just found your channel and I’m loving how informative your videos are. You should do a video on inking (if you haven’t already)

[@ComicTropes]

I will probably do one on each role in making a comic. It may take some time to really research and plan that out. This one was something I pecked away at research for quite a while as I made other episodes. But I'd love to give editors and inkers their due.

[@3ddevine]

This was an excellent video. I recently stumbled across your channel and this is one of my favorites so far!

[@petemarquez8759]

Fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing. I never appreciated how difficult lettering is until I started trying to do it myself on a project that I'm working on. Man is it tough, gonna have to go digital. I even bought a lettering guide, still too hard to make it look right and still lacks consistency.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

Keep practicing! Computers are used as a crutch too darned much. We are losing our ability to actually DO anything these days.

[@krantzbucks]

I agree with the lettering fitting the art style. John workman and wal simonson are like peanut butter and jelly.

[@Kwad_rat]

You have great boardgame collection. Suburbia is great.

[@infiniteblueprint7285]

Excellent vid, I have at times wondered about the similarity of the in lettering in comics, you have explained the history really well.

[@_Dogbeard_]

Great episode, really really liked an overview of lettering as an art, I wouldn’t mind an exploration of other roles and prominent names within those specialities. Keep it up! :)

[@jai_does_art]

14:05 ok but like, it kiiiiiinda gave us the character Sans and he is G R E A T. Also great video! very interesting and it taught me about a topic I never knew I was interested in.

[@allluckyseven]

This was an excellent video, Chris. Good job. If you can talk more about lettering in the future, please show us more examples of good lettering, from balloons to sound effects to titles and all that.

[@davehowell3209]

I still have my lettering guide... it’s like 28 years old! Lol time flies

[@doppelvishop2887]

You made my day with those Gordon imitations ! hahaha great video

[@leavonfletcher4197]

I think the first time I really noticed lettering was in Kravens Last Hunt where each character had its own font. I have to admit I am not sure who did it or even if was more than one person. Really cool vid!

[@Gingerscruffy_Underfluffy]

Love this topic, and you're one of the few people I've come across who knows much about it! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@MrMikeman1090]

Wow, great insight into a facet of comic books that often gets overlooked!

[@katsomeday1]

I'll always have a soft spot for Tom Orzechowski. I grew up with his letters.

[@fad23]

Once I chatted briefly with Todd Klein at Comic Con. Before he became an early adopter of digital lettering, he had drawn a great page defending hand-drawn letters. I generally prefer hand drawn over font, especially for sound effects. When fonts are used for sound effects I find that they clash with the art at times and it pulls me out of the work.

[@semcrdotcom]

Hi Chris! Thanks a lot for this video! It is exactly what I was looking for: No fluff, very informative, conveys your passion on lettering comics. (comics in general) I'll be checking on your Pareon page soon.

[@CarolusMagnusSteam]

Very informative. Thanks for talking about this because it is important but not always noticed

[@jamesharker5560]

Thank you for this fascinating and informative video. Brilliant work

[@brianharris7986]

I have always wondered about the lettering. Now I know. Great topic! Much Thanks!

[@hisalexness8478]

I found this absolutely fascinating! I never thought I’d find an episode on lettering so interesting! Good job! Your best episode yet! (I used the Jim Shooter method on my punctuation for this comment)

[@sergio2603]

Wonderful video and research! Learned a lot with this. Thank you for the all the work you put into these videos. Please do more like this, I would love to know more about these technical aspects of production.

[@nil_blank]

This is one of your greats! Enjoying it just as much on a rewatch.

[@karabearcomics]

Kinda interested you didn't mention something about Schnapp: his first gig at DC Comics was probably his most iconic, which was a redesign of the Superman logo, based off Joe Shuster's version. He never actually designed the Action Comics logo. Schnapp thinned the letters a bit, made them uniform weight and made the U have a boxy bottom to it (Shuster usually rounded it, though not all the time), and said version informed all later iterations. Also: Schnapp created the famous "DC Bullet" logo as well as the ever-present Comics Code stamp.

[@ComicTropes]

I could probably make an entire episode just on logos. I tried to pull back and focus on just lettering this time.

[@guyjperson]

This is one of my favourites of yours. That was really informative. Thanks! !

[@jamesalexhowlett]

I actually really enjoyed this episode

[@gavinakrolin7997]

Artie Simek is my favorite letterer.

[@Ryan-ye2fm]

Superb video -- if you do any comic lettering topics in the future, don't forget about Abe Kanegson and Ben Oda, who I feel are #1 and #2 all time amongst comic book letters.

[@BasementMinions]

This is really cool! Something I never thought about but now I won't be able to unsee it :)

[@derekgreen7319]

I like when they do different things with lettering. Like square or icy word balloons, overlapping bubbles and blurry words.

[@BenRollman]

I liked doing lettering. Good vid.

[@popstarprincess123]

Ben Rollman I’m trying to learn it because I’ve always liked the mix of font and art

[@LambdaJM]

wow, super interesting content. Great episode! Fantastic work Chris. Thank you

[@SoftwareAgentsTV]

10:02 I don't know how much of this can be blamed on the letterer or Stan Lee, but when Stan Lee was the writer-editor for nearly every Marvel comic, nearly every sentence ended with an exclamation point. Full stops were the exceptions, not the norm.

[@shn4449]

Back then, they actually got a letter from a fan asking why every sentence ends with either an exclamation mark or a question mark. Stan replied that it was beause full stops didn't print well, so they avoided using them as much as possible.

[@pbmultiverse2383]

Funny thing is that I at least knew of Sam Rosen, because while reading Thor comics, I took my time to read the credits. Which was also how I found out about Vince Coleta

[@oelandc]

I really enjoyed this video. You make great vids and thanks for the hard work. Just the other day I picked up an old comic to read just for fun and realized I could hardly read the dialogue because the letters had been made almost uniform and all the cross lines pushed to the bottom of the character. I gave up and just stopped reading the comic

[@johnyoung1601]

Absolutely fascinating! Very informative, very well done. Thanks!

[@patriciooliver]

Omg this is amazing! As an illustrator, typography teacher, graphic designer and comic boon geek this video is everything I need. I need to translate it’s content for my students! ( Spanish ) Do you have any video about comic book logos? As always it’s a pleasure to visit your channel

[@Beardedvikingweirdo]

This was a terrific learning process. Thank you for doing this.

[@dylancarroll4623]

I like the lettering and​speech bubbles of Dream from DC Comics.

[@jasonbean5981]

A fascinating overview, thanks.:)