My Journey Into Comic Book Lettering
After years of working part-time as a comic book writer and colorist, I’ve decided to dive into a new skill—comic book lettering. If you’ve been following me, you know I’ve been freelancing on Fiverr and running my own LLC, Beee Terrific Media. One of my proudest moments was helping a client get their comic, Power Corps #1, officially published! But now, I’m shifting focus to something I’ve wanted to try for a while: lettering.
Why Lettering?
Though I’ve worked in different areas of comics, I’ve always been intrigued by the art of lettering. I have a graphic design degree, so typography has always been a part of my skillset. In fact, I’ve lettered some of my own comics in the past, but never professionally. Recently, I realized that there’s a growing demand for lettering services on platforms like Fiverr, so I decided to take the plunge.
What pushed me to start now? Well, I’ve had some exposure to lettering books over the years, like:
- The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics by Comfort Love and Adam Withers
- The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics by Mark Chiarello and Todd Klein
- Comic Book Lettering: The Comicraft Way by John Roshell and Richard Starkings
Each book taught me something valuable, and now I’m ready to put those lessons into practice. I’ll be starting with Comfort and Adam’s method for lettering, as it seems to fit my style best.
Taking the Leap
A few years ago, I was offered a gig to letter a book, but I turned it down. Why? Fear. I hadn’t practiced lettering enough, and I wasn’t ready to jump into something new without feeling prepared. Now, after gaining more experience and knowledge, I’m confident that I can make this work.
I’m excited to explore the world of comic book lettering and see how my typography skills translate into this new area. Whether it’s word balloons, captions, or sound effects, I’m ready to learn and grow.
Looking Ahead
Lettering feels like the right next step in my creative journey. It’s a skill that blends my love for comics with my graphic design expertise. While I still enjoy coloring, lettering offers a new way to express creativity—without the pressure of tight coloring deadlines.
So here’s to a new chapter. I’m eager to see where this path takes me and how I can grow as a comic book letterer. Maybe one day, I’ll be lettering for Marvel or DC—who knows?
