This is my unceremonious first blog post. I don’t plan to use this space to ramble. I would simply like to collect and share helpful information -- the sort of things I would’ve like to have known when I started lettering comic books.
One book that I really wish I had when I started out as a letterer in 2010 is the Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering. There’s no resource quite like it. Not only does it dive deep into the mechanics of lettering comic books, it’s also an incredible resource about freelancing and explains concepts about making and reading comics that I would consider beneficial to everyone, not just fellow letterers.
This book can be found at:
https://blambot.com/pages/the-essential-guide-to-comic-book-lettering
Here are specific pages that are a must-read in Nate Piekos' Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering. If you have no interest in lettering comics, then this is a list I put together especially for you to use:
For Comic Book Reviewers: pgs. 9-16, 28-30, 46, 66, 71-73, 81, 89, 93, 103, 132, 145-147, 155-157, 169-170, 185, 190-193, 205-207.
I've been told by reviewers that they want to recognize good lettering but don't know what to look for. This will show you what to look for!
For Editors: pgs. 21, 23-30, 46, 71-73, 103, 132, 149-152, 156-157, 206-207, 215, 223.
Then, re-read pg 25 once more: "Nothing will gobble up your time--and therefore your page rate--faster than an editor or writer treating the lettering stage as a 'first pass.'"
For Writers: pgs. 25-30, 46, 103, 132, 149-152, 156-157, 223.
This includes helpful answers on how to format one's script -- since the formatting can have a direct impact on your letterer's work. Much like how a lettering pass for the script can have a hugely positive impact.
For Artists: pgs. 23-24, 28-30, 46, 103, 132, 156-157.
If you draw AND letter, this whole book will benefit you.
For Colorists & various other Comics Freelancers: pgs. 9-16, 208, 234-235.
Nate shares some incredible insight about living the freelance life that I've personally found very helpful and I feel would benefit others as well.
For Beginner Letterers: pgs. The Whole Book!
For Advanced Letterers (me included): pgs. 13-16, 31-33, 57-59, 93-94, 102, 109-110, 113-115, 139-144, 158-162, 181-190, 208, 211.
I thought I was pretty used to lettering, but learning about Actions, Character Styles, and Graphic Styles really brought everything to the next level for me.
For Everyone: The Foreword by Tom Orzechowski, the Preface, Chapter 1, all of the blue sections in the book, and the Conclusion are all great reads for everyone, but definitely read Chapter 10.
What do letterers do? Read Chapter 10 to get a pretty good idea of how we do what we do.
I’m biased about The Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering, so I can't give an objective review. But I will say that if you love comics or want to make comics, you'll find something for you in this book.