I’m sorry. I never noticed that you responded. Thanks for the best wishes and much luck to you as well. I just wanted to let people know that one can succeed, even if others have differing opinions on certain things. I don’t mind people who critque my book or others. But it’s another story when people just bash people’s work or make fun of stuff with no real input on how to improve. Don’t worry, this isn’t an attack on you. I’m just talking about personal experience.

You know, my friend and I were talking the other day about comics, and somehow fonts came up. And the question was brought up: Did you ever turn down a comic book because of fonts? We all said no.

Yeah, I didn’t win the grants for the fonts. But the fonts didn’t hinder the work either. :) If anything, I’d be critiquing other stuff way before my lettering. But like my wife says, “You’re always critical about your work.” And I usually am. I totally agree with improving as an artist. I always want to do better. But I’m limited with resources, so I use what I have, and I’m totally fine with it.

Again, I’m sorry for the late response. It wasn’t my intent to ignore your reply. Well, I’m out. I need to get ready for school. Take care, and again, much luck with everything, Jason.

jimmydazecomics@hotmail.com
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JIMMYDAZECOMICS
http://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JIMMYDAZECOMICS

Too bad that these two Unicode characters’ properties are not bracket-like.

My point is this. In order to keep growing as an artist, we need to keep trying to move forward. Just because we had limited success before doesn't mean we should stop trying to improve. Improve the art, the coloring, the FONT. It's all part of the whole picture. It's great you won grants and sold books but I doubt any of that credit should be given to the fact that you used Comic Sans.

If I sell lots of copies of my book and it has tons of spelling errors in it, does that mean I can continue that pattern in my next book? I could argue that my bad spelling didn't hurt the success of my first book so it doesn't matter. Or I could keep trying to improve my spelling.

It's fine for a first timer to do it however they want, just like you and I did with our first books, but if we want to keep growing and getting better then that's another story.

Thanks for the thoughts and long comment! I appreciate your opinion and I hope you continue to have success with your comic career.

Here’s my opinion on the matter, and it’s a long one.

If you’re trying to work with Marvel or DC, you should do things they want. You can’t get a job with them if you can’t fulfill their requirements. Isn’t it like that for any job?

But if you’re just a self publisher trying to get your comics out there, and you’re happy with what you’ve done, using comic sans or a different type of art form, more power to you.

When I printed my books of GABRIEL, I first went to Tuscon. I almost lost my motivation. Nobody wanted to get my books because the store owners weren’t around. I finally went to a store with an owner there. He literally flipped through my book without stopping on any page and said, “Nobody’s going to want to buy this” and quickly handed it back. But that was one opinion. Of course, I didn’t feel that way at the time. My heart sank.

I went back to Sierra Vista where I was staying at and went to the local store. I was still feeling down, but he was my last stop. The comic book store owner bought 5 copies of GABRIEL because he liked what he saw. I told him what happened in Tuscon, and he told me, “Most of them are a bunch of snobs anyway. They think they know all about comics.”

Ever since, I’ve sold lots of copies of GABRIEL, received critical praise for it, it’s been selected for the SDCC, and I had 3 major film producers consider GABRIEL for a film. Oh yeah, and I won a grant from the XERIC FOUNDATION. The best compliment I ever received was from Javier Saltares (a great artist by the way) over at DEF-CON 7, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was looking through my book and said, “You know what? I’ve seen many people try to do this type of work, but it seems like you pulled it off.” That made my freaking day!!! James O’Barr and Jason Aaron where there and they liked my book as well.

GABRIEL is lettered with comic sans.

There was a kid with his mom over in Dallas, TX asking for advice on how to make a book. A friend of mine started going through a list of what to do, WHAT LETTERING TO USE, how it’s hard, blah, blah, blah. He was visibly getting sad. I told him, “You know what? I’ve never done a comic book before and I wrote a graphic novel and won a grant. If I can do it, you can do it. Who cares what people say?” He and his mom were so happy with the advice I gave them and they bought my book, let me keep the change, and skipped his.

At the SDCC, I met this one comic group. They were really cool guys. No egos. We all shared advice and tips and laughs throughout the weekend. They’re comic books were professional looking, and had all sorts of different lettering. All the groups artists, writers, and letterers were pushing their many titles. I only had two titles, GABRIEL and THE RAILROAD KILLER, and it was just me and my wife pushing the book. Let me tell you, it was very, very tiring.

When the show was over, one guy told me they barely broke even with the table they purchased. He was somewhat disppointed. I felt bad because they worked hard and I really thought they were cool people. My wife and I made 4 1/2 times what the table was worth with two titles. One shots at that.

Not only did I use comic sans for GABRIEL, I used it for THE RAILROAD KILLER as well.

HELL PASO: THE STORY OF DALLAS STOUDNEMIRE will premiere on September 11 here in El Paso. I’ve already received a grant from Wild West History and will hopefully be covered by two large national magazines.

HELL PASO: THE STORY OF DALLAS STOUDENMIRE is lettered in comic sans.

My advice to people would be basically what I told the kid, just do it. Who cares what other people think? Although comic sans is bashed in “7 REASONS TO NOT USE COMIC SANS IN YOUR COMIC,” I’m a prime example of someone being able to successfully use comic sans in comics. For every person who comes and tells you your work sucks cuz you used comic sans, I guarantee, you’re going to get more people who are going to buy your buy because you have a great story. I have no problem when people give healthy critiques of comics, including lettering. But when they just resort to bashing your work, does their opinion really matter? Trust me, if customers aren’t buying comics an individual or a group releases, I don’t think lettering should be a main concern.

By the way, I’m not mad or even offended by the article. Nor am I mad at people who agree with it. But I do want to be able to let people know out there that if you believe in what you are doing and you use comics sans, it can be done and you can succeed. I believe in positivity. I’m extremely proud of my work. I’ve always had people in the past tell me I can’t do this or that. I’ve had friends and acquaintances tell me I shouldn’t do this or that in comic books. And I always prove them wrong. But I don’t write comics or do things to prove people wrong. I DO IT FOR ME AND DO IT FOR MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTS MY WORK. That is why I succeed.

But seriously, reading all this bashing reminds of the “comic book art is not art” debate or”Nirvana sucks cuz they only know three chords.” Whos cares? What someone hates, someone is going to like.

And at the end of the day, if people still disagree with me, and say I’m wrong and that comic sans sucks and ruins your art, again:
GABRIEL w/comic sans = PETER A. LAIRD XERIC FOUNDATION GRANT!
HELL PASO w/comic sans = WILD WEST HISTORY GRANT!

http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JIMMYDAZECOMICS
http://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JIMMYDAZECOMICS

I agrre with ur opinion…

too 'much' weaknes in font COmic Sans if it is used in a formal term.

nice..