This content was published: March 10, 2005. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Comic book class exposes lettering craft
Photos and story by James Hill
PORTLAND, Ore. – Pow! Bam! Crash! As American as hotdogs or rock and roll, comic book lettering style has been central in the nation’s popular culture since Superman first made his appearance on the cover of Action Comics in 1938. Today the industry continues to support all kinds of new artists who are responsible for making the words of comic books leap off pages. This spring, Portland Community College will let you delve into this side of the superhero world for yourself with a new non-credit class.Comic Book Lettering 101 focuses on teaching students how to letter for today’s comic book publisher. Instructor Michael D. Thomas will lead students to explore and try their hand at a variety of historical and current styles of lettering. From titles to balloons, students will discover just how lettering artists produce their work and how lettering style changes over the years have affected the look of comic books. The class will meet on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. March 31 through April 21 in room Tabor 130 and April 28 through June 2 in room Tabor 118 at PCC’s Southeast Center, 2305 S.E. 82nd Ave. Cost is $135.For more information, contact the PCC Community Education at 503-788-6265.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »