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Comic Sans had noble beginnings
As far back as I can remember, I’ve had an almost physical revulsion to Comic Sans. Clearly I am not alone, but an article in the Wall Street Journal last week shed some light on the “origin story” of this much-loathed font:
The proliferation of Comic Sans is something of a fluke. In 1994, Mr. [Vincent] Connare was working on a team at Microsoft creating software that consumers eventually would use on home PCs. His designer’s sensibilities were shocked, he says, when, one afternoon, he opened a test version of a program called Microsoft Bob for children and new computer users. The welcome screen showed a cartoon dog named Rover speaking in a text bubble. The message appeared in the ever-so-sedate Times New Roman font.
Mr. Connare says he pulled out the two comic books he had in his office, “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Watchmen,” and got to work, inspired by the lettering and using his mouse to draw on a computer screen. Within a week, he had designed his legacy.
This probably isn’t news to anyone who has studied typography, but as a font noob it certainly makes me look on Comic Sans with a little more reverence.
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#8 written by Casey 2 years ago
I have yet to hear, specifically, what is wrong with Comic Sans. All I ever hear is “those who know typography” hate it. Fine, but WHAT do they hate? Could someone please point me towards a technical article, written by an expert, that describes what is wrong? All I can find are stories written by poseurs (not you, V). Thanks!
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#9 written by Veronica 2 years ago
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@Veronica: Whilst fonts do have their ‘place’, I think comic sans has out-lived itself. If indeed it was borne out of Microsoft Bob, then it’s time it was retired. Just as we no longer see the lettering that was once so prolific in 1920′s France, styles change, evolve, and disappear.
I’d be happy for it to make a ‘come back’ in ten years time – provided it had changed a little. -
#13 written by EmilyGrae 2 years ago
One must consider though, that as is often the case, you can pay a little more and get a lot better…
http://www.comicbookfonts.com
So sure, the over use of comic sans is still distressing, but if you’ve got a few bucks go ahead and get a better one! -
#17 written by GadgetNut 2 years ago
I don’t dislike or loathe Comic Sans.
I do, however, loathe my own handwriting. Typically, if I have to make a note for someone, and it’s any longer than a phone number and a couple of words, I put it in notepad, in Comic Sans as it looks more casual, and handwritten, or what I wish my handwriting really was.
Of course I use Arial in an environment where most folks use Times New Roman, and I *do* hate Times New Roman.. I’m a corporate maverick. But that’s a different thread, I suppose.
Thanks for the history lesson.
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#18 written by Ricardo 2 years ago
Well, it might be a matter of taste, but I do loathe Comic Sans.
I studied typography in college and have a deep love for that. I also loved comics for a long time, and for me Comic Sans doesn’t seem to fit anywhere.
It doesn’t look much like a comic book font either. Sure, it does look more than many, but still doesn’t look like something made for comic books, way back when all comics were hand lettered.
If you pick one by Blambot or by Comicraft, you’ll certainly see that they got much more of a comic flare than Comic Sans.Comic Sans might’ve been a good alternative for people intending to do webcomics or even “indie” comics (the printed kind), but that was before people could find some free comic-book-like fonts. I was into it many years ago, and “professionally-looking” comic book fonts were really way over my budget.
My distaste never actually let me analyze the font that much. Even now, in all sincerity, I think it would be a waste of time. Though I’m a bit curious, and would look an analysis if somebody did it.
With Comic Sans I understand (well, kinda!) why people don’t like Arial (typographers, mainly) or Times.
I like them, though! -
#21 written by Caio 2 years ago
Like some people who commented here, I also like Comic Sans, and I don’t see the point on people hating it so much. I mean, I think it fits in Instant Messengers for example, it’s very casual, and “weightless”… I just don’t enjoy seeing it ‘everywhere, and in everyone s IM’s, I think people should have their own ‘font-dentity’, heh. I get pissed because I’ve used it for more than 8 years, and then suddenly EVERYONE uses it!
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Wow. That’s eye opening. Gotta respect the comic sans.