Chris Eliopoulos isn’t feeling the love:
Let’s be honest here. Letterers are the scum of the industry. Everyone looks down on what we do—except maybe Augie De Blieck—and thinks that the art of lettering is akin to moving furniture. You can get just about anyone to do it and it’ll look the same. We are a necessary evil and are usually the least-considered member of the team on any given book. We don’t even get a credit on the cover like everyone else.
To prove my point, here’s a story from years ago. It’s no slight on Wizard—I like everyone there and they’ve always been kind to me and I love hanging out with them, so no Wizard bashing here. That said–I was lettering the Black Bull line of books at the time and they invited me to the Chicago show. I agreed, thinking that I was being shown a level of respect I didn’t get anywhere else. I was a member of the creative team. I later learned that they were paying my way, so I could man the Black Bull booth. That’s one way to deflate an ego. But, I always keep my word and shut my mouth and did what was asked of me. I spent the entire time manning the booth with my good friend Glenn Herdling, which made it fun.
Then it was time for the Gatecrasher team to do their signing. Mark Waid, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Paul Mounts and…well, I was manning the booth. It was my job to make sure the talent were taken care of. So, I was the one who had to get them drinks and snacks. It was embarrassing, both for me and my co-workers, whom I also considered friends. It was made better when Gareb Shamus saw what was happening and joined me in getting the snacks. Gareb has always been a stand up guy and he made me feel better about what I was doing, so no animosity at all. It was what it was and I was used to the feeling of being considered less than the rest.
But that’s not bad enough; he also has a problem with the way that the general public views comic books. Go and read.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:34 am
Geez, what a chip on his shoulder. I’ve worked for almost twenty years in the art biz, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you need to find your own value and worth in what you do…and don’t seek it from others. Waiting for recognition or praise from your perceived audience is a sure recipe for disappointment and frustration. There have been important craftsmen (and women) who have toiled there entire lives without the public realizing the scope of their talent, or the importance of its contribution….but feel proud of their work nonetheless. Yeah, it’s always nice to get recognized when it comes your way….but don’t count on it or resent people when it doesn’t.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Oh c’mon…he can be proud of his work while still wishing that he could get some external validation. Also, he said that he was using his story as a metaphor for how the industry is viewed:
“Right now, I’m writing from DisneyWorld and just wanted to check in. Don’t feel bad for me. Obviously, my point was missed by some. I was using my story as a metaphor for the comic industry as a whole.
Part of the reason comics are considered a low form of art is because of perception. That was the point of this article. Nothing more. “
December 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Just because Chris isn’t reading all of the comments doesn’t mean that they are not out there.
I’ve gotten nothing but pleasant responses back from the letterers I’ve talked about over the years.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Gotta love his use of bold font. Chris Eliopoulos is clearly a letterer’s letterer.