I beg your indulgence for a few moments, but I’m going to totally abuse my ability to post things on this blog for a second in an effort to maybe get an answer to a question I’ve wrestled with for years.
When I first started writing about comics and kept finding the word “penciler” popping up in spell checks, I went to whichever comics were handy to check the credit boxes for the correct spelling, and started to notice a pattern that I couldn’t find any explanation or rationale for.
Over the years I’ve asked friends and professionals about it before, and gotten confirmation that it’s not just in my head, but never an explanation as to why it is so. Since so many industry players, watchers and participants read Blog@, I thought I’d ask here as well, in the hopes of finally putting my mind to ease about it.
So here goes: Why is it that DC Comics are drawn by “pencillers” (with two L’s) while Marvel Comics are drawn by “pencilers” (with one L)?
May 7th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Maybe the same reason “through” always used to be spelled “thru” in old Marvel comics.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I have thought about this, it’s annoying, I think that because there is no official right spelling they each just picked one and stuck with it, probably just coincidental that the spellings they chose are different, I prefer I L myself.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I use one L – “penciler.” I’ve actually thought about this, and here’s my reasoning: Keeping in mind that English doesn’t have very many steadfast rules, the rule I think applies in this case is that a double consonant would only be applied on a two-syllable word if the stress is on the second syllable, like in controller or beginner. In “pencil,” the stress is on the first syllable, so I think there should be only one L, like in traveler.
We don’t get help from the dictionary because the word “penciler” isn’t used in the general public, so I suppose either is correct. All rules have exceptions, and whoever coined the phrase should have written it down for all of us. But until I hear otherwise, I’ll continue to use penciler with one L myself. Make mine Marvel in this case.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I would bet back in the mists, someone didn’t know how to spell it for sure, knew that there were two ways, looked at the competition’s book, and went the opposite ways. There have been decisions made in comics based on sillier rationale.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Whoa.
And with one question, the space-time continuum is rent.
Worlds will live.
Worlds will die.
And nothing will ever be the same again.
(And in case anyone’s wondering, I’m being slightly hyperbolic but not sarcastic. I’ve never noticed this before and now my OCD is going to itch like all get out until I hear an official explanation.)
May 7th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
At last some real issues to tackle!
Yes, I’ve noticed this for years and it’s always bugged me that it’s not an actual word according to English-language dictionaries, and that there is that inconsistency. I never noticed the DC/Marvel discrepancy though. How do Image and Dark Horse spell it? What about other publishers? Maybe we can find a semblance of a consensus.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Because once, long ago, Stan Lee got all the Marvel artists together and beat the L out of them.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I’m with Vaneta on this one – I’ve always used one L because it’s just like “traveler” or “canceled.”
May 7th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Ah, but “traveller” and “cancelled” are also acceptable, if older and usually British, spellings. That’s what it is — “penciller” is an older spelling of “penciler,” and both are still acceptable. Seems DC goes with the classic spelling and Marvel is a little more open to new spelling. Can it be used as a metaphor? Perhaps!
May 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
The problem with “traveler” and “canceled” is that those are (I presume) English (US) spellings.
The UK English spelling for each of them is traveller and cancelled.
So maybe it’s a British things to have 2 Ls?
May 7th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Lois Lane
Lana Lang
Lex Luthor
Linda Lee
Lucy Lane
etc.
It’s a DC thing.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Yeah, I’m going to second what the commenters above me have said. I’m pretty sure it’s a British vs American spelling thing, or older spelling custom.
“Traveller” is British, “traveler” is (apparently) American. It could also be just a variation that’s acceptable either way, like “co-operation” or “cooperation”. Not to mention that Penciller/penciler is only in one of the two dictionaries I just checked in (well, Firefox spell check set on Canadian English spelling, and my Macbook’s Dictionary program).
Personally, just one “L” by itself looks wrong to my eyes. Then again, I am Canadian and thus very confused about spelling customs in general!
May 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I like it classic. So double l for me.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I fully expect a massive world-changing DC crossover written by Grant Morrison with metaphors as to why this is.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I’m like Maddy and think the single L looks odd. Could also be related to why they use super hero and super-hero at each company, but I doubt they ahve copyright reasons for penciller and penciler. Stuff like this is why I use artist when I refer to them.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Apple’s Dashboard dictionary recognizes the one L version, but not the two. Perhaps, in this case, DC stands for Didn’t Corroborate.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
So the answer is one l because America is the best. That’s all we need to know. And I was on the winning side! USA! USA!
May 8th, 2009 at 3:51 am
I can’t believe someone noticed this, I still can’t keep the two spellings straight, but you are correct that both companies do it differently. It’s simply down to a style choice.
As for the other companies:
Dark Horse spells it better than both companies, but it’s with Stormtroopers and it’s already optioned for a movie.
Image spells it very well, but the E, N and the L are no longer with the company for and P says Marvel stole the word from them in the first place.
May 8th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Maybe this should be one of the 20 questions to ask Dan DiDio. Too bad Joey Q stopped My Cup O’ Joe, otherwise we could have asked him, as well.
Personally, I think Richard Hatcher is on to something with the 2 l’s being a DC thing.
May 10th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I have noticed this too, and the comments in this entry were certainly an eye openere.