‘Comic’ in the dictionary, reads as follows:
Figure 1. oxforddictionaries.com
You tell me... how or in what form does comic sans make you laugh or relate to the style of comedy?? What is comical about it? seriously? ...Maybe if it was created as a joke? To single out the stupids from the intellectuals? If in that case, it would be pretty funny.
But it wasn't.
Comic Sans was created by Vincent Connare in 1994 for use for windows Microsoft BOB for an animated cartoon dog that would help guide people through the world of Microsoft. He took inspiration for the font from his comic books, The Dark Knight Returns (lettered by John Costanza) and Watchmen (lettered by Dave Gibbons). It was supplied with Microsoft Windows since the introduction of Windows 95 and went downhill from there.
Figure 2. techiferous.com
This childish, eye-watering font was found on the tags of beanie babies, the movie poster for ‘Sin City’ and games such as ‘The Sims’ and ‘Kingdom of Hearts’. To an extent, some of these could be excused... but then ‘excused’ turns to just outright stupidity when it started getting majorly misused and being applied to serious, formal applications, such as these seen below.
Figure 3. comicsanscriminal.com and flickr.com
As you can see, everything it touches turns to ashes. Firstly, It is not professional. There is nothing about this font that will make anyone take it seriously. There is no such thing as a legal document typed in this font. That would be like going for a job interview for an aesthetic plastic surgeon dressed as a clown. As soon as you apply this font to something, you lose all credibility.
''Sending emails in Times is the equivalent of dressing professionally for a meeting — unlike Comic Sans’ lounging about in your sweat pants'' - thursdaybram.com
Its not just the blatant ugliness of the type but the inconsistent weighting and kerning of the type also, which breaks the flow of reading. Here is an image comparing it to the much-loved Helvetica, and you can see for yourself.
Figure 4. kadavy.net
Anyone that wants to communicate what they are saying using Comic Sans, cannot be looking for a big audience... I feel a font reflects on who you are and what you are trying to say, if you want to go through life sounding and looking like a child, well go ahead, but not many people are going to pay attention to what you have to say.
It hurts my eyes, and when I see this font, I look away. Simple as that. I am not the only one to think this either... I have found several ‘anti comic sans’ websites such as, bancomicsans.com, comicsanscriminal.com and even a ‘kill comic sans’ game! I have discovered various merchandise promoting the ban of this dreadful font, for example, mugs, phone covers, clothing, bags, badges and clothing.
Figure 5. bancomicsans.com
I even took to the world of twitter, to find some more views on this 'comical' font, and the proof is in the pudding! It is a worldwide, ongoing joke...
...and so on and so forth.
French designers Thomas Blanc and Florian Amoneau, have sought to spark a movement to actually promote Comic Sans and make people fall in love with it. Their new Tumblr, entitled the ‘Comic Sans Project’, tries to defend this much-hated font by applying it to some of the world’s most recognisable logos (bear in mind, it was meant for a cartoon dog).
Figure 6. comicsansproject.tumblr.com
As you can see... its failing miserably. How can any of these images make people want to use it?! all professionalism is completely lost.
Look at Chanel for example... well established in haute couture, that specialises in selling expensive, luxury goods... when using comic sans in its logo completely changes that... it begins to look cheap and tacky, something that would definitely not be linked to high expenditure or style. How can Blanc or Amoneau think they are doing this font any favours?!
Figure 7. hubpages.com and comicsansproject.tumblr.com
School teachers and high school students often describe Comic Sans as a ‘fun font'. I very much doubt that slapping it on your science test will make anyone want to read it any more than usual. And using it to spice up a worksheet or plastering it all over the walls of your classroom will definitely not make ‘learning fun’.
''Yes, it might have seemed ‘fun’ and ‘quirky’ back in 1994 when it first became widely available but then so did acid-wash jeans, Hammer-pants and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' - sabotagetimes.com
Comic Sans cannot be redeemed, and nothing will make this font acceptable. There is no situation, and in no context will this look in any way good. If I find an extra apostrophe or comma lying around a piece of work, I can overlook it, as spell check can miss those things. Using Comic Sans... You had to select all and choose it from a drop down menu. You chose it. So there are no excuses!
Someone who made this awful decision in 2010 was Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert, who wrote an open letter to the fans of the Cavaliers, explaining that their star player, LeBron James, had left. Bear in mind he was very angry while writing this but for probably one of the most important letters he would write in his whole career, he could have taken a bit more consideration before broadcasting it to the public, and creating an uproar about his choice of presentation.
Figure 8. geekosystem.com/dan-gilbert-comic-sans
More fuss was actually created over the use of this font rather than the situation discussed, and continues to be a key part in the story of this atrocious typeface. Just goes to show how strong the anti-comic sans allegiance really is.
Finally... its all done and well saying its true purpose is for comic books, how its been majorly misused, but that is where it should really be found... but have you ever even seen a comic book with this font in it?? Even THOSE are embarrassed to use it. So for those people planning on writing a comic book any time soon... here are some alternative fonts that will lower the percentage of bleeding retinas... as I truly believe this font has no purpose.
We really need to nip this ever-growing problem in the bud and get it banned from all programs aimed at people over the age of 9 years old and help make the world a more beautiful place.
Bibliography
Websites
Matt Dempsey (No published date). Comic Sans Criminal. Available: http://comicsanscriminal.com/. Last accessed 18th January 2012
We Are Cephalization (No published date). Comic Sans Project. Available: http://comicsansproject.tumblr.com. Last accessed 6th February 2012
Brian Hoff (2008) Why Designers Hate Comic Sans. Available: http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/12/why-exactly-designers-hate-comic-sans/. Last accessed 8th February 2012
BBC News (2012) BBC News – Do typefaces really matter? Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10689931. Last accessed 20th February 2012
Thursday Bram. (2007). Rant: Don’t use Comic Sans!. Available: http://www.thursdaybram.com/rant-dont-use-comic-sans. Last accessed 14th February 2012
Mike Lacher (No published date). I’m comic sans, asshole. Available: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-comic-sans-asshole. Last accessed 27th January 2012
Books and Magazines
Simon Garfield (2011). Just My Type: A Book About Fonts. Profile Books.
Design Week (2008). Comic Interlude, Vincent Connare’s take on type. London: Unknown publisher.
Websites
Matt Dempsey (No published date). Comic Sans Criminal. Available: http://comicsanscriminal.com/. Last accessed 18th January 2012
We Are Cephalization (No published date). Comic Sans Project. Available: http://comicsansproject.tumblr.com. Last accessed 6th February 2012
Brian Hoff (2008) Why Designers Hate Comic Sans. Available: http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/12/why-exactly-designers-hate-comic-sans/. Last accessed 8th February 2012
BBC News (2012) BBC News – Do typefaces really matter? Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10689931. Last accessed 20th February 2012
Thursday Bram. (2007). Rant: Don’t use Comic Sans!. Available: http://www.thursdaybram.com/rant-dont-use-comic-sans. Last accessed 14th February 2012
Mike Lacher (No published date). I’m comic sans, asshole. Available: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-comic-sans-asshole. Last accessed 27th January 2012
Books and Magazines
Simon Garfield (2011). Just My Type: A Book About Fonts. Profile Books.
Design Week (2008). Comic Interlude, Vincent Connare’s take on type. London: Unknown publisher.
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