The Sunday Spotlight – The ‘You Will Wonder How He Does It!’ Edition
by Richard Bruton
Time to kick back, forget about world events for a moment, put the existential angst and sense of impending doom to one side and bask in a little bit of comics news that you (or indeed I) might have missed – it’s The Sunday Spotlight …
VISIT THE VAST REPOSITORY OF COMICS’ CALLIGRAPHIC KNOWLEDGE THAT IS TODD KLEIN’S WEBSITE…
Too often overlooked, the work of the letterer is vital to making comics all they can be. One of the greatest of all letterers is Todd Klein, who’s worked everywhere, with everyone, lettering more comics than you could imagine, alongside creating some of the most memorable logos for comics across the decades since first getting his break at DC Comics in the late 1970s.
Over on his website and blog, Klein writes with fascinating detail about the work he’s been involved in over the years. There’s his online book, The Art And History Of Lettering Comics, and regular blog posts on his work over the years, such as an alphabetical look at the logos he’s created – the latest takes in Promethea to Ragnarok. Essential reading.
HIGH-VIS COMICS FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR 2026 – KING’S HEATH, BIRMINGHAM, UK — 19 SEPTEMBER…
Organised by Olly MacNamee, one of the eds here at Comicon (who wouldn’t dream of promoting it himself here — but I can) is putting on another High Vis Comic Con in King’s Heath in Birmingham UK. A much welcome return. Mark your calendars – 19th of September.
Several guests already announced, more to come. More details at the soon-to-be-updated website (right, Olly?) and across the High Vis socials — Insta, Twitter/X, Facebook.
LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMICS ART FESTIVAL’S LATEST BETWEEN THE LINES COMIC MAGAZINE OUT NOW…
The Lakes International Comics Art Festival (LICAF) is, as I never get tired of telling you, is one of the best comics festivals in the world. It and Thought Bubble dominate the Comics Festival calendar in the UK, both of them providing comic fans of all kinds with exactly the sort of comics-focused event we deserve.
Well, LICAF also publishes a regular digital and free comics mag, Between the Lines, full of festival news and a hell of a lot of features on comics, especially focusing on LICAF guests. A must-read.
CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE BISSETTE — COMICS LAUREATE OF VERMONT…
Congratulations to comic artist and writer Stephen R. Bissette, who will be appointed Vermont’s sixth Cartoonist Laureate.
You will know him from his incendiary run on Saga of the Swamp Thing, but his publishing ventures gave us the quite criminally under-appreciated Taboo, and then there was his sadly never really continued Tyrant. Of course, that’s just three moments in a decades-long career in comics, including hugely important work in creators’ rights and as one of the founding faculty member at Vermont’s Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS).
Cartoonist, comics creator, publisher, teacher, advocate, scholar, and all-around legend — it’s good to see Bissette take up this three-year post, taking over from current Cartoonist Laureate Tillie Walden. He’ll take up the post on April 9 at the State House, with Bissette presenting the devotional to open the day’s proceedings on the House floor. A resolution honouring Bissette co-sponsored by Windsor representatives John Bartholomew and Elizabeth Burrows, will be read.
GO WATCH — HORROR MANGA THAT TRANSCENDS BORDERS: JUNJI ITO…
The master of Japanese Manga horror, Junji Ito is globally renowned as a man who can terrify you through his tales and his imagery. Through works such as Uzamaki, Gyi, and Tomie he’s brought me countless shivers. He finally achieved his rightful place in the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in 2025.
This is a 15-minute film all about the man, his art, and what inspires him. An absolutely essential way to spend 15 minutes of your time. Go watch it here. (Link from the always worth a read LinkMachineGo.)
