It’s actually beyond belief, the extent to which the comic industry is kicking me down at the moment. Almost seems personal at this stage. But it will never succeed. Ever. I don’t give up and I’m not going anywhere.
Simon Bowland
@simonbowland.bsky.social
Award-winning letterer on 2000AD, BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT, ARCADIA, THE BAT-MAN: SECOND KNIGHT, THE HAB, SALVATION'S CHILD & more! AVAILABLE FOR WORK • contact simon@simonbowland.co.uk www.studiobowland.com
It’s actually beyond belief, the extent to which the comic industry is kicking me down at the moment. Almost seems personal at this stage. But it will never succeed. Ever. I don’t give up and I’m not going anywhere.
With 23 years of continuous work as a letterer, and over 30 years of print/production experience, I’m now unable to find any new lettering work in comics. Please keep me in mind when staffing your creator-owned projects and please consider requesting me on your WFH projects 🙏
Very happy that two of my best friends in the industry, @blambot.bsky.social and @tayloresposito.bsky.social, have both been shortlisted for Best Letterer in this year's @ringoawards.bsky.social! Although... I can only vote for one of them... 😬
Also always worth mentioning: the first draft of lettering is NOT your opportunity to make sweeping changes. You fix mistakes at that stage, you do not rewrite your script. Letterers get paid once. Treating a lettering draft as a rewrite draft is stealing time and money from the letterer.
Around 25% left to raise and a week left to do it. If you enjoyed these two you're in for a great comics time. Any shares or support greatly appreciated. #comics #comicbooks #sciencefiction #sciencefictionart #scifi #scifiart #sciencefictionwriter #blackandwhiteart #crowdfunding
Jordan Thomas@jordanthomas.bsky.social · last mo.The campaign for the new graphic novel by the team that brought you MUGSHOTS and EXORCISM ISLAND is now live! Aliens, government conspiracies, Nazis and terrible choices in 1930s England Jump in now for early bird offers and rare variants Shares appreciated! www.kickstarter.com/projects/bur...
I won't be at SDCC in person, but I will be there in spirit/a new comic! Thanks to @mikhalmc.bsky.social, Tom Derenick, @simonbowland.bsky.social, and up-and-coming cover artist @jimlee.bsky.social for making it all happen. Details at the link. variety.com/2026/tv/news...
‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ Limited Edition DC Comic Book, Experiential Space for Fans Planned for San Diego Comic-Con (EXCLUSIVE)
'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe' limited edition DC comic book will be passed out at San Diego Comic-Con.
variety.com
Also, if you read this and think, "Wow, the lettering is straight fire," consider @simonbowland.bsky.social for your next comics project. Lettering will make or break a book and Simon's work is top notch.
Judge Dredd Megazine 494 is out on 15th July - featuring ROGUE TROOPER: AN ITERATION OF ALLIES, Part Two by: 📝 Script: @andiewington.bsky.social ✏️ Art: Sinu Senan 🎨 Colours: @jimboswell.bsky.social 💬 Letters: @simonbowland.bsky.social Subscribe now ➡️ https://bit.ly/2Ws04uc
It's nice that so many folks have reached out to say "we're surprised that you're unable to find any lettering work". I'm not surprised, more disappointed. Seems my serious illness at the back-end of last year (100% recovered now and have been for six months) turned a lot of editors away from me.
It's nice that so many folks have reached out to say "we're surprised that you're unable to find any lettering work". I'm not surprised, more disappointed. Seems my serious illness at the back-end of last year (100% recovered now and have been for six months) turned a lot of editors away from me.
Emphasis on the "pro" part. If you need recommendations, and I'm not available, just ask me. In fact, I'll give you a free one right now. You can't go wrong with @simonbowland.bsky.social!
Jason Copland@jasoncopland.bsky.social · last mo.Don’t destroy your painstakingly written and drawn comic with bad lettering. Hire a pro letterer.
BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #4 is in shops today. Written and drawn by me. Colors by Romulo Fajardo jr. Letters by @simonbowland.bsky.social. This is the finale. I’d love to do more with any of these characters.
Preview pages from ARCADIA #4, written and drawn by @gabrielhardman.bsky.social and lettered by me. On sale this Wednesday, 1st July! Edited by @conroyforreal.bsky.social, published by @dc.com. If anyone out there likes my lettering work, I'm available for hire! Contact details in bio!
I'm fairly pleased with how these turned out - lettered this morning for @2000ad.bsky.social. #comics #lettering #StudioBowland
I'm fairly pleased with how these turned out - lettered this morning for @2000ad.bsky.social. #comics #lettering #StudioBowland
Preview pages from ARCADIA #4, written and drawn by @gabrielhardman.bsky.social and lettered by me. On sale this Wednesday, 1st July! Edited by @conroyforreal.bsky.social, published by @dc.com. If anyone out there likes my lettering work, I'm available for hire! Contact details in bio!
This is great advice. I juggled my freelance work alongside a day job for months, until I was beyond certain that I could find enough freelance work to pay my bills every month.
🇦🇷 Taylor Esposito, multi award winning pro letterer & educator@tayloresposito.bsky.social · last mo.Word of advice I've given to people who wanted to be freelancers: if you can't be sure that you can consistently get work/have money coming in, don't become a freelancer. It sounds harsh, but you really don't want to be caught with your pants down.
In case you missed HIDDEN SPRINGS #1 from @nilvendrell.bsky.social Berta Sastre, @simonbowland.bsky.social & me, here's some of our reviews. Ask your comic shop for #2 this week.
Instead of getting whoever you were going to get, hire Simon.
Simon Bowland@simonbowland.bsky.social · 2mo agoBeing unable to find new lettering work in the comic industry is becoming a depression-inducing, demoralising, and ultimately unsuccessful task. Not giving up, though. Ever.
In another two weeks it will be TWENTY YEARS since I started lettering for @2000ad.bsky.social, which means I've hit just under ONE THOUSAND consecutive weekly deadlines without missing a single one of them. #comics #lettering #reliable #dependable
In another two weeks it will be TWENTY YEARS since I started lettering for @2000ad.bsky.social, which means I've hit just under ONE THOUSAND consecutive weekly deadlines without missing a single one of them. #comics #lettering #reliable #dependable
Being unable to find new lettering work in the comic industry is becoming a depression-inducing, demoralising, and ultimately unsuccessful task. Not giving up, though. Ever.
I'm always looking for an excuse to work with Simon - you should too!
Simon Bowland@simonbowland.bsky.social · 4mo agoWith 23 years of continuous work as a letterer, and over 30 years of print/production experience, I’m now unable to find any new lettering work in comics. Please keep me in mind when staffing your creator-owned projects and please consider requesting me on your WFH projects 🙏
I also recommend @simonbowland.bsky.social, who has lettered multiple projects I’ve written. I’ve been delighted by the results every time. Simon’s skill, talent, professionalism and responsiveness are all top-notch. Get you some Bowland lettering, editors.
Gail Simone@gailsimone.bsky.social · 4mo agoOkay, this sucks, award-winning letterer @simonbowland.bsky.social, one of the best in the business and the first name I suggest when editors ask, is dry of work at the moment. Simon is EXCELLENT, always tasteful with great impact. If you need a letterer, this is one of the best. Recommended!
Okay, this sucks, award-winning letterer @simonbowland.bsky.social, one of the best in the business and the first name I suggest when editors ask, is dry of work at the moment. Simon is EXCELLENT, always tasteful with great impact. If you need a letterer, this is one of the best. Recommended!
Simon Bowland@simonbowland.bsky.social · 4mo agoWith 23 years of continuous work as a letterer, and over 30 years of print/production experience, I’m now unable to find any new lettering work in comics. Please keep me in mind when staffing your creator-owned projects and please consider requesting me on your WFH projects 🙏
Simon is a fantastic letterer. If you've enjoyed THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK, you've been treated to some of his wonderful work. It's very scary that somebody who is this good at their job and well-liked in the industry is struggling to find gigs.
Simon Bowland@simonbowland.bsky.social · 4mo agoWith 23 years of continuous work as a letterer, and over 30 years of print/production experience, I’m now unable to find any new lettering work in comics. Please keep me in mind when staffing your creator-owned projects and please consider requesting me on your WFH projects 🙏
Being unable to find new lettering work in the comic industry is becoming a depression-inducing, demoralising, and ultimately unsuccessful task. Not giving up, though. Ever.