The Harbinger #1 Spotlight: Lettering Part 1

The Harbinger #1 Cover A by Robbi Rodriguez

  

 

In The Harbinger #1, letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou kicks off the series, and this first issue, in grand style. Immediately we see a thought bubble, accompanied by the writing, "Be Better." The thought bubble is colored orange, whereas in the next panel, it's colored light blue.

 

The words "Be Better" at first seems like sky-writing. Later, we realize they've been chalked or painted onto the roof of the damaged building.

As will soon become apparent, these two colors of thought bubbles indicate a conversation is taking place. The light blue ones come from the man we see, the man we used to know as Peter Stanchek. But who do the orange ones belong to?

 

The fact that no bubbles trail from the blue thought balloons seems like an innovation of Hassan's.

 

When Peter dives off the twisted building, not only does this thought-conversation continue, but writing appears in the sky. Is Peter thinking this, or screaming it in exhilaration? Most likely, it's an expression of his feelings in the moment. 

The way his feelings give way to words that wrap symmetrically around the building, completing the arc of objects falling along with Peter on the opposite side, gives the panel a pleasing look.

The "Woooo" in this series of panels seems less a sound effect than a dialogue balloon. It's jagged and irregular. Yet it trails above Peter as he falls, the letters shrinking as his body gets progressively smaller. 

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou explores many innovative lettering techniques in The Harbinger #1. I've taken a selection of examples from the initial preview pages. Already, they're enough to signal he's pushing the envelope in his chosen craft, and expanding the boundaries of this often overlooked art form.

Dragon Dave