The Harbinger #3 Lettering

 

The Harbinger #3 Cover B by Adam Pollina

With each new issue, letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou finds new ways to astound us. That's certainly the case with The Harbinger #3.

First off, notice how Peter says "They have Ago, Cici," in the panels below. He stresses the name Ago, telling us that he sees the young hero as important to Psiot City. Intriguingly, he links the dialogue balloon with the two in the panel to the right. The balloon's placement suggests the sentence is an immediate response to Cici. Yet the way they are linked suggests the statement could follow the dialogue balloon in the balloon on the upper right as well.

Here's another innovation from Hassan. As artist Robbi Rodriguez is giving us a close-up view of Peter's new mask, Hassan notches into the dialogue balloons of Peter and Cici. It's the opposite of a letterer's normal usual dialogue balloon and arrow treatment.

When for the first time, Robbi gives us a full-page reveal of Peter's new uniform, Hassan splits the issue's title. The upper portion reflects the psiot energy bursting from Peter's eyes, as well as the yellow accents Cici has applied with a can of spray paint. The bottom portion of the titles reflect Peter's striking new red jacket. 

Instead of tapping into the minds of everyone in Psiot City, Peter finds a new way to locate the super-powered team known as The Warning. Hassan demonstrates how Peter does this--by changing the density of the air around him--by suggesting the rows of letters are being sloshed around by powerful, invisible waves.

In The Harbinger #3, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continues his innovating approach to the often-overlooked letterer's art, all-the-while bringing us deeper into the incredible world of the psiot.

Dragon Dave