Discussion

By Joe Treacy on Dec 08, 2023

Frank, it’s fascinating to discover in your story, how proportionally spaced “strike-on” typewriter type was legitimized for typesetting by this book.

While as you mention, its popularity eventually waned, one area where it continued to flourish throughout the ‘60s to the ‘80s was in homegrown comic fanzine publishing.

These often very low press run fanzines were published worldwide and were home to some of the most unique and creative comics and the alternative comix storytelling. And sometimes printed on mimeograph or early photocopiers.

By people who both wanted totally personal control (long before desktop publishing became available), with this “cold type” approach. And who likely felt they couldn’t afford their local typographer’s services.

Today, many of these self-published fanzines typeset with typewriter and sometimes dry transfer “rub-down” or cutout lettering that have survived are seen as very rare and often highly valuable.

For many of your graphic arts readers, dabbling in comics fanzine self-publishing for awhile (as I had so much fun doing) might’ve been one of the pivotal inspirational moments on the path to their own graphic arts careers.

Joe Treacy
President & Director of Typography
Treacyfaces.com