General question about comic books

[acrovader]

Not a big comic book collector, I own the original Micronauts comics, Logan's Run (Marvel), and various odds and ends from the 70's. Anyone know why miscellaneous words in the various panels seem to be darker than others? There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.

[ubermanx]

The printing process used in comics back then was not the best quality, most expensive so weirdness like that abounds ...

- Marty

[Mikey]

Maybe it's some sort of da vinCi Code written by a leonArdo wanna-be ?

[Brazoo]

The printing process used in comics back then was not the best quality, most expensive so weirdness like that abounds ...

- Marty

Yeah - I think it's that and also maybe just randomness of hand lettering. Of course now most comics are lettered using custom computer type.

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Unless acrovader is referring to occasional bolder words? Like in this scan you can see certain words are bolder trying to emulate the way people talk by emphasizing certain words:

[LonnieFisher]

The bolder words are to be read like italics. To show emphasis on the words. It shows you how to read it.

[knight errant00]

Not to hijack the thread, but as we've pointed out previously, look at that page and the composition and storytelling, and compare it to today . . . why's this lost now?

[LonnieFisher]

Today's comics are garbage, in my opinion. I hate the glossy paper and dark colors. I love old, four color, dot style printing.

[Hedji]

^ Same here. Wish they'd do old skool printed books for a cheaper price.

[acrovader]

The bolder words are to be read like italics. To show emphasis on the words. It shows you how to read it.

I thought about that. But it seems too random to be the case.

[LonnieFisher]

I thought about that. But it seems too random to be the case.

Maybe you just don't get the inflection it's supposed to represent? Take a picture and let's see exactly what you're talking about.

[LonnieFisher]

If you wrote, with inflection, English spoken by somebody with a heavy foreign accent would look very strange, because they sound that way. Jean Claude Van Damme has very strange inflection, if you know what I mean.

[acrovader]

Yeah - I think it's that and also maybe just randomness of hand lettering. Of course now most comics are lettered using custom computer type.

--

Unless acrovader is referring to occasional bolder words? Like in this scan you can see certain words are bolder trying to emulate the way people talk by emphasizing certain words:

It's like that. But it doesn't seem to be emphasizing certain words, at least the comics I have. It's too random. I suppose a case could be made for it being so, but there are words in bold that don't seem have any significance to what is being said.

[YoungOnce]

You make an interesting point... It doesn't seem to make much sense where the emphasis is placed if you go with the inflection theory... Especially in the Howard the Duck example given...

I wonder if certain words are emphasized as key words in the thought expressed, so someone reading quickly could grasp the intent more easily. The bolder words make it a little easier to quick-read and not get lost in a sea of words.

[LonnieFisher]

You make an interesting point... It doesn't seem to make much sense where the emphasis is placed if you go with the inflection theory... Especially in the Howard the Duck example given...

I think the bolder words in the Howard page are perfect for reading the inflection. Try reading it again.

[LonnieFisher]

Inflection changes the way something is perceived. Change the inflection in a spoken sentence and it changes the whole attitude given by the statement. A compliment can change into an insult by changing the emphasis on certain words.
Read these:
I want some ice cream.
I want some ice cream.
I want some ice cream.
I want some ice cream.
If the Howard page had different bold words, It would change the feeling of the statements.