Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface

The ABC of Fonts

by Simon Garfield

A compact and charming history about how Comic Sans emerged from speech bubbles on educational software to become one of the most recognized―and reviled―typefaces on earth

Since its improvised creation at Microsoft in the mid-1990s, Comic Sans has become one of the digital age's most used and discussed typefaces. The subject of April Fools pranks and endless internet discourse, it has spawned a movement to ban it, inspired revivals and spinoffs, and continues to be widely promoted by educators. Simon Garfield considers how the computer transformed type into something anyone could use and have an opinion on, explores how new fonts emerge with changing times and technology, and meets die-hard Comic Sans adherents and haters. He concludes the book by asking the unimaginable: Could Comic Sans now be the coolest typeface ever made?

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Art, Design, Historical

108 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2023

About the author

Simon Garfield is a British journalist and non-fiction author. He was educated at the independent University College School in Hampstead, London, and the London School of Economics, where he was the Executive Editor of The Beaver. He also regularly writes for The Observer newspaper.

Reviews

[Tess Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest I picked this book up for a laugh. I thought, ‘Comic Sans? A whole book about Comic Sans? Yeah I’ll read that.’ And well, now I have. Turns out it was a really interesting read too. Informative and witty.
At first I was somewhat disappointed and wondered why the book itself wasn’t printed in Comic Sans, however having now read the biography I feel the design choice in typeface was the correct one. I also find it interesting that I hold that opinion at all.
In its own small way, this book has changed my perspective on type and print. I didn’t expect that. I like it.

[anailime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy entretenido y escrito con gracia. Un repaso por la historia de la fuente más odiada. Te deja con ganas de usarla.

[Claire Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting - I actually learned a lot about a font I've taken for granted my whole life. Will definitely be seeking out the others in this series!

[Anders Eklöf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Comic Sans and why maybe it isn't that bad (in the right context), but also a lot about types in general. I'm not sure I will read the other books in the series directly, because it will feel a bit repetitive.

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I don't want a funeral announcement in Comic Sans"

tldr: society hates whimsy

this was a really interesting deep dive into the font when it actually focused on the history of the font, all the outrage that came from it, and some scientific studies surrounding it, however we lost the plot far too many times and delved into completely unrelated fonts. This would've done so much better as a chapter in a whole book about fonts, leaving the author less room to stray but still time to discuss all the fonts and how they all influenced each other

[Christina Brandsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a random little read. :)

In the way that I read lots of 'secret lives of...' books, this book could be called the secret life of Comic Sans. I learned lots of random things about typeface that I'd just not thought about before and that was fun. I also liked the little anecdotes involving this random font. I remember the first time I learned how hated Comic Sans was while living in Indiana in grad school, kinda like that time I learned what Reddit was. Anyway, this was fun, but probably not interesting enough to dive into the other font books in this series...at least for now.

interesting highlights:

chapter 9:
Type faces are the clothes that words wear

chapter 11:
Small scale studies have shown that faced with factual information in both easy to read and more consciously elaborate type faces, the latter process known as dysfluency requires deeper concentration and may increase memory retention

[Sean Kottke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurbs on the back cover about the author’s other books on typefaces suggested a far more rollicking and whimsical read than this book delivered. It just wasn’t focused much on telling a straightforward history of Comic Sans, instead sharing brief discourses on people and events related to Comic Sans, with a lot of references to other typefaces that it didn’t bother (or couldn’t?) provide samples for clear comparison. Would have preferred a deep, narrow dive into the vision and creative process behind the birth of this font.

[Mary Warnement · Rating 4 out of 5]

I questioned Garfield choosing Comic Sans for the C in his trilogy of typefaces but immediately realized it offered the most scope for comment. What typeface is more controversial? He doesn't ask that question, probably because he doesn't have to.

31 Zapf first called Palatino, Medici
Georgia and Verdana both created by Matthew Carter at Microsoft in the 1990s.
Webding lowercase m will show as a levitating man

I repeat, I would enjoy more in the series, even if it would be too much to ask for a full alphabet.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comic Sans has come full circle. The font that has been ridiculed and even banned has become a post-modern wonder, where all are aware of the irony or messaging of its usage, a feat that few other fonts have achieved.

Clap clap clap!

Interesting interviews with the fonts designer, as well as a short yet nostalgic walk down the digital typography design hall of fame. Part of a series-I’ll gladly seek out the others.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book is a part of a series on various typefaces, and I have not read any others in the series. This volume seemed a bit superficial, but I think it may be because it's part of a series. I wanted a bit more opinion, more than just a quick report on a couple who hated the font.

[Sam Hutteman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a quick read packed with information! I love microhistory books because it's the only nonfiction I can find myself able to read, and the fact that this one is part of a series makes it even better.

[Steven Minniear · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had read this as the first in the series I might have given it four stars. As it was the second (I read Baskerville first), this was not as novel as I expected. And there was some(necessary) redundancy. Still glad I read it. I will read Albertus next.

[Christian Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with a level of detail I didn't expect, this book addresses the design and usage of Comic Sans. The author wanders a bit with some of the stories but manages to keep it interesting throughout.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to learn much more about typefaces.

[Christine Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It was a short, fun, and an interesting microhistory on Comic Sans. It definitely makes me want to read the others in the series.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the tiniest hardback book I think I have ever seen which intrigued me. Short read but interesting.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, although I was a little confused about why the book itself wasn't presented in the text it was talking about. I did learn a lot about Comic Sans and other fonts. I would be open to exploring other books by the same author.

[Cassia]

A really fun and quick read filling me in on a font I've heard a lot about but really knew very little about!

[Audrey Trainor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally liked this book and hovered over 3 and 4 stars for a bit. I liked the tone and the book is full of interesting facts about fonts, which I find fascinating through I am neither a graphic artist or designer. I rated it three stars because the writing was a choppy and there are few transitions for flow. On the other hand, it is funny and direct.