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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 14/09/2026

Quite pleased with how this burst balloon turned out this morning... #comics #lettering #NoAI

A burst balloon from comic book lettering, with the character shouting the word "MURDERER" in big, bold, red letters.

Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 30/06/2026

I'm fairly pleased with how these turned out - lettered this morning for @2000ad.bsky.social. #comics #lettering #StudioBowland

Example of comic book lettering from the weekly 2000AD comic

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 29/06/2026

Preview pages from ARCADIA #4, written and drawn by @gabrielhardman.bsky.social and lettered by me. On sale this Wednesday, 1st July! Edited by @conroyforreal.bsky.social, published by @dc.com. If anyone out there likes my lettering work, I'm available for hire! Contact details in bio!

Preview page from a forthcoming comic book called ARCADIA, published by DC Comics, on sale this week.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 11/06/2026

Pretty happy with how both of these turned out during yesterday's work day... #lettering #comics

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 04/06/2026

I was pleased with how this balloon turned out. Lettering taken from the forthcoming ARCADIA #4, written and drawn by @gabrielhardman.bsky.social, published by @dc.com. The issue sadly appears to be my final work for DC for the foreseeable future. Hope I can work there again one day.

A bespoke lettering balloon for a dying character, taken from a forthcoming DC comic book.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 20/05/2026

Interior pages lettered by me and coloured by the amazing @pippabowland.bsky.social!

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 05/05/2026

It takes more time, but for me it's always important to keep the lettering off the artwork as much as possible. In this example, rather than stick the balloon over the character's head, I've masked it behind his hair. I always enjoy the challenge of keeping the art clean & clear. #comics #lettering

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 01/05/2026

Too many letterers these days ignore the Line of Sight rule, whereby balloons should not block the line of sight between two speaking characters. In this example, I show how a little bit of thought on my part keeps the eye contact open between the two characters who have dialogue. #comics #lettering

An example of a comic book page where the lettering deliberately avoids blocking the line of sight between two characters

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 16/04/2026

I'm hugely proud of my wife @pippabowland.bsky.social's colour work on ANCESTRAL RECALL, on sale now from @ahoycomicmags.bsky.social. I personally don't think Pip hasn't been given enough credit for the work she's brought to this series so I want to change that 😊

Preview page from ANCESTRAL RECALL comic book

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 01/10/2025

Pleased with how this balloon came out. Taken from pt5 of the current BRASS SUN saga in @2000ad.bsky.social. Written by Ian Edginton, drawn and coloured by the brilliant @injculbard.bsky.social, lettered by me.

Comic book lettering, showcasing a character vomiting.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 18/02/2025

Keep the lettering off the art! This took me much longer than if I'd simply placed the text in the upper right of the panel, but it's kept all of the lettering off the speaking character.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 30/01/2025

Keeping some John Costanza lettering open on my screen today while I work - for inspiration. I always feel that John's lettering was hugely underrated, taken for granted almost. But for me, his work was some of the very best.

Example of comic book lettering from the 1980s, by letterer John Costanza.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 22/11/2024

To enlarge - if you have Photoshop - open Image Size and untick "Resample", and then adjust the width/height percentages to what you're after. You'll see the resolution reduce as you enlarge the image, and as long as that doesn't dip below 300dpi, it will still print fine.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 23/10/2024

First time in my 21 year career that I only have enough lettering work to keep me at my desk part-time. So if you're starting up a project and you need a letterer, please consider hiring me or recommending me to your editor/publisher! It was nice being part-time for a week, but now it's terrifying.

Samples of Simon Bowland's comic book lettering.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 11/10/2024

I'm pleased with how I made this off-panel dialogue work, using an angled balloon tail. Taken from GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: THE KRYPTONIAN AGE #6, published by DC Comics, written by @andydiggle.bsky.social, drawn by Leo Fernandez and @matthollingsworth.bsky.social.

An example of an off-panel balloon tail from a comic book panel.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 22/09/2024

Seems my work for GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT has got me nominated for Best Letterer in the 2024 Tripwire Awards - my first-ever industry nomination! Please keep me in mind when you're casting your votes! tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/tr...

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 05/04/2024

Always worth reposting these 2000AD art guidelines from time to time. Anyone wanting to work as a comic book artist, for any publisher, needs to take all of these onboard...

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 05/03/2024

On sale today: THE BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT #1, written by Dan Jurgens, art by Mike Perkins, coloured by Mike Spicer, lettered by me, published by DC Comics.

Preview pages from THE BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT issue 1, published by DC Comics, on sale from today.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 30/01/2024

I'm very proud to be lettering THE BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT for Dan Jurgens, @mikeperkins.bsky.social, Mike Spicer, Ben Abernathy, @marquisdraper.bsky.social, @conroyforreal.bsky.social, and DC Comics. FOC is 4th Feb, on sale date is 5th March. 3 issues, 46 pages per issue!

Preview page from the upcoming BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT comic book.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 11/10/2023

I've had a fairly major project unexpectedly drop off my schedule, so I have a 96-page gap to fill in October/November - please keep me in mind if you're staffing a new project or just in need of a letterer.

A sample page of comic book lettering by Simon Bowland

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 07/08/2023

Go the extra mile. Mask the SFX behind the action. From this week's episode of HERSHEY. Written by @robwilliams71.bsky.social, drawn by @simonfraser.bsky.social, lettered by me, published by 2000AD.

A large, powerful sound effect masked behind the gunshots.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 07/08/2023

First task for Monday: wrapping up the lettering on the final issue of SAUCER COUNTRY for @paulcornell.bsky.social, Ryan Kelly, @pippabowland.bsky.social, @chrisryall.bsky.social, and @wearezoop.bsky.social.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 03/08/2023

Thursday! Wrapping up the lettering on IDW's HUNGER & THE DUSK #4 for @gwillow.me and @chriswildgoose.bsky.social. I love working on this book so much! Issue #1 is on sale right now, in case you wanted to pick it up. Here's a peek from issue #4 (colours by Msassyk)...

Summer. Night. SEV sits beside a campfire, frowning over his lute as he puzzles out a song.

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Simon Bowland @simon.studiobowland.com · 04/07/2023

Hello, new Bluesky folks! I'm Simon Bowland, I've been lettering comics full-time for the past 20 years, and I'm looking for new projects from August onwards. I can be requested via your editor, or contacted directly via the email in my profile. Thank you!

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