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Reposted by Ariana Maher

anker @thecojsz.bsky.social · 4d

my friend Jackson at @kitenda.bsky.social, a trans woman refugee in South Sudan, fell ill with malaria last week.

thankfully she's on the mend now, but i'm too broke rn to help her with her medical bills orz

if you wanna help out, every tiny bit counts!! www.gofundme.com/f/lgbtq-comm...

Donate to Support Freedom Spectrum of East Africa, organized by Anker Emil Novak-Tot

Donate to help 429 LGBTQ+ refugees establish a safe home for their commun… Anker Emil Novak-Tot needs your support for Support Freedom Spectrum of East Africa

www.gofundme.com

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 9h

I remember when I first saw a し～ん silent panel in a manga. I was so confused at first and then I learned what it meant and never forgot after.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 9h

Yeah! Exactly! I guess when I say design language, it's more like... different accents? Anyone can pick up a comic and figure out word balloons, SFX, etc, but different types such manga, euro and western print comics, webcomics, etc. have different design details that a reader has to adapt to.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 10h

That's awesome!

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 10h

That's why it tends to be a relief when I spot a review on a comic I've worked on and no one has anything to say about my lettering. I figure, if they don't notice anything, that probably means I didn't do a bad job. Which is good enough, in my books.

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Reposted by Ariana Maher

Push/Pull Seattle @pushpullseattle.bsky.social · 13h

Also! ICYMI! We got a big ol' Microcosm Publishing order in last week, along with a bunch of fun stuff from Free Period Press, including new coloring books! Lots of good stuff!! Go look!

Shelf full of various Microcosm titles on display, including several queer horror anthologies.

Various coloring books on display, including books called Queer Animals & Plants and Mushroom Daydream.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 13h

Congratulations @mythjae.bsky.social ! It's out and available in print and ebook!

Bonedust Press @bonedustpress.bsky.social · 13h

✨The Traitor & The Wretch is out!!✨

By @mythjae.bsky.social @skulkingfoxes.bsky.social & @fusspot.rip

Grab the ebook or the luxurious silver foil version from our website! (shipping in the U.S. only)
www.bonedustpress.com/shop

It's also available to libraries, so stop by and request a copy!

The front cover illustration for The Traitor & The Wretch drawn by the amazing Amy Phillips. The book is written by Jasmine walls and internally illustrated by Rowan MacColl

A photo of the exclusive paperback with shiny silver foiling on the cover.

A photo of a two-page spread, showing off one of Rowan MacColl's lovely illustrations

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Reposted by Ariana Maher

🌿Elaine Tipping🍃 @triaelf9.bsky.social · 17h

Oh yeah, it's a manga thing! I feel like I don't see it as much in new ones I pick up, but it could be generational depending on the artist. A quick search in Japanese shows ppl calling it フキダシの内側(に)しっぽ or フキダシの中にしっぽ which both basically mean "balloon with the tail on the inside"

Dave Kellett @davekellett.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve never seen this before! An *inward-indicating* word-balloon tail (that’s the speaker’s right arm descending below the word balloon).

FASCINATING! Does this tail technique have a name? Have folks seen it used elsewhere?? I have so many questions!!! (From HIRAYASUMI, book 3, pg 37)

Photo of HIRAYASUMI, book 3, pg 37… showing an inward indicating word balloon tail

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

I guess the opposite extreme of overthinking the audience's needs is applying absolutely no thought nor creativity at all. 🙃

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

Whaaaa tf?! That's wild.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

That's why consistency is so vital in my job. No one usually notices lettering if done well -- it's a subtle art. But inconsistent elements, just like the flipped manga art, can disrupt a reader's flow and take them out of the story.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

Yeah, they overthink things and underestimate human adaptability.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

Exactly! It happened recently with the introduction of vertical comics like webtoons. The design language to letter the comics had to shift around to accommodate the new format. The publishing/distribution changed format too. But Readers adapted quickly and with considerable ease.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

Her entire life so far is fascinating and it was wonderful to get to hear her stories. She also gave me advice on how best to work as a freelancer and maintain routines -- I keep up with my health with regular exercise and weight training in part thanks to her influence.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

When I learned how to letter, I realized that the mechanics may be straightforward, but considerable intent and creativity is needed for balloon placements. The composition of the panels and the art, the dialogue and story beats, have to flow in a way that feels natural to the reader subconsciously.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 17h

Sorry to go on, but remember translated manga in the 90s, where they'd flip all of the art out of some fear that Americans wouldn't adapt to right-to-left reading? But readers adapted quick and wanted manga unflipped. The human brain is built more complex than folks give it credit for.

Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

You'd think that lettering is a straightfoward design process -- copy text, draw a balloon, draw a tail, bam -- but depending on the language, culture, creative production, publishing industry, and readership habits, the design language evolves differently and readers adapt to that.

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Reposted by Ariana Maher

Daryl @maconfleetwood.bsky.social · Jul 1

🇨🇦 It’s publication day! Use the link below to order your copy of TRUE NORTH and join me in revisiting the glorious first volume of #AlphaFlight! 🇨🇦

I’m incredibly proud of this book and can’t wait for you to read it!

#HappyCanadaDay

tinyurl.com/328werdr

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

She is so lovely. I got to chat with her during a podcast once and she left such a huge positive impact on me. I'm glad you got the chance to talk with her!

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

How you read a manga, a superhero comic, and a webtoon are different due to the different design approaches in the lettering. And if a letterer understands that, is consistent, and adheres to those different styles, a reader won't even notice that they've hopped from one design language to another.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

You'd think that lettering is a straightfoward design process -- copy text, draw a balloon, draw a tail, bam -- but depending on the language, culture, creative production, publishing industry, and readership habits, the design language evolves differently and readers adapt to that.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

Yeah, the design language for manga and western books are different and I love that. When Aditya and I got to judge lettering for this year's AMA, we got to see a lot of folks letter translated manga in ways that were completely innovative in styles we don't tend to reach for in western design.

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

I'd call them inward tails. Most western comics use off panel tails or avoid covering the speaker the tail is meant to point to, so I haven't had the opportunity to try them. Inward tails are pretty neat and, if done well, can be easy to understand in manga and indie books who draw from that style.

Dave Kellett @davekellett.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve never seen this before! An *inward-indicating* word-balloon tail (that’s the speaker’s right arm descending below the word balloon).

FASCINATING! Does this tail technique have a name? Have folks seen it used elsewhere?? I have so many questions!!! (From HIRAYASUMI, book 3, pg 37)

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

I adore Janice and her work. What is the book you are making?

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Ariana Maher @airy.bsky.social · 18h

I'm familiar with this technique though it is far more common in manga style lettering. We're not called to use this by western publishers and editors would most likely correct us if we try. There are sensible reasons on this difference, but for me: I like to see them but don't use them.

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Reposted by Ariana Maher

Jasmine W. @ LA Printer's Fair B-69 @mythjae.bsky.social · 1d

Absolutely spot on 🤣

Also, can I say how much it means to be getting all this amazing fanart and the book isn't even officially out yet?? Thank you so much! 💖

Dobodleaday @dobodleaday.bsky.social · 3d

10.07.25 #Drawtober2025 Day 7: Expectations

Making #TraitorandtheWretch art until it finally releases on 10/10.

Knell from Traitor and the Wretch. Caption “He looked at him like he was the Sun…”
Expectation: Knell looks up, hands clasped with a wide-eyed look of wonder on his face
Reality: Knell’s face is scrunched-up, hands in a raptor-claw stance

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