Anatomy of a Logo: Spyke

On Monday, January 4, 1993, Epic Comics editor Marie Javins contacted me about doing a new version of the logo, Spike, which would be spelled Spyke. She sent a two-page fax of the logo and cover. I don’t know who designed the logo.

I sketched out three designs. Below are two variations of one letterform: pointed-bottoms and a horizontal spike.

This sketch developed into a symmetrical design with points on the ends and in the middle.

These three designs were faxed to Marie on Tuesday, January 5th.

Marie called Wednesday, January 6th. She chose the first design and suggested simplifying the horizontal bars under the letters. Below are the enlarged photocopy of the grid, the tight pencil drawing and the finished art. The logo measures 3.5625 x 12.5625 inches / 9.05 x 31.91 centimeters. The logo was delivered Monday, January 11, 1993.

The four-issue series was published from July to October 1993.

Links to details of each issue: #1, #2, #3 and #4.

(Next post on Monday: Searching for Gary Keller)

Anatomy of a Logo: Moebius' Airtight Garage, Part 2

A few days later, Marie called and said Jean-Marc wanted to use design number one. The “OE” ligature in Moebius was to be split into separate letters.

I enlarged the sketch and drew red guide lines for the width, height and weight of the letters.

In the word “AIRTIGHT”, the “GH” also contains the “GE” combination. When I finished inking “GARA”, I repositioned the paper and aligned “GARA” with “GE” and completed the inking.

Tight rendering of “Moebius” before final inking.

Photocopies of the finished “Airtight Garage” with various shadow effects, which were faxed to Marie.

Final logo art was done on LetraMax 2000 paper, and delivered August 31, 1992. The hairline between the “I” and “R” is a cut-line; the spacing between the letters was tightened.

Faxes of four cover images but only two were used; the printed covers for issues one through three; issue four can be viewed at the Grand Comics Database.

You can read more about Marie here; her comic book credits are at the Grand Comics Database. Jean Giraud aka Moebius passed away March 10, 2012.

(Next post on Monday)

Anatomy of a Logo: Moebius' Airtight Garage, Part 1

On August 4, 1992, Epics Comics editor Marie Javins called to see if I was available to work on a Moebius logo. I said, "Yes." She said Jean-Marc Lofficier asked for me. Minutes later, my fax machine churned out Moebius artwork selected for the covers of the four-issue mini-series. The next day I started work on the logo.

Thinking of automobile chrome logos.

Pseudo-psychedelic lettering.

A few letters with hints of the Art Deco style.

On August 7, these six designs were faxed to Marie.

(Tomorrow: Part 2)