Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:39PM7 comments ›
Fri Jun 20, 2008 — by Aaron Rosenberg
Happy Birthday: John Workman
The king of the letterers!
Born in Beckley, West Virginia in 1950, John Elbert Workman Jr. grew up in Aberdeen, Washington and studied at Grays Harbor College and Clark College, getting an Associate in Arts degree in 1970.
He worked in advertising briefly before creating the science-fiction comic series Sindy and the humor strip Fallen Angels in 1972. In 1974 his work on Star*Reach attracted attention from DC Comics, and they offered Workman a job in production.
From 1977 to 1984 he was art director Heavy Metal magazine, where he wrote, drew, edited, colored, designed, and lettered. Since then he has written and drawn for DC, Marvel, Archie, Playboy, and others, but he is best known as a letterer. He worked on many projects with Walt Simonson, including Thor and Orion, and also did the lettering for Jim Starlin’s Cosmic Odyssey series.
More recently Workman lettered The Question, Bullet Points, and 1985, all Tommy Lee Edwards books. He has also done the lettering on ComicMix’s own GrimJack and Jon Sable: Freelance.
Workman is well-known for his tight craftsmanship, his distinctive style, and the fact that he still does traditional lettering on art boards instead of using the computer and digital fonts.
Jump to comments (7) 
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Comments (7)
Jim Reddington (3:24 PM on Fri Jun 20, 2008)
Happy Birthday John.
http://reddjam.com
Linda Gold (5:26 PM on Fri Jun 20, 2008)
Best on your birthday John.
Bob Pinaha (7:28 PM on Fri Jun 20, 2008)
A truer gentleman and friend I have never known.
Happy Birthday, John! Your special day inspires the Summer Solstice.
Bobpin
Glenn Hauman (7:55 PM on Fri Jun 20, 2008)
Not mentioned here is that John just might be the nicest guy in comics. And that's saying a great deal. Happy birthday, chief. Enjoy your time at Heroes Con this weekend.
(And to everyone else, if you see him there, go up and get an autograph. Ask him a story about National Lampoon. Enjoy the years-- YEARS!-- of comics history. And say hi to his lovely wife Cathy, while you're at it.)
John Ostrander (10:10 PM on Fri Jun 20, 2008)
Happy birthday, JohnW! have always appreciated your contributions to the Grinner.
JohnO
Tony Isabella (6:45 AM on Sun Jun 22, 2008)
Happy belated birthday, John. Here's hoping you had a terrific day and wishing you many more creative, joyful, and successful years to come.
Wade's wife, Tonie (3:28 PM on Tue Jul 29, 2008)
Hey John!
I'm not able to attend - but WADE will be at your 40th high school reunion coming right up!! When ever he talks about it, he always says (wistfully), "Damn, I hope John will be there." so I really, REALLY hope that you're planning to make it! I've enjoyed reading about you in wikipedia, etc! All I have to do is type in your name and there you are - everywhere - GOOD for YOU!
I send hugs and best wishes and HOPE that you'll be laughing about ol' times with Wade soon. T.