Comic Sans Appreciation #1

I’ve always wanted a shirt like this. Busted Tees (those hacks) have something similar, except that it says “Helvetica” and is set in Comic Sans. To me, that’s dumb; Helvetica is nice to look at, Comic Sans is not.

The shirt is similarly unpleasant in non-aesthetic terms. What’s the point? Trolling designers? Combining Helv’s stylish, over-commercialized brand with CS’ vapid and just as over-commercialized appearance isn’t exactly a daring or innovative stroke.

Comic Sans is indeed homely, but it suffers way too much derision. Like all attempts at corporatizing fun, its inevitable failure is only partial; there’s something about the painfully square awkwardly attempting to be cool that will put a smile on almost anyone’s face.

Setting “Comic Sans” in Helvetica creates a positive dissonance—the pretty lines encourage the viewer to look more closely. Separating the words from the surrounding shirt with a box and white background furthers the impression that the very idea of Comic Sans has been placed on display for reconsideration.

Plus it just plain looks better.

Two-color flex print on an American Apparel cotton tee. Standard and heavyweight also available. Want it on a different garment? Just ask.