Mind Meld With Micah Myers!

He’s lettered many a comic over the years and even done some writing of his own from time to time, who is this you wonder? Why none other than Micah Myers himself! So join us for a round of Mind Melding!

1. Hello there, and welcome to the Mind Meld here at IndieComiX! For those who may not be aware of you and what it is you do, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Micah Myers, and I am a comic book letterer. I am from Portsmouth, VA where I live with my wife and kids. I am a huge wrestling fan. I also obviously love comics though I got into them pretty late in life in 2006 when I was 22. I have made up for lost time though in the number of books I have read.

2. At this point, you’ve been quite a well known name in the world of comics due to the numerous comics that has your lettering work in them, what got you into lettering to begin with? And where did you learn?

I got interested in lettering in 2011. Since I graduated high school in 2002, I had a bunch of different jobs and what I thought would be my career. I worked different construction jobs, delivery driver for a bunch of different companies, youth pastor, group home counselor, and some other stuff. I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I had to make money to provide for my family. Like most people who are into comics, I wanted to make my own. So I started looking into how to break in to comics and all the different jobs. I gravitated towards lettering because I was in school at the time for a graphic design degree. And a lot of the same skills applied to lettering.

I started reading blogs about how to letter and got some books on lettering. I practiced for a while and in 2013 started to get some work here and there. The job I had at the time a lot of employees off and around the same time my wife had finished nursing school and began working. So I talked to her about trying to make lettering a career. So I started applying to more jobs and it snowballed into a career.

3. How busy do you tend to be with your lettering work?

I am pretty much always working. I don’t want to ever be without work so I pretty much take every job I am offered. I try to take breaks and enjoy some free time, but when you work freelance you are only getting paid when you finish work so I try to stay very busy.

4. When it comes to lettering, do you have a process?

I get all the art and script and from there decide the style I want to do. Taking into account the art style and tone of the book. I pick the fonts, balloon styles, colors, and all the design type stuff and then I get to work doing the book.

5. You’ve also dabbled in your own writing the form of The Disasters and as well as a Wrestling Anthology in the form of Kayfabe with 3 volumes so far, do you plan to do more with either of these as well as other future projects with you writing them?

The original concept of The Disasters was to have different artists doing 5-page stories to show my lettering off in one book in different styles. Like a portfolio that also told a hopefully good story. Plus since I mostly work on other people’s comics, I loved the idea of having my own thing. After making the original Disasters comic, I decided to make it a real thing and hooked up with Javier Caba and Mike Exner III to make a series. I have two issues out now and hopefully, the third issue will be out this year. I have some other ideas for comics, but like anything, I just have to find the time and money to get it done.

Kayfabe was another idea that started with the idea of having my own thing to sell at shows plus giving my friends and small press creators an opportunity to have their work showcased. It has been a while since I have done one. Mostly because it is a lot of work. I have thought of maybe doing new single issues versions with 3-5 stories that I can KS as that seems much more manageable, but like I said befor I need to find the time.

6. When it comes to Lettering vs. Writing, do you prefer one more than the other?

100% Lettering. I am a comic book letterer. I don’t even really consider myself a writer. I have done some writing, but that isn’t a goal or anything. I know some people have used lettering as a way to get into comics and then transition to what they really want to do. I just want to letter comics. If someone decided that they wanted to publish Disasters, then that would be awesome but I am not pursuing it or anything.

7. When it comes to Print. VS. Digital, which is your preference?

I love the ease of Digital. I was really bummed when Amazon messed up Comixolgy because I loved being able to just pick up my phone and read some comics whenever I wanted to. There is a lot to be said about holding a physical book in your hands though. I have recently gone back to buying in the store since the whole Comixolgy screw-up. Its definitely something I missed. Going to the store, looking at all the cool new things that are out, back issue boxes. It is all so cool.

8, With it only just now entering April and plenty of time left in the year, how busy do you expect to be in the coming months?

Like I said before I am always working and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. There is a lot of cool stuff coming out that I lettered this year and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to it.

9. As a fellow Wrestling fan, given we have WWE, NJPW, numerous Companies across the Country and around the world, and now AEW, do you have a strong preference for any one of them?

I have loved wrestling since I was born. WWE has really disappointed me in the last few years. With them taking blood money from Saudi Arabia and bringing Vince back after all the proof that he was sexually harassing/assaulting women, I don’t really watch any WWE anymore. AEW and NJPW are really amazing right now. I don’t watch a lot of Japanese wrestling as it is harder to follow with the language barrier, but they put on so much amazing wrestling I try to watch as much as I can.

10. What’s the reaction been like in regards to the Kayfabe Anthologies by Wrestling fans and Comic Book fans in general?

It has been great. I have given it to a few wrestlers I have met at cons and heard back from quite a few saying they love it. I plan on tabling at a local wrestling show in the future to sell the book. Hopefully that goes well and I can do it some more.

11. As for my final question, what advice would you give to those looking to join the industry as a Letterer?

Research online any tutorial about lettering, read comics and study how they are lettered, read the Comicraft Lettering Guide and the Blambot Lettering Guide, and practice a bunch on anything you can get your hands on. The most important bit of advice is to just start doing it. So much time is wasted by me and by others I have talked to with procrastinating or waiting until they have the right equipment, skill, time, or whatever. Just start doing the work and keep going you can always get better, but nothing is going to happen if you don’t start.

Huge thanks to Micah for taking part in this interview!

Interview by: Rob Wrecks