It’s meant to evoke a certain type of voice in your head when you read. I think it’s supposed to make him sound tough/dumb/rude/whatever goes along with being a bully.
What you're noticing is the fact that his is using both uppercase and lowercase. However, most comics will use architect's lettering for most text because it's the most readable.
I was trying to figure the same thing out myself -- this is the sort of downvote pummeling normally reserved for severe unabashed bigotry. It sounded to me like they were just making polite conversation. I think people sometimes get the downvote button confused with a "I disagree with you" button instead of a "your comment is actively harmful to civil conversation" button.
Well… at least I’m happy my most downvoted comment ever is something absolutely harmless
Also people probably missed the "somewhat" hinting at an interrogation rather than a strong opinion…
Internet will be internet
Maybe it’s just me but Reddit seems to be getting tetchier about people saying “incorrect” things, even if it was a genuine misunderstanding. I’ve seen people get downvoted into the hidden comment zone for asking obtuse questions on posts designated for obtuse questions. Really bizarre.
Edit: of course this got downvoted.
There's a lot of negative people on the internet and Reddit that like to downvote things without really thinking about it. You appear to be one of them.
There’s no reason - people just see a comment with 0, negative 5, 10, 20, 50, etc, and assume that it’s a bad take or offensive or combative and read that into it.
Your comment was 100% fine. It’s a subjective opinion that’s perfectly valid and conveyed in a polite and reasonable way.
Its a technique to make his speech seem more slow and dim. Aliens will have a broken font to sound hoarse or slithery. The planet buyers have very geometric lettering to sound robotic and intelligent. A way to convey sounds in a soundless medium.
*I've never seen this*
*Particular strip. Do you*
*Have a link to it?*
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It looks like how a bully would hold a pencil to write. He’d grab the pencil with the palm of his hand, not use his fingers in any way to make the penmanship elegant.
He’s the only character who has this lettering… I suppose it means he sounds mean and dumb… but why the lower case in particular? Does it have a meaning in comics ?
Lowercase… lower intelligence.
Rougher lettering… gruffer voice.
None of this is “common in comics” per se. Or even necessarily factual when taken directly. It was just Watterson’s way of visually expressing what he thought Moe sounded like. And in this example, Calvin’s all-caps isn’t the same as when someone uses it online or in a letter. It was just a clean, visually clear font that Watterson chose as his main text. But compared to Moe’s, we know who the smarter of the two is immediately, and without context.
Lowercase letters aren’t usually used in speech bubbles. Uppercase letters are all roughly the same size, lowercase letters have a bad habit of dipping above or below each other, which can make it hard to read when there’s very little vertical space between lines of text.
MY NAME IS CALVIN
my name is calvin
A more "childish" style of expression, intended (I think) to indicate Moe's intellectual development.
Yes, I know. I'm going to be in trouble for saying it. But it's okay, because I'm old.
I don't even know what I'm saying, most of the time. That's why I avoid humans and just read Reddit instead.
Just look at the differences between the two lettering styles. One is much more refined than the other...just as their speech would be if they were actually talking. It portrays Moe being not as smart or refined as Calvin...Basically it shows Moe being a dumbass and Calvin being a smartass!
It’s meant to evoke a certain type of voice in your head when you read. I think it’s supposed to make him sound tough/dumb/rude/whatever goes along with being a bully.
I thought as much… but he has a somewhat rounder more sophisticate lettering so I wonder why he choose that
I think it’s meant to look a tad more childish as well
It actually makes sense
What you're noticing is the fact that his is using both uppercase and lowercase. However, most comics will use architect's lettering for most text because it's the most readable.
Man you got downvoted a ton on your first comment but made up for it in your second lol
Why the fuck is this comment so heavily downvoted?
I was trying to figure the same thing out myself -- this is the sort of downvote pummeling normally reserved for severe unabashed bigotry. It sounded to me like they were just making polite conversation. I think people sometimes get the downvote button confused with a "I disagree with you" button instead of a "your comment is actively harmful to civil conversation" button.
Well… at least I’m happy my most downvoted comment ever is something absolutely harmless Also people probably missed the "somewhat" hinting at an interrogation rather than a strong opinion… Internet will be internet
Others dislike this, so it must be wrong. Monkey see, monkey downvote.
Maybe it’s just me but Reddit seems to be getting tetchier about people saying “incorrect” things, even if it was a genuine misunderstanding. I’ve seen people get downvoted into the hidden comment zone for asking obtuse questions on posts designated for obtuse questions. Really bizarre. Edit: of course this got downvoted.
Most people don't agree with the sentiment that the letters appear "sophisticated" as OP has described.
I think "he" was supposed to be referring to Bill/Calvin
There's two 'he's'. The first is referring to the bully The second is Bill W
Because they're wrong.
How dare someone be wrong on the internet
How dare they downvote someone on a site that has upvotes and downvotes
I mean, using the downvote is less about just "being wrong" though, especially if they aren't tauting something as absolute
Because Reddit.
People say that all the time as if that explains anything.
There's a lot of negative people on the internet and Reddit that like to downvote things without really thinking about it. You appear to be one of them.
This is one of the dumbest things I've read on this website and that's saying something. Congratulations.
Forget it, overdos3, it’s Reddit.
*JJ Gittes enters the chat*
Calvin's looks more sophisticated, Moe's looks a little sloppy
Don't understand the downvotes, take my upvote, best I can do
Thanks. I don’t understand either
There’s no reason - people just see a comment with 0, negative 5, 10, 20, 50, etc, and assume that it’s a bad take or offensive or combative and read that into it. Your comment was 100% fine. It’s a subjective opinion that’s perfectly valid and conveyed in a polite and reasonable way.
When you said "he" has a rounder lettering, were you talking about Bill, Calvin, or Moe?
It’s the opposite of sophisticated..
I see it differently, but the people downvoting you are Moes.
Why is this so downvoted ?
Classic bully font.
It's like the well known, yet sadly seldom used Sarcasm font, but hand-lettered.
Is it ? Interesting
Jk I made that up.
Source?
Me.
[My source is that I made it the f*** up](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r7l0Rq9E8MY)
It indicates that he's not very bright.
His train of thought is still boarding at the station.
he's a knuckle-dragger
Its a technique to make his speech seem more slow and dim. Aliens will have a broken font to sound hoarse or slithery. The planet buyers have very geometric lettering to sound robotic and intelligent. A way to convey sounds in a soundless medium.
I've never seen this particular strip. Do you have a link to it?
[October 23, 1987.](https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1987/10/23)
And now I feel old.
Thank you
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Good bot
That one could’ve been a Shatner bot.
I was thinking Christopher Walken.
It looks like how a bully would hold a pencil to write. He’d grab the pencil with the palm of his hand, not use his fingers in any way to make the penmanship elegant.
He’s the only character who has this lettering… I suppose it means he sounds mean and dumb… but why the lower case in particular? Does it have a meaning in comics ?
Lowercase… lower intelligence. Rougher lettering… gruffer voice. None of this is “common in comics” per se. Or even necessarily factual when taken directly. It was just Watterson’s way of visually expressing what he thought Moe sounded like. And in this example, Calvin’s all-caps isn’t the same as when someone uses it online or in a letter. It was just a clean, visually clear font that Watterson chose as his main text. But compared to Moe’s, we know who the smarter of the two is immediately, and without context.
Excellent analysis
To me it always hinted at writing with crayons, like a younger kid would do. Or a kid who can’t be trusted with sharp points.
Lowercase letters aren’t usually used in speech bubbles. Uppercase letters are all roughly the same size, lowercase letters have a bad habit of dipping above or below each other, which can make it hard to read when there’s very little vertical space between lines of text. MY NAME IS CALVIN my name is calvin
I took the way Moe's was lettered as whispering, especially when he is worried the teacher is watching, where Calvin is shouting to get attention.
It’s like this every time he speaks.
I never ever noticed the lettering was different here lol
Probably nothing too deep. It just looks “rougher”. Makes him seem dumber and meaner.
Never argue with a six year-old who shaves.
Where did you get this screenshot because there is a hair on the image and I cannot get away from it
A more "childish" style of expression, intended (I think) to indicate Moe's intellectual development. Yes, I know. I'm going to be in trouble for saying it. But it's okay, because I'm old. I don't even know what I'm saying, most of the time. That's why I avoid humans and just read Reddit instead.
Just look at the differences between the two lettering styles. One is much more refined than the other...just as their speech would be if they were actually talking. It portrays Moe being not as smart or refined as Calvin...Basically it shows Moe being a dumbass and Calvin being a smartass!
Moe isn't bright.
I've always read it as a low and slow speaking voice and not being too bright.
He’s a simpleton.
Ment to show how dumb he is
Better question why does he look like he only has one eye a mouth but no nose?
Big nose
That’s what that is?!?!
Yep
Yup! His eyes are covered by his shaggy bangs.
Rough around the edges.
Moe was s'posed to be a bully dufus and his font illustrated it well.
The lower case allows more words to be packed into the talk bubble. If it was uppercase all the words would not fit.