THE LONG HALLOWEEN
VARIANT + TYPEFACE
TYPOGRAPHY, ILLUSTRATION, KEY ART
This typeface is inspired by Dave McKean’s lettering featured in his classic book ARKHAM ASYLUM: A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH. The letterforms capture the uneasy, freeform spirals of McKean’s type.
This CONCEPT variant cover for BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale) features the font. The Two-Face character art blends his design from THE LONG HALLOWEEN with that from the film THE DARK KNIGHT (2008).
FEATURING 26 LETTERS, 5 ALTERNATE (LOWERCASE) VOWELS, 10 DIGITS, + 5 SYMBOLS.
BACKGROUND ARTWORK BY TIM SALE FROM BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (1996).
FLAT VARIANT COVERS (FRONT + BACK)
CUSTOM TYPEFACE USED IN TITLES.
TWO-FACE CHARACTER DESIGN INSPIRED BY ART FROM BATMAN: DARK VICTORY (1999, TIM SALE) + THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
THE DESIGN PROCESS
This typeface is inspired by Dave McKean’s lettering for ARKHAM ASYLUM: A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH, a Batman story from 1989. The nature of his lettering is inconsistent, bloody, and messy, reflective of the Joker’s entire existence as a Batman villain. THE GOAL: creating a display typeface that is both easily legible and stays true to the chaotic spirit of McKean’s work for this comic.
The typeface is showcased on a variant cover for BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, blending Tim Sale’s depiction of Two-Face with character design elements from The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2008). Despite the scratchy, dark illustration, the typeface remains clear and complements the artwork’s intensity.
RESEARCH
reread ARKHAM ASYLUM by Dave McKean
note characteristics from McKean’s lettering
SKETCHES
sketch THREE directions
move forward with ONE direction
FINAL DESIGN
finalize all glyphs
illustrate cover variant with the typeface in use
LOGOS OR BRAND NAMES DO NOT IMPLY AFFILIATION OR ENDORSEMENT. THIS IS A PERSONAL PROJECT.