Design Behind The Mask
is a show where graphic design and pop culture cross paths and high five.
Join me as we discuss the complexities of the Lexcorp logo, examine the color palettes of superhero costumes, break down typographic choices in Nintendo game menus, and much more!
Around The Web
The timeless appeal of Marvel’s X-Men logo, as told in history, in nostalgia, and in fandom
↗ Popverse
The evolution of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ looks over the decades
↗ GamesRadar +
Leaving the Nest: Batman and a Life Beyond Robin
↗ DC.com +
Kraven The Hunter Trailer and retconning popular characters
The newly released Kraven The Hunter movie doesn’t sound like a Kraven film. Sounds like a retcon no one asked for.
Star Wars Outlaws Typography is more exciting than the game *Updated
The typography in the Ubisoft game Star Wars Outlaws has me more excited than actually playing the game. Which I won’t do.
Marvel Fortnite needs the Lego treatment
Marvel Fortnite returns and your favorite super-powered heroes and villains are still shooting at each other with guns like idiots.
FATE OF THE SPECTRE TRADING CARD GAME
Designing Systems
for play
Fate of the Spectre is a physical and digital trade card concept. It required a design system to govern the multiple cards in the game on both physical tables and mobile interfaces.
I built a robust typographic and color-based system to classify certain types of cards and communicate their advantages and disadvantages.
Milton Glaser’s DC Bullet Returns
Milton Glaser’s DC Bullet logo returns, which begs the question, why has DC swapped logos so much lately?
ITC Serif Gothic: The Real Hero of Star Wars
There is a Star Wars hero that silently moves the universe forward at every turn. Your loving guide to the franchise, ITC Serif Gothic.
Supermolot is the Superhero Typeface
I see TT Supermolot everywhere. WWE, Marvel, my projects. It has a very distinct look and feel. Perfect for superheroes.
Around The Web
What Makes DC “DC”
↗ Popverse
How the X-Men brand redesign evolved and refined the mutants of Marvel
↗ GamesRadar +
It’s for Our Sake Batman Always Wins
↗ DC.com +
SIR&D Lore
Spatial Navigation and Interdimensional Kinetic Technologies
Services and Products:
– Dimensional Mapping and Navigation Systems
– Interdimensional Energy Converters and Harnesses
– Multiverse Exploration and Discovery Programs
– Spatial Anomaly Detection and Analysis Tools
– Consultation and Training Services for Dimensional Travel
SUPER. BLACK.
Representation
Matters.
Super. Black. celebrates pop culture icons of color. Representation matters, and Super. Black. is the premiere platform for positive Black Superhero representation in pop culture.
Super. Black. is a passion project 10 years in the making. One of those “I will do this forever” types of projects. I hope to entertain and educate people on superheroes they may not know about and highlight characters fans can identify with.
SIR&D Lore
Alpha Male (Malcom Witman)
Through a poll on his Paysayer Subscriber page, he asked the community what his hero name should be. They chose Alpha Male in a landslide victory. He is currently running another poll in hopes of a change.
Malcolm’s Control manifests in the form of hyper-dense muscle fibers and bone structure. It allows him to leap long distances and bounce off walls without getting hurt. He is as close to an evolved athlete as you can get. His metabolism and cell replication are also revved up, leading to high caloric burn and a high healing factor.
Five Years Later: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Post Endgame
We are officially five years after Avengers: Endgame and the Marvel Cinematic Universe landscape is as bleak as the post-snap world.
Teen Titans Go! Zimdings is a love letter to typography nerds
Teen Titans Go! Zimdings turns terrible fonts into superheroes. Talk about a love letter to designers and typographers. I felt seen.
The new Fantastic 4 Logo is fantastic!
Marvel released the casting for the next Fantastic 4 film. But who cares about that, did you see the new Fantastic 4 logo? It’s…fantastic!
SECRET IDENTITY COMICS
Comic Book
Cover Challenge
Under the Secret Identity brand, I executed several comic book covers based on random action words. After the word was chosen, a brief was developed, general lore written, and a cover for a first issue was designed.
8 Masters of Evil Karate
Evil Karate masters are a staple in pop culture! Especially in the 80s. Here are 8 treacherous karate villains worthy of your hate.
The Street Fighter 6 Logo Design is Great
I am terrible at fighting games, but that didn’t stop me from buying SF6. Why? Because the Street Fighter 6 Logo Design is great!
The Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League logo is Incredible
Allow me a few moments to gush about the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League logo design for the upcoming Rocksteady Studios video game.
Around The Web
SIR&D Lore
Arcus/Kenly
DADSTINY
Parents.
Guardians.
Dadsinty is a community of parents who love playing Destiny 2. The hardest part of gaming as a parent is finding the time to play and people who understand that you may have to jump off or disappear for minutes (or days) at a time. Dadstiny is dedicated to supporting gamer parents by providing a healthy, engaging community that won’t bat an eye when the kids start crying and you need to step away.
We also did a bit of charity work!
SIR&D Lore
H.E.M.
Rebecca DeWitt is an accomplished tailor and metal worker. She specialized in Control private sector uniforms for 10 years before venturing out on her own. Without a supply of fabrics and materials to draw from out in the world, Rebecca began her online trading network for materials and knowledge.
Today, when she isn’t traveling the world, crafting specialized outfits for powered people, she runs the knowledge center of her online venture, offering tutorials and scholarship grants to those looking to follow in her footsteps.
Paysayer
Paysayer is an app that hopes to connect burgeoning ventures with capital-ready investors known as “Paysayers”. Secret Identity was tasked with not only branding the company but also coming up with a new brand name. Originally titled “Beggr”, Paysayer needed a more positive name they could brand.
Today, Paysayer is home to over 25 thousand ventures for Paysayer’s to invest in, including viral influencer and Control vigilante, Alpha Male.
Halo’s Master Chief without a helmet is against Brand Guidelines
Master Cheif without a helmet has to be against brand guidelines. The Halo tv series keeps breaking the rules. And for what?
My DC You Game Show Pitch
DC You, a now defunctcontest hosted by DC Universe asked for entries to develop content for the media giant. Here’s my losing entry.
The Headless Horseman: A DC Comics Green Lantern story
A Headless Horseman synopsis set in the DC universe. Just in time for Halloween! Just ask Starbucks. Pumpkin spice everything…
Pop Culture Graphic Design Show Design Behind The Mask Podcast launches!
Design Behind The Mask Podcast covering graphic design and user experience in pop culture fandoms launches in July 2022 The design and entertainment show covers typography, color phycology, logo design, branding, and content in comics, video games, movies and tv....
Amazon and Comixology collide with disastrous design results
Digital comic book lovers are in a very justifiable tizzy. Amazon and ComiXology are now one. Actually, let me be more colorful. Amazon ate ComiXology and pooped out a crApp that currently pales compared to the original ComiXology experience. User digital comic book...
The typographic simplicity of Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjmZejLUSQE The typographic simplicity of Control: Design Behind The Mask Can we touch on the typographic simplicity of the fantastic game Control? The video game developed by Remedy Entertainment centers around a shadowy government...
Xbox, Please check your line widths
A friend of mine asked me to review the title type of his upcoming book. I pointed out some crazy kerning issues and gave a few pointers on how to layout the title. After a moment, he responded with "Now I will never not see those space issues." To which I said,...
Miami Heat branding embraces the 80’s
The new Miami Heat branding slapped me in the face with awesome. "Vice" is a bold new direction for the NBA franchise and I for one love it. The "Vice" branding is ripped right out of the 80's. These clean uniforms were designed in house by Brett Maurer. I tip my hat...
Creating A Battle Royale Video Game
Battle Royale games are the new zombie games. For a time, every third game had you facing off against a ravenous horde of braindead bullet fodder. Today, however, battle royale games reign supreme. In these games, in case you are not away, you drop into an arena and...
Trading Cards Changed My Life
Find out how Marvel and DC Comics trading cards formed me into the man I am today!
Old Man Logan & 8 Old Variants Of Popular Characters
How effective do you think you will be at 60? How about 80? 180? Superheroes and the villains they fight seem to be getting older and older with each passing issue. Despite all their abilities, they can not beat time. Old Man Logan proves, as our favorite characters...