Comic Neue: a makeover for much-maligned Comic Sans

AN Australian graphic designer has updated the divisive Comic Sans typeface with a "fresh" interpretation of the much-maligned script.

Designer Craig Rozynski says that in his new typeface, named Comic Neue, "the squashed, wonky and weird glyphs of Comic Sans have been beaten into shape while maintaining the honesty that made Comic Sans so popular".

Comic Sans MS is the typeface many designers love to hate. It was originally designed by Vincent Connare in 1994 and released by Microsoft within Windows 95. Over the years it has been subjected to ongoing ridicule from the design community, but in spite of the criticism, its broad popularity endures. It is now considered one of the world's most recognisable typefaces, and it appears everywhere from greeting cards to menus, signs and merchandise.

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Comic Neue updates the 1990s font with a slightly straighter, more professional look. Rozynski says his new version "aspires to be the casual script choice for everyone including the typographically savvy".

Nural Choudhury, Design Director for CNN International, said: "I actually quite like it. The new font embodies the emotion of why Comic Sans was created in the first place. It's fun, approachable and easy to read."

The font is currently free to download, but Rozynski says on his Twitter account that he may eventually seek to sell it.