Tom Frame

Who was Tom Frame?

Tom Frame was a British comics letterer. He created dialogue for the majority of the Judge Dredd strips, as well as other stories including over 300 stories in 2000 AD and Transformers.

Frame used a combination of computer-based techniques, including a personal font based on his own hand-drawn lettering, and old-fashioned craft like cutting speech balloons by hand. He was acknowledged by several other letterers for his help in getting them started in the profession.

According to artist Mike Collins, "Good lettering has character, adds character to the story. In the UK, a Judge Dredd story just ISN'T a Dredd story without Tom Frame's lettering. Tom's no-nonsense, finely spaced, tall text is as much a part of Mega City One's environment as Dredd's helmet or badge."

Frame died of cancer on July 14, 2006. Prog 1508 had a centerpiece tribute to him with contributions from 37 artists and two colourists, including a drawing by Frame's grandson.