FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you always wanted to know about Comic Sans MS (but were afraid to ask).

What is Comic Sans MS?

Comic Sans MS is a typeface created by Vincent Connare in 1994 at Microsoft. Originally designed for speech bubbles in Microsoft Bob (a children’s software), it mimics the handwriting style of comic books. Bundled with Windows 95, it became one of the most widely used and most controversial fonts in the world.

Why is Comic Sans MS so controversial?

Comic Sans MS is polarizing because it’s often used in contexts where its informal, playful tone is inappropriate: official documents, medical signage, corporate communications, municipal notices. The mismatch between the font’s casual register and the message’s seriousness creates unintentional comedy which Comic Sans Frontières documents.

What is Comic Sans Frontières?

Comic Sans Frontières is a global observatory of wild typography. The project maps and documents real-world uses of Comic Sans MS around the world. Since its creation in 2020, it has catalogued over 400 occurrences across 17 countries, spanning more than 316,000 km of documented Comic Sans MS.

How can I contribute?

Visit the Contribute page. You can submit a sighting by providing the location, business sector, a photo, and a Google Maps link. Each contribution is reviewed before appearing on the interactive map.

What license covers the data?

All project data is published under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. You may reuse it for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution. The site’s REST API is public and requires no authentication.

Does Vincent Connare regret creating Comic Sans MS?

No. Vincent Connare has repeatedly stated he is proud of his creation. He regularly reminds people that the font was designed for a specific context (children’s software) and that the problem isn’t the font itself, but its misuse outside that context.

Is Comic Sans MS actually a bad font?

No. Comic Sans MS is technically well-crafted and perfectly fulfills its original purpose: being readable, friendly, and child-appropriate. Studies have even shown it helps people with dyslexia read more easily. The issue arises when it’s used in professional or official contexts where its casual register feels out of place.