Tom Orzechowski was born in Detroit, and began reading comics at age 5. Pen and ink lettering was learned while doing zines. This lead to work in the Marvel bullpen in 1973. Starting in 1975, and for most issues until 1992, Tom lettered Uncanny X-Men, as well as New Mutants, Wolverine, and their related GNs, annuals, and miniseries. Other series work included Jungle Action/Black Panther: Jim Starlin’s Captain Marvel, and then Warlock; Star Wars; and many others throughout the Marvel line.

Via Studio Proteus, a manga translation company formed in 1989, Tom lettered the U.S. publication of Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind. This was followed by work on Appleseed, Dominion Tank Police, Ghost In The Shell, and several other series during the following decade.

In 1992, Tom was tapped to letter Todd McFarlane’s series Spawn, a job he’s held for 355 issues to date. The Guinness Book of Records (2021) recognized him for lettering the most issues of a single series.

Other clients have included Eclipse, Viz, DC, Dark Horse, Image, and Archie. The list continues to grow.