Brian Haberlin
{{Short description|American comic book artist}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image = Brian Haberlin by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Haberlin in 2021
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1963
| birth_place = Hawaii, U.S.
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| cartoonist =
| write = y
| art =
| pencil = y
| ink = y
| edit = y
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| color = y
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| notable works = Witchblade
| awards =
| website = http://www.haberlin.com
| nonUS =
}}
Brian Haberlin ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|eɪ|b|ər|l|ɪ|n}};[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOChu2S41So How'd They Do That? - Making Of Spawn Comics (1997)] born 1963) is an American comic book artist, writer, editor and producer. He is best known as the co-creator of the Witchblade franchise and for his digital art style.
Career
Haberlin was born in Hawaii and raised in La Cañada Flintridge, California, where he soon grew an interest in drawing. By high school, Haberlin's friends turned him into comic books, introducing him to John Byrne's work on Uncanny X-Men and Frank Miller on Daredevil, along with older artists such as Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, John Buscema and Barry Smith. By the age of 18, Marvel Comics was already offering Haberlin a job as a penciller, which he refused because "the pay was terrible, you had to move to New York and they wouldn't promise consistent work."{{cite web|url=http://manikcreations.com/interviews/interview-with-brian-haberlin/|title = Interview with Brian Haberlin | Manik Creations}}
He then attended film school at Loyola Marymount University,{{cite web|title=Faculty: Brian Haberlin|url=http://mcad.edu/faculty/brian-haberlin|publisher=Minneapolis College of Art and Design|access-date=July 4, 2012}} earning an MA at screenwriting,{{cite web |url=http://adobe-pbd.com/us/experience/detail?articleId=14 |title=Adobe Partners by Design - Brian Haberlin interviewed by Adobe |access-date=2016-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507141748/http://adobe-pbd.com/us/experience/detail?articleId=14 |archive-date=2016-05-07 |url-status=dead }} and starting a career at Lorimar/Warner Brothers Television. Haberlin eventually gave up his job at Warner Brothers in order to pursue a career in comics, particularly as many independent publishers were establishing themselves in the West Coast, meaning he could remain in California.{{cite web|title=Meet the Artists|url=http://www.digitalarttutorials.com/artists.php|publisher=Digital Art Tutorials|access-date=July 4, 2012}} In 1993, Haberlin took advantage of a table a friend got at San Diego Comic-Con to showcase his 3D computer graphics work, bringing a heavy desktop computer and a large inkjet print of some Green Lantern art he did. Haberlin's work impressed many artists and brought work offers, including by the Image Comics crew, which landed him a job at their partner Top Cow Productions, where Haberlin eventually served as Vice President of Creative Affairs.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.haberlin.com/about.htm|publisher=Haberlin Studios|access-date=July 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714063530/http://www.haberlin.com/about.htm|archive-date=July 14, 2012|url-status=dead}} At Top Cow, which then shared an office with WildStorm, he co-created Witchblade, prompted by the lack of realistic female superheroes in comics.{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview! Brian Haberlin|url=http://www.geekchicdaily.com/region/national/story/exclusive-interview-brian-haberlin-creates-hal-from-hell|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730230652/http://www.geekchicdaily.com/region/national/story/exclusive-interview-brian-haberlin-creates-hal-from-hell|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2012|publisher=Nerdist News|date=November 8, 2010}} The Witchblade franchise has since expanded to include multiple spin-offs, a live action television series, an anime, and an upcoming film adaptation.
Despite Haberlin intending to work as a penciller, he rose to fame in the comics industry as a colorist given his knowledge of computer coloring processes.{{cite book|title=Creating Comics from Start to Finish: Top Pros Reveal the Complete Creative Process|author=Scalera, Buddy|publisher=IMPACT|year=2011|isbn=978-1440315176|chapter=6 - COLORING: A Multichromatic Look At Today's Technology|pages=84–97}} Haberlin formed his own studio in 1995, producing commercial illustrations and digitally coloring for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Image Comics. He then started Avalon Studios with Whilce Portacio in 1998. Avalon Studios published Stone, a fantasy series which incorporated elements of Filipino mythology,{{cite web|title=LET'S GET STONE(D)|url=http://alanguilan.com/komikero/interview04.html|access-date=2012-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120020325/http://alanguilan.com/komikero/interview04.html|archive-date=2012-01-20|url-status=dead}} Area 52, a science fiction title set to be adapted into a feature film, with a tentative release date of 2013,{{Cite web|url=https://www.movieinsider.com/m4080/area-52|title=Everything You Need to Know About Area 52 Movie (Development): Oct. 9, 2012 - added a synopsis|first=Brian D.|last=Renner|website=Movie Insider|accessdate=22 December 2022}} and M. Rex, which has been adapted into the successful Cartoon Network series Generator Rex.
Haberlin became Editor in Chief for Todd McFarlane Productions in 2006, and penciled and inked its flagship title, Spawn, for two years during David Hine's run as writer.
Haberlin currently runs Digitalarttutorials.com, where he produces art tutorials, teaches at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and is partner in Anomaly Productions, producing graphic novels and children's books. In February 2012 he will debut a 3D comic aimed at children called Captain Wonder.{{cite web|title=Haberlin Presents "Captain Wonder"|date = 7 January 2011|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30233}} Anomaly Productions is currently working on a 300 plus page graphic novel entitled Anomaly.{{cite web|title=Poser Webinar with Brian Haberlin|url=http://www.yurdigital.com/forum/software-forums/daz-studio-poser/how-create-3d-characters-character-poser-webinar-brian-haberl}} The book, co-written with Hollywood lawyer Skip Brittenham, utilizes augmented reality technology and interacts with iPad, iPhone, and Android mobile devices. The book is set for release in October 2012.{{cite web|title=Skip Brittenham And Brian Haberlin Launch Multiplatform Sci-Fi Story 'Anomaly' And Company To Support It|url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/skip-brittenham-brian-haberlin-anomaly-sci-fi-story-264920/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 2012}}
Haberlin is also a co-author of the fantasy novel But...But...Barbarians? Collaborators of his include Gerry Alanguilan, Todd McFarlane, and the Wu-Tang Clan.{{cite web|title=Nine Rings of Wu-Tang|url=http://www.wu-international.com/BooksComicsGames/Comics/Ninerings1.htm|access-date=2012-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112023538/http://www.wu-international.com/BooksComicsGames/Comics/Ninerings1.htm|archive-date=2012-01-12|url-status=dead}} Haberlin currently runs a blog on the Digital Art Tutorials website. Haberlin counts among his influences Marko Djurdjevic, Egon Schiele, Katsuhiro Otomo, and TV series such as Lost.{{cite web|url=http://www.graphics.com/article-old/artistry-brian-haberlin |title=graphics.com |publisher=graphics.com |date= |accessdate=2022-12-22}}
Haberlin is a frequent contributor to both the 3D World and ImagineFX magazines,{{cite web|title=How to Create 3D Characters with Character Poser Webinar with Brian Haberlin (FREE)|url=http://www.yurdigital.com/forum/software-forums/daz-studio-poser/how-create-3d-characters-character-poser-webinar-brian-haberl|publisher=YURdigital|date=October 24, 2010}} and is part of the Adjunct Faculty of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His work has been added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
Awards
Bibliography
=Comics work=
- Cyberforce (colors, Image Comics, 1994)
- Codename: Stryke Force (colors, Image Comics, 1994–1995)
- Shi: Senryaku (colors, Image Comics, 1995)
- Witchblade (colors, script, Image Comics, 1995–1997)
- Vampirella: Sad Wings of Destiny (colors, Harris Comics, 1996)
- Kiss: Psycho Circus (colors, Image Comics, 1996–1997)
- Tales of the Darkness (colors, script, Image Comics, 1998)
- Stone (co-written by Whilce Portacio, Avalon Studios, 1998)
- Aria (colors, script, Avalon Studios, 1999)
- The Wicked (editing, Avalon Studios, 1999)
- The Nine Rings of Wu-Tang (with co-author Aaron Bullock and pencils by Clayton Henry, Avalon Studios (Image Comics), 1999–2000)
- Area 52 (with art by Clayton Henry, 4-issue mini-series, Image Comics, 2001)
- Aria: The Soul Market (co-written with Brian Holguin, Avalon Studios, 2001)
- Athena Inc. The Manhunter Project (script, Avalon Studios, 2002)
- Aria Volume 3: The Uses of Enchantment (co-written with Brian Holguin, Lan Medina, and Jay Anacleto, Image Comics, 2004)
- Spawn Manga (written by Juzo Tokoro, translated by Francis Takenaga, Image Comics, 2005–2006)
- Spawn: Godslayer (written by Brian Holguin and co-illustrated by Jay Anacleto, Image Comics, 2007)
- Spawn (co-written with David Hine, Image Comics, 2006–2008)
- Captain Wonder 3D (co-written with Philip Tan, Image Comics, 2011)
- Anomaly (Anomaly Productions, 2012)
- Shifter (2014)
- Faster than Light, Image Comics, 2015)
- Anomaly: The Rubicon (2017)
- Sonata (2020)
- Lighthouse (2021)
- Hellcop (2022)
- The Last Barbarians (2023)
=Non-comics work=
- But...But...Barbarians? (with co-author James Haberlin, Image Comics, 2005)
- Neo Beauties: The Pin-Up Art of Brian Haberlin (Out of print, Image Comics, 2005)
- Follow the Leader (Korn album cover, Epic Records, 1998)
Notes
{{reflist|2}}
References
- {{gcdb|type=credit|search=Brian+Haberlin|title=Brian Haberlin}}
External links
{{Commons category|Brian Haberlin}}
- {{official website|http://www.haberlin.com}}
- {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=1335|title=Brian Haberlin}}
{{spawn}}
{{Witchblade}}
{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haberlin, Brian}}
Category:Artists from Honolulu
Category:Writers from Honolulu