Login
Login

Norm Breyfogle

{{short description|American comic artist (1960–2018)}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox comics creator

| image = Norman Breyfogle Portrait.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Norm Breyfogle by Michael Netzer

| birth_name = Norman Keith Breyfogle

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|2|27}}

| birth_place = Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2018|9|24|1960|2|27}}}}

| death_place = Houghton, Michigan, U.S.

| write = y

| pencil = y

| ink = y

| notable works = Batman
Detective Comics
Prime

| awards =

| website =

}}

Norman Keith Breyfogle ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|eɪ|f|oʊ|g|əl}}; February 27, 1960 – September 24, 2018){{cite web|url= http://www.normbreyfogle.com/about/biography.asp|title= Biography|first= Norm|last= Breyfogle|date= n.d.|publisher= Normbreyfogle.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101013200109/http://www.normbreyfogle.com/about/biography.asp|archive-date= October 13, 2010|url-status= dead|quote= Norm Breyfogle was born on February 27, 1960 in Iowa City, Iowa.}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/09/27/norm-breyfogle-one-of-dc-comics-most-beloved-batman-artists-dies-at-58/ |title=Norm Breyfogle, one of DC Comics' most beloved Batman artists, dies at 58 |first=David |last=Betancourt |date=September 27, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=September 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120180155/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/09/27/norm-breyfogle-one-of-dc-comics-most-beloved-batman-artists-dies-at-58/ |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |url-status=live }} was an American artist, best known for his comic book art on DC Comics's Batman franchise from 1987 to 1995. During this time, he co-created the villains Ventriloquist and Ratcatcher with writers Alan Grant and John Wagner, and the characters Anarky, Jeremiah Arkham, Victor Zsasz, and Amygdala with Grant alone. He co-created with writers Gerard Jones and Len Strazewski the Malibu Comics Ultraverse flagship hero Prime, and both wrote and drew the Malibu-published series featuring his original character Metaphysique.

Early life

Norman Keith Breyfogle{{cite web |last=Hauman |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Hauman |date=September 26, 2018 |title=Norm Breyfogle: 1960-2018 |url=https://www.comicmix.com/2018/09/26/norm-breyfogle-1950-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517185253/https://www.comicmix.com/2018/09/26/norm-breyfogle-1950-2018/ |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=ComicMix |df=mdy-all}} was born on February 27, 1960, in Iowa City, Iowa to parents Lois (née Roberts) and Gerald Breyfogle.{{Cite web|url=https://memorials.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com/Breyfogle-Norman/3616969/service-details.php|title=In Memory of Norman Keith Breyfogle: 1960–2018|publisher=Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home|language=en|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008205108/http://www.ericksoncrowley.com/book-of-memories/3616969/Breyfogle-Norman/service-details.php|archive-date=October 8, 2018}} [http://www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com/book-of-memories/3616969/Breyfogle-Norman/service-details.php (Linked from the cited article]) He had a brother Kevin and a sister Penny Duncan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/02/batman-artist-norm-breyfogle-recovers-from-a-stro.html|title=Batman Artist Norm Breyfogle Recovers From a Stroke With a Little Help From His Fans|first= John|last= Ruch|date= February 2, 2015|work= Paste|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181215140416/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/02/batman-artist-norm-breyfogle-recovers-from-a-stro.html|archive-date= December 15, 2018|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

Breyfogle began taking private art lessons at the age of twelve, and won an award at a local art show. His family subsequently moved to Houghton, Michigan, and the local newspaper The Daily Mining Gazette profiled him in 1976 as "Norm Breyfogle: Near Master Cartoonist at 16". While in high school, he produced Tech-Team,{{cite journal |last=Irving |first=Christopher |date=June 2007 |title=PRO2PRO: Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle |url=https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/back_issue__22 |journal=Back Issue! |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=22 |pages=18–20}} a comic commissioned by local Michigan Technological University. In 1977, he submitted a design for Robin's costume, which was published in Batman Family #13.{{cite web|url=https://13thdimension.com/batmans-hot-line-norm-breyfogle-2/|title=Batman's Hot-Line: Norm Breyfogle|last=Greenfield|first=Dan|date=October 3, 2013|publisher=13th Dimension|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811121712/https://13thdimension.com/batmans-hot-line-norm-breyfogle-2/|archive-date=August 11, 2018|url-status=live|quote=One of the sketches was by a guy named Norm Breyfogle of Houghton, Michigan, printed in #13 of the late, lamented Batman Family title.}}

Breyfogle attended Northern Michigan University, studying painting and illustration while working as an illustrator for a local magazine and a graphics company. In 1980, he illustrated a book titled Bunyan: Lore's Loggin' Hero, published by Book Concern. He moved to California in 1982. He worked as a draftsman and later as a technical illustrator designing a Space Shuttle training manual for the United Space Boosters.{{cite web |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/norm-breyfogle-obituary/ |title=Norm Breyfogle, "Batman" Artist, Dead at 58 |last=Garza |first=Matt |date=September 27, 2018 |website=Multiversity Comics |access-date=September 27, 2018}}

Career

= Early comics work =

In 1984, Breyfogle penciled a six–page story for DC Comics's New Talent Showcase. Mike Friedrich (President of Star Reach, a talent representative agency) saw Breyfogle's work hanging at the 1985 San Diego Comic-Con Art Show and began representing him.{{cite journal|last= Greenberger|first= Robert|author-link= Robert Greenberger|title= New Talent and Bonus Babies|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 71|pages= 65–71|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= April 2014|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} This was followed by several issues of First Comics's American Flagg, penciling a back-up story titled "Bob Violence" in 1985. During this time he drew for Tales of Terror, a horror anthology published by Eclipse Comics.{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Norm+Breyfogle|title=Norm Breyfogle}} Following that, Breyfogle wrote, illustrated, and lettered a Captain America story in Marvel Fanfare #29 (Nov. 1986).{{cite journal|last= Eury|first= Michael|author-link= Michael Eury|title= Norm Breyfogle's Batman/Captain America Makeover|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 96|page= 51|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= June 2017|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}} He then drew Whisper for First Comics in 1986–1987, his first monthly book,{{cite journal|last= Friedt|first= Stephan|title= The Whisper Interview: Whisper in the Hands of Steven Grant and Norm Breyfogle|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 94|pages= 74–78|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= February 2017|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}} before landing on Detective Comics starring Batman published by DC Comics.

= Batman =

File:BreyfogleBatman.jpg and Jerry Robinson.]]

Teamed with writer Alan Grant, Breyfogle worked on Detective Comics. They introduced the Ventriloquist in their first Batman story together{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9 |location=London, United Kingdom |page=235 |chapter=1980s |oclc=505422656 |quote=In February [1988], the Batman crossed paths with Scarface and the Ventriloquist in Detective Comics #583 by writer John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle.}} and the Ratcatcher in their third.{{cite book |last1=Manning |first1=Matthew K. |title=Batman: A Visual History |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4654-2456-3 |location=London, United Kingdom |page=171 |chapter=1980s |oclc=876351122 |quote=Writers John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle introduced the Ratcatcher in this two-part story.}} He drew the Batman for six years (1987–1993), penciling Detective Comics from 1987 to 1990, then moving to Batman to introduce the character Tim Drake as the new RobinManning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 247: Batman #457 (Dec. 1990) "In this tale by writer Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle, Robin finally got a new uniform...When DC editorial made the decision to modify the classic costume of the iconic Boy Wonder, they called upon several artists to put their own spin on it. It was legendary artist Neal Adams who delivered the winning concept." from 1990 to 1992, and finally starting a new Batman series for DC titled Batman: Shadow of the Bat from 1992 to 1993Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 253: "Shadow of the Bat lasted ninety-four issues. Handled by the former team on Detective Comics – writer Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle – the first issue was released in both a newsstand and deluxe polybagged format." which saw the Grant/Breyfogle team create three new characters, Jeremiah Arkham, Mr. Zsasz,Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 194: "Shadow of the Bat was writer Alan Grant's newest forum to tell Batman stories on a monthly basis, along with his partner, artists Norm Breyfogle. The pair introduced the new head of Arkham, Jeremiah Arkham, as well as the new villain Mr. Zsasz." and Amygdala. During his six-year run on the Batman character, he drew a few one-shots, two of them being Batman: Holy Terror, the first DC comic book to feature the Elseworlds logo,Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 193: Batman: Holy Terror became the first Elseworlds special. This tale by writer Alan Brennert and artist Norm Breyfogle featured a Gotham City ruled by the church and Batman as a vigilante man of the cloth." and Batman: Birth of the Demon,Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 198: "The third and final installment of the Ra's al Ghul hardcover trilogy arrived in this origin volume by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Norm Breyfogle." which he hand painted. He provided pencils to a 10-page short story in Superman 80-Page Giant #1 (Feb. 1999).{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/norm-breyfogle-renowned-batman-comic-215934920.html |title=Norm Breyfogle, Renowned 'Batman' Comic Book Artist, Dies at 58 |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=September 26, 2018 |website=Yahoo! |access-date=September 27, 2018}}

= Later work =

In 2000, Breyfogle drew the Elseworlds three-issue mini-series Flashpoint. In 2001, DC offered him the job of penciling The Spectre monthly, which he drew for one year.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/norm-breyfogle-dead-at-58/ |title=Artist Norm Breyfogle Passes Away at Age 58 |last=Staley |first=Brandon |date=September 26, 2018 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 27, 2018}}

He spent 2003 penciling and inking the title Black Tide, published by Angel Gate Press.

In 2004, Breyfogle began work on an illustrated children's book for the Society of St. John Monastery, finished many commissions for fans, put together a couple printed sketchbooks showcasing his work, and continued writing his novel, getting halfway done, finishing through chapter six. He wrote over forty poems and over 1,300 haikus in a five-month marathon, and a number of short stories.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/catching-up-with-norm-breyfogle-and-chuck-satterlee/ |title=Catching up with Norm Breyfogle and Chuck Satterlee |last=Carey |first=Edward |date=October 10, 2006 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 27, 2018}}

In February 2005 he accepted an offer to pencil and ink the interiors and covers of the new ongoing monthly title Of Bitter Souls from studio Relative Comics, originally published by Speakeasy Comics. It was written by Chuck Satterlee. Shortly before Speakeasy Comics went out of business, Relative Comics joined with Chimaera Studios and moved to publisher Markosia Comics. Breyfogle produced illustrations for a wide variety of clients outside of the comics industry including Nike, Inc., Mojo, The Red Bulletin, Time Out, Company, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, and various bands such as 12 Stone Toddler, among many others.

In 2007, he provided art for the main story interiors and the covers for the comic book title The Danger's Dozen. He began a professional relationship with the London-based art agency Debut Art.

Starting in 2006, he began a working relationship with Mazz Press, contributing stand-alone illustrations to two novels by Stephen Pytak, The .40 Caliber Mousehunt and The Wild Damned.{{cite web |url=http://www.mazzpress.com/NOVELSpage.htm |title=NOVELS |website=Mazz Press |access-date=September 27, 2018}}

In 2008, Breyfogle began drawing Archie's New Look, for Archie's Double Digest, published by Archie Publications. Breyfogle drew two titles for Archie Comics: Archie Loves Betty and Archie Loves Veronica.

He returned to DC to draw DC Retroactive: Batman – The '90s, written by his former Batman collaborator Alan Grant, in October 2011. Breyfogle contributed art to DC's Batman Beyond Unlimited digital comic series from 2012 to 2013; later reprinted as an 18 issue series.Manning "2010s" in Dougall, p. 326: "This new digital-first ongoing series featured a Batman tale by writer Adam Beechen and artist Norm Breyfogle."

In 2015, DC published Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 1, a hardcover collection of Breyfogle's early Batman stories.{{cite book|last = Breyfogle|first = Norm|title = Tales of the Batman: Norm Breyfogle Vol.1|publisher = DC Comics|year = 2015|pages = 520|isbn = 978-1-4012-5898-6}} A second volume was released in late 2018.{{cite book|last = Breyfogle|first = Norm|title = Tales of the Batman: Norm Breyfogle Vol.2|publisher = DC Comics|year = 2018|pages = 456|isbn = 978-1-4012-8512-8}}

Retirement and death

On December 18, 2014, Breyfogle suffered a stroke that cut off blood flow to part of his brain, causing paralysis on his left side. He was left-handed, and although he regained some use of his left side, he was no longer able to draw professionally.{{cite web|url= http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/12/fundraiser-launches-to-help-norm-breyfogle-following-stroke/|title= Fundraiser launches to help Norm Breyfogle following stroke|first= Kevin|last= Melrose|date= December 23, 2014|publisher= CBR.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150907090635/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/12/fundraiser-launches-to-help-norm-breyfogle-following-stroke/|archive-date= September 7, 2015|url-status= live|quote= A fundraiser has been established online to help cover the medical expenses of veteran Batman artist Norm Breyfogle, who suffered a stroke last week, leaving the left-handed illustrator paralyzed on his left side.}}

In July 2015 writer/novelist Glenn Hauman and writer/editor Bob Greenberger set up an Indiegogo campaign to raise $10,000 to defray the cost of Breyfogle's therapy, which involved producing a 280-page trade paperback reprinting issues #3–11 of Whisper, a 1986 First Comics series created by Steven Grant, which Breyfogle illustrated. The book also featured original contributions by participating creators, and was issued in hardcover to those donating at least $100.{{cite web|url= https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-norm-breyfogle-whisper-campaign-is-a-cant-miss-deal/|title= The Norm Breyfogle Whisper campaign is a can't miss deal|first= Heidi|last= MacDonald|author-link= Heidi MacDonald|date= July 29, 2015|publisher= Comics Beat|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190328080934/https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-norm-breyfogle-whisper-campaign-is-a-cant-miss-deal/|archive-date= March 28, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{cite web|url= https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/17/will-you-give-50-for-norm-breyfogles-whisper-collection/|title= Will You Give $50 For Norm Breyfogle's Whisper Collection?|first= Rich|last= Johnston|author-link= Rich Johnston|date= July 17, 2015|work= Bleeding Cool|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181009060108/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/17/will-you-give-50-for-norm-breyfogles-whisper-collection/|archive-date= October 9, 2018|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{cite web|url= https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-artist-norm-breyfogle-recover-from-a-stroke#/|title= Help artist Norm Breyfogle recover from a stroke! |first= Bob|last= Greenberger|author-link= Robert Greenberger|date= July 2015|publisher= Indiegogo|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170222034441/https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-artist-norm-breyfogle-recover-from-a-stroke#/|archive-date= February 22, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

Breyfogle died of heart failure on September 24, 2018, in Houghton, Michigan.{{cite journal|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/09/26/batman-artist-norm-breyfogle-died-aged-58/|first= Rich|last= Johnston|title= Batman Artist Norm Breyfogle Died on Monday, Aged 58|journal=Bleeding Cool|date=September 26, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190416165550/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/09/26/batman-artist-norm-breyfogle-died-aged-58/|archive-date= April 16, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{Cite journal|url=http://www.tcj.com/norm-breyfogle-1960-2018/|title=Norm Breyfogle: 1960–2018|first= Daniel|last= Best|date= October 2, 2018|journal= The Comics Journal|publisher= Fantagraphics Books|location=Seattle, Washington|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190523221352/http://www.tcj.com/norm-breyfogle-1960-2018/|archive-date= May 23, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.keweenawreport.com/obits/obituary-norman-breyfogle/|title=Obituary: Norman Breyfogle|date=September 26, 2018|website=Keweenaw Report|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190523221352/http://www.keweenawreport.com/obits/obituary-norman-breyfogle/|archive-date= May 23, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

Bibliography

Archie

Archie's Double Digest Magazine #200-201,203,226 (2009-2012)

Life with Archie #1-8 (2010-2011)

Archie: The Married Life #1-2 (2011-2012)

Avatar Press

Atlas #1 (2002)

Black Tide #9 (2004)

First Salvo Productions

The Danger's Dozen #1-3 (2008)

The Danger Dozen: Interlude One-Shot (2008)

Last Gasp

Strip AIDS U.S.A. (1988)

New Comics Group

Deadtime Stories #1 (1987)

Speakeasy Comics

Of Bitter Souls #1-3 (2005)

Dark Horse Comics

G.I. Joe #2 (cover) (1996)

Michael Chabon Presents the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist #3,6 (2005)

Eerie #4 (2013)

= DC Comics =

{{div col|colwidth=33em}}

= Eclipse Comics =

= First Comics =

= Malibu Comics =

  • Firearm #5 (1994)
  • Flood Relief #1 (cover) (1994)
  • Hardcase #1 (1993)
  • Metaphysique (volume 2) #1-6 (1995)
  • Prime #1–12 (1993–1994)
  • Prime Annual: Gross and Disgusting #1 (1994)
  • Ultraverse Premiere #0 (1993)

= Marvel Comics =

{{div col|colwidth=33em}}

{{div col end}}

= Now =

  • The Terminator #7-8 (cover) (1989)
  • Racer X #10 (cover) (1989)
  • The Green Hornet #14 (cover) (1990)
  • Tales of the Green Hornet #1 (cover) (1992)
  • Mr. T and the T-Force #3-4 (1993)

= Valiant Comics =

  • Bloodshot #30–31, 34–35 (1995)
  • The Outcast #1 (1995)

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=739|title=Norm Breyfogle}}
  • [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=89 Norm Breyfogle] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|title= Detective Comics artist|before= Todd McFarlane|after= Flint Henry and
Mike McKone|years= 1987–1990}}

{{Succession box|title= Batman artist|before= Kieron Dwyer|after= Cam Kennedy|years= 1990–1992}}

{{Succession box|title= Batman: Shadow of the Bat artist|before= n/a|after= Dan Jurgens|years= 1992}}

{{Succession box|title= Prime artist|before= n/a|after= Darick Robertson|years= 1993–1994}}

{{Succession box|title= The Spectre vol. 4 artist|before= Craig Hamilton|after= n/a|years= 2002–2003}}

{{S-end}}

{{Ultraverse}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breyfogle, Norm}}

Category:1960 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:20th-century American artists

Category:21st-century American artists

Category:American comics artists

Category:American comics writers

Category:DC Comics people

Category:Marvel Comics people

Category:Northern Michigan University alumni

Category:Writers from Iowa City, Iowa