Stephen DeStefano
{{Short description|American comic book artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox comics creator
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| birth_name = Stephen DeStefano
| birth_place = Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}}
| death_date =
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| write = y
| pencil = y
| ink = y
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| notable works = 'Mazing Man
Hero Hotline
| awards =
| website =
}}
Stephen DeStefano (born 1966){{cite web |url= http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=DE+STEFANO%2c+STEPHEN|title= DeStefano, Stephen|first= Jerry|last= Bails|authorlink = Jerry Bails|year= 2006|work= Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070511104128/http://www.bailsprojects.com/(S(4fltw0ymnr4dmf45dkrq1eao))/bio.aspx?Name=DE+STEFANO%2c+STEPHEN|archivedate=May 11, 2007|url-status= live|df=mdy-all|accessdate= June 1, 2019}} is an American comics artist, animator and storyboard artist best known as the co-creator of 'Mazing Man and Hero Hotline with writer Bob Rozakis.
Early life
DeStefano was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York and attended the High School of Art and Design.{{cite web|url= http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/2007/02/28/the-mazing-stephen-destefano/|title= The 'Mazing Stephen DeStefano!|date= February 28, 2007|publisher= Channel Frederator|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190428075500/http://archives.frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/2007/02/28/the-mazing-stephen-destefano/|archivedate= April 28, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}
Career
DeStefano's first credit in the comics industry was as the creator of the character Captain Electron in Adventure Comics #479 (March 1981), and then the characters Zeep and Thumbelina in the "Dial H for Hero" story in Adventure Comics #483 (July 1981).{{Gcdb issue|id= 35508|title= Adventure Comics #483 (July 1981)}} His first professionally published comics artwork was a one-page parody of the "I…Vampire" feature in House of Mystery #306 (July 1982).{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Stephen+DeStefano|title= Stephen DeStefano}} DeStefano wrote and drew "The Mini (Mis)Adventures of Nick O. Tyme" in New Talent Showcase #6–12 (June–December 1984). He then teamed with writer Bob Rozakis to create 'Mazing Man, a character introduced in an eponymous series beginning in January 1986.{{cite web|url= http://www.toonopedia.com/mazingmn.htm|title= 'Mazing Man|first= Don|last= Markstein|date= 2010|publisher= Don Markstein's Toonopedia|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20240527181136/https://www.webcitation.org/6fLmFGZvD?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mazingmn.htm|archivedate= May 27, 2024|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} After the cancellation of that series, the Rozakis-DeStefano team created Hero Hotline in Action Comics Weekly #637 (January 1989).{{cite journal|last= Martin|first= Brian|title= Where the Action is...Weekly|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 98|page= 75|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= August 2017|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} After a four-issue run as a back-up feature, Hero Hotline received its own six-issue limited series.{{cite web|url= http://www.toonopedia.com/hotline.htm|title= Hero Hotline|first= Don|last= Markstein|date= 2010|publisher= Don Markstein's Toonopedia|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20240527172337/https://www.webcitation.org/6f3uXKUNF?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/hotline.htm|archivedate= May 27, 2024|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} In the 1990s, DeStefano was a frequent contributor to The Big Book Of series published by Paradox Press. His other comics work includes credits at Dark Horse Comics, Disney Comics, Fantagraphics Books, and Marvel Comics.{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/destefano_stephen.htm|title= Stephen DeStefano|date= April 1, 2011|publisher= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190602020208/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/destefano_stephen.htm|archivedate= June 2, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} As an animator, DeStefano has worked on such series as The Ren & Stimpy Show and Futurama.{{cite web|url= http://www.fantagraphics.com/artists/stephen-destefano/|title= Our Artists: Stephen DeStefano|date= n.d.|publisher= Fantagraphics Books|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190602035348/http://www.fantagraphics.com/artists/stephen-destefano/|archivedate= June 2, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} He inked the Cage limited series drawn by Genndy Tartakovsky in 2016–2017.{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/genndy-tartakovsky-cage-preview/ |title=Genndy Tartakovsky Brings His Cartoon Style To Cage #1[Preview]|publisher= ComicsAlliance |date=September 6, 2016 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105161246/http://comicsalliance.com/genndy-tartakovsky-cage-preview/ |archivedate=November 5, 2016|df= mdy}} In 2020, DeStefano won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Emmy for Character Design on the Genndy Tartakovsky series Primal.{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/stephen-destefano |title=Television Academy, Emmys, Stephen DeStefano, Awards and Nominations |publisher= Television Academy}} In 2024, he contributed art to the Alex Hirsch book The Book of Bill.{{cite web|author-link=Alex Hirsch|last=Hirsch|first=Alex|title=The Book of Bill (B&N Exclusive Edition)|work=Barnes & Noble|date=July 23, 2024|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-bill-alex-hirsch/1144490969|access-date=July 23, 2024}}
Filmography
=Television=
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Writer ! Storyboard artist ! Art director ! Animator ! Notes | ||||||
| 1992–96 | The Ren and Stimpy Show | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | background designer, layout artist, layout supervisor, and background assistant | |
| 1993 | 2 Stupid Dogs | {{Yes}} | background designer | |||
| 1994 | Beethoven | {{Yes}} | character designer | |||
| rowspan="2"| 1995 | The Baby Huey Show | {{Yes}} | ep: "Operation Immunization" | |||
| The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat | {{Yes}} | also assistant director | ||||
| 1996 | Earthworm Jim | {{Yes}} | ||||
| rowspan="2"| 1998 | Superman: The Animated Series | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | background key designer | ||
| The New Batman Adventures | {{Yes}} | |||||
| 1999–2001 | What a Cartoon! | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | three episodes; models ("King Crab: Space Crustacean") and prop designer ("Foe Paws") | ||
| 1999 | Courage the Cowardly Dog | {{Yes}} | ep: "The Demon in the Mattress" | |||
| 1999–2001 | The New Woody Woodpecker Show | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2001 | Imp, Inc. | {{Yes}} | animation layout | |||
| rowspan="3"| 2002 | Poochini's Yard | {{Yes}} | ep: "Diva Dog" | |||
| Welcome to Eltingville | {{Yes}} | rowspan="2"| TV short | ||||
| Private Eye Princess | {{Yes}} | |||||
| 2003 | Xiaolin Showdown | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2004–10 | The Venture Bros. | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | character designer | |
| rowspan="4"| 2006 | Minoriteam | {{Yes}} | illustrator; ep: "Tribe and Prejudice" | |||
| The X's | {{Yes}} | ep: "Homebody" | ||||
| Plastic Man in: Puddle Trouble | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | model designer; TV short | |||
| The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | {{partial|Story}} | {{Yes}} | ep: "Anger Mismanagement" | |||
| 2006–07 | Drawn Together | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2007–09 | Random! Cartoons | {{Yes}} | two episodes | |||
| 2007 | The Modifyers | {{Yes}} | rowspan="2"| character designer | |||
| 2010–11 | Sym-Bionic Titan | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | |||
| 2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | ep: "Four-Star Spectacular!" | ||
| rowspan="7"| 2012 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | {{Yes}} | character designer; ep: "Catch a Falling Star" | |||
| Secret Mountain Fort Awesome | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | ep: "Festro Gets Glasses" | |||
| Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | {{Yes}} | two episodes | ||||
| The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | {{Yes}} | |||||
| Dreamworks Dragons | {{Yes}} | two episodes | ||||
| New Teen Titans | {{Yes}} | ep: "Apprentice: Part Three" | ||||
| The Looney Tunes Show | {{Yes}} | |||||
| 2012–13 | Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated | {{Yes}} | storyboard revisionist | |||
| 2013 | POV | {{Yes}} | ep: "Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps" | |||
| 2013–18 | Mickey Mouse | {{Yes}} | character and prop designer | |||
| 2017 | Samurai Jack | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | storyboard layout, storyboard clean-up, and layout keys | ||
| 2018–19 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | {{Yes}} | rowspan="5"| character designer | |||
| 2019 | Primal | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2020–23 | Looney Tunes Cartoons | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2022 | The Cuphead Show! | {{Yes}} | ||||
| 2023–present | Unicorn: Warriors Eternal | {{Yes}} |
==As voice actor==
| class="wikitable" | ||
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role(s) | ||
| 1994 | The Ren and Stimpy Show | Chalky Cheesefist |
| 1995 | The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat | Additional voices |
| 2002 | Private Eye Princess | Hildegard the Maid |
| 2008 | The Venture Bros. | Dr. Paul Entmann |
=Film=
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Storyboard artist ! Animator ! Notes | ||||
| 1995 | Runaway Brain | {{Yes}} | Visual development artist | |
| 2006 | Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo | {{Yes}} | TV movie | |
| 2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | {{Yes}} | rowspan="3"| Direct-to-video | |
| 2008 | Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs | {{Yes}} | ||
| 2012 | Big Top Scooby-Doo! | {{Yes}} | ||
| 2015 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | {{Yes}} | rowspan="4"|character designer | |
| 2018 | Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | {{Yes}} | ||
| 2022 | Hotel Transylvania: Transformania | {{Yes}} | ||
| 2025 | Fixed | {{Yes}} |
Bibliography
;Apple Comics
- 101 Other Uses for a Condom #1 (1991)
;Dark Horse Comics
- Cheval Noir #26, 44 (1992–1993)
- Hellboy, Jr. #1–2 (1999)
- Hellboy, Jr., Halloween Special #1 (1997)
- Instant Piano #1–4 (1994–1995)
- Wolf & Red #2 (1995)
;DC Comics
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Action Comics Weekly #637–640 ("Hero Hotline" feature) (1989)
- Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! #6 (2009)
- Bizarro Comics #1 (2001)
- Blackhawk vol. 3 #3–4 (1989)
- The Brave and the Bold #200 (one page) (1983)
- Cartoon Cartoons #16, 22–23, 32 (2003–2004)
- Cartoon Network Action Pack #7 (2007)
- Cartoon Network Block Party #3 (2005)
- Cool World #1–4 (movie adaptation) (1992)
- Dexter's Laboratory #11, 30 (2000–2002)
- Elvira's House of Mystery Special #1 (1987)
- Fast Forward #2 (1993)
- The Flash Secret Files and Origins #2 (1999)
- Flintstones and the Jetsons #4 (1997)
- Hero Hotline #1–6 (1989)
- House of Mystery #306, 311, 313–315, 321 (1982–1983)
- Just Imagine Stan Lee... Secret Files and Origins #1 (one page) (2002)
- Legion #9 (2002)
- Looney Tunes #100, 150 (2003–2007)
- Looney Tunes Magazine #6 (1991)
- 'Mazing Man #1–12 (1986)
- 'Mazing Man Special #1–3 (1987–1990)
- New Talent Showcase #6–12 (1984)
- Scooby-Doo #28–29, 45, 77, 79 (1999–2004)
- Secret Origins vol. 2 #16 ('Mazing Man), #30 (Plastic Man), #34 (G'nort) (1987–1988)
- Superman and Batman: World's Funnest #1 (2001)
- Superman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 (1998)
- Sweatshop #1–3 (2003)
- Wednesday Comics HC (one page) (2010)
- Who's Who in the DC Universe #8 (1991)
- Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #3 (1988)
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #7, 13, 15–16 (1985–1986)
- Who's Who Update '88 #1 (1988)
;Paradox Press
- The Big Book of Bad (1998)
- The Big Book of Little Criminals (1996)
- The Big Book of Scandal (1997)
- The Big Book of Urban Legends (1994)
- The Big Book of Vice (1999)
{{div col end}}
;Disney Comics
- Disney Adventures #97–1, #97–8 (1997)
- Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Adventures #1–2, 7–11 (1990–1991)
;Fantagraphics Books
- Critters #32, 38, 50 (1989–1990)
- Itchy Planet #3 (one page) (1988)
;Harvey Pekar
- American Splendor #14 (1989)
;Hyperion Avenue Books
- The Book of Bill (2024)
;Marvel Comics
- Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey #1 (movie adaptation) (1991)
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book #1–3 (1991–1992)
- Cage #1–4 (2016–2017)
- Video Jack #4, 6 (1988)
;NBM Publishing
- Classics Desecrated (1995)
;Oni Press
- Jingle Belle #1–2 (1999)
- Oni Double Feature #13 (1999)
- Oni Press Summer Vacation Supercolor Fun Special #1 (2000)
- Paul Dini's Jingle Belle Winter Wingding #1 (2002)
- Paul Dini's Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo #1 (2000)
;Palliard Press
- XXXenophile #6 (1992)
;Renegade Press
- Renegade Romance #1–2 (1987–1988)
;United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
- SpongeBob Comics #4–5, 34, 43 (2011–2015)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2463003}}
- {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id= 897|title= Stephen DeStefano}}
- [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=1101 Stephen DeStefano] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
- [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namd17.htm#N4713 Stephen DeStefano] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
- [https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/13516866?counter=1 Stephen DeStefano papers at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeStefano, Stephen}}
Category:20th-century American artists
Category:21st-century American artists
Category:American comics artists
Category:American comics writers
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American storyboard artists
Category:American writers of Italian descent
Category:Animators from New York (state)
Category:Artists from Queens, New York
Category:High School of Art and Design alumni