Norman Keith Breyfogle (; February 27, 1960 – September 24, 2018)
Early life
Norman Keith Breyfogle
was born on February 27, 1960, in Iowa City, Iowa
to parents Lois (née Roberts) and Gerald Breyfogle.
[ (Linked from the cited article)] He had a brother Kevin and a sister Penny Duncan.
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,
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.
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.
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.
Following that, Breyfogle wrote, illustrated, and lettered a
Captain America story in
Marvel Fanfare #29 (Nov. 1986).
He then drew
Whisper for
First Comics in 1986–1987, his first monthly book,
before landing on
Detective Comics starring
Batman published by DC Comics.
Batman
Teamed with writer Alan Grant, Breyfogle worked on
Detective Comics. They introduced the Ventriloquist in their first Batman story together
and the Ratcatcher in their third.
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 Robin
[Manning "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
from 1992 to 1993[Manning "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 , 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).
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.
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,
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.
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.
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 Cooper and Archie Loves Veronica Lodge.
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.
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.
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.
Breyfogle died of heart failure on September 24, 2018, in Houghton, Michigan.
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 (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
-
Anarky #1–4 (1997)
-
Anarky, vol. 2, #1–8 (1999)
-
Aquaman Secret Files and Origins 2003 #1 (2003)
-
Batman #455–466, 470–476, 492–493, 556, Annual #11–12 (1987–1998)
-
Batman Beyond Unlimited #1–13, 15 (2012–2013)
-
Batman: Birth of the Demon HC (1993)
-
Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat #1 (1995)
-
Batman: Dreamland #1 (2000)
-
#1 (1991)
-
Batman: Knight Gallery (1995)
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#59-61 (cover) (1994)
-
#1–5, 13, 50, 65–67, 75 (1992–1998)
-
Batman: The Abduction #1 (1998)
-
Batman: No Man's Land Gallery (1999)
-
Catwoman #45 (1997)
-
DC Comics Presents: Green Lantern #1 (2004)
-
DC One Million 80-Page Giant #1 (1999)
-
DC Retroactive: Batman – The '90s #1 (2011)
-
DCU Heroes Secret Files #1 (1999)
-
Detective Comics #579, 582–594, 601–621, 627, 659 (1987–1993)
-
Detention Comics #1 (1996)
-
The Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (1999)
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Flashpoint #1–3 (1999–2000)
-
Green Lantern: Circle of Fire #1 (2000)
-
Hawkman #33 (cover) (1996)
-
Human Defense Corps #6 (2003)
-
Jack Kirby's Fourth World Gallery (1996)
-
#5 (2001)
-
JLA Secret Files and Origins (2000)
-
JLA-Z #3 (2004)
-
Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #24 (1986)
-
Lobo #51 (1998)
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Lobo's Greatest Hits (1992)
-
Robin II #3 (cover variant ) (1992)
-
New Talent Showcase #11, 13 (1984–1985)
-
Silver Age Secret Files #1 (2000)
-
Silver Age: Flash (2000)
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Sins of Youth Secret Files #1 (2000)
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Spectre, vol. 4, #15–23, 25–27 (2002–2003)
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Suicide Squad #49 (cover) (1991)
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Super Heros Stamp Album Celebrate the Century #1-3,8-9 (1998-2000)
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Superman, vol. 2, #130, #1,000,000 (1997–1998)
-
Superman 80-Page Giant #1 (1999)
-
Superman Forever #1 (1998)
-
Supermen of America #1 (1999)
-
Talent Showcase #18 (1985)
-
Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #18–20 (2014)
-
Wonder Woman Annual #5 (1996)
-
#24 (1987)
-
Who's Who Update '88 #3-4 (1988)
-
Who's Who in the DC Universe #2-3,5,7-8,10,13,16 (1990-1992)
Eclipse Comics
-
Born to Be Wild (1991)
-
Tales of Terror #6, 8 (1986)
-
Metaphysique (volume 1) #1-2 (1992)
-
#1 (1991)
First Comics
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American Flagg! #33, 35–38 (1986–1987)
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Whisper #3–11 (1986–1988)
Malibu Comics
-
Firearm #5 (1994)
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Flood Relief #1 (cover) (1994)
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Hardcase #1 (1993)
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Metaphysique (volume 2) #1-6 (1995)
-
Prime #1–12 (1993–1994)
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Prime Annual: Gross and Disgusting #1 (1994)
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Ultraverse Premiere #0 (1993)
Marvel Comics
-
The Avengers Annual 2000 #1 (2000)
-
Black Panther, vol. 3, #30 (2001)
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Patsy Walker #1–3 (2000)
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Marc Spector: Moon Knight, vol. 3, #42 (1992)
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Marvel Fanfare #29 (Captain America); #31(Daredevil); #37 (Fantastic Four); #45 (Hulk Pin Up); #57 (Monica Rambeau, Spider-Man, Electro, Hulk, Blob, Wasp, Captain America Pin Up) (1986–1991)
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Open Space #3 (1990)
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Prime vol, 2 #9–10 (1996)
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Prime/Captain America #1 (1996)
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Thunderbolts 2000 #1 (2000)
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Within Our Reach #1 (1991)
Now
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The Terminator #7-8 (cover) (1989)
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Racer X #10 (cover) (1989)
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The Green Hornet #14 (cover) (1990)
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Tales of the Green Hornet #1 (cover) (1992)
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Mr. T and the T-Force #3-4 (1993)
Valiant Comics
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Bloodshot #30–31, 34–35 (1995)
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The Outcast #1 (1995)
External links
