Norm Breyfogle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norm Breyfogle |
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Norm Breyfogle by Michael Netzer
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| Born | Norman Keith Breyfogle February 27, 1960 Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | September 24, 2018 (aged 58) Houghton, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Penciller, Inker |
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Notable works
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Batman Detective Comics Prime |
Norm Breyfogle (born February 27, 1960, died September 24, 2018) was an American artist. He is famous for drawing Batman comics for DC Comics from 1987 to 1995. During this time, he helped create many popular characters.
With writers Alan Grant and John Wagner, he co-created villains like the Ventriloquist and Ratcatcher. He also helped create Anarky, Jeremiah Arkham, Victor Zsasz, and Amygdala with Alan Grant. Norm Breyfogle also co-created the hero Prime for Malibu Comics. He even wrote and drew his own character, Metaphysique.
Contents
Early Life and Art Training
Norman Keith Breyfogle was born on February 27, 1960, in Iowa City, Iowa. He started taking art lessons when he was just twelve years old. He even won an award at a local art show!
His family later moved to Houghton, Michigan. When he was 16, a local newspaper called him "Norm Breyfogle: Near Master Cartoonist at 16." In high school, he drew a comic called Tech-Team for Michigan Technological University. In 1977, his design for Robin's costume was printed in Batman Family #13.
Norm Breyfogle studied painting and illustration at Northern Michigan University. He also worked as an illustrator for a magazine and a graphics company. In 1982, he moved to California. There, he worked as a draftsman and later designed a training manual for the Space Shuttle.
Becoming a Comic Artist
First Comic Projects
In 1984, Norm Breyfogle drew a six-page story for DC Comics’ New Talent Showcase. A talent agent saw his work and started representing him. After this, he drew for American Flagg and Tales of Terror.
In 1986, he wrote, drew, and lettered a Captain America story for Marvel Fanfare. He then drew Whisper for First Comics. This was his first monthly comic book series. Soon after, he began working on Detective Comics for DC Comics, featuring Batman.
Drawing Batman
Norm Breyfogle teamed up with writer Alan Grant to work on Detective Comics. Their first Batman story together introduced the Ventriloquist. They also created the Ratcatcher in their third story.
He drew Batman for six years, from 1987 to 1993. He first worked on Detective Comics. Then, he moved to the Batman comic to introduce Tim Drake as the new Robin. Later, he helped start a new Batman series called Batman: Shadow of the Bat. In this series, the Grant/Breyfogle team created three more characters: Jeremiah Arkham, Mr. Zsasz, and Amygdala.
During his time drawing Batman, he also drew special one-shot comics. One of these was Batman: Holy Terror, which was the first DC comic to use the Elseworlds logo. He also hand-painted Batman: Birth of the Demon.
Later Comic Work
In 2000, Norm Breyfogle drew the Flashpoint mini-series for DC Comics. In 2001, he drew The Spectre monthly for a year.
He spent 2003 drawing and inking Black Tide. In 2005, he started drawing and inking Of Bitter Souls. He also created illustrations for many other clients. These included companies like Nike, Inc. and magazines like Mojo and Time Out.
In 2008, Norm Breyfogle began drawing for Archie Comics. He drew for Archie's Double Digest, and for Archie Loves Betty and Archie Loves Veronica.
He returned to DC Comics in 2011 to draw DC Retroactive: Batman – The '90s. He also contributed art to DC's Batman Beyond Unlimited digital comic series from 2012 to 2013.
In 2015, DC published Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 1. This was a collection of his early Batman stories. A second volume was released in 2018.
Later Years and Passing
On December 18, 2014, Norm Breyfogle had a stroke. This affected the left side of his body. Since he was left-handed, he could no longer draw comics professionally.
Fans and fellow creators helped raise money for his therapy. They reprinted some of his earlier work to support him.
Norm Breyfogle passed away on September 24, 2018, in Houghton, Michigan, due to heart failure.
