Norm Breyfogle

by John Painz

I went to The School of Visual Arts for college. I was very lucky, in that there were a number of great comic book personalities working there. George Pratt, Klaus Janson, Denny O'Neil, Carmine Infantino, Joe Orlando... and with O'Neil there, I got the scope from a number of people who relayed to me that it was Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil who saved the Batman comics. Who brought out the darker side of Batman.

Well, I half agree to that... but I think that Batman was on to a trend after those two comic stars dropped out. I think Batman was getting too stagnant, and the artwork was less than stellar.

And I'll tell you, all that changed when Norm Breyfogle took over drawing Detective Comics back in the mid-80's. His sharp line style, his charismatic faces... and let's face it, his badass Batman was exactly what the character needed. He wasn't wishy-washy. He was Batman, and Norm knew what to bring to the character, to bring out all of those dark qualities that were just sitting there waiting...

From working on Detective Comics, Breyfogle did a number of Batman one-shots, including Holy Terror, Dreamland, and the sequel to Son of the Demon, Birth of the Demon, in which Breyfogle took his work farther, painting much of the interior, which took on a more fluid quality than his pen and ink work... and came out fantastic.

Along with Batman, Breyfogle and gang (specifically Alan Grant) took other characters and created new personas for the books, including Anarky, which the duo of Breyfogle and Grant turned into a separate series, which was just as brilliantly conceived. A new Batman series was also sparked, called Shadow of the Bat, which Breyfogle initiated, working the first five issues, and a number of sporadic ones as well.

After 1993, Breyfogle left Detective Comics and worked on a number of independent projects, including Metaphysique, Bloodshot and Prime, some of which were not only drawn by Breyfogle, but written as well. All of the projects were well received and given to high praise... even though Batman collectors abound were upset at the loss of such an incredible artist. To this day, Detective Comics still has not found a suitable replacement.

Breyfogle's past work has ranged from back-up stories of American Flagg (prestigious itself), pencil and inking work on Marvel Fanfare, Tales of Terror and Whisper... to Detective Comics and Batman in 1987 and 1990, respectively.

But his checklist is enormous, and as diverse (if not more-so) as any comic creator out there, and it's to his credit. His drawing is fresh and not recycled, something that collectors have come to accept from other artists working in the field today. Regardless of the title, the work is a pleasure to look at.

I had the opportunity to ask Norm some questions about his work and his life...

John Painz (JP): Could you tell me who or what influenced you the most, to decide to get into comics?

Norm Breyfogle (NB): The single biggest influence was Neal Adams' art, especially on Batman. I always saw comics as just one of many avenues for illustration, though, and the main influence on my becoming an artist at all was probably my dad drawing as a hobby before I turned three and my parents were divorced (I rarely saw him after that).

JP: How would you describe the direction of the industry (comic industry), as of today, and where it might be heading in the future?

NB: It looks like it's slowly dying, or being corporatized more and more to bad and good effect. Bad, because every corporation wants to dehumanize its people into cheap slaves and cogs in the machine (result: loss of the quality that stems from personal vision); Good, because corporations want to sell in high volume and can market product well (just about the only thing they do well). I see more computers, less personal vision.

JP: Are there comic books at the moment that you're particularly fond of?

NB: Not really. Don't read 'em anymore. I must admit I've been made a bit sour by the cold shoulder I've been getting from this industry lately...

JP: Who are your personal heroes? (unrelated to the comic industry)

NB: Ken Wilber, my mother, Ralph Nader, Alan Grant, Robert Anton Wilson, George Carlin, Alan Watts, Timothy Leary, Spartacus, the unknown Christ ...

JP: Villains?

NB: The Bush family, almost all politicians, TV preachers, oil magnates, liars, bigots, loud and ignorant narcissists, loud and uneducated believers in superstition.

JP: What do you do when you're stuck on an idea?

NB: Go for a walk.

JP: What would you say to a young'un if they were interested in entering this industry?

NB: Avoid the major companies unless you can accept the inevitable disillusionment. Stick to your own vision as much as possible, never let it die, 'cause you'll need it when they kick you to the curb.

JP: Have you ever 'sold out', and if you did, do you regret it?

NB: The only ones who have not sold out are primitive peoples. Everyone else has, to some degree. But it is a matter of degree!

JP: Name the last 5 CD's you've purchased.

NB: I Don't Speak The Language, Equus, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Beruhmte Orgelwerke Vol. 1, Brandenburgische Konzerte Vol. 1.

JP: Name the last 5 movies you saw.

NB: I'll try, but I watch a lot of movies! 1. Lolita 2. The Quarrel 3. The Secret of Nicola Tesla 4. Heavy Metal 2000 5. Benny Hill in New York

JP: I wonder, was it easy for you to find help in artists? Were their egos not so blown up?

NB: I didn't approach artists to break into comics. One should approach editors, unless you're looking to be an apprentice, which I never did. Wait! I did approach Neal Adams when I was seventeen. I'd driven all the way to New York from Michigan (where I lived at the time) and I had an appointment and everything, but when I got there Neal wouldn't even come out to see me! He sent his daughter out instead. I was very disappointed. He must have been really busy on a deadline ... Years later, when I'd just started my first work on Detective Comics, his daughter called me to offer me a position in Neal's studio (she didn't know she'd met me) but I was doing Batman! It was my pleasure to turn her down.

For more information, original artwork or just plain 'ole curiosity about Norm Breyfogle and his artwork, visit his cool website here - www.normbreyfogle.com