Early life and career

When Breyfogle was 12 years old, he began taking private lessons from commercial artist Andrew Benson. Around this time, he also won his first award at a town and country art show. The Daily Mining Gazette, a newspaper in Houghton, Michigan, profiled him in 1976 as "Norm Breyfogle: Near Master Cartoonist at 16." During his time in high school, he co-plotted, wrote, and illustrated a comic book titled Tech-Team for Michigan Technological University.

After high school, Breyfogle attended Northern Michigan University, studying painting and illustration. During his time in college, Breyfogle worked as an illustrator for a local magazine and also for a graphics company. In 1980, he illustrated a book titled Lore’s Loggin’ Hero, published by Book Concern.

Shortly after college, in 1982, Breyfogle moved to California. He went to work as a draftsman, and later worked for United Space Boosters as a technical illustrator designing a training manual for the Space Shuttle program.

Early comics work

In 1984, Mike Friedrich (President of Star Reach, a talent representative agency) saw his work hanging at the San Diego Comic-Con Art Show and began a professional relationship with Breyfogle. Breyfogle also at this time penciled a six-page story for DC’s New Talent Showcase, beginning a short run in the title. This was followed by several issues of First Comics’ American Flagg, penciling a back-up story titled "Bob Violence", in 1985. During this time he also drew for Tales of Terror, a horror anthology published by Eclipse Comics. Following that, and still breaking into the comic scene, Breyfogle wrote, illustrated, and lettered a Captain America story in Marvel Fanfare in 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 helped re-popularize Batman and revive the sales of Detective Comics. He drew the Batman for six years (1987—93), penciling Detective Comics from 1987—1990, then moving to Batman to introduce the new Robin from 1990—1992, and finally starting a new Batman series for DC titled Shadow of the Bat from 1992-1993. During his six-year run on the character of the Batman, he also did a few one-shots, two of them being Holy Terror (an Elseworlds story) and Birth of the Demon, which he hand painted. Characters he co-created with Grant included The Ventriloquist and Zsasz. He also provided pencils to a 10-page short story in Superman 80-Page Giant #1 (Feb. 1999).

Later work

In 2001, DC offered him the job of penciling The Spectre monthly, which he drew for one year. Later he spent 2003 pencilling 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 also wrote over forty poems and over 1,300 haikus in a five-month marathon, and a number of short stories.

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 is written by Chuck Satterlee. Shortly before Speakeasy Comics went out of business, Relative Comics joined with Chimaera Studios and moved to publisher Markosia Comics.

In 2006 Breyfogle accepted an offer to pencil and ink the main story interiors and the covers for the upcoming comic book title The Danger's Dozen, due winter of 2007, from the publisher A First Salvo. He also began a professional relationship with the London-based art agency Debut Art.

In 2006 and 2007, Mazz Press commissioned Breyfogle to illustrate "The .40 Caliber Mousehunt," a thriller novel about low-rent mercenaries by Stephen Pytak. For more information, log onto www.mazzpress.com

Since 2005, Breyfogle has produced illustrations for a wide variety of clients outside of the comics industry, including Nike, MOJO, The Red Bulletin, Time Out, Company Magazine, Suddeutsch Zeitung Magazin, and various bands (including 12 Stone Toddler), among many others.

In the fall of 2008, Breyfogle began drawing Archie's New Look, for Archie's Double Digest, published by Archie Publications.

In August 2010, Breyfogle completed work on 21 illustrations to be used in the thriller novel The Wild Damned by Stephen Pytak. The novel is slated for a Halloween 2010 release.

Also in 2010, Breyfogle agreed to pencil two new titles (and pencil and ink their covers) from Archie Comics: Archie Loves Betty and Archie Loves Veronica.

Norm Breyfogle has been recognized for his work with nominations for the Squiddy Awards for Favorite Artist in 1989 and 1991, among many other awards.

Interviews

• DC MULTIVERSE
• Mxypedia.com
• Norm Breyfogle & Alan Grant 'Pro-To-Pro' Interview @ Adelaide Comics And Books
• Norm Breyfogle @ Adelaide Comics And Books
• BATMAN: Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle Speak Out, January 6, 2007
• Norm Breyfogle interview an Oyfication.net.
• Klaehn, Jeffery. A Conversation With Norm Breyfogle, Graphic Novel Reporter, December 2009.
• Norm Breyfogle on possible agism in comics, interview by Cary Ashby (March 30, 2010)

Norm BreyfogleNorm Breyfogle