Comicbook.com reports artist Norm Breyfogle passed away on Monday at the age of 58. Though the cause of death was not made public, Breyfogle suffered a stroke in 2014 that left the left side of his body paralyzed. Fans of the beloved Batman artist donated nearly $89,000 to support his $200,000 medical bills. DC, Marvel, and the Hero Initiative also offered aid.
Norman Keith Breyfogle was born in Iowa City on February 27, 1960. He became an established artist at a young age, earning a profile in Houghton, Michigan’s The Daily Mining Gazette at the age of 16, after winning an award at a town and country art show. After graduating from Northern Michigan University, Breyfolge worked as a technical illustrator, designing a space shuttle training manual for the United Space Boosters.
After penciling a story of the 1984 edition of DC’s “New Talent Showcase,” Breyfogle regularly drew Batman titles from 1987 to 1995, working with Alan Grant and John Wagner during his tenure. He contributed to “Detective Comics,” “Shadow of the Bat,” “Batman Beyond Unlimited,” “Batman: Holy Terror,” and “Batman: Birth of the Demon” for DC. Breyfolge and Grant also created the supervillain the Ventriloquist in their first story together.
Breyfolge also helped co-create Malibu Comics’ ‘Ultraverse’ with books like “Prime” and “Metaphysique.” Breyfolge would later work for Archie Comics, drawing a ‘new look’ for the character in “Archie’s Double Digest.” Breyfogle drew two titles for Archie: “Archie Loves Betty” and “Archie Loves Veronica.” He also worked for Marvel on books such as “Avengers,” “Moon Knight,” “Hellcat,” “Marvel Fanfare,” and “Black Panther.” He returned to DC to draw “DC Retroactive: Batman – The ’90s,” with Grant, in October 2011.
Breyfogle died in Houghton, Michigan. Funeral arrangments have yet to be made public according to family friend Daniel Best.
Multiversity Comics sends its condolences to Norm Breyfogle’s family and friends.
