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3D Action in a 2D World - The Art of Norm Breyfogle

As the date draws closer to the film that your friendly neighborhood Geek is truly jazzed for, Batman Begins, I find myself immersing in all things Gotham more then I usually do. Considering I've permanently inked his symbol on my flesh, that is saying something. Batman has been and always will be my hero. The Dark Knight is the hero with which I measure all other heroes. I know there are others that are “technically” more powerful and whatnot, but I simply don't care. Some love Spiderman, others obsess over Superman, and the kids tend to groove on Wolverine, but for me Batman is the definitive comic book character. Period. The time will come when I will pen exactly why Batman holds such an important place in my heart. However, since this article is under the Artists section, I had better get to writing about an artist.
Norm Breyfogle

This flat medium. This basic color on paper. This art, it had energy and passion. It had life.

I feel I should make one little backtrack for a moment. In my small town, it was very difficult to get comics and subscribing through DC was sketchy at best as my local post office had no problem with folding my books into quarters to make it fit my mailbox. And so, I was often at the mercy at what was left over from deliveries in larger cities. As such, I lacked issues of Detective Comics (save what I would find at garage sales). If I had been able to buy Detective Comics sooner I would have discovered the outstanding work of Norm Breyfogle much much sooner.

The book was still dark. Batman was still a brooding character, but there was a certain softness to it. Gotham was a city of long shadows and deadly angles, yet each stroke of Breyfogle’s brush had a slight curve to it. As if to tell the reader, “Yes, what you are reading if pretty dark and heavy, but there is goodness in the world, even in Gotham light will break through”. Up until then I demanded that my art be incredibly detailed, I wanted to see every wrinkle in Batman’s world. Then came Detective Comics #608 and shattered what I felt was needed in a comic. Entire characters drawn of black, with only eye slits revealing where their head may be and yet those eye slits were able to confer more emotion then a page worth of word balloons. From that moment on, I was hooked. I called the 800 number on an ad in the book advertising back issues by mail. After asking an extremely helpful (and patient) clerk for each Detective Comic draw by Norm Breyfogle I placed my order. From that day on I followed his work. Grinning and nodding my head each time I saw him stretch himself and his art. His pencil work has a motion that is rarely captured within the comic medium. Breaking all the conventional rules of line art before it was popular to do so; Norm’s work flies, jumps, runs, and races to the next scene and you find yourself out of breath at the end of 23 pages. Yet, for all his vibrant energy and motion, he also knows when to slow down. When to allow the reader (and the character) a chance to catch their breath. An opportunity to drink some of Alfred’s famous tea before flying out the window to save the night one more time.

I followed his work through all the Bat books that he worked on. From my favorite Elseworlds book of all time, Batman: Holy Terror, to what I consider to be the greatest Ra’s Al Ghul story, Batman: Birth of the Demon, a book that is stunningly vibrant with Norm Breyfogle’s use of watercolors. I took glee and great enjoyment in Malibu Comics take on the Captain Marvel themed superhero; that of the all powerful being but with the mind of an angst ridden modern teenage boy. A great fan of Batman I may have been, it was still nice to get away from the dark streets of Gotham and into the vibrancy of Prime’s world. Although it would take a few years, I was able to study Norm’s growth as a visual storyteller in his original book: Metaphysique. A series that I fully intend on reviewing for those who missed out at a later time. No blurb in a larger piece can do the series justice. I was ecstatic beyond words to see him teamed up yet again with the great Alan Grant, penciling the exploits of my favorite anti-hero: Anarky, a character who had long since left the roguish halls of simple Batman villains. I even wholly embraced the cosmic and spiritual journey of Hal Jordan as he attempted to redeem his sins within the vengeful clothe of The Spectre. Sadly, with the cancelation of The Spectre and my ever increasingly busy life, I lost track of my favorite artist. I kept reading my past issues and was on my third copy of Holy Terror (with Birth of the Demon having a hardier binding it has endured). Course, in this age, it really is my fault that I didn’t keep track of any of Breyfogle’s new projects or books on the horizon.

Then I saw a banner ad on Comic Book Resources that made my comic reading year. Gorgeous art with a simple phrase written across it...

Breyfogle is Back!

In June of 2005, my boy Norm would be back! Relative Comics would be releasing a book titled Of Bitter Souls, a supernatural tale taking place in the greatest of all supernatural cities: New Orleans. What more can a Geek like me ask for? Comic? Check. Vampires? Check. Norm Breyfogle? Big check on that baby! I’ve watched the trailer a few times now (yes, a trailer for a comic, trust me, good stuff). I’ve already placed my order. If what I am hearing is true (and why wouldn’t it be), reading this book will be like that cool day in November. The day that taught me that comics were so much more then throw away entertainment. They had life, energy, and soul.

Now if you don’t mind... I think I need to read me some more back issues.