My latest Comics You Should Own column features
Detective Comics #583-594 and #601-614, Alan Grant and John Wagner writing (and Grant alone from #601 onward) with Norm Breyfogle on pencils. Breyfogle, as I've mentioned before, doesn't get the credit he deserves, but he just might be the best Batman artist ever. He's definitely in the top 5. Go read and dare to challenge that statement!
When I think of under appreciated Batman artists... I think of Byrne. When I think of VASTLY under appreciated, kickin'-it-all-kinds-of-greatness, Batman artists... I think of Breyfogle.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the man?
Breyfogle was incredible, he lured me over from Marvel books in the 90s, a feat previously impossible. They should get him back.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree--I did get used to his style, and it fit certain characters well, such as Scarface.
ReplyDeleteBut his drawing style was too squared off, and detracted from my enjoyment of the story until I got used to it--he wasn't bad, but best ever?
Not even close.
Off the top of my head I'd have to say my top 5 would include Marshall Rogers & Jim Aparo.
This sounds like a separate post, because the opinions would fly!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - he's currently drawing Of Bitter Souls, which was being published by Speakeasy before it went under. Three issues actually saw the light of day, and I think it moved over to Markosia. So maybe we'll see it again some day.
You could be right - although maybe tied with (wait for it) Kelley Jones! The 90s weren't bad for Batman - once you discount everything that sucked.
ReplyDeleteBreyfogle is great, but I don't think he clears the top 5 Bat-artists list- Rogers, Aparo, Sprang, Mazuchelli, Miller, and Adams all beat him out. I'd snatch up a Grant/Breyfogle collection in a heartbeat, mind you.
ReplyDeleteBest Batman artist? Have to give it to Aparo, kids. Followed by Mazzuchelli, Neal Adams, Frank Miller, and then Breyfogle.
ReplyDeleteHell YES Breyfogle's the best Batman artist ever. Aparo's might be more "definitive," but my favorite shall always be Breyfogle.
ReplyDeletefyi for breyfogle fans - norm and a few of his pals from markosia press will be signing at midtown comics in nyc on june 24th
ReplyDeletemidtown comics signing & event page
No Batman artist could do fight choreography like Norm Breyfogle, h could really capture grace and movement on the page like no other. McDaniel is pretty good at that too.
ReplyDeleteThe whole love of Kelley Jones though. NEVER got that. I stopped buying the moment he became penciller, and I'm proud to say I never bought a single issue he drew. Ug. LEE.
favourite run of detective comics ever! read these when i was a kid and this defined Batman for me!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about best ever, as Aparo really has that claim, but Breyfogle is certainly my favorite. Anyone looking for the goods beyond Detective needs to read Batman: Holy Terror, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (what was it, the first dozen issues or so? More? I don't have my boxes handy), and a pretty lengthy run on the main Batman book. Seriously, he's excellent. I always appreciated the angles and depth he gave to the Bat.
ReplyDelete1- Marshall Rogers
ReplyDelete2- Brian Bolland
3- Neal Adams
4- Don Newton
5- Dick Giordano
6- Frank Miller/David Mazuchelli
7- Jim Aparo
8- Alan Davis
9- Bruce Timm
10-Bill Finger
No disrespect to Norm, but there were other greats.
Shoot, I meant Jerry Robinson (not Bill Finger; in fact, I think Bill was a writer, not an artist.)
ReplyDeleteAfter thinkking it over--in addition to Rogers & Aparo--my top 5 also includes Neal Adams, Dick Giordano and Walt Simonson.
ReplyDeleteOne of my first comics ever was an issue of 'Tec that was the first part of a team-up with The Demon. Man, Breyfogle knocked it outta the park there!
ReplyDeleteWhen I think 'Batman', though, I picture Aparo, but my favorite as a kid was Kelley Jones by far.
Finally, someone who mirrors my thoughts. Breyfogle is THE Batman artist. No disrespect whatsoever, but Aparo's (God bless his soul)Batman looked and reacted the same way allthroughout his runs. Same with Miller, et al. Breyfogle knew variety and exploited it wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteKelley Jones' treatment of Batman was fun for a while. His style was a breather from the usual Batman depiction. But one could only take so much of it.
some of you are blind and retarded what about Alan Davis and JIM LEE!WHEN JIM DID BATMAN HE CAME BACK TO LIFE!THERE ARE TO MANY POSERS AMONGST COMIC READERS!
ReplyDeleteNeal Adams is the guy that brought Batman back to his roots in a new fashion, since he drew Batman every other artist has really just been an imitator. Frank Miller just tweaked Adams' concept and Jim Lee just copied Frank Miller's work changing it slightly to make Batman look younger, but Neal Adams work is the real primer for all the artist's that came after. Neal Adams made Batman into the ultimate hero, the dark knight, the dark detective, his Batman is the trademark Batman rendition, all others just new versions of Adams' masterwork. Even Aparo for all his great work, just followed in Adams' footsteps. Any Batman fan knows that Neal Adams is the man who defined Batman's image, behind in greatness only to Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
ReplyDeleteBreyfogle was great. He did great work in the late 80s which I love.
ReplyDeleteHere is my list:
1. Jim Lee
2. Neal Adams
3. Kelley Jones
4. Brian Bolland
5. Frank Miller (not Dark Knight strikes again)
6. Norm Brefogle
7. Marshall Rogers
8. Klaus Janson
9. David Mazuchelli
10. Scott Mcdaniel
This is just from my head, it would be better if I had their work infront of me.
Here's my list:
ReplyDelete1- Neal Adams
2- Brian Bolland
3- Dick Sprang
4- Jim Aparo
5- Jim Lee
6- Dick Giordano
7- Bruce Timm
8- Marshall Rogers
9- Bill Finger
10-Bob Kane?
BATMAN FAN? Visit The bat-Blog!
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Thanks, Tommy
1. Jim Lee
ReplyDelete2. Aparo
3. Everyone else
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Amparo will be #1 followed closely by Breyfogle, still I have my doubts in how close because there are issues drawn by Breyfogle that are amazing.
ReplyDeleteAmparo would have to be the greatest artist to have ever been in Batman, and I believe it will take a long time before someone gets near him.
ReplyDeleteHands down Kelley Jones,best art on the book since Marshall Rogers.
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