Trash Mutant Interviews (TMI): Norm Breyfogle
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To most comic book readers you're probably most well known for the many years of your work on Batman with Alan Grant, and the dynamic, stylish art you've brought to those books. Although that's probably the longest and most known run you did, you worked for pretty much all the biggest publishers. You drew everything from Archie to Superman, Lobo, Avengers, JLA, your book Metaphysique and too many others to name. What were the projects you enjoyed working on the most? I can't say that I have a definite favorite; it's more like each is my favorite in its own right, for different reasons. Batman is a fave because it was the most visible of the properties/characters I've drawn and it largely set my career reputation, and because I'd been a Batman fan since childhood, but Prime was a lot of fun because it was so new and different for me at the time, and Anarky was fun because of the philosophy and the newness of the character, and because he was a young teen. Archie is an American icon; say no more! Metaphysique is my own from start to finish (which is why I typically call it my favorite). Basically, my "favorite" is usually the one I'm working on at the moment, which would of course make BATMAN BEYOND my current fave. 
Just a few of the properties Breyfogle worked on over the years.
What inspired you to pursue a career in comic books? Are there any specific creators that had the most impact on you and made you think "This is what I wanna do"? What were your favorite creators and titles while growing up? Well, my dad had -still has, I presume- drawing ability, and I remember him drawing Superman for me on one of his visits after my parents' divorce. Then, growing up, I watched the Superman and Batman live-action TV shows, and all the cartoons (and of course I constantly read my favorite comics), so along with my slowly developing drawing skills I often drew superheroes along with my drawing everything else. My love of graphic storytelling continued through my college years... I was inspired by the work of many, many artists in and outside of the comics industry, but when I was a child, Neal Adams was like the supreme comics god to me, and I often say that his work is the first, biggest reason for why I became specifically a comics artist. Other comics artists whose work I relished included Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, Jim Aparo, Gil Kane, Joe Kubert, Nick Cardy... actually, there are so many that I'll refrain from even attempting to make a complete list here. You're the artist of the main feature in the recently relaunched Batman Beyond comic, "Batman Beyond Unlimited", where you're teamed-up with writer Adam Beechen. We're only a few issues in but it seems you two have some good chemistry together. What's it like working with Beechen? Adam Beechen seems to me to be a kind, funny, well-balanced, ingenious and creative writer. He's a little bit more of a stickler than I'm used to for details in our stories being drawn exactly as his script calls for them (I've learned to use his sound FX even when I'd personally prefer something else, for instance), but it's a fine working relationship. I'm very flexible and can work with anyone, but working with Adam has been particularly pleasant smooth sailing. 
A shot of Gotham city in the Beyond universe, with Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon in the GCPD headquarters.
The setting you draw has changed to a futuristic one, the protagonist is now Terry McGinnis but you still get to use Bruce Wayne and some of the characters from his time as Batman. A lot of new things mixed with quite a few familiar ones. How would you compare drawing the Beyond universe with drawing the "regular" Batman world? Were there some challenges in making the switch? There are always some challenges in taking on any property that's new to oneself. I first needed to gather all the reference I could, which entailed printing out a lot of the style guide images sent to me by Jim Chadwick (our editor on BATMAN BEYOND until just recently when he left for other projects and Ben Abernathy replaced him), and I also purchased all three seasons of the animated TV show and watched them all. (A very good show, by the way.) Although it's an entirely new setting for me to draw, it's also very freeing in some senses. For instance, the BATMAN BEYOND universe, being set 50 or so years in the future, is very open for depiction and interpretation even within the general visual guidelines set by the designers of the TV show because the technology is futuristic and not "real" (not yet invented, in many cases; lol). I was actually quite surprised at how much of Bruce Timm's designs were really just him winging it; I kind of expected a more precisely and elaborately designed world but found that the future Gotham City, for instance, is basically just a bunch of "levels" with a lot of lights, pipes, and wires which don't *really* mean anything. So, it's actually been quite fun to explore that. Future Gotham City is almost like an M.C. Escher maze, and I'm free to play with it all I want, as long as it retains the general feel set by the TV show. Last year you and Alan Grant had a chance to get back together and revisit your run on Batman in the DC Retroactive one-shot "Batman - The '90s". The story focused on Scarface and came out fantastic. How did it feel to work together on those characters again? It was great, and it felt wonderful to be working with DC Comics and Alan Grant again. It was also kind of surreal because when I sat down to draw that BATMAN: RETROACTIVE job I was very surprised that it immediately felt perfectly natural; it was as if the previous 15-20 years away from Batman had been but a week! Alan's script was just like his scripts from when we were a regular team, and it literally felt as if I'd just taken a short vacation from the character of Batman. 
Breyfogle, Grant, Scarface & Ventriloquist all return in 2011's "Batman - The '90s".
What are some comic books you're currently into? I don't regularly read any titles any longer, but I do pick up some books every now and then in order to keep abreast of trends. Recently, I purchased the hard-bound book featuring all of the #1 issues of DC's "New 52" and spent a few days reading them, for instance. One of the characteristic things about your years working on Batman with Grant was that you guys kept introducing new enemies constantly. You two created some really memorable characters and made them work well in the Batman mythos. Zsasz, Scarface, Anarky and others are all guys that really caught on and have a lot of fans. What's the secret to making a good Batman villain? That would be a better question to ask Alan Grant, but I'll try. First off, they generally must have some terrifying aspect to them, and a unique origin and look. It's also important that they have something about them with which one can sympathize; a tragic element. Basically, creating a good Batman villain is like creating ANY good character, but with an overriding or outstanding horrific element. Are there any major comic book properties that you didn't work on yet and would like to have a shot at? Sure; all the ones I haven't yet drawn! lol That's a bit glib, but true. However, I'd particularly enjoy drawing the Hulk, Daredevil, Spider-Man, The Flash (I've already drawn some Flash stories, but he's always one of my top fave choices to draw because of the super speed) and Doctor Strange. 
The Flash, in a ping pong match against himself. By Norm Breyfogle.
You're an all around creative guy. You draw comics, you paint, you write short stories and books as well as poetry. Other than the ongoing Batman Beyond Unlimited book, are there any upcoming Norm Breyfogle projects your fans can be looking forward to? Drawing and inking a monthly comics title is full-time work for me, so except for an occasional illustration for other clients, BATMAN BEYOND is about it, for now. Eventually, I will finish my novel, on my own time. Thank you for the interview and best of luck with all your future projects! My pleasure! ______________________________________
Make sure to pick up "Batman Beyond Unlimited" from DC Comics, coming out monthly in digital, as well as in print! Related articles that you might enjoy: The 3 great Grant/Breyfogle Batman villains Trash Mutant Interviews (TMI): Alan Grant 
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