Norm was one of the best. Alan Grant must be bereft right now.
Considering the way that DC and Marvel both deep-sixed Norm's comics career, and the stroke he suffered a few years ago, I just hope that he's in a extra-special good part of heaven -- because he earned it a hundred times over.
Rest in peace, and thanks for all the awesome artwork.
Love his work on Batman.
R.I.P Mr. Breyfogle, Thank you for your amazing work.
His Batman was outstanding, yes, but what about his less well-known stuff -- Spectre, and Hellcat, and Thunderbolts? All of that is treasure to be unearthed, even when the scripts aren't that good.
My thoughts are with his family and friends. Such a shame after the struggles from his stroke.
At least he's not in pain any more. On Facebook he posted a lot about the intense physical pain he was always in in the wake of his stroke. Even worse, he was cut off from the more effective pain meds because of regulations restricting their use beyond a certain time period.
In fact he alluded to suicide as possibly the only solution more than once, though I think he eventually moved passed it. When I heard he'd died, I couldn't help but think that maybe he'd reached his limit and took matters into his own hands. This is pure speculation, so don't take it as gospel.
In any case I feel he is easily among the best Batman artists of all time. Where exactly he ranks is subject to debate, but I think everyone who knows his work must feel he belongs in the conversation. He'll definitely be in my upper echelon, personally. (And yes, he did plenty of other things, but his Batman is my strongest connection to him.)
Rest in piece, Norm.
So sad!
An absolutely incredible artist. I only know him from his Batman work, where he is absolutely one of the top 5 most definitive artists to leave their mark on the character IMO. Norm Breyfogle and Jim Aparo were THE Batman artists of my formative comics years.
And whenever I think of excellent Batman covers, the below link is
always the first one that comes to mind.
https://www.comics.org/issue/44993/cover/4/Just stunning.
And this other, also fantastic cover seems appropriate.
https://www.comics.org/issue/941998/cover/4/R.I.P. Norm.