Famed Batman artist Norm Breyfogle dead at age 58

Celebrated Batman artist Norm Breyfogle has passed away at the age of 58, multiple reports confirm. According to The Wrap, Breyfogle died Monday in Houghton, Michigan. While a cause of death is not yet known, he had suffered a stroke in 2015.

Tributes for the artist flooded Twitter following the news, with the great and good of the comic book world expressing their sadness while praising Breyfogle's legacy. He was credited with being a driving force in the evolution of the Batman character, which he was involved with consistently from 1987 to 1995.

Between 1992-1993, Breyfogle started a new Batman series for DC titled Batman: Shadow of the Bat which introduced three new characters, Jeremiah Arkham, Mr. Zsasz, and Amygdala, created alongside writer Alan Grant.

Current DC artist Mitch Gerads, tweeted that Breyfogle had "defined a whole era of my life and continued to be a huge inspiration into adulthood and my career," adding that Breyfogle "was THE Batman artist. Rest In Peace, sir."

Fellow comic book artist Patch Zirker added: "Batman artist Norm Breyfogle passed away. Norm's Batman was pure adrenalin rush. Everything was drawn to suit what Norm wanted to express, his exuberance on the page could not be pinned down by mundane mechanics and necessities. He will be remembered."

Jimmy Palmiotti, co-creator of Marvel Knights, tweeted: "RIP Norm. So damn sad."

Comic book writer Dave Scheidt shared: “RIP to the great Norm Breyfogle who captured the true terror Batman represented. Now THAT was how you draw a comic cover."

Breyfogle started his trade at the tender age of 12, when he took private lessons from commercial artist Andrew Benson. Michigan newspaper The Daily Mining Gazette then profiled him in 1976 with the headline: "Norm Breyfogle: Near Master Cartoonist at 16."

His first foray into the world of DC began in 1977 when Breyfogle submitted his own version of Robin's costume to DC Comics, which then appeared in the anthology series Batman Family #13.

Outside of Batman, Breyfogle worked on various other characters for most of the major comic book publishers and co-created the character of Prime for Malibu Comics. He also created and owns the copyright and trademark for the character Metaphysique.