Brian Haberlin

Brian Haberlin
Haberlin in 2021
Born1963
Hawaii, U.S.
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Inker, Editor, Colourist
Notable works
Witchblade
http://www.haberlin.com

Brian Haberlin (/ˈheɪbərlɪn/;[1] born 1963) is an American comic book artist, writer, editor and producer. He is best known as the co-creator of the Witchblade franchise and for his digital art style.

Career

Haberlin was born in Hawaii and raised in La Cañada Flintridge, California, where he soon grew an interest in drawing. By high school, Haberlin's friends turned him into comic books, introducing him to John Byrne's work on Uncanny X-Men and Frank Miller on Daredevil, along with older artists such as Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, John Buscema and Barry Smith. By the age of 18, Marvel Comics was already offering Haberlin a job as a penciller, which he refused because "the pay was terrible, you had to move to New York and they wouldn't promise consistent work."[2][3]

He then attended film school at Loyola Marymount University,[4] earning an MA at screenwriting,[5] and starting a career at Lorimar/Warner Brothers Television. Haberlin eventually gave up his job at Warner Brothers in order to pursue a career in comics, particularly as many independent publishers were establishing themselves in the West Coast, meaning he could remain in California.[6][3] In 1993, Haberlin took advantage of a table a friend got at San Diego Comic-Con to showcase his 3D computer graphics work, bringing a heavy desktop computer and a large inkjet print of some Green Lantern art he did. Haberlin's work impressed many artists and brought work offers, including by the Image Comics crew, which landed him a job at their partner Top Cow Productions,[3] where Haberlin eventually served as Vice President of Creative Affairs.[7] At Top Cow, which then shared an office with WildStorm, he co-created Witchblade, prompted by the lack of realistic female superheroes in comics.[8] The Witchblade franchise has since expanded to include multiple spin-offs, a live action television series, an anime, and an upcoming film adaptation.

Despite Haberlin intending to work as a penciller, he rose to fame in the comics industry as a colorist given his knowledge of computer coloring processes.[3] Haberlin formed his own studio in 1995, producing commercial illustrations and digitally coloring for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Image Comics. He then started Avalon Studios with Whilce Portacio in 1998. Avalon Studios published Stone, a fantasy series which incorporated elements of Filipino mythology,[9] Area 52, a science fiction title set to be adapted into a feature film, with a tentative release date of 2013,[10] and M. Rex, which has been adapted into the successful Cartoon Network series Generator Rex.

Haberlin became Editor in Chief for Todd McFarlane Productions in 2006, and penciled and inked its flagship title, Spawn, for two years during David Hine's run as writer.

Haberlin currently runs Digitalarttutorials.com, where he produces art tutorials, teaches at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and is partner in Anomaly Productions, producing graphic novels and children's books.[7][4] In February 2012 he will debut a 3D comic aimed at children called Captain Wonder.[11] Anomaly Productions is currently working on a 300 plus page graphic novel entitled Anomaly.[12] The book, co-written with Hollywood lawyer Skip Brittenham, utilizes augmented reality technology and interacts with iPad, iPhone, and Android mobile devices. The book is set for release in October 2012.[13]

Haberlin is also a co-author of the fantasy novel But...But...Barbarians? Collaborators of his include Gerry Alanguilan, Todd McFarlane, and the Wu-Tang Clan.[14] Haberlin currently runs a blog on the Digital Art Tutorials website. Haberlin counts among his influences Marko Djurdjevic, Egon Schiele, Katsuhiro Otomo, and TV series such as Lost.[15]

Haberlin is a frequent contributor to both the 3D World and ImagineFX magazines,[16] and is part of the Adjunct Faculty of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His work has been added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.[4]

Awards

Bibliography

Comics work

Non-comics work

Notes

  1. ^ How'd They Do That? - Making Of Spawn Comics (1997)
  2. ^ "Interview with Brian Haberlin | Manik Creations".
  3. ^ a b c d Scalera, Buddy (2011). "6 - COLORING: A Multichromatic Look At Today's Technology". Creating Comics from Start to Finish: Top Pros Reveal the Complete Creative Process. IMPACT. pp. 84–97. ISBN 978-1440315176.
  4. ^ a b c "Faculty: Brian Haberlin". Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  5. ^ "Adobe Partners by Design - Brian Haberlin interviewed by Adobe". Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  6. ^ "Meet the Artists". Digital Art Tutorials. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "About Us". Haberlin Studios. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  8. ^ "Exclusive Interview! Brian Haberlin". Nerdist News. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012.
  9. ^ "LET'S GET STONE(D)". Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  10. ^ Renner, Brian D. "Everything You Need to Know About Area 52 Movie (Development): Oct. 9, 2012 - added a synopsis". Movie Insider. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Haberlin Presents "Captain Wonder"". 7 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Poser Webinar with Brian Haberlin".
  13. ^ "Skip Brittenham And Brian Haberlin Launch Multiplatform Sci-Fi Story 'Anomaly' And Company To Support It". Deadline Hollywood. May 2012.
  14. ^ "Nine Rings of Wu-Tang". Archived from the original on 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  15. ^ "graphics.com". graphics.com. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  16. ^ "How to Create 3D Characters with Character Poser Webinar with Brian Haberlin (FREE)". YURdigital. October 24, 2010.
  17. ^ "7th Annual Wizard Fan Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  18. ^ Inkpot Award

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Haberlin.