Ken Bruzenak (born August 30, 1952) is an American
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comi ...
, primarily known for his work on
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin (; born October 7, 1950) is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.
Early life ...
’s ''
American Flagg!
''American Flagg!'' is an American comic book series created by writer-artist Howard Chaykin, published by First Comics from 1983 to 1989. A science fiction series and political satire, it was set in the U.S., particularly Chicago, Illinois, in th ...
'' Bruzenak's lettering and logowork was integral to the comic's futuristic, trademark-littered ambience. During the course of his career, Bruzenak has been closely associated with both Chaykin and
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko (; born November 5, 1938) is an American graphic artist, comic book writer/artist, comics historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator.
His most famous comic book work was with the 1960s superspy feature " ...
.
Biography
Early life and career
Bruzenak grew up in Pennsylvania as a huge comic book fan. At age 17, he attended the
Detroit Triple Fan Fair
The Detroit Triple Fan Fair (DTFF) was a multigenre convention generally held annually in Detroit from 1965 to 1977. It is credited for being one of the first comic book conventions in the United States. The Triple Fan Fair also gave balanced cov ...
convention, where he met his hero
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko (; born November 5, 1938) is an American graphic artist, comic book writer/artist, comics historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator.
His most famous comic book work was with the 1960s superspy feature " ...
, and also crossed paths with Chaykin for the first time.
[Cooke, Jon B. Interview with Ken Bruzenak, ''Comic Book Artist'' (Feb. 4, 2000).](_blank)
Steranko
After meeting Steranko a second time, Bruzenak took a job renovating Steranko's house in
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philade ...
. He stayed and worked at the house, along with another Steranko disciple, future comics artist
Greg Theakston
Greg Allen Theakston (November 21, 1953 – April 22, 2019) was an American comics artist and illustrator who worked for numerous publishers. He is known for his independent publications as a comics historian under his Pure Imagination impri ...
. Theakston was ostensibly there to assist Steranko on ''The
Steranko History of Comics'', volume two; Bruzenak was there to do construction. After about two years, Theakston left the project and Bruzenak took over as Steranko's primary assistant.
During this period, Steranko formed Supergraphics, his own publishing company, where among other things he published the magazine ''
Comixscene'' (later retitled ''Mediascene'', and finally ''Prevue''). Bruzenak assisted Steranko on the first fifty issues of ''Comixscene/Prevue'', as well as other concurrent projects, such as Marvel's official fan magazine, ''
FOOM
''FOOM'' was Marvel Comics' self-produced fan magazine of the mid-1970s, following the canceled ''Marvelmania'' and preceding ''Marvel Age''. Running 22 quarterly issues (February 1973 – Fall 1978), it was initially designed and edited by comic ...
'' (Bruzenak was the associate editor); the illustrated novel ''
Chandler: Red Tide'', the comic book adaptation of the film ''
Outland''; and various paperback covers and posters.
Bruzenak's duties during this time were varied, basically comprising all aspects of publishing, from research, editing, copy-editing, and proof-reading; to lettering, paste-up, operating a stat camera, and other production skills. (Steranko's 1981 ''Outland'' adaptation, in fact, constituted Bruzenak's first professional lettering job.) In the end, Bruzenak worked for Steranko for almost thirteen years.
Chaykin
Bruzenak eventually left Steranko's employ to embark on a freelance lettering career. Artist
introduced Bruzenak to editors at
DC and then
Marvel
Marvel may refer to:
Business
* Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company
** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment
** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe
** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics
...
, which at first didn't lead to anything.
Bruzenak then lettered a couple of issues of
Frank Brunner
Frank Brunner (born February 21, 1949) is an American comics artist and illustrator best known for his work at Marvel Comics in the 1970s.
Early life
Brunner attended Manhattan's High School of Art and Design. He was in the same graduating class ...
's ''Warp'' for
First Comics
First Comics was an American comic book publisher that was active from 1983 to 1991, known for titles like ''American Flagg!'', ''Grimjack'', ''Nexus'', ''Badger'', ''Dreadstar'', and ''Jon Sable''. Along with competitors like Pacific Comics and ...
, before landing the letterer job with Chaykin's ''American Flagg!'' in 1983.
Bruzenak's work on that title was more typography than simple lettering. The comic featured signage, multiple typefaces, robot type, and a mixture of formal type with balloon type for special effects. Bruzenak's lettering was so integral to the book, it virtually became a character of its own. Readers took notice — as did editors for other companies — and Bruzenak soon became the industry's first "celebrity letterer," getting more offers for jobs than he was able to take on — even with his famous non-stop work ethic.
In the years since both men left ''American Flagg!'' in 1986, Bruzenak has gone on to letter much of Chaykin's later work, including ''Time
2'' (1986), Blackhawk (1987), ''
Black Kiss
''Black Kiss'' is a hardboiled erotic American comic book limited series written and drawn by Howard Chaykin, which was originally published in 1988 by Vortex Comics.
Publication history
''Black Kiss'' became one of the most controversial North ...
'' (1988), the short-lived second volume of ''American Flagg!'' (1988–1989), ''
Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection'' (1989), ''Twilight'' (1990–1991), ''Power and Glory'' (1994), and ''American Century'' (2001).
Post-Chaykin
Besides working on Chaykin's comics in the 1980s, Bruzenak stayed busy lettering a number of other First Comics titles, including ''
E-Man
E-Man is a comic-book character, a superhero created by writer Nicola Cuti and artist Joe Staton for the American company Charlton Comics in 1973. Although the character's original series was short-lived, the lightly humorous hero has become a cu ...
'', ''
Jon Sable
''Jon Sable Freelance'' is an American comic book series, one of the first series created for the fledgling publisher First Comics in 1983. It was written and drawn by Mike Grell and was a fully creator-owned title. The comic was one of the first ...
'', and ''
Nexus
NEXUS is a joint Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection-operated Trusted Traveler and Border control#Expedited border controls, expedited border control program designed for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Members ...
'', as well as titles published by Marvel and DC. In the 90s, Bruzenak worked steadily, often pairing with
Michael T. Gilbert
Michael Terry Gilbert (born May 7, 1951) is an American comic book artist and writer who has worked for both mainstream and underground comic book companies.
Education
Gilbert attended the State University of New York at New Paltz, graduating i ...
on his ''
Mr. Monster'' comics, but his work was never as much in demand as it was during his mid-80s heyday. From 1995 to 2002, Bruzenak lettered DC's ''
Azrael
Azrael (; , 'God has helped'; ) is the angel of death in some Abrahamic religions, namely Islam, Christian popular culture and some traditions of Judaism. He is also referenced in Sikhism.
Relative to similar concepts of such beings, Azrael ...
'' series. In the 2000s, Bruzenak has lettered much of
Michael Avon Oeming
Michael Avon Oeming is an American comic book creator, both as an artist and writer.
Career
Oeming is a fan of ancient mythology, having written or drawn several projects centering on the Norse gods. He frequently collaborates with long-time f ...
's ''
Powers'' series. He was commissioned to provide lettering for
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He gr ...
's "
Street Code
''Street Code'' is both the short, ten page autobiographical comic story and the 2009 mini-comic by American writer-artist Jack Kirby. Both Bill Sienkiewicz and Jeff Zapata consider it among Kirby's greatest works, and it supplanted all other wor ...
" when it was republished in 2000's ''Streetwise'', published by
TwoMorrows Publishing
TwoMorrows Publishing is a publisher of magazines about comic books, founded in 1994 by John and Pam Morrow out of their small advertising agency in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Its products also include books and DVDs.
List of magaz ...
.
Influences
Bruzenak cites long-time
DC and
Marvel
Marvel may refer to:
Business
* Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company
** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment
** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe
** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics
...
letterer
John Costanza
John Costanza (born August 14, 1943, in Dover, New Jersey) is an American comic book artist and letterer. He has worked for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He was the letterer during Alan Moore's acclaimed run on ''Swamp Thing''. The bulk of Co ...
as a major influence.
Awards
Bruzenak won the coveted
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. Named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards were founded by Gary Groth in 1988, president of the publisher Fantagraphics, to be the successor to the Kirby Awards that were ...
for Best Letterer three consecutive years, from 1988–1990, for his work on ''American Flagg!'', ''Mr. Monster'', and ''Black Kiss''.
Notes
References
* Cooke, Jon B
Interview with Ken Bruzenak ''Comic Book Artist'' (Feb. 4, 2000).
* Painz, John
Words From Here: Howard Chaykin Comics2Film (Feb. 2001)
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruzenak, Ken
1952 births
Living people
People from Washington County, Pennsylvania
Comic book letterers