Stephen DeStefano

Stephen DeStefano (born January 18, 1966)[1][2] is an American comics artist, animator and storyboard artist best known as the co-creator of 'Mazing Man and Hero Hotline with writer Bob Rozakis.

Early life

DeStefano was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York and attended the High School of Art and Design.[3]

Career

DeStefano's first credit in the comics industry was as the creator of the character Captain Electron in Adventure Comics #479 (March 1981), and then the characters Zeep and Thumbelina in the "Dial H for Hero" story in Adventure Comics #483 (July 1981).[4] His first professionally published comics artwork was a one-page parody of the "I…Vampire" feature in House of Mystery #306 (July 1982).[5] DeStefano wrote and drew "The Mini (Mis)Adventures of Nick O. Tyme" in New Talent Showcase #6–12 (June–December 1984). He then teamed with writer Bob Rozakis to create 'Mazing Man, a character introduced in an eponymous series beginning in January 1986.[6] After the cancellation of that series, the Rozakis-DeStefano team created Hero Hotline in Action Comics Weekly #637 (January 1989).[7] After a four-issue run as a back-up feature, Hero Hotline received its own six-issue limited series.[8] In the 1990s, DeStefano was a frequent contributor to The Big Book Of series published by Paradox Press. His other comics work includes credits at Dark Horse Comics, Disney Comics, Fantagraphics Books, and Marvel Comics.[5][9] As an animator, DeStefano has worked on such series as The Ren & Stimpy Show and Futurama.[3][10] He inked the Cage limited series drawn by Genndy Tartakovsky in 2016–2017.[11] In 2020, DeStefano won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Emmy for Character Design on the Genndy Tartakovsky series Primal.[12] In 2024, he contributed art to the Alex Hirsch book The Book of Bill.[13]

Filmography

Bibliography

• Apple Comics
• 101 Other Uses for a Condom #1 (1991)

• Dark Horse Comics
• Cheval Noir #26, 44 (1992–1993)
• Hellboy, Jr. #1–2 (1999)
• Hellboy, Jr., Halloween Special #1 (1997)
• Instant Piano #1–4 (1994–1995)
• Wolf & Red #2 (1995)

• DC Comics

• Action Comics Weekly #637–640 ("Hero Hotline" feature) (1989)
• Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! #6 (2009)
• Bizarro Comics #1 (2001)
• Blackhawk vol. 3 #3–4 (1989)
• The Brave and the Bold #200 (one page) (1983)
• Cartoon Cartoons #16, 22–23, 32 (2003–2004)
• Cartoon Network Action Pack #7 (2007)
• Cartoon Network Block Party #3 (2005)
• Cool World #1–4 (movie adaptation) (1992)
• Dexter's Laboratory #11, 30 (2000–2002)
• Elvira's House of Mystery Special #1 (1987)
• Fast Forward #2 (1993)
• The Flash Secret Files and Origins #2 (1999)
• Flintstones and the Jetsons #4 (1997)
• Hero Hotline #1–6 (1989)
• House of Mystery #306, 311, 313–315, 321 (1982–1983)
• Just Imagine Stan Lee... Secret Files and Origins #1 (one page) (2002)
• Legion #9 (2002)
• Looney Tunes #100, 150 (2003–2007)
• Looney Tunes Magazine #6 (1991)
• 'Mazing Man #1–12 (1986)
• 'Mazing Man Special #1–3 (1987–1990)
• New Talent Showcase #6–12 (1984)
• Scooby-Doo #28–29, 45, 77, 79 (1999–2004)
• Secret Origins vol. 2 #16 ('Mazing Man), #30 (Plastic Man), #34 (G'nort) (1987–1988)
• Superman and Batman: World's Funnest #1 (2001)
• Superman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 (1998)
• Sweatshop #1–3 (2003)
• Wednesday Comics HC (one page) (2010)
• Who's Who in the DC Universe #8 (1991)
• Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #3 (1988)
• Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #7, 13, 15–16 (1985–1986)
• Who's Who Update '88 #1 (1988)

• Paradox Press
• The Big Book of Bad (1998)
• The Big Book of Little Criminals (1996)
• The Big Book of Scandal (1997)
• The Big Book of Urban Legends (1994)
• The Big Book of Vice (1999)

• Disney Comics
• Disney Adventures #97–1, #97–8 (1997)
• Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Adventures #1–2, 7–11 (1990–1991)

• Fantagraphics
• Critters #32, 38, 50 (1989–1990)
• Itchy Planet #3 (one page) (1988)

• Harvey Pekar
• American Splendor #14 (1989)

• Hyperion Avenue Books
• The Book of Bill (2024)

• Marvel Comics
• Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey #1 (movie adaptation) (1991)
• Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book #1–3 (1991–1992)
• Cage #1–4 (2016–2017)
• Video Jack #4, 6 (1988)

• NBM Publishing
• Classics Desecrated (1995)

• Oni Press
• Jingle Belle #1–2 (1999)
• Oni Double Feature #13 (1999)
• Oni Press Summer Vacation Supercolor Fun Special #1 (2000)
• Paul Dini's Jingle Belle Winter Wingding #1 (2002)
• Paul Dini's Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo #1 (2000)

• Palliard Press
• XXXenophile #6 (1992)

• Renegade Press
• Renegade Romance #1–2 (1987–1988)

• United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
• SpongeBob Comics #4–5, 34, 43 (2011–2015)

External links

• Stephen DeStefano at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
• Stephen DeStefano at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• Stephen DeStefano papers at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library