Jim Balent (/ˈbælənt/)[1] is an American comics artist, writer, and publisher from Pennsylvania. He is best known for his long run on Catwoman between 1993 and 1999. Balent has also drawn Batman and Lobo for DC Comics, as well as some of the issues of Purgatori for the independent comic book publisher Chaos! Comics.

Jim Balent
Balent photographed with his wife, Holly Golightly, at the MegaCon comic book convention
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Inker, Editor, Publisher
Notable works
Catwoman
Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose
Spouse(s)Holly Golightly
https://www.jimbalentstudios.com/

Career

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Balent's early work for DC Comics includes backup stories in Sgt. Rock such as "The Deadliest Casualty" in issue #393 (October 1984) and "The Ninja" in #397 (February 1985).[2] An Atom story drawn by Balent was published as a Bonus Book in Power of the Atom #4 (November 1988).[3] Balent and writer Jo Duffy launched an ongoing Catwoman series in August 1993.[4] Balent drew Catwoman through issue #77 (February 2000).[2] He and writer Chuck Dixon created Geist in Detective Comics Annual #6 (1993).[5] As the artist of Catwoman, Balent worked on several Batman crossover stories including "Contagion",[6] "Cataclysm",[7] and "No Man's Land".[8] In 1999, Balent left mainstream comics to form his own company, BroadSword Comics, which publishes Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose, written and drawn by Balent himself.[2] In an interview with Project Fanboy, a comic book website, Balent spoke of his interest in both entertaining as well as educating his readers about the folklore and actual theology of Wicca and witchcraft with interviews with leading witch authors and spells from witches around the world.[9] Balent drew a retailer exclusive variant cover for Batman vol. 3 #50 (September 2018) for Jetpack Comics / Forbidden Planet.[10]

Awards

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On March 1, 2009, Balent's company, BroadSword Comics, won three of the 25 categories in the inaugural Project Fanboy Awards and was nominated for ten other categories at the MegaCon convention. His title Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose won in the categories of "Best Title" and "Best Indy Title", and the character Raven Hex from the aforementioned title won in the category of "Best Indy Villain".[11]

Bibliography

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BroadSword Comics

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Chaos Comics

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  • Purgatori: Prelude #1 (1996)
  • Purgatori: The Vampires Myth #1–3 (1996)

Dark Horse Comics

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DC Comics

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First Comics

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Harris Comics

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References

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  1. ^ Jim Balent & Holly G! Vienna Comicon 2017. YouTube. November 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Jim Balent at the Grand Comics Database
  3. ^ Greenberger, Robert (April 2014). "New Talent and Bonus Babies". Back Issue! (71). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 71–73.
  4. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1990s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Selina Kyle finally stole the spotlight in her first ongoing series by writer Jo Duffy and artist Jim Balent. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1990s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 204. ISBN 978-1465424563. A hero with invisibility powers debuted thanks to writer Chuck Dixon and artist Jim Balent. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 220
  7. ^ Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 232
  8. ^ Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 240
  9. ^ Grant, Matt (May 13, 2008). "Jim Balent Interview!". Project Fanboy. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  10. ^ Johnston, Rich (June 8, 2018). "More Batman #50 Covers by Josh Middleton, Francesco Mattina, Jock, Joe Madureira, and More". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "The Project Fanboy Awards". Project Fanboy. 2009. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009.
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Preceded by
n/a
Catwoman penciller
1993–2000
Succeeded by