Stephen DeStefano (born January 18, 1966) 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.

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). His first professionally published comics artwork was a one-page parody of the "I…Vampire" feature in House of Mystery #306 (July 1982). 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. After the cancellation of that series, the Rozakis-DeStefano team created Hero Hotline in Action Comics Weekly #637 (January 1989). After a four-issue run as a back-up feature, Hero Hotline received its own six-issue limited series. 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. As an animator, DeStefano has worked on such series as The Ren & Stimpy Show and Futurama. He inked the Cage limited series drawn by Genndy Tartakovsky in 2016–2017. In 2020, DeStefano won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Emmy for Character Design on the Genndy Tartakovsky series Primal. In 2024, he contributed art to the Alex Hirsch book The Book of Bill.

Filmography Television Year Title Writer Storyboard artist Art director Animator Notes 1992–96 The Ren and Stimpy Show background designer, layout artist, layout supervisor, and background assistant 1993 2 Stupid Dogs background designer 1994 Beethoven character designer 1995 The Baby Huey Show ep: "Operation Immunization" The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat also assistant director 1996 Earthworm Jim 1998 Superman: The Animated Series background key designer The New Batman Adventures 1999–2001 What a Cartoon! three episodes; models ("King Crab: Space Crustacean") and prop designer ("Foe Paws") 1999 Courage the Cowardly Dog ep: "The Demon in the Mattress" 1999–2000 The New Woody Woodpecker Show 2001 Imp, Inc. animation layout 2002 Poochini's Yard ep: "Diva Dog" Welcome to Eltingville TV short Private Eye Princess 2003 Xiaolin Showdown 2004–10 The Venture Bros. character designer 2006 Minoriteam illustrator; ep: "Tribe and Prejudice" The X's ep: "Homebody" Plastic Man in: Puddle Trouble model designer; TV short The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy ep: "Anger Mismanagement" 2006–07 Drawn Together 2007–09 Random! Cartoons two episodes 2007 The Modifyers character designer 2010–11 Sym-Bionic Titan 2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold ep: "Four-Star Spectacular!" 2012 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien character designer; ep: "Catch a Falling Star" Secret Mountain Fort Awesome ep: "Festro Gets Glasses" Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil two episodes The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Dreamworks Dragons two episodes New Teen Titans ep: "Apprentice: Part Three" The Looney Tunes Show 2012–13 Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated storyboard revisionist 2013 POV ep: "Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps" 2013–18 Mickey Mouse character and prop designer 2017 Samurai Jack storyboard layout, storyboard clean-up, and layout keys 2018–19 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character designer 2019 Primal 2020–23 Looney Tunes Cartoons 2022 The Cuphead Show! 2023 Unicorn: Warriors Eternal

As voice actor Year Title Role(s) 1994 The Ren and Stimpy Show Chalky Cheesefist 1995 The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Additional voices 2002 Private Eye Princess Hildegard the Maid 2008 The Venture Bros. Dr. Paul Entmann

Film Year Title Storyboard artist Animator Notes 1995 Runaway Brain Visual development artist 2006 Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo TV movie 2007 Futurama: Bender's Big Score Direct-to-video 2008 Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs 2012 Big Top Scooby-Doo! 2015 Hotel Transylvania 2 character designer 2018 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 2022 Hotel Transylvania: Transformania 2025 Fixed

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)

References

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