{{Short description|American comic artist (1965–1996)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = Mike Parobeck.jpg | caption = Parobeck in the 1990s | birth_name = Michael J. Parobeck | birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|7|7}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|7|2|1965|7|7}} | death_place = Key West, Florida, U.S.<ref name="SSDI" /> | nationality = American | area = | pencil = y | alias = | signature = | notable works = ''Batman Adventures'' | awards = }} '''Michael J. Parobeck''' (July 7, 1965 – July 2, 1996)<ref name="SSDI">Social Security Death Index, SS# 278-64-1442.</ref> was an American comics artist best known for his work on the ''Batman Adventures'' comic book. His artwork featured a fluid animation-inspired drawing style coupled with clear, clean layouts well-suited to the book.
== Early life == Mike Parobeck, one of six siblings,<ref>Mother Lois Parobeck's Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lancastereaglegazette/name/lois-parobeck-obituary?pid=167592969</ref> grew up in Lancaster, Ohio. He studied at the Central Academy of Commercial Art in Cincinnati.<ref name=Wizard>''Wizard'' #41 (January 1995). pp 121-122.</ref>
== Career == Parobeck got to know DC Comics editor Brian Augustyn, to whom he repeatedly sent photocopies of his sample artwork. Augustyn eventually contacted Parobeck to give him a job penciling a few pages of a Doctor Light story in ''Secret Origins'' #37. This led to his first regular series work on ''El Diablo'', with writer Gerard Jones, which lasted sixteen issues. Other important series on which he worked were ''The Fly'' for DC's short-lived Impact Comics imprint, as well as the 1992 ''Justice Society of America'' series,<ref name=Wizard /> on both of which he worked together with writer Len Strazewski, and the ''Elongated Man'' mini-series, also from 1992.
His big breakthrough toward both critical and commercial success came with his work on ''Batman Adventures'', a comic book tie-in to the animated TV series ''Batman: The Animated Series'', on which he took over from Ty Templeton with issue 7. Parobeck was the regular artist until his death. Parobeck named issue 14 as his favorite issue to have drawn due to the issue focusing on Robin, who was Parobeck's favorite character to draw.<ref name=Wizard />
== Personal life == By 1995, Parobeck was living in Chicago.<ref name=Wizard /> Halfway through his run on ''Batman Adventures'', Parobeck was diagnosed with type one diabetes, which can be controlled by taking insulin. According to his friends, however, he was somewhat lackadaisical in this regimen, which ultimately led to his death in Key West.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=A Tribute To Mike Parobeck |url=https://community.dcuniverseinfinite.com/t/a-tribute-to-mike-parobeck/3336319 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=DC Community |language=en}}</ref><ref>Spurgeon, Tom and David Miller. "Artist Mike Parobeck Dead at 30", ''The Comics Journal'' #189 (August 1996), pp. 36-37.</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist}}
== References == *{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Mike+Parobeck|title=Mike Parobeck}} *[http://lambiek.net/artists/p/parobeck_mike.htm Mike Parobeck] at Lambiek's Comiclopedia
== External links == *{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=1407|title=Mike Parobeck}} *{{cite web |first=George |last=Khoury |authorlink=George Khoury (author) |url=http://www.newsarama.com/general/Parobeck/RememberParobeck.htm |title=Remembering Mike Parobeck |publisher=Newsarama |date=February 6, 2006 |access-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310202922/http://www.newsarama.com/general/Parobeck/RememberParobeck.htm |archive-date=March 10, 2007 }} *{{cite web |first=George |last=Khoury|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30773 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211201909/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30773 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |title=Mike Parobeck: Revisited |publisher=Comic Book Resources |work=Pop! |date=February 20, 2011 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parobeck, Mike}} Category:1965 births Category:1996 deaths Category:American comics artists Category:DC Comics people Category:Deaths from diabetes in Florida