| Jordan B. Gorfinkel | |
|---|---|
 Gorfinkel in 2016 | |
| Born | Jordan B. Gorfinkel (1967-07-07)July 7, 1967 (age 58) |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Editor, writer, producer, singer |
| Pseudonym | Gorf |
Notable works | No Man's Land Birds of Prey |
Jordan B. Gorfinkel, also known asGorf (born July 7, 1967), is an American comic book creator, newspaper cartoonist, and an animation and multi-media entertainment producer. He is also ana cappella singer, most notably with the groups Beat'achon and Kol Zimra, and produces music, videos, and live events.
Gorfinkel was an editor atDC Comics for nearly a decade where he managed theBatman franchise. His most notable additions to the Batman universe includeBirds of Prey which was adapted into a 2002 network television seriesof the same name, and a2020 film, andBatman: No Man's Land, which served as inspiration forThe Dark Knight Rises, and Season 5 of the TV seriesGotham.[1]
Gorfinkel is the creator/writer/artist ofEverything's Relative, a newspaper comic-strip published weekly since 1996 in many major markets including New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Detroit and Baltimore. For most of the 1990s Gorfinkel guided the Batman comics franchise at DC Comics, coordinating publications, licensing and film and TV productions with the 60-year history of the DC Universe. In 1999 Gorfinkel conceived and directed the critically and commercially acclaimed seriesNo Man's Land, serialized in several weekly chapters across most of the Batman line for the entire calendar year. "No Man's Land was the core inspiration for the highest regarded Batman media outside of the comic books...Batman Arkham City,Gotham,The New 52, andThe Dark Knight Rises all borrow several plot elements and character setups from the introduction and rising action volumes of the comic series."[2] He also conceivedBirds of Prey, the most successful comic book series starring women sinceWonder Woman.[3]
In 2015, Gorfinkel released an original graphic novel published byPenguin Random House titledMichael Midas Champion.[4][5] In January 2019, Gorfinkel released thePassover Haggadah Graphic Novel with Israeli illustratorErez Zadok, published byKoren Publishers Jerusalem.[6]
In 2007, Gorfinkel founded Avalanche Comics Entertainment LLC (ACE), which uses illustrated storytelling to develop entertainment content and corporate branding. The company has been praised for its work in developing comics forMicrosoft's "Heroes Happen Here".[7] ACE clients also include Alibaba ("SuperAli" animation shorts series), Clorox ("SuperMoms"), Hasbro (Transformers franchise bible and film-adjacent comic book materials) and Toms shoes.[citation needed]
Gorfinkel has been a member of two Jewish musical groups,Beat'achon andKol Zimra. He also organized the collection of American and Israeli musical talent featured in the 'Voices for Israel' project in 2004.[citation needed]
In June, 2011, Gorf released the song "MOT: Members of The Tribe" withSean Altman as part of their "Simcha & Gorfinkel" music-comedy act. The song highlights the contrasts in different observance levels within Judaism. It promotestolerance andrespect.[8]
The Munich Jewish Museum commissioned Gorfinkel to create a series of hisEverything's Relative four-panel comic strip for its permanent exhibition. Museum director Bernard Purin wanted "visitors to learn about local Jewish life, history and religion. He thought comic art would be a good form to deal with contemporary issues and approached Gorfinkel in 2005."[9] The ten cartoon storyline, displayed in German and English, "explores the idea of a Jew returning to Germany through the character Zayde, who visits Munich for the first time since his liberation from a concentration camp."[10]
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