With Batman day fast approaching, (or perhaps even here, depending on when you join in) I think it’s only fair to take a moment of recognition for Batman’s co-creator Bill Finger.
For those of you who don’t know, despite the fact that Mr. Finger was largely responsible for the creation of the Batman and the world in which he inhabited, he wasn’t given credit for this for more than 75 years. In that time, artist Bob Kane had claimed to be the sole creator, and was treated as such. While Kane got rich and famous, Finger died penniless and alone.
Yesterday, I decided to rewatch the Hulu documentary “Batman and Bill”, which is a masterpiece in its own right. With the story fresh in my mind once more, I felt obligated to create this thread.
Mr. Finger was instrumental to shaping the DC Universe into what we know it as today. He created or co-created Gotham, the Batmobile, Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, Green Lantern, Batarangs, the Riddler, Scarecrow and dear old Alfred Pennyworth, just to name a few.
He was also known for creating bombastic plots and larger than life set pieces for his characters, like massive typewriters, which have since become a staple in the campier side of Batman lore. With his seemingly endless well-spring of ideas, Finger breathed a life into comic books that had never been seen before and, for the most part, hasn’t been seen since.
So while you’re celebrating Batman, make sure you don’t leave Finger out of the mix. After years of being forgotten, it’s the least we can do for his memory.