"Now that my long-time friend and collaborator is gone, I must admit that Bill [Finger] never received the fame and recognition he deserved. He was an unsung hero ... I often tell my wife, if I could go back fifteen years, before he died, I would like to say. 'I'll put your name on it now. You deserve it.'" - Bob Kane 1989
Creating superheroes isn't easy. We are currently in an age of a Disney fuelled 'Marvel Universe' burning across our cinema screens. And Warner Brothers are desperately assembling their DC intellectual property to pursue them. This Cinema Space Race is mining the precious ores of diamond ideas that were formed up to 75 years ago. And it is comforting to think that everyone involved in their creation and preservation is credited and handsomely rewarded. Sadly this isn't the case.
For years Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster went uncredited and lived in poverty while their character, Superman, made millions for DC comics. It wasn't until after a protracted legal battle (which their estates disputed until 2013) that the two received monitory compensation and, more importantly for the ageing men, health insurance. When DC was obtained by Warner Brothers the executive Vice President stated that they didn't have a legal obligation but moral one to credit Siegel and Shuster as the creators of Superman on all comics, TV shows, and films. Though it is worth noting that their 'obligation' didn't extend to returning to copyright of the character.
Everyone knows the Batman creation myth. Bob Kane created him in 1939. In 1966 he technicolored himself onto television. Then in the 80s the second coming Frank Millar said "Let the be dark". And wrote his gospels 'Year One' and 'The Dark Knight Returns'; Upon which the current church of Batman is based.
But certain Bat-agnostics challenge this dogma. Especially Marc Tyler Nobleman wrote the Origin of Species of the Bat universe "Bill The Boy Wonder". In this heretical account, Nobleman claims it was in fact Bill Finger who formed the Batman character as we know him today and created his pantheon of villains. Virtually everything with a 'Bat' prefix from his car to his cave came from the factory of Bill Finger's mind. And even the name 'Gotham' which is now the title of a hit show on Fox.
Of course how can this be true?
Bob Kane met Bill Finger at a party in 1938. The two hit it off and Bill came to work for Bob shortly after as a ghost writer. Then in 1939 after the red white and blue success of Superman, DC comics (National Comics at the time) were thirsty for more 'superheroes'.
Bob showed Bill a character he had recently drawn 'Bat-Man'... He didn't exactly look like the dark brooding Batfleck we fawn over or the Adam West Batman strutting down Gotham in broad daylight that we smile at. It's hard to imagine the image below of inspiring thousands of people to get tattoos let alone a billion dollar franchise.
It was Bill Finger who suggested he don a cowl, have a cape and more resemble an actual bat. Finger, in conjunction with Kane and other artists, created most of The Rogues gallery. Notably the big four: Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin.
The title of Nobleman's book is 'Bill The Boy Wonder' refers to Batman's child sidekick and 'chum' Robin. Bob Kane created him by telling Finger that Batman needed someone to talk to. A Watson to his Sherlock, so Bill wrote him one. A character that is sometimes derided by Batman movie fans but is every child's gateway into the Batman universe. Watching the stories unfold through his eyes and looking up at Batman in awe. We want to be Batman. We are Robin.
"The Boy Wonder" was also Bob's nickname for Bill. A storytelling savant with a seemingly limitless ability to create characters. Although he did have a reputation as being 'notoriously tardy' and have loose respect for the concept of a deadline. Much to the chagrin of publishers but most put up with him due to the quality of his scripts.
So how did this Bat-History come to pass? Because Bob Kane alone sold the idea to National Comics taking sole credit. The colloquial term in the comics industry for going uncredited and underpaid is "being Fingered". The real question, and one we'll never get the answer to, is why is Bill Finger allow this to happen? One can only guess at the temperament of the man who originally designed and wrote Batman. He was also the only writer to follow his creation onto the silver screen and write two episodes of Batman 66 'The Clock King's Crazy Crimes' and 'The Clock King Gets Crowned'.
What was he thinking as he sat in the shadows on the sound stage and watched his characters dance to life?
Featuring magnanimous illustrations by veteran Ty Templton, Nobleman's all ages graphic novel is a touching tribute to a truly unsung hero. The tale is bookended with a more in depth written description for adult readers. And details of the (continuing) investigation can be found at the author's blog: http://noblemania.blogspot.ie
