History Creator / BillFinger

Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) is the original writer of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Bob Kane, he developed for ''Detective Comics'' #27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management; Due to this, Bob Kane became the dominant spokesman for Batman and ultimately negotiated a contract for the character with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned as "Created by Bob Kane". While for most of his career he would downplay Finger's contributions, Kane later admitted in his final years that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in his creation. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline, began to publicly acknowledge Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

Finger was TheMovieBuff and based several aspects of Batman and his RoguesGallery on films made in the 30s. As a writer, he wrote many key Batman stories, namely Detective Comics [=#33=] -- Batman's iconic OriginsEpisode, -- whose details have remained virtually unchanged, despite myriad reboots and adaptations. Likewise, it was Finger who wrote "The Man Behind the Red Hood", the first Joker origin story which Creator/AlanMoore [[CanonWelding welded]] into ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', as well as ''Robin Dies at Dawn'' which Creator/GrantMorrison reused for CanonWelding in [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman his run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of Two-Face, Scarecrow, ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} and Clayface [[note]]The original Basil Karlo edition[[/note]]. In addition to this, Finger also co-created Alan Scott, the first Franchise/GreenLantern, and Lana Lang in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. He also wrote two episodes of the 1960's ''Series/{{Batman}}'' live-action TV series.

Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) is the original writer of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Bob Kane, he developed for ''Detective Comics'' [[=#27=]]. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management; Due to this, Bob Kane became the dominant spokesman for Batman and ultimately negotiated a contract for the character with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned as "Created by Bob Kane". While for most of his career he would downplay Finger's contributions, Kane later admitted in his final years that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in his creation. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline, began to publicly acknowledge Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) is the original writer of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Bob Kane he developed for ''Detective Comics'' # 27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management. Bob Kane as such became the spokesman for Batman and negotiated the contract with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned with "Created by Bob Kane". Despite this, Kane himself admitted in his final years, that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in the creation of Batman. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline have also publicly acknowledged Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

The origins of Batman, as per recent research, began when Bob Kane came up with the initial name of the character and the first design, that of a brunette in red tights and a domino mask. In need of a writer, Kane came into contact with Finger who provided the lion's share of the more defining ideas. As per Jim Steranko and Ty Templeton, it was Finger who came up with Bruce Wayne's name (after Revolutionary soldier "Mad" Anthony Wayne[[note]]He also inspired the MeaningfulRename of Marion Morrison into Creator/JohnWayne[[/note]] which he felt provided Batman a Patrician heritage), the name of Gotham City and likewise the ideas for the final design of Batman -- chiefly TheCowl and the dark palette. Bob Kane admitted that it was Finger who developed the idea of Batman as a "scientific detective".

Finger was TheMovieBuff and based several aspects of Batman and his RoguesGallery on films made in the 30s. As a writer he wrote many key Batman stories, namely Detective Comics # 33 -- Batman's iconic OriginsEpisode, whose details have remained virtually unchanged despite myriad reboots and adaptations. Likewise it was Finger who wrote "The Man Behind the Red Hood" the first Joker origin story which Creator/AlanMoore [[CanonWelding welded]] into ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' as well as ''Robin Dies at Dawn'' which Creator/GrantMorrison reused for CanonWelding in [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman his run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of Two-Face, Scarecrow, ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} and Clayface[[note]]The original Basil Karlo edition[[/note]]. In addition to this, Finger also co-created Alan Scott, the first Franchise/GreenLantern and Lana Lang in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. He also wrote two episodes of the ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV series.

Finger became more outspoken about his contributions to Batman in the 60s and 70s but died before the beginning of the creator's rights movements of the 70s and 80s where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Creator/JackKirby and others would become a rallying point for comics fans and scholars. As such, it took many years for Finger's reputation as Batman's [[MyRealDaddy most vital creative voice]] would be widely accepted. The Bill Finger Award launched by Mark Evanier and Jerry Robinson (Joker's original artist) is named in his honour.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' and ''Batman: Return to Arkham''. A 2017 documentary, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcBDjjY2swE '''Batman & Bill''']], sheds more light on Finger's personal life and of Nobleman's efforts to get DC Comics to eventually acknowledge his contributions.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' and ''Batman: Return to Arkham''. A 2017 documentary, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcBDjjY2swE ''Batman & Bill'']], sheds more light on Finger's personal life and of Nobleman's efforts to get DC Comics to eventually acknowledge his contributions.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' and ''Batman: Return to Arkham''.

-> ''"[[{{Understatement}} Bill Finger was instrumental in developing many of the key creative elements that enrich the Batman universe]], and we look forward to building on our acknowledgement of his significant role in DC Comics’ history,"''

Milton "Bill" Finger (1914-1974) is the original writer of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Bob Kane he developed for ''Detective Comics'' # 27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management. Bob Kane as such became the spokesman for Batman and negotiated the contract with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned with "Created by Bob Kane". Despite this, Kane himself admitted in his final years, that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in the creation of Batman. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline have also publicly acknowledged Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

* YellowPeril: While he was a good writer, some of the early Batman stuff does suffer from an over-reliance of this trope.

Milton "Bill" Finger (1914-1974) is the original writer of '''Franchise/{{Batman}}''', a character which, together with Bob Kane he developed for ''Detective Comics'' # 27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management. Bob Kane as such became the spokesman for Batman and negotiated the contract with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned with "Created by Bob Kane". Despite this, Kane himself admitted in his final years, that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in the creation of Batman. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline have also publicly acknowledged Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

'''Milton "Bill" Finger''' (1914-1974) is the original writer of '''Franchise/{{Batman}}''', a character which, together with Bob Kane he developed for ''Detective Comics'' # 27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management. Bob Kane as such became the spokesman for Batman and negotiated the contract with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned with "Created by Bob Kane". Despite this, Kane himself admitted in his final years, that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in the creation of Batman. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline have also publicly acknowledged Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' and Batman: Return to Arkham.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' and ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''.

'''William "Bill" Finger''' (1914-1974) is the original writer of '''Franchise/{{Batman}}''', a character which, together with Bob Kane he developed for ''Detective Comics'' # 27. By personality, Finger was shy and retiring, and not very well equipped to deal with DC's management. Bob Kane as such became the spokesman for Batman and negotiated the contract with the stipulation that Batman always be undersigned with "Created by Bob Kane". Despite this, Kane himself admitted in his final years, that Finger was the co-creator of Batman and that he played an "unsung role" in the creation of Batman. DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline have also publicly acknowledged Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

-> ''"Bill Finger was instrumental in developing many of the key creative elements that enrich the Batman universe, and we look forward to building on our acknowledgement of his significant role in DC Comics’ history,"''

Finger was TheMovieBuff and based several aspects of Batman and his RoguesGallery on films made in the 30s. As a writer he wrote many key Batman stories, namely Detective Comics # 33 -- Batman's iconic OriginsEpisode, whose details have remained virtually unchanged despite myriad reboots and adaptations. Likewise it was Finger who wrote "The Man Behind the Red Hood" the first Joker origin story which Creator/AlanMoore [[CanonWelding welded]] into ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' as well as ''Robin Dies at Dawn'' which Creator/GrantMorrison reused for CanonWelding in [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman his run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of Two-Face, Scarecrow, ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} and Clayface[[note]]The original Basil Karlo edition[[/note]]. In addition to this, Finger also co-created Alan Scott, the first ComicBook/GreenLantern and Lana Lang in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. He also wrote two episodes of the ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV series.

* MyRealDaddy: [[invoked]] Everyone agrees that it was Bob Kane who came up with the name "Bat-Man", but they also argue that all the elements that made Batman unique and original (the colours of the costume, the name of the city and the RoguesGallery, the detective skills, the Bruce Wayne identity, his origins) come entirely from Finger.

--> ''"Bill Finger was instrumental in developing many of the key creative elements that enrich the Batman universe, and we look forward to building on our acknowledgement of his significant role in DC Comics’ history,"''

[[caption-width-right:350:Illustration by Paul Roman Martinez[[note]]Bill Finger on the Couch with the Typewriter describing the Bay-mythos while Bob Kane on the drawing board describing his original idea[[/note]]]]

* MyRealDaddy: Everyone agrees that it was Bob Kane who came up with the name "Bat-Man", but they also argue that all the elements that made Batman unique and original (the colours of the costume, the name of the city and the RoguesGallery, the detective skills, the Bruce Wayne identity, his origins) come entirely from Finger.

* VindicatedByHistory: It took 41 years before Finger would be credited as co-creator on Batman adaptations.

In 2012, Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton created a graphic biography called "Bill the Boy Wonder" that revived interest in Bill Finger's name and reputation. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-give-classic-batman-824572 In 2015]], Warner Bros. and DC announced that Finger [[VindicatedByHistory would be credited]] as co-creator of Batman in future projects, starting from the second season of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' and ''Film/BatmanVsSupermanDawnOfJustice''.

Finger was TheMovieBuff and based several aspects of Batman and his RoguesGallery on films made in the 30s. As a writer he wrote many key Batman stories, namely Detective Comics # 33 -- Batman's iconic OriginsEpisode, whose details have remained virtually unchanged despite myriad reboots and adaptations. Likewise it was Finger who wrote "The Man Behind the Red Hood" the first Joker origin story which Creator/AlanMoore [[CanonWelding welded]] into ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' as well as ''Robin Dies at Dawn'' which Creator/GrantMorrison reused for CanonWelding in [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman his run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of Two-Face, Scarecrow, Catwoman and Clayface. In addition to this, Finger also co-created Alan Scott, the first Green Lantern and Lana Lang in Superboy. He also wrote two episodes of the Batman TV series.

The origins of Batman, as per recent research, began when Bob Kane came up with the initial name of the character and the first design, that of a brunette in red tights and a domino mask. In need of a writer, Kane came into contact with Finger who provided the lion's share of the more defining ideas. As per Jim Steranko and Ty Templeton, it was Finger who came up with Bruce Wayne's name (after Revolutionary soldier "Mad" Anthony Wayne[[note]]He also inspired the MeaningfulRename of Marion Morrison into Creator/JohnWayne[[/note]] which he felt provided Batman a Patrician heritage), the name of Gotham City and likewise the ideas for the final design of Batman -- chiefly TheCowl and the dark palette. Bob Kane admitted that it was Finger who developed the idea of Batman as a "scientific detective". Likewise, it was Finger who coined Batman's SuperheroSobriquets, "The Dark Knight".

The origins of Batman, as per recent research, began when Bob Kane came up with the initial name of the character and the first design, that of a brunette in red tights and a domino mask. In need of a writer, Kane came into contact with Finger who provided the lion's share of the more defining ideas. As per Jim Steranko and Ty Templeton, it was Finger who came up with Bruce Wayne's name (after Revolutionary soldier "Mad" Anthony Wayne[[note]]He also inspired the MeaningfulRename of Marion Morrison into Creator/JohnWayne[[/note]] which he felt provided Batman a Patrician heritage), the name of Gotham City and likewise the ideas for the final design of Batman -- chiefly TheCowl and the dark palette. Bob Kane admitted that it was Finger who developed the idea of Batman as a "scientific detective".

The origins of Batman, as per recent research, began when Bob Kane came up with the initial name of the character and the first design, that of a brunette in red tights and a domino mask. In need of a writer, Kane came into contact with Finger who provided the lion's share of the more defining ideas. As per Jim Steranko and Ty Templeton, it was Finger who came up with Bruce Wayne's name (after Revolutionary soldier "Mad" Anthony Wayne[[note]]He also inspired the MeaningfulRename of Marion Morrison into Creator/JohnWayne[[/note]]), the name of Gotham City and likewise the ideas for the final design of Batman -- chiefly TheCowl and the dark palette. Bob Kane admitted that it was Finger who developed the idea of Batman as a "scientific detective".