History Creator / BillFinger

* HeAlsoDid: Finger has the dubious honor of being one of the writers for the 1967 B-movie ''Snow Devils.''

Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) is the original writer of ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Creator/BobKane, he developed for the comic book ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics #27'', published by National Allied Publications, which would eventually become Creator/DCComics. 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 (while never fully owning up to the fact that he was the one who did the un-singing). DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline, would eventually and publicly acknowledge Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery ("Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger").

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}''

* [[Characters/GreenLantern1941 Green Lantern I]]

* MyRealDaddy: [[invoked]] Most agree, since "Hijacking Windbag" is a perfectly appropriate description, 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 colors of the costume, the name of the city and the RoguesGallery, the detective skills, the Bruce Wayne identity, his origins) come entirely from Finger, yet it is also argued that much of the rogues gallery came from Kane himself leaving it up in the air how much came from either of them.

** [[Characters/BatmanTwoFace Two-Face]]

* MyRealDaddy: [[invoked]] Most agree, since "Hijacking Windbag" is a perfectly appropriate description, 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 colors of the costume, the name of the city and the RoguesGallery, the detective skills, the Bruce Wayne identity, his origins) come entirely from Finger.

* ComicBook/Wildcat

** [[Characters/NighwingDickGrayson Robin]]

* OriginsEpisode: Finger specialized in writing this. He wrote Batman's origin 33 issues into the run, introducing Joe Chill. Likewise the first appearances of ComicBook/ThePenguin, Riddler, Two-Face, Scarecrow and Catwoman. He also wrote the very first origin story of Joker's MultipleChoicePast which later writers have built on.

Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) is the original writer of ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'', a character which, together with Creator/BobKane, he developed for the comic book ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics #27'', published by National Allied Publications, which would eventually become Creator/DCComics. 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 (while never fully owning up to the fact that he was the one who did the un-singing). 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 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 Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster, 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.

->''Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger''

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/BatmanGrantMorrison their run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of ComicBook/TwoFace, [[ComicBook/TheScarecrow Scarecrow]], ComicBook/TheRiddler, 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, ComicBook/{{Wildcat}}, and ComicBook/LanaLang in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. He also wrote two episodes of the 1960's ''Series/Batman1966'' live-action 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 the name of Gotham City, many of the defining ideas for the final design of Batman -- chiefly TheCowl and the dark palette -- and the name of Batman's alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, named after Revolutionary soldier "Mad" Anthony Wayne, [[note]]the same solider who inspired [[MeaningfulRename actor Marion Morrison]] to rename himself Creator/JohnWayne[[/note]] which he felt provided Batman a Patrician heritage. Bob Kane also admitted that it was Finger who developed the idea of Batman as a "scientific detective".

* JokerImmunity: Ironically, Finger was very aware of this trope. He had intended Joker to die in his first appearances because the continued existence of such a dangerous enemy made Batman and the law-enforcement look incompetent. However, ExecutiveMeddling insisted that Joker survive anyway, granting him full immunity in perpetuity.

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/BatmanGrantMorrison their run on Batman]]. Finger also wrote many of the iconic first appearances of ComicBook/TwoFace, Scarecrow, ComicBook/TheRiddler, 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, ComicBook/{{Wildcat}}, and ComicBook/LanaLang in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. He also wrote two episodes of the 1960's ''Series/Batman1966'' 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 Creator/BobKane, he developed for the comic book ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics #27'', published by National Allied Publications, which would eventually become Creator/DCComics. 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 (while never fully owning up to the fact that he was the one who did the un-singing). DC Comics, while honoring the letter of Kane's byline, began to publicly acknowledge Finger as a co-creator of Batman and his RoguesGallery.

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