Bob Kane is the man that started it all, or, at least, thats what history tells us. In reality, Bob Kane collaborated with writer Bill Finger, who had as much (if not more) to do with the creation of the character as Kane did. Im not contracted in any way to DC Comics right now, so I can say that without any fear of reprisal. Finger also stuck around far longer than Kane, working as a ghostwriter and co-creating all almost the early elements of Batmans newly formed world. However, it was Bob Kanes visually arresting artwork that first attracted readers to the character. Kanes Batman had quasi-demonic, horn-like ears, as well as a long, almost snout-like mask (completely different to todays cutaway version). He also had a thick Dracula cape that contained bony points within it (something that might be due for a comeback, now that I think about it). He even wore purple gloves for his first few appearances. Bob Kane was by no means the most talented artist ever to draw Batman, but he was definitely the most influential. During his time working on Detective Comics (and the later Batman spin-off title), Kane co-created Robin, The Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman, The Scarecrow, Clayface I, The Penguin, Hugo Strange, Dr. Death and many others besides. He left the Batman comics in 1943 in order to focus on the Batman newspaper strip, but by that time, he had only been drawing Batman occasionally and, by then, his character was already a bona-fide phenomenon.
I am a professional author and lifelong comic books/pro wrestling fan. I also work as a journalist as well as writing comic books (I also draw), screenplays, stage plays, songs and prose fiction.
I don't generally read or reply to comments here on What Culture (too many trolls!), but if you follow my Twitter (@heyquicksilver), I'll talk to you all day long!
If you are interested in reading more of my stuff, you can find it on http://quicksilverstories.weebly.com/ (my personal site, which has other wrestling/comics/pop culture stuff on it).
I also write for FLiCK http://www.flickonline.co.uk/flicktion, which is the best place to read my fiction work.
Oh yeah - I'm about to become a Dad for the first time, so if my stuff seems more sentimental than usual - blame it on that!
Finally, I sincerely appreciate every single read I get. So if you're reading this, thank you, you've made me feel like Shakespeare for a day! (see what I mean?)
Latcho Drom,
- CQ
Bob Kane was by no means the most talented artist ever to draw Batman, but he was definitely the most influential. During his time working on Detective Comics (and the later Batman spin-off title), Kane co-created Robin, The Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman, The Scarecrow, Clayface I, The Penguin, Hugo Strange, Dr. Death and many others besides. He left the Batman comics in 1943 in order to focus on the Batman newspaper strip, but by that time, he had only been drawing Batman occasionally and, by then, his character was already a bona-fide phenomenon.