Bill Finger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Finger |
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Finger in 1936
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| Born | Milton Finger February 8, 1914 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | January 18, 1974 (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Area(s) | Writer |
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Notable works
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Batman Detective Comics Green Lantern |
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| Spouse(s) | Ethel "Portia" Finger (née Epstein; 1943–1950s) Lyn Simmons (about 1968–1971) |
| Children | 1 |
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Milton "Bill" Finger (born February 8, 1914 – died January 18, 1974) was an American writer. He wrote for comic strips, comic books, movies, and TV shows. He is best known as the co-creator of the famous DC Comics character, Batman.
Even though Bill Finger made huge contributions to Batman, he wasn't always given credit. For many years, Bob Kane, who also worked on Batman, was the only one officially recognized. Finger also helped create the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott.
In the 2000s, a writer named Marc Tyler Nobleman found Finger's family. With support from fans, Finger's granddaughter worked to get him the recognition he deserved. In 2015, DC Comics finally agreed to officially add Bill Finger's name as a co-creator of Batman. This means his name now appears alongside Bob Kane's in new Batman comics and movies.
Contents
Early Life of Bill Finger
Bill Finger was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1914. His family was Ashkenazi Jewish. His father, Louis Finger, came to the U.S. from Austria-Hungary in 1907.
The family later moved to The Bronx, New York City. During the Great Depression, his father's tailor shop had to close. Bill Finger finished high school at DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx in 1933.
Bill Finger's Career in Comics
Bill Finger wanted to be a writer. He worked part-time selling shoes. In 1938, he met Bob Kane at a party. Kane was also a student from DeWitt Clinton High School. Kane then offered Finger a job helping him write comic strips like Rusty and Clip Carson.
Creating Batman
In 1939, the superhero Superman became very popular. This made comic book editors want more heroes. Bob Kane came up with an idea for a character called "the Bat-Man."
Bill Finger made many important suggestions for Batman's look and story. He suggested giving Batman a cowl (a hood) instead of a small mask. He also suggested a cape instead of wings and adding gloves. Finger also came up with the secret identity name, Bruce Wayne.
Kane later said that Finger turned Batman into a "scientific detective." Finger wrote the first story for Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. He also wrote Batman's second story. Batman quickly became a huge hit.
Batman's Friends and Tools
Bill Finger wrote many early Batman stories. He helped create the famous villain, the Joker.
Robin, Batman's sidekick, was introduced in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940. Finger suggested that Robin's parents should be circus performers who were murdered. This made Robin's origin similar to Batman's.
Finger also helped create many of Batman's famous tools and places. He helped create the Batmobile and the Batcave. He is also credited with naming Batman's city, "Gotham City."
His stories often used giant-sized objects, like a huge penny or a giant Tyrannosaurus rex. These became famous trophies in the Batcave.
Other DC Comics Work
Finger later worked directly for DC Comics. He wrote stories for Batman and Superman. He helped bring kryptonite into the Superman comic books. This green rock weakens Superman.
For the Superboy series, Finger created Lana Lang. She was a love interest for the teenage superhero. He also created Ace the Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite for Batman comics. He helped create villains like Clayface and the original Batgirl, Betty Kane.
Finger also wrote for other comic companies like Fawcett Comics and Marvel Comics (then called Timely Comics).
Batman's Villains
Bill Finger played a big part in creating many of Batman's most famous villains.
- The Joker: Finger helped develop the Joker's look and personality.
- The Penguin: Finger said he created the Penguin as a caricature of a fancy, aristocratic gentleman.
- The Scarecrow: Finger wrote the first story for this villain.
- Two-Face: Finger and Kane introduced this villain.
- The Riddler: Finger and Dick Sprang created the Riddler.
- The Calendar Man: Finger created this villain on his own.
Green Lantern's Origin
Bill Finger also worked with artist Martin Nodell to create the first Green Lantern, Alan Scott. This hero first appeared in All-American Comics #16 in July 1940. Nodell designed the character, and Finger wrote the stories.
Bill Finger as a Screenwriter
Bill Finger also wrote for movies and television. He wrote or co-wrote films like The Green Slime. He also wrote episodes for TV shows such as Hawaiian Eye and 77 Sunset Strip.
He co-wrote a two-part episode for the live-action Batman TV series in 1966. This was his first public credit for any Batman story.
Recognizing Bill Finger's Contributions
For many years, Bill Finger's name did not appear as an official creator on Batman comics or movies. This was because Bob Kane had a contract that gave him sole credit.
However, Finger started getting some recognition for his writing in the 1960s. For example, in a 1965 Batman comic, the editor mentioned Finger as the creator of the Riddler.
In 1989, Bob Kane admitted that Bill Finger was a "contributing force" in creating Batman. Kane said that Finger "never received the fame and recognition he deserved."
Many other artists and writers who worked with them also said that Finger had a huge role in shaping Batman. They said he created almost all the other characters and the whole personality of Batman.
In September 2015, DC Entertainment announced that Bill Finger would finally receive credit. His name now appears on the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the TV series Gotham. His name also appears in comic books as "Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger."
Awards and Honors for Bill Finger
Bill Finger has received many honors after his death:
- He was added to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1994.
- He was added to the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1999.
- In 1985, DC Comics honored him in their 50th-anniversary book, Fifty Who Made DC Great.
- In 2005, Comic-Con International created the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing. This award is given every year to writers who have done important work in comics.
- He received an Inkpot Award in 2014.
- On December 8, 2017, a street corner in The Bronx, New York, was named "Bill Finger Way." This corner is near Poe Park, where Finger and Kane used to meet to talk about Batman.
Bill Finger's Legacy
Bill Finger's story is told in the 2017 documentary film, Batman & Bill. This film explores his life and his fight for recognition.
Bill Finger's Personal Life
Bill Finger was married twice. He had a son named Frederick, also known as Fred, with his first wife, Portia.
Bill Finger passed away in 1974. His son, Fred, had his ashes spread in the shape of a bat on a beach in Oregon. The Batman comic book issue #259 in December 1974 was dedicated to Bill Finger's memory.
Fred Finger had a daughter named Athena, who was born after Bill Finger died. Athena and her son are Bill Finger's only known living family members. Her efforts helped lead to Bill Finger finally getting official credit for Batman.
Images for kids
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Bill Finger's signature
See also
In Spanish: Bill Finger para niños
