Batman & Bill Page #3

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was Bill Finger.

So in 1965, Jerry wrote

a two-page article

which was called

"If the Truth Be Known,"

"A Finger in Every Plot!"

And this was obviously

way before the internet,

so his way of spreading the word

was he made copies of

this and sent it out

to Batman fans all

over the country.

And that's when...

the controversy erupted.

Bill was given a forum

to tell his story

where we could

finally become familiar

with all these

characters and books

that he wrote over the decades.

It was the first thing

that, in writing,

really gave Bill Finger credit

for the co-creation of Batman,

and it was about time.

That fateful Friday in 1939

when Bob told his editor

that he would be able to

come up with a superhero

over the weekend,

he apparently did

go home that day

and work on a character

which he called "Batman."

Bob's idea for Batman

was a character

in a red union suit,

basically red tights,

a domino mask

which is a little mask

like what Robin wears now,

stiff wings

attached to the arms,

and, as far as we

know, nothing more,

no other

distinguishing elements.

And he had enough sense to know

that this was not good enough,

and he knew who to call.

Bill Finger.

They get together.

They're huddling

over this drawing,

and Bill looked at

the red suit and said,

"This is not suitable for

a creature of the night.

He's got to be

darker," so he said,

"Let's darken

the whole costume."

He looked at the

little mask and said,

"This is not going to

intimidate criminals.

Let's cover most of

his face with a cowl

and put pointed ears on it,

so that he actually

looks like his namesake.

The stiff wings

are not practical

for obvious reasons,

so let's ditch the wings

and give him a cape

with a scalloped edge

which will fly out behind him

and look like wings."

You set the tone of

this character's essence

from his visuals

before you know a thing

about his personality

and his mission.

So that was all Bill.

Bill reconstructed Batman

into the Batman that

we all know today.

Bob apparently

went to the company

on Monday morning

with this sketch.

Did not mention that there

was anyone else involved,

and said, "This is my idea."

I have been told, although

I've never been privy,

of course, to the contract,

that that contract included

specifically a stipulation

that Batman would

hereafter be listed

as the sole

creation of Bob Kane.

Bob went back to Bill

and presumably said,

"Great news, they

want to buy Batman,

so you'll write it

and I'll draw it,

and my name will be on it

because I sold it, of course,

and I'll give you a portion

of what I get paid."

Nothing was signed,

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