In the credits of every Batman movie or cartoon it is obligatory to mention that the character was created by Bob Kane. This artist immortalized his name, but at the same time in the comics environment, the attitude to him, to put it mildly, ambiguous. Kane appropriated the right and honor to be considered the sole creator of Batman. For many years he passed off the labor of other artists as his own. And Bob in his youth liked to steal other people’s drawings and insert them into his comic book. That’s the man who invented Batman.
In 1939, 24-year-old Bob Kane was looking for a job. In those days, the young (and, according to many, rather mediocre) artist would take on anything he could get his hands on, such as drawing stories about Peter the puppy. One day, National Comics editor Vin Sullivan mentioned that Superman was breaking records and needed a new costumed hero for an anthology of Detective Comics stories. Kane immediately set to work. He naturally took Superman as his model. Bob also had in mind Zorro and Bat-man, a killer from a popular movie.
The new hero – Bat-man – wore red tights, a small black domino mask and had rigid wings (Leonardo da Vinci’s ornithopter, can you imagine?). Kane showed the sketches to author Bill Finger, with whom he’d collaborated before. He advised to change the color of the tights to gray, dominoes replaced by a fully closed mask with pointed ears, add gloves, and instead of wings to give the hero a stylish cape.
Batman in his big red sedan (!) made his comic book debut in May 1939 in Detective Comics #27. The story’s plot was penned by Bill Finger, but the credits listed only Bob Kane. The fact is that Finger was a salaried employee of National Comics and Kane was a contract employee. At the time, many magazines and newspapers only listed the name of the artist who drew the comic. But Finger’s role in the creation of Batman was too big (hell, he even came up with the name Bruce Wayne), and of course he deserved to be recognized as the author. Alas, that didn’t happen. Finger didn’t know how to stand up for himself. He was not particularly respected in the publishing house because he often missed deadlines and was considered non-committal. Not wanting to stir up a scandal, Finger did not argue over Batman. He died poor and unknown.
Bob Kane, on the other hand, had the makings of a businessman. He hammered out an excellent 20-year contract guaranteeing a good income and his name being mentioned in all Batman products. Kane single-handedly negotiated with National Comics (soon, on the heels of the success of Detective Comics, the publisher would change its sign to DC Comics), single-handedly introduced the new hero, and bargained the important phrase “Batman created by” only for himself – in exchange for the rights to Batman.
Bob Kane continued to work on the Dark Knight stories. However, he himself drew little, because he knew very well that it is not too good at it (Kane is also known for the fact that shamelessly redrew poses from movie posters and other comic books).
The contract obliged Kane to produce Batman stories, and Bob found a way out – put the work on the shoulders of hired assistants. For decades, artists worked anonymously for Kane (the comics themselves included his name). For example, from 1946 to 1953 Batman was drawn by Lew Schwartz, and from 1953 to 1967 – Sheldon Moldoff. In total, Kane had no less than six “helpers”.
In the 60’s Bob tried his hand at animation and television. Later he began to exhibit in galleries (some of the pictures were again painted by other artists). The last years of his life, especially after Tim Burton’s “Batman” came out, Kane just rested on his laurels. He died on November 3, 1998.
I am in no way trying to diminish the merits of Bob Kane. He really did do a lot for his character. The Batmobile, the gadget belt, Batman’s cave, many of the Dark Knight’s famous adversaries, including the Joker, Two-Face, and Catwoman – Kane had a hand in all of it. And yet I wouldn’t call him a man of crystal honesty or infinitely decent. However, you know history loves a winner and forgives them.