Do You Know Who Acutally Created Batman?
Comic books have exploded in popularity over the last 20 years because of the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes. Despite the popularity of Batman and Captain Marvel, many fans still have no idea who created these beloved characters. Here are 20 Superhero creators who never got any recognition.
1. Bill Finger
Bill Kane got most of the credit for creating Batman, but it was actually Finger who helped shape the character into arguably the most popular superhero in history. Finger came up with Batman's cape and cowl, the detective persona, and Gotham City. He also co-created Robin, Catwoman, and the Joker.
2. Jerry Robinson
Robinson co-created the Joker and Robin in the 1940s, but his role was often downplayed or outright omitted. He was also overshadowed by Bob Kane.
3. Gardner Fox
Fox was one of DC's most important and prolific writers. He co-created The Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and the Justice League of America. Sadly, his name is rarely mentioned outside of diehard comic book fans.
4. C.C. Beck
Beck is best known as the original artist of Captain Marvel (Shazam), and his work and imagination brought the character to life and into newsstands. Beck eventually left the industry disillusioned and frustrated by a lack of recognition.
5. Joe Simon
Alongside Jack Kirby, Simon co-created Captain America in 1940. However, Kirby's contributions are often more recognized than Simon's. Simon also helped shape Marvel as a patriotic icon.
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6. Harry Donenfeld
Donenfeld was one of DC's early publisher, and played a key role in bringing Superman and Batman to mainstream audiences and reaching mass appeal. He was more behind the scenes, but ensured that superhero comics flourished during the Golden Age.
7. Sheldon Moldoff
Moldoff was a ghost artist for Bob Kane and Bill Finger, drawing stories that many assumed belonged to Kane. He also co-created Batgirl, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze. He never got cover credit and was paid very little compared to his massive contributions.
8. Bill Everett
Everett created Namor the Sub-Mariner in 1939. As a result, Namor pioneered the anti-hero archetype that would be used to create Wolverine and the Punisher. Everett also co-created Daredevil with Stan Lee. Despite these monumental achievements and contributions, Everett rarely received any public recognition. His work was foundational to Marvel's success.
9. Otto Binder
Binder wrote many Captain Marvel stories and expanded Superman comics by co-creating Brainiac, Supergirl, and the Legion of Super-Heroes. His storytelling abilities were legendary, and he helped build DC's mythos.
10. Jerry Siegel
Siegel co-created Superman with Joe Shuster, but both were famously exploited by DC. They sold the rights for pennies on the dollar, and Siegel spent decades struggling financially. He waged a legal battle for recognition and settled with DC in the 1970s.
11. Joe Shuster
Similar to his Superman co-creator, Shuster was forced to watch his work explode in popularity while his recognition was minimized and he lived in poverty. His story is a cautionary tale for upstart and aspiring comic book creators, artists, and writers.
12. Ramona Fradon
Fradon was one of the few women working during the Silver Age, and she co-created Metamorpho and drew Aquaman for years. Her trailblazing work in a male-dominated field meant that she rarely received any acclaim or spotlight.
13. Steve Ditko
Ditko has received more acclaim and recognition recently, but he spent his years mired in obscurity. He co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. His contributions to superheroes and comic books are immeasurable, but he was overshadowed by Stan Lee and lived reclusively.
14. Martin Nodell
Nodell created the original Green Lantern in 1940. The character's enduring popularity never helped Nodell achieve any level of fame. He eventually went to work in advertising, and was forgotten by an industry that he had left behind.
15. Don Heck
Heck was a comic book legend after co-creating Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. However, his name rarely appears alongside Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko. He was a Marvel artist in the 1960s and contributed to building the world of the Avengers despite little acclaim for his efforts.
16. Gil Kane
Kane co-created the Silver Age Green Lantern and Atom, and also designed iconic characters like Iron Fist. He was known for his dynamic art, but never crossed over into mainstream recognition.
17. Wayne Boring
Boring was one of Superman's primary artists in the 1940s and 1950s. Despite his tenure and efforts, he never got the recognition he deserved. Boring defined the iconic look of Superman for generations, yet ended his career without being a household name.
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18. Kurt Schaffenberger
Schaffenberger made a name for himself by working on Lois Lane and Captain Marvel. His humor also made him a hot commodity among publishers. His clean lines were imperative to DC's aesthetic in the 1950s and 1960s. To this day, he remains largely unknown among fans and comic historians.
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19. Dick Ayers
Ayers co-created Ghost Rider and inked countless pages for Jack Kirby in the 1960s. He even helped bring the Fantastic Four and the Avengers to life. Sadly, his role was mostly invisible, and he was stuck in the shadows of several industry giants whose names appeared everywhere. Ayers should have been as renowned as Kirby and Lee.
20. Al Plastino
Plastino drew Superman for decades, and also co-created Brainiac, Supergirl, and the Legion of Superheroes alongside Otto Binder. He helped shape much of Superman's Silver Age presence, but was still mired in anonymity. Plastino's legacy was hidden from the public by DC, which often erased creators' credits.
