Today in Comics History, April 4: Happy birthday, Bob Rozakis!

Born on this day: Bob Rozakis, DC Comics writer (Action Comics, The New Adventures of Superboy, Detective Comics, World's Finest comics, The Batman Family, 'Mazing Man, Freedom Fighters and lots more), editor, and "The Answer Man"; DC's Executive Director of Production, co-creator of Mister E, Bumblebee, 'Mazing Man, Hero Hotline, Quakemaster, and more!


from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974)

Today in Comics History, May 9: Happy birthday, William Moulton Marston!

Born today in 1893: William Moulton Marston aka Charles Moulton, psychologist, polyamorist, developer of the modern lie detector. Oh yeah, he co-created a hero you may have heard of called Wonder Woman.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, November 25: Happy birthday, Noel Neill!

Born on this day in 1920: movie serial and television's Lois Lane, Noel Neill!


from Lois Lane (1958 series) #7 (DC, February 1959), creators un credited and unknown

Today in Comics History, November 23: Happy birthday, Sol Harrison!

Born on this day in 1917: Sol Harrison, longtime art director, production manager and colorist at DC Comics.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, November 23: Happy birthday, Carl Gafford!

#BoTD: comics writer, editor and colorist Carl Gafford (Legion of Super-Heroes, Justice League of America, All-Star Squadron, Suicide Squad, World's finest Comics, What If...?, Savage She-Hulk, Micronautsand more)!

Carl is on this photo cover! I believe he's the guy in blue (not Supes)...?


cover of Superman #289 (DC, July 1975), photograph by Jack Adler, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Bob Oksner, colors by Tatjana Wood

Today in Comics History, August 5: Happy birthday, Steve Mitchell!

Put your hands or hoofs together to give birthday appleause for Steve Mitchell, production manager, illustrator and comic book inker (Batman/Detective Comics, Static, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Green Lantern, more)!


from DC Comics cover-dated September 1978

Today in Comics History, April 21: Happy birthday, Allan Asherman!

Born today is former DC editorial and assistant editor Allan Asherman, whose books include The Star Trek Compendium, The Star Trek Interview Book and The Making of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan!


from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974)
Happy birthday, Allan!

Today in Comics History, April 1: Happy birthday, Sheldon Mayer!

Born this day in 1917: Sheldon Mayer, writer, editor, artist, and one of the greatest comic book creators of the 20th century. He's one of my favorite-ever comic book masters.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, January 5: Happy birthday, George Reeves!

Born on this day in 1914: Television's first Superman, George Reeves!


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, January 3: Happy birthday, Murray Boltinoff!

Born on this day in 1911: long-time DC Comics writer/editor Murray Boltinoff, who worked on titles as far ranging as Action Comics, Adventures of Bob Hope, G.I. Wombat Combat, Leguion of Super-Heroes, The Witching Hour, Doom Patrol and Sugar and Spike! Here, read more about 'im!:


from DC Comics cover-dated May 1977

Today in Comics History, February 8: Happy birthday, Bill Finger!

Born on this date in 1914: Bill Finger, co-creator of Batman, Robin, Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, Commissioner Gordon, Green Lantern, Wildcat, and many other classic characters and concepts!


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
Here's a lovely memorial essay for Finger in the DC fan magazine The Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974). Note that Finger here is credited, altho' not in a "created by" byline, with the invention of many iconic DC characters.


But The Amazing World of DC Comics had many contributors with many differing views. Since I don't have access to issue #10, here's a great video by Tom Brevoort about a comic story published within its pages that was truly cruel and dismissive of Bill Finger. Boo!


In fact, DC's "official" story of Batman's origin in a 1946 comic book doesn't mention Finger at all. (More on this here.)


from "The True Story of Batman and Robin! How a Big-Time Comic is Born!" in Real Fact Comics #5 (DC, November 1946), script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer; pencils and inks by Win Mortimer
From Wikipedia:

While Kane privately admitted in a 1980s audio interview with his autobiographer that Finger was responsible for "50–75% of all the creativity in Batman," for decades he publicly denied Finger had been anything more than a subcontractor executing Kane's ideas. As a result, Finger died in obscurity and poverty while the Batman brand—and Kane—amassed international fame and wealth.

At least Finger was by-lined within the pages of the comic book as the co-creator of Green Lantern straight from the first (if not necessarily later on).



from Green Lantern (1941 series) #1 (Fall 1941), script by Bill Finger, pencils and inks by Mart Nodell
It's only recently that DC Comics has credited Bill Finger with the co-creation of Batman, altho' with a "with" credit line after Bob Kane.


from Batman (2016 series) #101 (DC, December 2020)
We love you and remember you, Bill Finger, creator of Batman and so much more! Happy birthday!