Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
09-18-15, 01:06 PM
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Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
So this is pretty big news. Bill Finger is getting television & film credit on Gotham and Batman v Superman. It's a good step from DC & Warners.
http://comicbook.com/2015/09/18/bill...an-v-superman/
The co-creator of Batman and many of the concepts and characters there-in is finally getting the credit he deserves. Bill Finger will now receive official credit from DC Entertainment on film and television projects based on Batman and his other creations, like Robin, Catwoman, and The Joker. The credit will first show on Gotham season 2 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
For years, Bob Kane has received sole credit for the creation of Batman and his co-horts, due to a deal he signed in 1939. That has included comic books, TV, video games, and film - any adaptations or new works featuring Batman have said simply, "created by Bob Kane."
Writer Marc Tyler Nobleman has been working tirelessly to help change that, with a book called "Bill the Boy Wonder," and talks at book festivals, comic book conventions, and more. The writer worked directly with Finger's family, trying to help him get the due credit.
DC Entertainment made an official statement to THR on the new change.
"DC Entertainment and the family of Bill Finger are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement that recognizes Mr. Finger’s significant contributions to the Batman family of characters. “Bill Finger was instrumental in developing many of the key creative elements that enrich the Batman universe, and we look forward to building on our acknowledgement of his significant role in DC Comics’ history,” stated Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “As part of our acknowledgement of those contributions,” Nelson continued, “we are pleased to confirm today that Bill Finger will be receiving credit in the Warner Bros. television series Gotham beginning later this season, and in the forthcoming motion picture Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."
We've reached out to DC Entertainment to find out whether this will also be applied to DC Comics bearing Batman's name and characters - they currently print "Batman created by Bob Kane" in the title/credits page of comics featuring the character.
For years, Bob Kane has received sole credit for the creation of Batman and his co-horts, due to a deal he signed in 1939. That has included comic books, TV, video games, and film - any adaptations or new works featuring Batman have said simply, "created by Bob Kane."
Writer Marc Tyler Nobleman has been working tirelessly to help change that, with a book called "Bill the Boy Wonder," and talks at book festivals, comic book conventions, and more. The writer worked directly with Finger's family, trying to help him get the due credit.
DC Entertainment made an official statement to THR on the new change.
"DC Entertainment and the family of Bill Finger are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement that recognizes Mr. Finger’s significant contributions to the Batman family of characters. “Bill Finger was instrumental in developing many of the key creative elements that enrich the Batman universe, and we look forward to building on our acknowledgement of his significant role in DC Comics’ history,” stated Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “As part of our acknowledgement of those contributions,” Nelson continued, “we are pleased to confirm today that Bill Finger will be receiving credit in the Warner Bros. television series Gotham beginning later this season, and in the forthcoming motion picture Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."
We've reached out to DC Entertainment to find out whether this will also be applied to DC Comics bearing Batman's name and characters - they currently print "Batman created by Bob Kane" in the title/credits page of comics featuring the character.
09-18-15, 02:07 PM
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09-18-15, 02:10 PM
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DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Finally!
I don't mean to speak for Trevor, but I think he means going forward, like on new Batman comics, not changing the existing ones.
I don't mean to speak for Trevor, but I think he means going forward, like on new Batman comics, not changing the existing ones.
09-18-15, 02:16 PM
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09-18-15, 02:18 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
It's a meaningless gesture unless Finger's family gets some kind of royalty. Bob Kane would almost certainly sue WB/DC over this if he were still alive.
09-18-15, 02:44 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
I think his daughter is his only living kin (and she was somehow born two years after he died. Frozen sperm?). But she should get something.
EDIT: She's his granddaughter, not daughter.
EDIT: She's his granddaughter, not daughter.
09-18-15, 03:55 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Finger's heirs get royalties from DC. They have been for years. However, while researching his book, Marc Tyler Nobleman found out that they were giving it to the wrong heir! They sorted it out as soon as he brought it to their attention.
09-18-15, 04:22 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Well I insist they put his name in every reprint and/or print up a bunch of "And Bill Finger" stickers and stick them on old comic books!
09-18-15, 06:04 PM
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10-12-15, 12:15 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Marc Tyler Nobleman has seen what the official credit will be during NYCC (via one of the Dark Knight III titles) - Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger.
10-21-15, 05:29 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Looks like this week was the week everything ticked over. The Robot Chicken DC Special III was the first place the credit popped up followed by Monday's Gotham.
Today's Batman & Robin: Eternal was the first comic appearance of the new credit.
It's a good day.
Today's Batman & Robin: Eternal was the first comic appearance of the new credit.
It's a good day.
12-07-17, 01:48 AM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
12-13-17, 09:06 PM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Didn't Bob Kane sign some deal with DC Comics that said only he would be credited with the creation of Batman?
12-14-17, 05:15 AM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
It got change a couple of years ago.
Credit now reads, "Batman Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger".
Credit now reads, "Batman Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger".
12-14-17, 06:48 AM
#21
Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
Seigel and Schuster ended up working in a mail room and as a delivery messenger and ended up living in relative poverty until Neal Adams publicly shamed DC to get S&S credit and a pension while Kane prospered.
12-19-17, 02:30 AM
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Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
The story goes that Jerry Seigel, who felt that he and Joe Schuster (Superman creators) were being taken advantage of tried to get Bob Kane to join them in a joint suit against DC comics. Kane, after talking to Seigel, Kane went to Jack Liebowitz at DC and told him what Seigel and Schuster were planning. Kane was "rewarded" with a renegotiated contract that gave him a higher page rate (for pages he didn't write or draw), credit, and some sort of subsidiary rights to Batman.
Seigel and Shuster ended up working in a mail room and as a delivery messenger and ended up living in relative poverty until Neal Adams publicly shamed DC to get S&S credit and a pension while Kane prospered.
Seigel and Shuster ended up working in a mail room and as a delivery messenger and ended up living in relative poverty until Neal Adams publicly shamed DC to get S&S credit and a pension while Kane prospered.
I read a book about the Golden Age era of Superman, written by Les Daniels, and I was a little taken back to see that the mention of Siegel and Shuster's lawsuit was very biased towards the DC side of things. I'm guessing that Warner Books published it, because it doesn't make sense for a book like that to be a slanted against the creators. It wasn't a whole chapter, just a short paragraph IIRC.
12-19-17, 06:38 AM
#23
Re: Bill Finger Getting TV/Film Credit on Gotham & Batman v Superman
I'm glad that proper credit is being given, albeit after Finger died. Still surprised that a corporation like WB/DC would do that.
Why did Siegel and Shuster sue in the first place? I was under the impression that they were still working for DC at the time and making a good living. Was this not true? Or were they afraid that they'd get the boot after their 10 year contract was over?
Why did Siegel and Shuster sue in the first place? I was under the impression that they were still working for DC at the time and making a good living. Was this not true? Or were they afraid that they'd get the boot after their 10 year contract was over?
