I recently had the great privilege of interviewing comics legend Jerry Robinson for my latest work-in-progress, a book of journalistic profiles of influential comics creators. The book -- which I'm writing for Chicago Review Press -- is tentatively titled PICTURE STORIES: CONVERSATIONS WITH COMICS' LIVING LEGENDS.

For those who don't know, Jerry Robinson has worn many hats in his long and illustrious career: Batman ghost artist, creator of the Joker, famed political cartoonist, and the artist/writer behind several newspaper strips including Flubs & Fluffs, Jet Scott, and Life With Robinson. Jerry Robinson is also a staunch creators rights advocate, and as he was a colleague of Bill Finger, the uncredited co-creator of Batman, he's working to establish an award for comic book writers entitled The Bill Finger Award. If you're a comics professional who'd like to know how you can help support The Bill Finger Award, please read on and contact Jerry Robinson via the information provided.

THE BILL FINGER AWARD

For lifetime contribution to the art of comics writing

Eligibity: Writers in all genres of comics, living or deceased, published in any country.

The Bill Finger Award will be given annually, elected by a select jury of comics writers, and historians such as Mark Evanier, R.C. Harvey, Jim Amash and Ron Goulart. Nominations can be made by all those eligible to vote for the Eisner Awards.

The Bill Finger Award will be a worthy addition to the appreciation of the comics in the tradition of the Eisners, Russ Manning and Bob Clampett Awards. It would be particularly appropriate to be given this year, Bill would have been in his 90th year.

The Bill Finger Award is given to an extraordinaiy writer/creator in honor of the genius of Bill Finger. Finger, the unsung hero and co-creator of Batman, scripted the first and many of the best Batman stories during the Golden Age of the comic books. Finger also made significant refinements to Batman's concept and persona. Finger created many of the series most notable characters, including the Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman and Two- Face. Among his innovations were the Bat Cave, Batmobile, Batplane and the Batsignal. His phrases, such as the Dynamic Duo and Gotham City became part of our lexicon. His scripts were imbued with humor and sprightly repartee. Finger was a craftsman, and his Batman's adventures were carefully plotted. Above all, he was a visual writer - even his scripts were accompanied with his visual or descriptive research. He knew instinctively what the artist could translate into compelling pictures and sequential narrative.

Finger's comics credits (although, like Batman, not acknowledged in print) include many other DC characters including the Green Lantern and Wildcat, and others for Quality Comics, Fawcett Publications, and Timely Comics. His television credits include episodes of 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, the animated New Adventures of Superman, and the prime time 1966 Batman series.

Bill Finger was born February 8, 1914 and died, mostly forgotten and unheralded except for his colleagues and comics historians, on January 24, 1974.

Jerry Robinson
Tel: 212-362-9256
Fax: 212-595-4218
EM: cws@cartoonweb.com