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Although Bob Kane achieved renown for creating the fictional superhero Batman, he and others have acknowledged the contributions of Bill Finger for fleshing the character out, writing many of his early stories, and creating the character's origin. Many other comic book creators (writers, artists, and sometimes editors who contributed important ideas or altered how the character would be presented) have contributed to the character's history since Batman's introduction in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. This list identifies some who made notable contributions with enduring impact.
This is an incomplete list.
The following list is of people who have both written and drawn Batman comics.
| Name/tenure | Notable stories/titles | Notable characters (co-) created by | Notes |
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| Frank Miller |
| He re-established Batman's origin during Crisis on Infinite Earths . He was also an artist on The Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Strikes Again. | |
| Frank Robbins | A primary writer for Batman and Detective Comics from 1968–1974, and artist on several of his own Batman stories in Detective Comics from 1971-1973. | ||
| Matt Wagner |
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| Name/tenure | Notable stories/titles | Notable characters (co-) created by | Notes |
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| Mike W. Barr 1974-2014 |
| Whilst he and Jerry Bingham originally created Damian Wayne, it was Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert who reinterpreted the character for more modern times. | |
| Ed Brubaker 1998- |
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| Co-created the majority of the police officers and detectives featured in Gotham Central . |
| Donald Clough Cameron |
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| Gerry Conway 1980-1983 |
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| Paul Dini 1997–present |
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| Chuck Dixon |
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| Steve Englehart 1974-2006 |
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| Gardner Fox 1939-1968 |
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| Neil Gaiman | |||
| Alan Grant |
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| Devin K. Grayson |
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| Robert Kanigher | |||
| Tom King |
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| Jeph Loeb |
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| Doug Moench |
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| Grant Morrison |
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| Alan Moore |
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| Dennis O'Neil | As well as being a long-term writer, he was also an editor of the Batman titles, and is credited with 'rebooting' the Batman character. | ||
| David Vern Reed 1950-1956, 1975 |
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| Greg Rucka |
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| Dan Slott |
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| Scott Snyder |
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| Court of Owls was co-created with artist Greg Capullo. |
| Jim Starlin |
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| Peter Tomasi |
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| James Tynion IV |
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| John Wagner |
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| Len Wein | Was also Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics during Crisis on Infinite Earths . | ||
| Judd Winick |
| Created Jasons Todd's Red Hood identity but not Jason Todd himself, created by Gerry Conway and Don Newton, or the Red Hood identity, created by Bill Finger. | |
| Marv Wolfman | |||
| David Wood |
| Worked as an uncredited "Ghost" writer during the Golden, Silver and Bronze Age. |
| Name/tenure | Notable stories/titles | Notable characters (co-) created by | Notes |
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| Neal Adams 1968-2012 |
Covers only
| Known for drawing the definitive 1970s visual interpretation that returned Batman to his gothic roots. | |
| Jim Aparo |
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| Brian Bolland |
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| Bob Brown | |||
| Norm Breyfogle | |||
| Ernie Chan 1975-1977 | |||
| Dick Giordano | |||
| Carmine Infantino | Penciller and primary artist of the 1964 "New Look" Batman. | ||
| Kelley Jones 1995-2010 |
| Artist best known for his runs on Batman with writer Doug Moench. | |
| Jim Lee |
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| Doug Mahnke |
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| David Mazzucchelli |
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| Tom Mandrake | |||
| Dave McKean | |||
| Sheldon Moldoff | One of Bob Kane's primary "ghost artists". | ||
| Jim Mooney | |||
| Don Newton | |||
| Graham Nolan | |||
| George Pérez | |||
| Jerry Robinson | Early ghost artist for Bob Kane. | ||
| Marshall Rogers |
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| Tim Sale |
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| Walter Simonson | |||
| Lew Schwartz | |||
| Ryan Sook |
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| Dick Sprang | |||
| Curt Swan | While best known for Superman work, he drew many late 1950s and early 1960s Batman covers, and was the primary artist on the Batman and Superman team-ups in World's Finest Comics during the same period. |
| Name | Title | Tenure | Notable titles | Characters (co-) created By | Notes |
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| Tim Burton | Film director |
| Pushed Batman into the public eye by making him dark outside of the comic book media. | ||
| Paul Dini | Television (animation) and video game writer |
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| Came up with a newer, more tragic origin story for Mr. Freeze, in Batman: The Animated Series, involving the creation of the character of Nora Fries, which is now commonly used in the comics. | |
| William Dozier | TV producer | 1966-1968 | Produced and narrated (without credit in latter capacity) the Batman 1966 TV series. | ||
| Christopher Nolan | Film director |
| Rebooted the Batman film franchise into a more realistic setting. | ||
| Jack Schiff | Comic book editor | ||||
| Julius Schwartz | Comic book editor | 1964-1979 | None | Commissioned "The Million-Dollar Debut of Batgirl", the story in which Barbara Gordon was introduced as both herself and the Silver Age of Comics Batgirl. | |
| Lorenzo Semple Jr. | TV writer | 1966-1968 | Developed and wrote most early episodes of the Batman 1966 TV series after ABC-TV had acquired the rights and chosen 20th Century Fox Television as the studio through which it was produced. | ||
| Bruce W. Timm | Animator & producer |
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| Created character sheets for Batman: The Animated Series. |
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Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book Detective Comics on March 30, 1939. In the DC Universe, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. His origin story features him swearing vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha, as a child, a vendetta tempered by the ideal of justice. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona, and monitors the Gotham streets at night. Kane, Finger, and other creators accompanied Batman with supporting characters, including his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl; allies Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon; love interest Catwoman; and foes such as the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, and his archenemy, the Joker.
Robin is the alias of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson to serve as a junior counterpart and the sidekick to the superhero Batman. As a team, Batman and Robin have commonly been referred to as the Caped Crusaders and the Dynamic Duo. The character's first incarnation, Dick Grayson, debuted in Detective Comics #38. Conceived as a way to attract young readership, Robin garnered overwhelmingly positive critical reception, doubling the sales of the Batman titles. Robin's early adventures included Star Spangled Comics #65–130 (1947–1952), the character's first solo feature. He made regular appearances in Batman-related comic books and other DC Comics publications from 1940 through the early 1980s, until the character set aside the Robin identity and became the independent superhero Nightwing.
Richard John "Dick" Grayson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Batman, Teen Titans and Justice League. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940 as the original and most popular incarnation of Robin, Batman's crime-fighting partner. He is the eldest child of Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego, the first child to be adopted by Batman. In Tales of the Teen Titans #44, the character, after becoming an adult, retires his role as Robin and assumes the persona of Nightwing. Grayson has donned the cape and cowl to replace Wayne as Batman; his most notable spell followed Wayne's supposed death in Final Crisis, and sees Grayson adopt Damian Wayne, Bruce's biological son and his adoptive younger brother, as his Robin.
Clayface is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Most incarnations of the character possess clay-like bodies and shapeshifting abilities, and all of them are adversaries of the superhero Batman. In 2009, Clayface was ranked as IGN's 73rd-greatest comic book villain of all time.
"Batman: Hush" is an American comic book story arc published by DC Comics featuring the superhero Batman. It was published in monthly installments within the comic book series Batman, running from issue #608–619 in October 2002 until September 2003. The story arc was written by Jeph Loeb, penciled by Jim Lee, inked by Scott Williams, and colored by Alex Sinclair, under the editorship of Bob Schreck.
The Batman is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Michael Goguen and Duane Capizzi, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics for seasons 3–5, the series first aired on Kids' WB on September 11, 2004, then Cartoon Network on April 2, 2005. The show would become exclusive to the former network for its third, fourth, and fifth seasons in early 2006. The Batman won six Daytime Emmy Awards over the course of its run. Many elements from previous Batman storylines were borrowed and adapted, such as those from the comic books, film series and the animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series from the DC Animated Universe, but it remained strictly within its own distinct continuity. Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda served as art director and provided the character designs. The production team altered the appearances of many of the comic books' supervillains for the show, such as the Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler.
Victoria Vale is a fictional journalist appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Her character often serves as a potential love interest, character in peril, and source for information about crimes being committed, often drawing parallels to Lois Lane from the Superman comics.
The New Adventures of Batman is an animated series that aired on CBS from February 12 to May 28, 1977, featuring the DC Comics superheroes Batman and Robin, and Batgirl. The series was a Filmation and DC Comics production in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Hush is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, the character first appeared in Batman #609 in January 2003 as part of the twelve-issue storyline Batman: Hush. Hush serves as a criminal foil to the superhero Batman, as an example of what Batman could have been had he used his intellect and wealth for malice, and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.
Julie Madison is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #31 and was created by Gardner Fox, Bob Kane, and Sheldon Moldoff. She is best known as being Batman's first significant romantic interest.
The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour is a Filmation series that ran on CBS during the 1977–1978 television season. It consisted of the second season of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, and reruns of The New Adventures of Batman aired together.
Anthony Zucco is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. First appearing in Detective Comics #38, Zucco is a mobster responsible for murdering the parents of Dick Grayson, which leads to Grayson's adoption by Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman and becoming the latter's sidekick and original Robin and Nightwing.
Batman: Nine Lives is an Elseworlds graphic novel published by DC Comics in 2002, written by Dean Motter, with art by Michael Lark.
This article is about the publication history of the DC Comics fictional character Dick Grayson, who has been portrayed in comic books alternatively as Robin, Nightwing, and Batman.
Batman Live is a touring stage show, including theatrical, circus and stage-magic elements, that focuses on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It debuted on July 19, 2011 at the Manchester Evening News Arena, with two and a half years in the making at a reported cost of about £7.5 million.
Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants is an American animated superhero film and the third and final entry in the Batman Unlimited series. It premiered on July 24, 2016, at San Diego Comic-Con, to be followed by a digital release on August 30 and a DVD release on September 13.
The 1940s were an essential time for DC Comics. Both National Comics Publications and All-American Publications would introduce many new featured superheroes in American comic books in superhero comics anthology tales like More Fun Comics, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Action Comics, All-American Comics, Superman, Flash Comics, Batman, All Star Comics, World's Finest Comics, All-Flash, Star Spangled Comics, Green Lantern, Leading Comics, Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade and Superboy that would be a staple for the comic book company. Examples of the superheroes include the Flash, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt, Spectre, Hourman, Robin, Doctor Fate, Congo Bill, Green Lantern, Atom, Manhunter, Doctor Mid-Nite, Sargon the Sorcerer, Starman, Johnny Quick, the Shining Knight, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, Tarantula, Vigilante, Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Sandy, the Golden Boy, Mister Terrific, Wildcat, Air Wave, Guardian, Robotman, TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite, Liberty Belle, Superboy and Black Canary. These characters would later crossover in superhero team titles in the 1940s such as the Justice Society of America and the Seven Soldiers of Victory helping pave a way to a shared universe of the publication company. Other used featured characters outside of superheroes included kid titular heroes like the Newsboy Legion and the Boy Commandos. Later Western heroes would be used such as Johnny Thunder, Nighthawk and Pow Wow Smith.
Bruce Wayne, better known by his vigilante superhero alias Batman, is a fictional character who is featured as the main protagonist in Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series (1989–1997), and later as a supporting character in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film The Flash (2023). Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, he was portrayed by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), before being recast with Val Kilmer and George Clooney in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) respectively. Both Keaton and Clooney reprised their roles in The Flash, which retroactively incorporates versions of them into two alternate timelines of the DCEU's continuity. Keaton's portrayal of the character was critically acclaimed and influenced subsequent interpretations.
