Marc Tyler Nobleman | |
---|---|
Born | 1972 (age 52–53) Hartford, Connecticut, US [1] |
Occupation | writer and speaker |
Nationality | American |
Education | Brandeis University |
Children | 2 |
Website | |
www |
Marc Tyler Nobleman (born 1972) [2] is an American author and speaker. His book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman is the first [3] [4] [5] published biography of Bill Finger, the initially anonymous co-creator and original writer of Batman. It is the basis [6] [7] of the Hulu documentary Batman & Bill , which chronicles Nobleman’s nine-year [8] campaign to get Finger’s name added to the official Batman credit line. [9] [10] [11] [12]
Nobleman is Jewish. He spent his early childhood in Avon, Connecticut, then moved to Cheshire, Connecticut. [13] His first published writing was a Mother’s Day poem in The Cheshire Herald when he was nine. [14] In high school, he was a member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) and held two regional board positions. [15] He graduated from Cheshire High School [16] and Brandeis University. [17]
Nobleman is the author of numerous nonfiction and fiction books for young readers. His publishers include Penguin Random House, Scholastic, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. His first title, The Felix Activity Book, based on characters created in Germany by author Annette Langen and illustrator Constanza Droop, [18] was published in 1996. [19]
Nobleman’s other writing credits include humor articles for Nickelodeon Magazine , [20] [21] [22] an episode of the TV show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, [23] and a reference book for adults (What's the Difference?: How to Tell Things Apart That Are Confusingly Close).
He has spoken worldwide [24] at schools, conferences, and other venues including the U.S. State Department, [25] the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, [26] and the 92nd Street Y. [27] He has given a TED Talk [28] and a Google Talk. [29]
Nobleman created, wrote, directed, and produced Songbook, a part-scripted, part-reality children's web series, in partnership with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Kwame Alexander, and Mary Rand Hess. [30]
He is also a cartoonist whose single-panel gag cartoons have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Good Housekeeping, [31] Punch, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. [32]
In 2006, [33] Nobleman began researching for a nonfiction picture book about Bill Finger’s role in the creation of Batman, who debuted in 1939. Finger was also the original writer of characters including Robin, the Joker, and Catwoman; he named Gotham City and nicknamed Batman “the Dark Knight.” [34] DC Comics did not include Finger’s name in the Batman credit line during Finger’s lifetime; [35] the character was attributed solely to cartoonist Bob Kane. [36] In 1974, Finger died with little money and almost no public acknowledgement. [37] [38]
Finger had one known child, Fred, who died in 1992. [39] Nobleman’s extensive [40] [41] source material did not mention any living Finger heirs. [42] In 2007, Nobleman discovered that, to the contrary, Fred had a daughter, and therefore Finger had a granddaughter, named Athena, born two years after Finger died. [43] Nobleman contacted her via her MySpace page [43] and encouraged her to contact DC Comics [44] to discuss credit for her grandfather. At first she hesitated, then changed her mind. [45]
In 2008, at which time Nobleman had not yet found a publisher for his Finger manuscript, [46] he started advocating for Finger’s name to be added to the Batman credit line. This effort began on Nobleman’s blog [47] (eventually surpassing 300 posts on Finger) and social media. It later expanded to podcasts including Kevin Smith’s Fatman on Batman , [9] [48] speaking engagements, and other live events including the Paley Center for Media panel in celebration of Batman’s 75th anniversary. [49]
After the manuscript received 34 rejections, [17] Charlesbridge published Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (illustrated by Ty Templeton) in 2012.
Nobleman rallied the public to lobby for a Google Doodle to commemorate Finger’s 100th birthday in 2014. Though a substantial number of comic book fans, celebrities, [50] and media heeded the call, the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful. [51]
In 2015, after negotiating with Athena, [52] [53] DC Entertainment announced that the company would begin crediting Finger alongside Kane in movies including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and TV shows including Gotham . [54] The updated credit also appears in Batman-related comic books, graphic novels, and other print publications. It reads “Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger.” [55] Prior to this, DC had added creator names to characters who were originally uncredited. [56] This was the first time DC amended an existing credit. [57]
In 2017, Hulu released Batman & Bill , a documentary based on Bill the Boy Wonder. With no known footage of Finger in existence, [58] the film tells Finger’s story via Nobleman’s research and efforts to preserve Finger’s legacy. It is the first documentary based on a nonfiction picture book and Hulu’s first original documentary. [59] The film has also aired in countries including Spain, [60] [61] France, [62] Australia, [63] [64] and New Zealand. [65] It has been called “Citizen Kane with a twist” [66] and “probably the most important comic book movie ever made.” [67]
Later that year, as a result of a proposal Nobleman submitted [68] [69] to the office of Ritchie Torres, then a New York City Council member, [70] the Bronx renamed a portion of East 192nd Street “Bill Finger Way.” [55] Though New York City was the birthplace and for decades the center of American superhero comic book publishing, [71] [72] this was the first time New York honored a superhero creator with a street renaming. [73] Nobleman spoke at the sign unveiling ceremony, which drew supporters from as far as Utah. [74] [75]
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.
DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book series first published in 1937.
The Joker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, the character first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman on April 25, 1940. Credit for the Joker's creation is disputed; Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for his design while acknowledging Finger's writing contribution. Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero Batman.
Milton "Bill" Finger was an American comic book writer who was the co-creator of the DC Comics character Batman. Despite making major contributions as an innovative writer, visionary mythos/world builder and illustration architect, Finger was often relegated to ghostwriter status on many comics—including those featuring Batman, and the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott.
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel was an American comic book writer. He is the co-creator of Superman, in collaboration with his friend Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics. They also created Doctor Occult, who was later featured in The Books of Magic. Siegel and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993. With Bernard Baily, Siegel also co-created the long-running DC character The Spectre. Siegel created ten of the earliest members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, one of DC's most popular team books, which is set in the 30th Century. Siegel also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter and Jerry Ess.
Grant Morrison MBE is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narratives, humanist philosophy and countercultural leanings. Morrison has written extensively for the American comic book publisher DC Comics, penning lengthy runs on Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, Action Comics, and Green Lantern as well as the graphic novels Arkham Asylum, JLA: Earth 2, and Wonder Woman: Earth One, the meta-series Seven Soldiers and The Multiversity, the mini-series DC One Million and Final Crisis, both of which served as centrepieces for the eponymous company-wide crossover storylines, and the maxi-series All-Star Superman. Morrison's best known DC work is the seven-year Batman storyline which started in the Batman ongoing series and continued through Final Crisis, Batman and Robin, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne and two volumes of Batman Incorporated. They also co-created the DC character Damian Wayne.
Robert Kane was an American comic book writer, animator and artist who, along with writer Bill Finger, created Batman and most early related characters for DC Comics. He was inducted into the comic book industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993 and into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bat-Mite is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Bat-Mite is an imp similar to the Superman villain Mister Mxyzptlk. Depicted as a small, childlike man in an ill-fitting copy of Batman's costume, Bat-Mite possesses what appear to be near-infinite magical powers which could be considered nigh-omnipotence, but he actually uses highly advanced technology from the fifth dimension that cannot be understood by humans' limited three-dimensional views. Unlike Mxyzptlk, Bat-Mite idolizes his superhero target and thus he has visited Batman on various occasions, often setting up strange and ridiculous events so that he could see his hero in action. Bat-Mite is more of a nuisance than a supervillain, and often departs of his own accord upon realizing that he has angered his idol.
Bruce Walter Timm is an American artist, animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known for contributing to building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, most notably as the head producer behind Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), Batman Beyond (1999–2001), Justice League (2001–2004), and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006).
Whiz Comics is an anthology comic book series that was published by former American comic book publishing company, Fawcett Publications between February 1940 until June 1953. It is widely known for being the comic run in which hugely popular superhero character Captain Marvel (Shazam) made his debut.
Sherrill David "Jerry" Robinson was an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s. He is best known as the co-creator of Robin and the Joker and for his work on behalf of creators' rights.
All Star was an imprint of ongoing American comic book titles published by DC Comics that ran from 2005 to 2008. DC Comics has published two titles under the All Star banner, featuring Superman and Batman, and announced a number of titles featuring other heroes under the imprint that were never released.
Just Imagine... is a comic book line published by DC Comics. It was written by Stan Lee, co-creator of several popular Marvel Comics characters, in which he re-imagined DC superheroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and the Flash.
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman is a 2006 documentary film from executive producers Bryan Singer and Kevin Burns which details the history of the Superman franchise, from comic book, to television, to the big screen. The story of Superman is told through archival footage, as well as interviews with many of the actors, directors, and producers involved with the Superman media over the years. The closing credits feature outtakes from the Christopher Reeve Superman films, including an outtake of Marlon Brando improvising during the recitation of a poem in a scene deleted from the original version of Superman II.
The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s, Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with 1989's Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever, with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of a sequel titled Batman Unchained.
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is a picture book written by Marc Tyler Nobleman and illustrated by Ross MacDonald. It is the first picture book biography of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and is the first ever stand-alone biography of the pair.
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Batman & Bill is an American documentary film that premiered on Hulu on May 6, 2017. Directed, written and produced by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce, the film explores the creation of the Batman, how Bob Kane was accepted as the sole creator, and how Bill Finger was never credited for his work despite creating much of the Batman mythos.
The supervillain Penguin, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58. Since then, he has been adapted into other forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games.
Batman is an American fictional character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, prominently featured in DC Comics. The character made his debut in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939 and has since become an iconic figure in the superhero genre.
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