Legendary Batman artist and Comic Book Hall Of Fame inductee Jerry Robinson died 7 December 2011, aged 89.
Best know as the co-creator of the Joker and Robin, the Boy Wonder, alongside writer Bill Finger, Robinson took over regular art duties on Batman in 1943, when creator Bob Kane left to work on the newspaper strips, and worked on the character in a crucial era when much of the now recognisable Batman canon was established.
In later years Robinson became an advocate for creators rights – supporting Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in their battle for the ownership of Superman – and also served as a consultant on 2007’s The Dark Knight.
Eric Powell, creator of successful indie comic The Goon, said, “Sorry to hear about Jerry Robinson. Reminds me how important it is for us to remember the artists who’s shoulders we’re standing on.”
Current Batman writer Scott Snyder commented, “The Joker is the greatest villain of all time. Not just in comics – in everything. All of us who tell stories owe Jerry Robinson a tremendous debt for creating him and for Robin, and many other creations, and his lifelong devotion to the art. My sincere gratitude and sympathies go out to his family.”
