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.
Creators of Batman Bob Kane — concept, creator and artist. Co-created several secondary characters including junior partner/protege Dick Grayson/Robin, Alfred Pennyworth (as Alfred Beagle), Jim Gordon, the Joker, Selina Kyle/Catwoman, the Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze (as Mr. Zero), Scarecrow, Basil Karlo/Clayface, Mad Hatter, Hugo Strange, Deadshot, Cavalier, The Monk, gangsters Sal Maroni, Tony Zucco, and Joe Chill, photographer Vicki Vale, Julie Madison, Bette Kane/Bat-Girl, Bat-Mite, Dick Grayson's parents Mary and John Grayson, and Bruce Wayne's parents Martha and Thomas Wayne. Bill Finger — co-creator and developer (uncredited from 1939 to 2015, credited 2016–present), also a writer. Also co-created several secondary characters including Dick Grayson/Robin, Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon, the Joker, Selina Kyle/Catwoman, the Riddler, the Penguin, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Calendar Man, Basil Karlo/Clayface and Matt Hagen/Clayface, Mad Hatter, mad scientists Hugo Strange and Professor Achilles Milo, Killer Moth, gangsters Sal Maroni, Tony Zucco, and Joe Chill, Vicki Vale, Ace the Bat-Hound, Bat-Mite, Bette Kane/Bat-Girl, Thomas Blake/Catman, Dick Grayson's parents Mary and John Grayson, and Bruce Wayne's parents Martha and Thomas Wayne.
Notable contributors This is an incomplete list.
Writers & artists The following list is of people who have both written and drawn Batman comics. Name/tenureNotable stories/titlesNotable characters (co-) created byNotes Frank Miller Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) Batman: Year One (1987) Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001–2002) All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder (2005–2008) The Dark Knight III: The Master Race (2015–2017) Gillian B. Loeb Arnold Flass Carmine Falcone Holly Robinson Carrie KelleyHe 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 Man-Bat Francine Langstrom/She-BatA 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 Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2003) Batman and the Monster Men (2006) Batman and the Mad Monk (2006–2007)
Writers only Name/tenureNotable stories/titlesNotable characters (co-) created byNotes Mike W. Barr 1974-2014 Batman #327, 329, 331, 334, 353, Annual #8-9, Special #1 (1980-1985) Batman and the Outsiders #1-32, Annual #1-2 (1983-1986) Batman: Year Two (1987) Batman: Son of the Demon (1987) Batman: Bride of the Demon (1991) Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty (1998) Batman: Full Circle #1 (1991) Batman: Gotham Knights #25 (Batman Black and White) (2002) Batman: In Darkest Knight #1 (1994) Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #21-23 (1991) Batman: Two-Face Strikes Twice #1-2 (1993) Batman: Reign of Terror #1 (1999) Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Outsiders #1 (2010) Beware the Batman #5 (2014) Looker Halo Sondra Fuller/Lady Clay Windfall Geo-Force Preston Payne/Clayface Damian Wayne Wrath Katana ReaperWhilst 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- Detective Comics Catwoman Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998) Batman Gotham Noir (2001) Batman: Turning Points (2001) Bruce Wayne: Fugitive (2002) Gotham Central (2002–2005) Batman: The Man Who Laughs (2005) Harlan Combs/Firebug Crime Scene Unit officer Jim Corrigan (2000s version) Todd Russell/ClayfaceCo-created the majority of the police officers and detectives featured in Gotham Central. Donald Clough Cameron "Here Comes Alfred!" - Batman #16(April–May 1943) Alfred Pennyworth (as Alfred Beagle) Tweedledum and Tweedledee Cavalier Gerry Conway1980-1983 Batman Detective Comics Killer Croc Jason Todd Hamilton Hill Black Spider (Eric Needham) Paul Dini 1997–present Batman: Mr. Freeze (1997) Batman: Harley Quinn (1999) Batman: War On Crime (1999) No Man's Land (1999–2000) Batman: Detective (2007) Detective Comics #846-850: "Batman: Heart of Hush" (2009) Batman: Streets of Gotham: "Hush Money" (2009), "Leviathan" (2010), "The House of Hush" (2011) Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul (2007) Lock-Up Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze) Nora Fries Batman (Terry McGinnis) Peyton Riley/Ventriloquist Harley Quinn Whilst not writing comics till 2006, he did write for other Batman mediums before that time. Created the update to Mr. Freeze's backstory. Chuck Dixon Birds of Prey Detective Comics Nightwing Robin Batman: Knightfall (1993–1994) Batman: Contagion (1996) Batman: GCPD (1996) Batman: Legacy (1996) Batman and Wildcat (1997) Batman: No Man's Land (1999–2000) Joker: Last Laugh (2001–2002) General Bane Birds of Prey Stephanie Brown Lester Buchinsky/Electrocutioner King Snake Gearhead Double Dare Lady Vic Owlman Torque Trigger Twins (Thomas and Thaddeus Trigger) Co-created Nightwing's new home of Blüdhaven with Scott McDaniel. Created or co-created some of Nightwing's rogues gallery. Steve Englehart 1974-2006 Detective Comics #439 - "Night of the Stalker" Batman: Strange Apparitions (1977–1978) Batman: Dark Detective Batman: Dark Detective II Rupert Thorne Doctor Phosphorus Silver St. Cloud Gardner Fox 1939-1968 Detective Comics Martha Wayne Thomas Wayne Barbara Gordon/Batgirl Julie Madison Blockbuster Cluemaster Doctor Death Monk Owlman Helped script Batman's origin story with Bob Kane, Bill Finger & Jerry Robinson. The creator of the Batarang and co-creator of (proto-) Batplane with Sheldon Moldoff. Neil Gaiman Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (2009) Alan Grant Anarky Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham (1991) Batman: The Last Arkham (1992–2000) Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) Batman: Knightfall (1993–1994) Batman: Anarky (1999) Arnold Wesker/Ventriloquist Otis Flannegan/Ratcatcher Cornelius Stirk Anarky Victor Zsasz Jeremiah Arkham Harold Allnut Amygdala Devin K. Grayson Nightwing Catwoman Batman: Gotham Knights No Man's Land (1993–1994) Tarantula Robert Kanigher Poison Ivy Tom King Nightwing (volume 3) #30 Grayson Robin War Batman: Rebirth Batman (volume 3) Jeph Loeb Batman: The Long Halloween (1996–1997) Batman: Dark Victory (1999–2000) Batman: Hush (2002–2003) Batman/The Spirit (2007) Hush Alberto Falcone Sofia Falcone Doug Moench Batman: Prey (1990–1991) Batman & Dracula trilogy (1991–1998) Batman: Knightfall (1993–1994) Bane Black Mask Black Spider (Johnny LaMonica) Cassius Payne/Clayface Film Freak Natalia Knight/Nocturna Grant Morrison Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989) Batman: Gothic (1990) Batman and Son (2006) Batman R.I.P. (2008) Batman and Robin (2009-2011) Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (2010) Batman Incorporated (2011-2013) Damian Wayne Azrael (Michael Lane) Amadeus Arkham Prometheus Professor Pyg Alan Moore Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) Dennis O'Neil League of Assassins Ra's al Ghul Talia al Ghul Ubu Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) Lady Shiva Leslie Thompkins Maxie ZeusAs 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 Reed1950-1956, 1975 "Ride, Bat-Hombre, Ride" "The Birth of Batplane II" "The Joker's Millions" "Two-Face Strikes Again" "The Joker's Utility Belt" "The Daily Death of Terry Tremayne" "The Underworld Olympics '76!" "Where Were You on the Night Batman Was Killed?" Deadshot Greg Rucka No Man's Land Gotham Central Crispus Allen Jim Corrigan (2000's version) Nyssa Raatko Dan Slott Arkham Asylum: Living Hell (2003) Warren White/Great White Shark Aaron Cash Scott Snyder Detective Comics (volume 1) #871–881 Batman: Gates of Gotham #1–5 Batman (volume 2) Talon #0–7 Batman Eternal Batman and Robin Eternal Batman: Rebirth All-Star Batman Absolute Batman Court of Owls The Batman Who LaughsCourt of Owls was co-created with artist Greg Capullo. Jim Starlin Batman: Ten Nights of The Beast (1988) Batman: The Cult (1988) Batman: A Death in the Family (1988–1989) KGBeast Deacon Blackfire Peter Tomasi Outsiders, vol. 3, #26-27, "Tick Tock" (with Will Conrad, July–August 2005) Nightwing, vol. 2, #140-153 (January 2008-February 2009) Batman and Robin, vol. 1, #20-22 (February–April 2011) Batman and Robin, vol. 2, #1-40, 23.1, Annual #1-2 (September 2011-March 2015) Batman, vol. 2, #23.4: Bane, "Dark Destiny" (with Graham Nolan, September 2013) Detective Comics, vol. 2, #23.3, 27, 45–46, 48-52 Batman/Superman, #31-32 (with Doug Mahnke, April–May 2016) Super Sons #1-16 Detective Comics, vol. 1, #994-1033, Annual 2-3James Tynion IV Batman, vol. 2, #8-16, 18–25, 28, 35–39, 49, 52, 0 Talon #0-14 Batman Annual, vol. 2, #4 Red Hood and the Outlaws #19-28 Batman Eternal Batman and Robin Eternal Detective Comics #934-981, 1000, 1027, Annual #1 Batman, vol. 3, #86-117 John Wagner Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) Ratcatcher Len Wein Lucius Fox Anthony Lupus Preston Payne/Clayface Joe Rigger/FirebugWas also editor-in-chief of DC Comics during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Judd Winick Batman: Under the Hood (2005–2006) Jason Todd/Red HoodCreated 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 Tim Drake Deathstroke Arnold Etchison/Abattoir David Wood Mr. Freeze (as Mr. Zero) Worked as an uncredited "Ghost" writer during the Golden, Silver and Bronze Age.
Artists only Name/tenureNotable stories/titlesNotable characters (co-) created byNotes Neal Adams1968-2012 Batman (volume 1) #219, 232, 234, 237, 243–245, 251, 255 (1970–74) Brave and the Bold #79-86, 93 (1968–71); #102 Detective Comics #369; 395, 397, 400, 402, 404, 407, 408, 410 (1967–71) Batman Odyssey, #1-6 (2010–11) Batman Odyssey, vol. 2, #1-7 (2011–12)
Covers only Batman #200, 203, 217–218, 220–227, 229–231, 235–236, 238-241 (1968–72), Annual #14 (1990) Detective Comics #372, 385, 389, 391–392, 394, 396, 398–399, 401, 403, 405–406, 409, 411–422, 439 (1968–74) All-Star Batman and Robin #8-9 (variant) (2008) Ra's al Ghul Man-Bat Francine Langstrom/She-BatKnown for drawing the definitive 1970s visual interpretation that returned Batman to his gothic roots. Jim Aparo The Brave and the Bold Batman: A Death in the Family (1988–1989) KGBeast Katana Brian Bolland Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) Bob Brown Talia al Ghul Norm Breyfogle Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) Anarky Victor Zsasz Jeremiah Arkham Amygdala Ernie Chan1975-1977 Black Spider (Eric Needham) Dick Giordano Talia al Ghul Leslie Thompkins Carmine Infantino Barbara Gordon/Batgirl Blockbuster CluemasterPenciller and primary artist of the 1964 "New Look" Batman. Kelley Jones 1995-2010 Batman #515-519, 521–525, 527–532, 535-552 (1995-1998) Batman & Dracula: Red Rain (1991) Batman: Dark Joker – The Wild (1993) Batman: Bloodstorm HC (1994) Batman: Crimson Mist HC (1999) Batman: Haunted Gotham #1-4 (2000) Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1-12 (2008–2009) Batman Annual #27 (2009) Batman: Unseen #1-5 (2009-2010) Black Spider (Johnny LaMonica) Cassius Payne/ClayfaceArtist best known for his runs on Batman with writer Doug Moench. Jim Lee Batman: Gotham Knights (Batman Black and White) #1 (2000)