Hulu film gives credit where credit is overdue

You needn’t be a total comic-book geek to get hooked on “Batman and Bill,” a Hulu film available for streaming beginning today.

Batman? Most people know him, of course.

But only Batman geeks probably know of Bill Finger (and, for many years, few did).

Author Marc Tyler Nobleman heard about Finger, who died in 1974, and wrote “Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret CoCreator of Batman,” which inspired the documentary.

Until just a few years ago, Bob Kane was credited as the sole creator of Batman. Kane had an idea for a character named The Batman, but when he started working on it for National Allied Publications (which became DC Comics), he asked Finger to help him refine the character.

Initially, Kane’s Batman wore a redand-black outfit (with a set of immovable bat wings) and a small eye mask. Finger created the character’s cowl, changed the color scheme to the more nocturnal black and gray, and exchanged the stiff wings for a scalloped flowing cape. He also contributed to the creation of Gotham City, Robin, Commissioner Gordon and the Joker, among other aspects of the franchise launched in 1939.

Nobleman was set on obtaining posthumous credit for Finger, but, given the value of the Batman franchise, no one was rushing to right a long-standing wrong. The best way for Nobleman to win his case would be through an heir, but Finger’s only son, Fred, died in 1992.

No need to spoil the rest of the story, except to say that the film has as many edge-of-your seat moments as a classic DC comic book.

It is beautifully directed by Don Argott and produced by Sheena Joyce.

Late in life, Kane did allow that Finger’s contributions were underplayed. But when Kane died in 1998, Batman was still credited solely to him.