The TOP 13 BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Figures — RANKED
An ANNIVERSARY SALUTE to the ground-breaking TV show…
A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE to Batman’s co-creator — featuring Athena Finger… By JASON CZERNICH Writer Bill Finger was born on this day in 1914 — 112 years ago. You probably know him as the man who, along with Bob Kane, co-created Batman in 1939. For decades, Kane was the only person acknowledged as the inventor of Batman, until Finger officially got his due in 2015. The legend of Bill Finger looms large in the comic book industry and has served as a tragic cautionary tale for other artistic talents in the field. It’s not enough that he should finally receive credit for his role in crafting one of the most enduring fictional characters of our lifetime—we need to remember the man himself and keep his memory alive for future generations. Who better to help 13th Dimension in this endeavor than Athena Finger, the granddaughter of the writer himself? I recently spoke with her on Messenger, and here are 13 ways to honor Bill Finger that we came up with: — 1. Ask People If They Know Who Bill Finger Is. Pretty much anyone in modern society can tell you who Batman is, but what about the writer who helped shape him in his formative years? According to Athena Finger’s website, he was: “An American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, and the co-architect of the series’ development. Although Finger did not receive contemporaneous credit for his hand in the development of Batman, Kane acknowledged Finger’s contributions years after Finger’s death. Finger also wrote many of the original 1940s Green Lantern stories… and contributed to the development of numerous other comic book series.” — 2. Recommend a Bill Finger Story to a Friend, and Keep Asking for Bill’s Stories to be Kept in Print or Made Available Digitally. But there are too many good ones to choose from! How does one decide what to recommend? The first telling of Batman’s origin? A tale from Batman #1? There are plenty to choose from! I recommend starting with Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1, which collects Batman’s early appearances from Detective Comics and the Batman monthly series. — 3. Watch the Documentary Batman & Bill. This 2017 documentary is a great way to get an overview of the...
With some predictions mixed in… We haven’t done one of these in a while, and a lot of what we’ve requested in the past has been released by DC, so here comes 13 DC COMICS FACSIMILE EDITIONS WE’D LIKE TO SEE — 2026 EDITION. In no particular order: — Green Lantern #76. DC announced this one back in 2020 but then it was cancelled when COVID struck. Why the publisher hasn’t rectified that is a mystery, but they have an emerald opportunity when the TV show Lanterns — which is about Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigating a rural mystery — hits later this year. (By Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams, 1970.) — Batman #321. Another one cancelled by COVID, this one also deserves to see the light of day. A 1979 Len Wein-written classic, with art by Walt Simonson and Dick Giordano, and a Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez cover. A natural! — The Flash #135. Yet another cancelled by COVID, this one gives us the first appearance of one of the greatest comics costumes of all time — Kid Flash’s second set of duds, designed by Carmine Infantino. (By John Broome, Infantino, Joe Giella, and an Infantino/Murphy Anderson cover, 1963.) DC had a fourth cancelled by COVID — 1975’s Man-Bat #1, featuring Steve Ditko’s only published Batman work — but it’s not very high on my personal list. — Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk (aka DC Special Series #27). Since we’ve already gotten the two Spider-Man/Superman treasuries, I’d say it’s even money we’ll get this one later in 2026. The 45th anniversary is in September. (By Wein, Garcia-Lopez and Giordano, with contributions from George Perez.) — Marvel and DC Present the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1. I’d wager this is at the top of most comics fans’ lists — especially if DC and Marvel choose to rerelease it in treasury size, as opposed to the original size. (By Chris Claremont, Simonson and Terry Austin, 1982.) — Action Comics #285. Supergirl goes public! Perfect timing for the new movie coming this summer. (By Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, with a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein, 1961.) — The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1. Written by our pal Paul Kupperberg and another fitting release for the Supergirl movie. (Art by Carmine Infantino and Bob Oksner,...
An ANNIVERSARY SALUTE to the ground-breaking TV show…
