CBR: Jerry Robinson: "Ambassador of Comics"

[CBR News]

Jerry Robinson started in comics as a teen, creating The Joker and Robin, and has done just about everything in every aspect of comics. The legendary cartoonist spoke with us about his career and his new biography.


Full article here.

[Bevbos]

That's pretty nuts. I have to admit it; I've never heard of this guy. But his life story sounds fascinating.

[pariah-1972]

Umm Stan Lee is the ambassador of comics he has even called himself this so he needs to step off.

[rick]

Umm Stan Lee is the ambassador of comics he has even called himself this so he needs to step off.

Comics can certainly handle another ambassador, and Robinson certainly is one of the few remaining elder statesmen of the industry.

[pariah-1972]

Comics can certainly handle another ambassador, and Robinson certainly is one of the few remaining elder statesmen of the industry.

This is true but even most comic book fans don't know who he is.

Maybe he should retitle his book to elder statesmen of comics?

[rick]

This is true but even most comic book fans don't know who he is.

Maybe he should retitle his book to elder statesmen of comics?

Most younger fans might have no idea who he is, but I would think that most of us old guys no perfectly well who Robinson is.

[pariah-1972]

Most younger fans might have no idea who he is, but I would think that most of us old guys no perfectly well who Robinson is.

Well i'm almost 40 and i only know of him recently for taking credit for creating Joker.

[Reptisaurus!]

This is true but even most comic book fans don't know who he is.

Any fan with even a passing historical interest in the history of the medium knows who he is.

Which probably excludes "most comic book fans." Which is fine. But for those of us who are working from a historical perspective - He's absolutely earned his title, in a way that Stan Lee hasn't. (IE: He's been around longer, and has a reputation for honesty that Stan... well, doesn't.)

[pariah-1972]

Any fan with even a passing historical interest in the history of the medium knows who he is.

Which probably excludes "most comic book fans." Which is fine. But for those of us who are working from a historical perspective - He's absolutely earned his title, in a way that Stan Lee hasn't. (IE: He's been around longer, and has a reputation for honesty that Stan... well, doesn't.)

Most people don't care about the Golden Age characters except that a few of them are still around.

[Reptisaurus!]

Most people don't care about the Golden Age characters except that a few of them are still around.

Yeah. Also most people are pretty fucking stupid.

[pariah-1972]

Yeah. Also most people are pretty fucking stupid.

Well i'm not sure what that has to do with golden age comics but ok.

[rick]

Well i'm almost 40 and i only know of him recently for taking credit for creating Joker.

Robinson did draw the first two Joker stories and the first story featuring Robin. So there is certainly some compelling evidence to suggest that Robinson is the man who came up with the characters designs.

Also the claim is hardly recent as Robinson has been claiming the Joker as his since at least the early 1960's.

[rick]

Most people don't care about the Golden Age characters except that a few of them are still around.

What does that have to do with either what Robinson created or if Robinson has any right to call himself an "Ambassador" of comics.

[Iangould]

Any fan with even a passing historical interest in the history of the medium knows who he is.

Which probably excludes "most comic book fans." Which is fine. But for those of us who are working from a historical perspective - He's absolutely earned his title, in a way that Stan Lee hasn't. (IE: He's been around longer, and has a reputation for honesty that Stan... well, doesn't.)

If Robinson has been in the industry longer than Stan it's probably onyl by a matter of mothns. Lee started at Timely some time in 1940 or 1941 IIRC - he was working there before Jack Kirby got drafted.

As for honesty, Robinson's claims re. the Riddler and the Joker have been disputed by both Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

In this case as in the various disagreements between Lee and Kirby, I think its more reasonable to assume an honest difference in recollection of events that happened decades earlier than deliberate dishonesty on either side.

[rick]

As for honesty, Robinson's claims re. the Riddler and the Joker have been disputed by both Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Let's be fair though, Kane's word was less than worthless, and Finger died long before any kind of serious career spanning interview could ever be conducted.