The comics community lost another Golden Age great with the passing of Jerry Robinson on Wednesday, December 7th, at 89.  Robinson was discovered in 1939 by Batman creator Bob Kane and is believed to have played a role in the creation of the Joker and Robin.  He inked Bob Kane’s pencils, and also penciled the Batman comics in 1943. He also drew other comics, newspaper strips, and a political satire strip.

Robinson was also known as a staunch defender of creators’ rights, including the battle in the 70s to get Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman, lifetime stipends and creator credits.  

Robinson wrote a number of books on comics, including The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art in 1974.  A new edition was released this year. 

A piece of Robinson cover art, the cover of Detective #67 (first appearance of the Penguin), just sold for $239,000 (see “Death of Phoenix for $65K”). 

Abrams ComicArts released a Robinson biography last year (see “ComicArts’ Fall Releases”).