NEWS: Jerry Robinson, Creator of The Joker, Has Died at Age 89

Some unfortunate news within the comic industry. Jerry Robinson, the comic artist who is known to most as the man who created Batman's arch-nemesis, The Joker, has just passed away at age 89.

Robinson contributed to the comics industry as an inker and letterer in 1939 when he was discovered by Batman creator, Bob Kane. Though Kane claimed to have came up with The Joker (along with writer Bill Finger), many historians have credited Robinson as the creator. Robinson has also inspired the creation of Batman's sidekick, Robin, the orphaned circus performer named Dick Grayson.

During the mid-1970s, Robinson has also helped Superman creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, win a long legal struggle with DC Comics to obtain full recognition and compensation of their Superman character. He has stood up and fought for a lot artists and writers to keep their creative works, and with all this man has done for the industry, it's really unfortunate to hear that he has gone.

“Everyone who loves comics owes Jerry a debt of gratitude for the rich legacy that he leaves behind.”

-Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher