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Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:00

Joker's Birth Anchors Bio of Batman Artist Jerry Robinson

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When he was 17 years old, Jerry Robinson literally got tapped on the shoulder by Batman creator Bob Kane, who asked the skinny, self-taught artist if he wanted to draw comic books. Robinson had caught Kane's attention at a tennis camp in upstate New York by wearing a white jacket covered with his wigged-out illustrations.

Soon thereafter, Robinson drew the cover for Batman No. 1 and became a key contributor to the Dark Knight's narrative DNA.

During his brief but prolific sprint through the DC Comics universe, the New Jersey native visualized sidekick Robin along with uber-villains like the Penguin, the Scarecrow and Two-Face. As chronicled in N.C. Christopher Couch's new book, Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics, the artist's crowning achievement came on a cold winter night in 1939, when he first sketched out The Joker after riffling through a deck of cards. See more of Robinson's striking comic book art in the gallery above.

Above:

Joker Sketch

Robinson reluctantly handed off the first Joker story to writer Bill Finger, who initially killed off the antic evil-doer. Editor Whitney Ellsworth decided the Joker should live, and the rest is supervillain history.

Giveaway: Win a Copy of Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics

Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics, published by Abrams Books, hits bookstores this week and sells for $35. Comment below on your favorite movie portrayal of the Joker — Heath Ledger versus Jack Nicholson versus Cesar Romero — to vie for a free copy of the book. Deadline for entry is 12:01 a.m. Pacific on Sept. 20, 2010. One randomly selected winner will be notified by e-mail.

All images courtesy DC Comics except cover art, courtesy Abrams Books. Follow us on Twitter: @hughhart and @theunderwire.

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Authors: Hugh Hart

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