Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Gatekeepers of Gotham - Top 15 Writers of Batman




When it comes to comic book characters, few have attained the universal appeal and popularity of Batman. A popularity so feverish that it transcends beyond his worldwide fans and into the hearts of the very people responsible for creating and enriching his legacy.

In the land of fiction, Batman stands as a crown jewel upon which everyone wishes to make a mark.

Below are the visionary authors that reside within Chas Blankenship's personal pantheon of 15 scribes that have made incredible strides as custodians of the dark knight and his adventures; from comics and novels to films and video games.

For such a dark figure, Batman shines his brightest in the hands and minds of these individuals.

Included along with each writer will be the highlights within their bodies of work and, if applicable, noteworthy creative contributions to the mythology of Batman. A double asteric (**) indicates that the work was a collaborative effort. Without the asterics, the work is the sole creation of the writer:

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15: Jeph Loeb



Work Highlights:

"Batman: The Long Halloween"
"Batman: Dark Victory"
"Batman: Haunted Knight"
"Batman: HUSH"

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14: David Hammond



Work Highlights:

"Patient J" (Story and Screenplay)
"Batman: City of Scars" (Story)
"Batman: Seeds of Arkham" (Story)

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13: Chuck Dixon


Creative Contributions:

Co-Creator of Bane

Work Highlights:

**"Batman: Knightfall"
**"Batman: Knightsend"
**"Batman: Contagion"
**"Batman: Legacy"

**"Batman: No Man's Land"

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12: Doug Moench


Creative Contributions:

Creator of Roman Sionis/Black Mask

Work Highlights:

"Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat"
"Batman & Dracula: Red Rain"
"Batman: Crimson Mist"
"Batman: Hong Kong"
"Batman: Prey"
"Batman: Cataclysm"

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11: Alan Grant


Creative Contributions:

Creator of Anarky, Victor Zsasz, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham and Aaron Helzinger/Amygdala

Work Highlights:

"Batman: The Last Arkham"
"Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment in Gotham"
**"Batman: Knightfall"

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10: Frank Miller


Work Highlights:

"The Dark Knight Returns"
"Batman: Year One"

"The Dark Knight Strikes Again"
"All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder"

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9: Ed Brubaker


Work Highlights:

**"Gotham Central"
**"Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"
**"Batman: War Games"
"Batman: Gotham Noir"
"Batman: The Man Who Laughs"

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8: David S. Goyer


Work Highlights:

"Batman Begins" (Story and Screenplay)
"The Dark Knight" (Story)

"The Dark Knight Rises" (Story)

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7: Steve Englehart


Creative Contributions:

Creator of Silver St' Cloud

Work Highlights:

"Batman: Strange Apparitions"
"BATMAN" (1989) (Story Developer)

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6: Grant Morrison


Work Highlights:

"Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth"
"Batman: Gothic"
"Batman & Son"
"Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul"
"Batman R.I.P."
**"Batman & Robin" (Ongoing Series)
**"Batman Incorporated"

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5: Greg Rucka


Creative Contributions:

Creator of Post-Crisis Batwoman

Work Highlights:

**"Gotham Central"
**"Batman: No Man's Land"
"Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood"
"Batman: Death and the Maidens"
"Batman: No Man's Land" (Novelization)
"Batman: Gotham Knight" - "Crossfire" (Story and Screenplay)

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4: Bill Finger


Creative Contributions:
 
Co-Creator of Batman

Co-Creator of Robin, Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon, Vicki Vale, The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, The Penguin, Two-Face, The Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter, Clayface, Hugo Strange, Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Creator of "Bruce Wayne," "Gotham City," "Batmobile," "Batcave."

Work Highlights:

"The Case of the Chemical Syndicate"
Early Batman Stories/Villain Origins (Various)


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3: Alan Moore


Creative Contributions:

Co-Creator of Oracle (following events in "The Killing Joke")

Work Highlights:

"Batman: The Killing Joke"

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2: Paul Dini


Creative Contributions:

Creator of Harley Quinn

Work Highlights:

"Batman: The Animated Series" (Various episodes)
"Batman Beyond" (various episodes)
"Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" (Story and Screenplay)
"Batman: Mad Love"
"Batman: War On Crime"
"Batman: Streets of Gotham"
"Gotham City Sirens"

"Batman: Arkham Asylum" (Video Game)
"Batman: Arkham City" (Video Game)

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1: Dennis O'Neil



Creative Contributions:

Creator of Ra's Al Ghul, Talia Al Ghul, Leslie Thompkins and Azrael

Work Highlights:

"Batman: Birth of the Demon"
"The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!"
"There Is No Hope In Crime Alley"
"Batman: Sword of Azrael"
"Batman: Knightfall" (Novelization)
"Batman Begins" (Novelization)

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