Who first named Batman 'The Dark Knight'?

wrly_bird · 05 June, 2008, 10:25:53 AM

Hi there.
I need a bit of help with some research. Does anyone know who first coined the term "the Dark Knight"? Was it definitely Frank Miller? Or was Batman referred to as the Dark Knight prior to release of Miller's book in 1986...?

Mike Carroll · 05 June, 2008, 10:56:22 AM

No, it wasn't Frank Miller - the term was used WAY before him.

Hold on while I check through my bookselves!

Mike Carroll · 05 June, 2008, 11:28:53 AM

Rats - I can't find it! I've definitely read this somewhere in the past year, but I've no idea which book it was in, sorry!

wrly_bird · 05 June, 2008, 11:35:44 AM

Cheers, Mike. Thanks for looking. I've been sniffing around the O'Neil/Adams/Giordano era for any mention of a Dark Knight, but can't seem to find one. Figured it might have come from Miller 'cos it's such a perfectly noirish term. Anyway, many thanks.

Scottiepunk · 05 June, 2008, 11:37:12 AM

You've probably already done this, but a quick google give this, not difinitive but maybe a step in the right direction:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/archive/index.php/t-46422.html

03-06-2005, 10:55 PM
The earliest usage of the "Dark Knight" descriptor is in Detective Comics #45 (November 1940). The writer of that story was Bill Finger so he presumably coined the term.

Cei-U!
I summon the research!

gnilleps · 05 June, 2008, 11:42:33 AM

Heh, you beat me to that one, Scottie, but I'll raise you this page that indicates Detective #40!

Not that I can verify either of course...

Link: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/10/26/inaugural-cool-point-scavenger-hunt/" target="_blank">http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/10/26/inaugural-cool-point-scavenger-hunt/

wrly_bird · 05 June, 2008, 11:43:43 AM

SORTED!!! Cheers, Scottiepunk. Missed that one completely. Many many thanks.

wrly_bird · 05 June, 2008, 11:46:34 AM

Thanks to gnilleps, too. Done and dusted. Cheers, lads. My web-fu sucks!

wrly_bird · 05 June, 2008, 11:55:23 AM

To conclude: Batman was first referred to as the 'Dark Knight' by Bill Finger writing in Detective Comics in the year 1940.

Buttonman · 05 June, 2008, 12:22:37 PM

From Detective Comics 40 :

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/?action=view¤t=batman-1.jpg" target="_blank">

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/batman-1.jpg" border="0" alt="bat40">

Mardroid · 05 June, 2008, 12:52:11 PM

Yeah, Dark Knight has pretty much been synonimous with Batman from the start. Much like "Man of steel" for a certain other well known character. Not Iron man.

Richmond Clements · 05 June, 2008, 12:58:57 PM

Is it Steel?

Mardroid · 28 June, 2008, 05:00:13 PM

Quote from: "His Lordship rac"Is it Steel?

2 other characters then.

I quite like Steel, although the film.... not so much.

(Grrr! I keep clicking 'save' instead of 'submit'. I like the new forum, but takes a little getting used to...)

Dark Jimbo · 28 June, 2008, 05:05:34 PM

Quote from: "Chris Mardle"Yeah, Dark Knight has pretty much been synonimous with Batman from the start. Much like "Man of steel" for a certain other well known character. Not Iron man.

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin?

Mardroid · 19 July, 2008, 03:01:25 AM

Quote from: "Dark Jimbo"
Quote from: "Chris Mardle"Yeah, Dark Knight has pretty much been synonimous with Batman from the start. Much like "Man of steel" for a certain other well known character. Not Iron man.

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin?

Heat-seeker!

BLAM!

:lol: