This is an online obituary dedicated in memory of Jerry Robinson. Jerry Robinson was an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s. He is best known as the creator of the Joker, and for his work on behalf of creators' rights.

Jerry Robinson was a 17-year-old journalism student at Columbia University in 1939 when he was discovered by Batman creator Bob Kane, who hired him to work on that fledgling comic as an inker and letterer. Kane, with writer Bill Finger, had shortly before created the character Batman for National Comics, the future DC Comics. Jerry Robinson rented a room from a family in The Bronx near Kane's family's Grand Concourse apartment, where Kane used his bedroom as an art studio. He started as a letterer and a background inker, shortly graduating to inking secondary figures. Within a year, he became Batman's primary inker, with George Roussos inking backgrounds. Batman quickly became a hit character, and Kane rented space for Jerry Robinson and Roussos in Times Square's Times Tower.

Approximately a year and a half after Jerry Robinson and Finger were hired by Kane, National Comics lured them away, making them company staffers. Jerry Robinson recalled working in the bullpen at the company's 480 Lexington Avenue office, alongside Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, as well as Jack Kirby, Fred Ray, and Mort Meskin, "who was one of my best friends, who[m] I brought up from [comics publisher] MLJ".

By early 1940, Kane and Finger discussed adding a sidekick. Jerry Robinson suggested the name "Robin" after Robin Hood books he had read during boyhood, saying (in a 2005 interview) that he was inspired by one book's N.C. Wyeth illustrations. The new character, orphaned circus performer Dick Grayson, came to live with Bruce Wayne (Batman) as his young ward in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940). Robin would inspire many similar sidekicks throughout the remainder of the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Batman's archnemesis the Joker was introduced around the same time, in Batman #1 (Spring 1940). Though Kane claimed he and writer Bill Finger came up with the idea for the Joker, most comic historians credit Jerry Robinson for the iconic villain, modeled after Conrad Veidt in the 1928 movie, The Man Who Laughs.

Jerry Robinson was also a key force in the creation of Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and the villain Two-Face.

Jerry Robinson died on December 7th, 2011. This is an online memorial dedicated to his life and his work. May he rest in peace.