From the E-Mailbag…

In the last few days, I've received a couple of versions of this question. This version is from Matthew Wecksell…

In light of your blog's coverage of Bill Finger's lack of credit for Batman, what does newsfromme think about the advertisements and posters for the new Star Wars not crediting George Lucas? There is no "Based on characters created by…" Or "Based on Star Wars created by" to be seen.

Perhaps the film itself will have a credit. Perhaps a billion dollars means you no longer need to get an on-screen credit.

Well, I only met Bill Finger for about five minutes but I have a feeling he would gladly have accepted a billion dollars or a fraction of that in lieu of a proper credit. As it happened, he got neither. Mr. Lucas received both. If he's being overlooked on the posters and ads — and has he indicated that he cares? — that would be a function of him not negotiating that credit when he sold his property.

I don't see the two situations as remotely similar. Lucas got his credit on the films and became world famous. Does anyone not know George Lucas is the man who gave us Star Wars? His name was on the movies, whereas I don't believe Bill Finger ever saw his name on a Batman comic book he authored.

The difference? Lucas negotiated to sell his rights from a position of strength (with lawyers and advisors aplenty, no doubt) in a mature industry. Finger didn't have the chance to negotiate. He was swept into an industry — take it or leave it — that then didn't treat most of its creators that well. I'm real, real happy to see Finger now receiving credit and I assume/hope his granddaughter is receving a little of the money he should have earned in his lifetime.

As for George Lucas, I know I've quoted my Uncle Aaron before here on situations like this. He once said, "Never feel sorry for anyone who makes more than a million dollars a year."

On a related topic, people keep asking me if I've seen the new Star Wars film yet and if so, what did I think of it. I think I haven't seen it and that there's no rush to go and stand in line for eleven hours because when I do get around to seeing it, it will be the exact same film and I'll probably get a better seat then.