Stan Lee became the king of cameos in different Marvel franchises. For instance, his first appearance was in the Death of the Incredible Hulk television movie in 1990. However, what many people may not know is that Bob Kane predated Stan's cameo craze by almost 40 years. Bob Kane is known as a DC powerhouse who co-created everyone's favorite caped crusader -- the one and only Batman. His first appearance was in Batman (1943) as a newsboy at only 28 years old.
In Batman 1943, the film dives into the Golden Age of Batman comics, which were still fairly new. In fact, Batman had only been in publication for four years when the film was released. During this time in comic history, it was fairly common for newsboys to convey what was happening in comic stories as a reflection of the time before cell phones, computers and more digital platforms we use today. This made a perfect cameo opportunity for Bob Kane as he appeared as the newsboy in the film.
While Batman (1943) is the only film where Bob Kane had a physical cameo, he was referenced in other Batman films throughout his life upon his death in 1998. Forty-six years later in Batman (1989), a blink and you'll miss it reference to Kane is found when viewers are introduced to Alexander Knox of the Gotham Globe. The sketch artist for the Gotham Globe provides Knox with a picture of the Batman used to make fun of him for believing in him. Upon further inspection, the name at the bottom left of the sketch is that of Bob Kane.
In Batman Returns (1992), Bob Kane isn't found in the movie, but his wife, Elizabeth Sanders, is. She plays a brief part in the film as a Gotham resident who says, "He's like a frog that became a prince!" Sure, she's his wife, but he was on the set of the film and wanted her to be a part of it in some way. So, it's an indirect reference to him.
Elizabeth Sanders also got supporting roles in Batman Forever (1995) and Batman and Robin (1997). In both films, she plays Gossip Gerty, a Gotham News correspondent. Fans will also notice that Bob Kane always has a writing credit in every Batman film that gets released because he signed a sole creator contract in the 1930s despite having Bill Finger as co-creator. This means that he will always have a credited cameo as a writer in the films as well.
Most recently, The Batman (2022) has references to characters that Bob Kane created like the twin henchmen at the Iceberg Lounge who are supposed to be lesser-known characters Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Catwoman was also created by Bob Kane and is one of the main characters in the film. Much like other Batman films before it, which pull from his work, Bob Kane also has a writing credit in The Batman, too.
Though Stan Lee is known for being in cameos of his comic creations onscreen, it stands to reason that Bob Kane started the trend. Easter eggs are planted all over Batman films that reference Kane. So, while Lee's cameos may have become more exciting for fans, the nods to Kane throughout the Batman films have proven to be truly iconic.