In the grand scheme of things, none of us can truly escape anonymity. There’s just too much time stacked against these slivers of existence. But in our own moment, we can make ourselves into legends, screaming our heads off about all that we author and compose. In the era of the world wide web and social media, we are each born with a bullhorn in our hands and the innate ability to use it.

Bill Finger was born in a different time. A great behind-the-scenes force in the construction of the foundation and characters that made the Bat-Man capable of standing the test of time, Finger was — by all accounts — un-shrewd in the ways of self-promotion. Bill Finger did little to fight for his place in history beside Bob Kane, Batman’s sole credited creator, but in the time since Finger’s death, many have taken up the cause, including author Marc Tyler Nobleman.

Finger could have used an advocate like Nobleman in his day. Someone driven to action and effort by the stench of injustice that comes off of Finger’s sad tale. But while there is no way to give Finger the recognition and security that Kane had, and seemingly no way to add the name “Bill Finger” to the contractually secured Batman byline, Nobleman is trying to keep Bill Finger on our heads. To do this, Nobleman has dedicated himself to that effort with the book Bill The Boy Wonder, The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, his research, and a campaign to secure a Google Doodle in honor of Finger’s uncredited contribution to Batman.

We had a chance to interview Nobleman about his work, what drives him to educate people about Bill Finger, his view of Bob Kane’s real contribution to Batman, and why this matters 40 years after Finger’s death. Here’s what he had to say: