'Batman' artist Lew Sayre Schwartz dies, aged 84

Batman illustrator Lew Sayre Schwartz has died at the age of 84.

The artist, who drew more than 120 titles featuring the Caped Crusader, passed away earlier this month as a result of injuries sustained in a fall.

Schwartz served as a ghost artist to Bob Kane on DC's Batman and Detective Comics between 1948 and 1953. He went on to a successful career in advertising, co-founding the commercial production company Ferro, Mogubgub and Schwartz.

"I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Schwartz along with the other two surviving Kane ghosts [Sheldon Moldoff and Jerry Robinson] at the 2009 Comic-Con," wrote comic writer and commentator Mark Evanier on his website News From Me.

"He was a delightful gentleman and there was an odd sensation of 'bonding' among our panellists as they shared tales of their days with Mr Kane. It was also fun to watch so many people tell Lew that he'd drawn their all-time favourite Batman stories. He certainly drew a lot of mine."

As Schwartz worked anonymously for DC Comics, all of his Batman illustrations bear the signature 'Bob Kane'.

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