Swiper, No Swiping!! ...Is This a Job for Batman??

Sorry, this isn't really a Dora the Explorer post.

However, swiping is the phrase used in comics when one artist copies another artist's drawing without acknowledging the other person's work. In novels it would be called plagiarism.

It turns out that one historically famous comic book is now suspected of using 'swiped' artwork.

Take a look at this panel from Detective Comics #33, from November of 1939, drawn by Batman creator Bob Kane:



Now take a look at this panel from a Big Little Book called "Gang Busters in Action" from 1938, by illustrator Henry Vallely:



While doesn't look like an exact tracing, it still doesn't look too promising, Bat-fans!

The images above came from a blog devoted to Henry Vallely, and specifically from this post.

The Vallely blog mentions that several other Batman images look suspiciously like pictures from this book, which they plan to post as well.

And as much as I hate to say it....

HOLY BAT-CONSPIRACY, BATMAN!!