Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Frank Miller’s symbolic Superman

Posted on February 8, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Although Frank Miller is best known for his world-shattering – and controversial – takes on Batman since the 1980s, he has been doing comics about Superman for just as long… and his approach to the Man of Steel is actually … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF SUPERMAN COMICS | Tagged Brian Azzarello, Cold War, Frank Miller, Fred van Lente, politics, Ryan Dunlavey | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (5 February 2024)

Posted on February 5, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

A February reminder that comic book covers can be awesome, Captain edition:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Alan Davis, Bob McLeod, Bob Smith, C.C. Beck, Captain Action, Captain America, Captain Atom, Captain Britain, Captain Canuck, Captain Carrot, Captain Carter, Captain Marvel, Captain Science, covers, Excalibur, Gaspar Saladino, George Freeman, Irv Novick, Jamie McKelvie, Joe Orlando, Mike Zeck, Pat Broderick, Paul Neary, Scott Shaw, Shaky Kane, Todd Klein, Wally Wood | Leave a comment

Gotham Calling’s 120 Cold War movies – part 11

Posted on February 1, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

We are now entering the final stage of Gotham Calling’s mega-list of Cold War cinema… and we are firmly in Reaganite territory, including an obsession with foreign intervention along with a vigorous resurgence of nuclear panic. 101. Threads (UK, 1984) … Continue reading →

Posted in COLD WAR CINEMA | Tagged Cold War, espionage, horror, movies, politics, science fiction, Vietnam | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (29 January 2024)

Posted on January 29, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

One of the greatest additions to Batman comics in the 21st century was the introduction of Bruce Wayne’s hyper-arrogant, borderline psychopath son, who went on the become a particularly offbeat version of Robin. In fact, as flawed and uneven as … Continue reading →

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alé Garza, Alex Sinclair, covers, Damian Wayne, Dustin Nguyen, Frank Quitely, Gene Ha, Grant Morrison, Guillem March, John Kalisz, Mick Gray, Oliver Nome, Patrick Gleason, Peter Doherty, Rian Hughes, Robin | Leave a comment

Spotlight on Slam Bradley

Posted on January 25, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

The Dark Knight isn’t the only detective in Batman comics. In fact, having finally read last year’s six-part mini-series Gotham City: Year One, my mind has been on the astounding significance gained by one of the oldest detectives around: Slam … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adam Hughes, Clayton Cowles, Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, Eric Gapstur, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Howard Sherman, Jerry Siege, Jim Aparo, Joe Shuster, Jordie Bellaire, Len Wein, Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Mike W. Barr, noir, Paul Gulacy, Phil Hester, politics, Scott Snyder, Slam Bradley, Tom King | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (22 January 2024)

Posted on January 22, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

This is what the inside of my head looks like:

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged 2000 AD, Amazing Mystery Funnies, Amazing-Man Comics, Anthony Tollin, Blackhawk, Catman, covers, Dan Zolnerowich, DNAgents, Gaspar Saladino, Gordon Purcell, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, Keith Giffen, L.B. Cole, Larry Mahlstedt, Legion of Super-Heroes, Mad-Dog, Massimo Belardinelli, Neal Adams, Paul Gustavson, Prize Comics, Ray McCarthy, Russ Heath, Sea Devils, Superboy, Terry Gilkison, Will Meugniot, Willie Blyberg | Leave a comment

Gotham Calling’s 120 Cold War movies – part 10

Posted on January 18, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

The previous post in Gotham Calling’s tour of Cold War cinema had plenty of films about the conflict’s expansion to the Third World. Today’s installment extends the same motif, but it also gradually engages with one of the consequences of … Continue reading →

Posted in COLD WAR CINEMA | Tagged Cold War, movies, politics, science fiction, Vietnam | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (15 January 2024)

Posted on January 15, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Don’t you just love close-ups?

Posted in HEADSHOTS | Tagged Brad Anderson, Catwoman, covers, Danny Miki, Deadpool, Edgar Delgado, Glenn Fabry, Jason Fabok, Jenny Frison, Joëlle Jones, Karl Story, Kiko Taganashi, Laura Allred, Nathan Massengill, Nightwing, Patrick Martin, Pete Woods, Preacher, Punisher, Red Sonja, Rob Liefeld, Rodolfo Migliari, Rogue, Sam Kieth, Scott McDaniel, Three Jokers, Venom, Wieslaw Walkuski, Youngblood | Leave a comment

Ty Templeton’s playful Batman

Posted on January 11, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Last month/year, I addressed how Ty Templeton wrote what I consider to be a quintessential take on Batman comics. Today, I want to focus on a specific aspect of Templeton’s scripts, namely their sense of humor. Harley Quinn and Batman … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Howard the Duck, Marie Severin, Plastic Man, Rick Burchett, Ty Templeton | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (8 January 2024)

Posted on January 8, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

This year’s second reminder that comic book covers can be awesome…

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Al Feldstein, Baffling Mysteries, covers, Dick Giordano, Doomsday + 1, Harry Anderson, Headline Comics, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, Joe Maneely, John Byrne, Louis Zansky, Marvel Tales, Murphy Anderson, Mystery in Space, Mystery Tales, Richard Corben, Space War, Stan Goldberg, Strange Adventures, Tales from the Crypt, Twisted Tales | Leave a comment