Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

A couple of 21st-century spy novels

Posted on October 26, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Another post based on my summer reads… Besides science fiction, as always I also spent part of my break reading spy yarns. The last time I wrote about this type of books in the blog I focused on a couple … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Cold War, espionage, John le Carré, Mick Herron, Nick Harkaway, politics, Slough House, Slow Horses | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (24 October 2022)

Posted on October 24, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

This week’s reminder that comics can be awesome is a tribute to my favorite era of Batman comics, between Crisis on Infinite Earths and The New 52 reboot. At first glance, covers at the time might appear increasingly generic about … Continue reading →

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alex Ross, Anthony Tollin, Brian Bolland, covers, Duncan Fegredo, J.H. Williams III, Jae Lee, Jerry Bingham, June Chung, M.D. Bright, Matt Hollingsworth, Michael Lark, Norm Breyfogle | Leave a comment

3 opening splashes by Frank Robbins

Posted on October 19, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Gotham Calling started out as a blog specifically about Batman comics and, every once in a while, I enjoy going back to its origins. So, here is a post about three amazing title splash pages from the 1970s – an … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Frank Robbins, horror, Man-Bat | 1 Comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (17 October 2022)

Posted on October 16, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Just in case you’ve forgotten, here is this week’s reminder that comic book covers can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Battlefields, Billionaire Island, Brian Bolland, Claude Legris, Death Rattle, Frank Miller, Geof Darrow, Hard Boiled, Hellblazer, J.G. Jones, Jennifer Blood, John Cassaday, John Workman, Lee Bermejo, Lukas Ketner, Mike Mayhew, Robert Burger, Ryan Hill, Steve Lieber, Steve Pugh, The Actress and the Bishop, The Fix, Witch Doctor, Y - The Last Man | Leave a comment

If you like The Big Lebowski…

Posted on October 12, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! After the critically acclaimed maturity and sensitivity of Fargo, Joel and Ethan Coen pulled yet another switch by delivering a stoner crime comedy packed with profanity (it was as if … Continue reading →

Posted in IF YOU LIKE THE COEN BROTHERS... | Tagged Big Lebowski, Coen brothers, Fred van Lente, Guiu Vilanova, Janwillem van de Wetering, movies, Murder by Remote Control, noir, Paul Kirchner, politics, Stephen Bissette | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (10 October 2022)

Posted on October 10, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

A criminal reminder that comic book covers can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Al Tyler, Authentic Police Cases, Ben Oda, Bob Jenney, Carl Pfeufer, Charles Biro, Corporate Crime Comics, covers, Crime Does Not Pay, Criminal, Gangsters Can't Win, Greg Irons, Jacob Phillips, Justice Traps the Guilty, Lee Ames, Marvin Stein, Matt Baker, Murder Incorporated, Murderous Gangsters, Racket Squad in Action, Sean Phillips, Underworld Crime | Leave a comment

Just another busy week in the life of Batman

Posted on October 6, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

MONDAY Robin (v4) #9 TUESDAY Detective Comics #649 WEDNESDAY Batman versus Predator #2 THURSDAY Detective Comics #707 FRIDAY Legends of the Dark Knight #110 SATURDAY Batman ’66 meets Steed and Mrs. Peel #3 SUNDAY Batman #614

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (3 October 2022)

Posted on October 2, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

I’ve highlighted the fantastic cover work of Carmine Infantino in the past, namely his beautiful covers for Silver Age Batman and Flash comics. Yet these heroes weren’t the only ones to benefit from Infantino’s extraordinary talent for cover composition… Along … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Adam Strange, All-Star Western, Bob Wiacek, Bomba the Jungle Boy, Boy Commandos, Carmine Infantino, Chuck Cuidera, covers, Curt Swan, Gaspar Saladino, George Roussos, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, Joe Giella, Joe Orlando, John Costanza, Murphy Anderson, Mystery in Space, Star Wars, Strange Adventures, Strange Sports Stories, Sy Barry | Leave a comment

A couple of deservedly acclaimed futuristic novels

Posted on September 28, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Another post about science fiction, but this one looking beyond comic books… Reading old novels set in the future can be fun in different ways. On the one hand, it’s fascinating to see how other eras imagined (accurately or not) … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged books without pictures, espionage, Foundation, Isaac Asimov, Neuromancer, politics, science fiction, Warren Ellis, William Gibson | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (26 September 2022)

Posted on September 26, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

A two-fisted reminder that comic book covers can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Al Williamson, covers, Dave Stewart, Dick Giordano, Doug Braithwaite, Geof Darrow, George Tuska, Grimjack, Howling Commandos, Jack Kirby, John Tartaglione, Jonah Hex, Kid Colt Outlaw, Lady Cop, Mike Kaluta, Nate Piekos, Nick Fury, Norm Breyfogle, Punisher, Ross Andru, Sam Rosen, Sgt. Fury, Shaolin Cowboy, Stan Goldberg, Stan Lee, Tatjana Wood, The Shadow, The Spirit, Timothy Truman, Triona Farrell, Whisper, Will Eisner | Leave a comment