Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

A couple of vintage spy novels

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

I’ve written extensively about John le Carré in this blog, but today I want to go further back into the roots of spy literature. Here are a couple of very different novels by a couple of very different writers who … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, books without pictures, Cold War, espionage, politics | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (9 May 2022)

Posted on May 9, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Comics and cinema seem more intertwined than ever. Even setting aside the countless film adaptations of superhero franchises, the coolest movies in recent times have evoked many of the magical features of comic books. Thematically, last year’s The Worst Person … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Al Feldstein, Alarming Tales, Ben Oda, Black Magic, Bob Brown, Bob Powell, Charles Voight, covers, Crime Patrol, Danny Crespi, Frank Brunner, Gang Busters, Gil Kane, Headline Comics, Howard the Duck, Ira Schnapp, Joe Giella, Joe Rosen, Joe Simon, John Romita, John Severin, Johnny Craig, movies, Paul Reinman, Steve Gerber, Tales from the Crypt, Thrill-O-Rama, Tony Mortellaro, Vault of Evil, Western Comics | Leave a comment

Neal Adams’ realistic surrealism

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

In the third installment of this week’s tribute to Neal Adams’ comic book covers, let’s look at instances where the late artist combined his signature realistic style with a more conceptual approach, including occasional ventures into surrealism. You can see … Continue reading →

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged covers, Deadman, Fantastic Four, Flash, Gaspar Saladino, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, House of Secrets, Jack Adler, Laura Martin, Neal Adams, Star*Reach, Strange Adventures, Superboy, Tom Orzechowski, Unexpected | Leave a comment

Neal Adams’ atmospheric horror covers

Posted on May 4, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Like I mentioned in the last post, this week is devoted to the late Neal Adams’ uncanny skills as a cover artist. Today I want to highlight his knack for moody horror. As you can see below, Neal Adams liked … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Challengers of the Unknown, Cory Adams, covers, Gaspar Saladino, horror, House of Mystery, House of Secrets, Jack Adler, Neal Adams, Phantom Stranger, Witching Hour | Leave a comment

Neal Adams (1941-2022)

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

Neal Adams died last week. Years ago, I wrote briefly about his gothic artwork and his sensationalist Batman covers, but I can’t really overestimate Adams’ importance: he was arguably the greatest and the most influential artist in the history of … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged All-Star Western, Challengers of the Unknown, covers, El Diablo, Flash, From Beyond the Unknown, Gaspar Saladino, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hot Wheels, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, Neal Adams, Superboy, Superman, Tomahawk | Leave a comment

If you like Barton Fink…

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

By 1991, Joel and Ethan Coen had done three very different pictures, but they all shared some connection to crime fiction, not to mention a fondness for labyrinthic plotting. With their next project, though, the Coen brothers truly defied everybody’s … Continue reading →

Posted in IF YOU LIKE THE COEN BROTHERS... | Tagged A Small Killing, Alan Moore, Coen brothers, Cold War, Dave McKean, Duncan Fegredo, Grant Morrison, horror, Jon J. Muth, Kyle Baker, movies, Neil Gaiman, Oscar Zarate, Peter Milligan, politics, World War II | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (25 April 2022)

Posted on April 25, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Your reminder that comic book covers can be awesome, Batwoman edition:

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batwoman, covers, Dan Panosian, Ira Schnapp, J.G. Jones, J.H. Williams III, Lee Bermejo, Michael Cho, Sheldon Moldoff | Leave a comment

Catching up with crime comics – part 2

Posted on April 20, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Welcome to another round of quick impressions about recent crime comics! If your definition of crime fiction accommodates horror-like gore and sadism, then these are exciting times, as serial killers remain a very popular trope (although by now everyone uses … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Andrea Mutti, B. Clay Moore, Daniel Hillyard, Dave Stewart, Doug Wagner, Ed Piskor, Elliott Kalan, horror, Laura Martin, Rubine, Stephen Molnar, Terry Moore, Tyler Boss | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (18 April 2022)

Posted on April 18, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

A sci-fi reminder that comic book covers can be awesome:

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE FUTURE | Tagged 2000 AD, Al Williamson, Bill Molno, Black Science, covers, Descender, Dustin Nguyen, Flash Gordon, Gene Fawcette, Gil Kane, Incredible Science Fiction, Johnny Bruck, Marie Severin, Massimo Belardinelli, Matt Hollingsworth, Mike McGhee, Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds, Out of This World, science fiction, Sean Murphy, Space Riders, Strange Adventures, Vince Alascia, Wally Wood, Weird Worlds | Leave a comment

On Blackgate Penitentiary

Posted on April 14, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Prison stories are basically their own genre, what with the dangerous, claustrophobic environment, the parallel rules of life in a world of outlaws, full of both comradery and suspicion, and the occasional trope of elaborate escape plots (which are kind … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Bane, Blackgate, Brian Azzarello, Chuck Dixon, David Roach, Doug Moench, Ed Brubaker, Eduardo Barreto, Frank Robbins, Gotham City, Graham Nolan, Greg Rucka, James A. Hodgkins, Jim Aparo, Joe Staton, John Kalisz, John Ostrander, Karl Story, Pat Garrahy, Peter Tomasi, Scot Eaton, Scott McDaniel, Steve Gerber, Tim Sale | 3 Comments