Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Quino (1932-2020)

Posted on October 1, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

We lost another one of the all-time greatest…

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO AWESOMENESS | Tagged Quino | 1 Comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (28 September 2020)

Posted on September 28, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Since the current POTUS is so fond of the word, here is your reminder that comics can be awesome, The Losers edition:

On John le Carré’s non-Circus novels

Posted on September 24, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Earlier this year, I discussed John le Carré’s Circus novels as the perfect counterpoint to the James Bond branch of spy fiction. Yet there is much more to le Carré’s writing, which has taken this genre into all sorts of … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged books without pictures, Cold War, espionage, John le Carré, Mark Askwith, Matt Taylor, politics, R.G. Taylor | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (21 September 2020)

Posted on September 21, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your panic-stricken reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Artie Simek, Carl Burgos, covers, Dick Ayers, George Klein, Gil Kane, horror, Ira Schnapp, Jack Kirby, Joe Giella, Journey into Mystery, Marvel Tales, Stan Goldberg, Stan Lee, Strange Adventures, Tales to Astonish | Leave a comment

12 cool James Bond covers

Posted on September 17, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

After all the covid-related postponements, it appears we finally have a date for the latest James Bond picture, (now tastelessly) titled No Time to Die. Honestly, I’m in no hurry to see it, since the last couple of movies didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged covers, espionage, James Bond, movies | Leave a comment

Another 50 glass-shattering entrances

Posted on September 14, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Tomorrow is Gotham Calling’s sixth anniversary! It’s also been almost a year since I broadened the blog’s focus beyond Batman comics, so it makes sense to look back at how things have evolved since then… It turned out to be … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Leave a comment

10 noir short stories

Posted on September 10, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Given the ongoing heated discussion over police reform and how to rethink public safety, I guess this is an appropriate occasion to highlight one of my favorite genres: crime fiction. As far as comic books go, although there were precedents, … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Abe Kanegson, Al Feldstein, Alan Moore, Bernie Krigstein, Bill Gaines, Carl Wessler, Cold War, Crime SuspenStories, David Baron, Frank Miller, George Evans, Greyshirt, Jack Kamen, Jack Oleck, Jamison, Jim Wroten, Johnny Craig, Johnny Dynamite, Jules Feiffer, Marie Severin, movies, noir, Pete Morisi, politics, Reed Crandall, Rick Veitch, Shock SuspenStories, Sin City, The Spirit, Todd Klein, Tomorrow Stories, Will Eisner | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (7 September 2020)

Posted on September 7, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your pop art reminder that comics can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged 1963, Bill Everett, covers, Don Simpson, Invisibles, Madman, Mike Allred, Mystery Tales, Rick Veitch, Sean Phillips, Shade the Changing Man, Stan Goldberg | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 6

Posted on September 3, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Night Cries Back in part 3 of this reading guide, I mentioned how 1994’s crossover event Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! retroactively altered the DCU’s past and, thus, served to selectively revise (or fix) certain aspects of Batman’s canon. Rather … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Archie Goodwin, Barbara Gordon, Cliff Richards, Commissioner Gordon, Darwyn Cooke, David Mazzucchelli, Doug Mahnke, Ed Brubaker, Frank Miller, Greg Rucka, horror, Ivory Madison, James Gordon, Jeph Loeb, John Ostrander, Kelley Puckett, Kim Yale, Matt Wagner, noir, reading order, Rick Burchett, Scott Hampton, Tim Sale | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (31 August 2020)

Posted on August 31, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your action-packed reminder that comics can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Action, Action Comics, Carl Burgos, covers, Dave Stewart, Geoff Darrow, Hell's Highway, Hellman, Hook Jaw, Hugh Haynes, Leo E. O'Mealia, Punisher, Rugged Action, Shaolin Cowboy, Stan Goldberg, Terry Austin | Leave a comment