Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (13 July 2020)

Posted on July 13, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your badass reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Black Science, Black Widow, covers, Elektra, Jeffrey Veregge, Joëlle Jones, Kaare Andrews, Lady Killer, Michelle Madsen, Mike Del Mundo, Ninjak, Phil Noto | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 4

Posted on July 9, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #530 (Yep, I’m still posting about superheroes, even though the latest proto-apocalyptic events seem to have finally pushed the genre out of public consciousness, perhaps suitably.) After the success of 1993-1994’s Knightfall, the different Batman books kept a closely … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Arcie Goodwin, Barry Kitson, Brian Stelfreeze, Chuck Dixon, Cindy Goff, Darren Vincenzo, Dave Taylor, David Roach, Deborah Pomerantz, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Flint Henry, Frank Miller, GCPD, Gene Ha, Gotham City, Graham Nolan, Greg Land, Greg Wright, horror, Howard Porter, J.M. DeMatteis, Jennifer Graves, Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, John Ostrander, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Kelley Jones, Keri Kowalski, Mark Waid, Mary Mitchell, Matt Wagner, Mike Chiarello, Mike Mignola, Mike Wieringo, Paul Gulacy, Peter Krause, politics, reading order, Scott McDaniel, Scott Peterson, Todd McFarlane, Underworld Unleashed, Yancey Labat | 2 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (6 July 2020)

Posted on July 6, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Prompted by the Atomic Age, the 1950s were one of the coolest decades for American science fiction. Ray Bradbury, a key writer in elevating the genre’s cultural status from disposable pulp to respected literature, published The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged covers, Frank Giacoia, Gil Kane, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, movies, Murphy Anderson, science fiction, Strange Adventures | Leave a comment

10 brilliant issues of Astro City – part 2

Posted on July 2, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are another five brilliant issues of Astro City: ‘Where the Action Is’ (Astro City (v2) #21) Another blatantly ‘meta’ issue, albeit with a more satirical bent. ‘Where … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Astro City, Brent Anderson, Cold War, Dan Slott, Graham Nolan, Kurt Busiek, politics, Tom Peyer | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (29 June 2020)

Posted on June 29, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your weekly reminder that comics can be awesome, Alfred Pennyworth edition… …and I just can’t resist adding this mouth-watering pastiche, from the wonderful blog Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues!:

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alex Ross, Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Smith, Brian Bolland, covers, Dick Sprang, Lee Loughridge, Terry Beatty | Leave a comment

10 brilliant issues of Astro City – part 1

Posted on June 25, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

I’ve mentioned before that Astro City is one of the most accomplished superhero comics in recent memory. This anthology series takes place in its own autonomous universe, providing us with fresh ways to look at all the archetypes developed by … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Alex Ross, Alex Sinclair, Astro City, Brent Anderson, Kurt Busiek, Richard Starkings, science fiction, Steve Buccelatto, Wendy Broome | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (22 June 2020)

Posted on June 22, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Readers of this blog know that I am a firm believer that, even in these agitated times, genre fiction remains an interesting way to conceptualize what is happening around us. For instance, if the first half of 2020 filled screens … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Alfredo Elias, Bernard Baily, Bernie Wrightson, Carl Burgos, covers, horror, House of Secrets, Journey into Mystery, Mike Kaluta, movies, politics, Scary Tales, science fiction, Stan Goldberg, Swamp Thing, Weird Mysteries | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 3

Posted on June 18, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Vengeance of Bane We’re back with another installment of the 1990s’ Batman comics reading guide! Sadly, in the meantime this feature has also become a tribute to the recently deceased group editor of these titles, Dennis O’Neil, whose vision was … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Azrael, Batman's personality, Bret Blevins, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Darren Vincenzo, Dave Johnson, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Garth Ennis, Graham Nolan, Jihn Wagner, Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Jo Duffy, Joe Quesada, John McCrea, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Kelley Jones, Kevin Altieri, Kevin O'Neill, Knightfall, Lee Weeks, Mark Bright, Mike Gustovich, Norm Breyfogle, Phil Jimenez, Punisher, reading order, Ron Wagner, Sam Kieth, Scott Peterson, Tom Grummett | 5 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (15 June 2020)

Posted on June 15, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Lately I’ve been using the COMICS CAN BE AWESOME section to spotlight nifty covers, mostly of old, Cold War-era series, from war/horror hybrids to pulpy fantasy anthologies (usually with the words ‘weird,’ ‘strange,’ and/or ‘mystery’ in the title)… I’m not the … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged 1963, Big Bang Comics, Bulletproof Coffin, Chis Ecker, Cold War, covers, Laura Allred, Madman, Mike Allred, Scott Morse, Shaky Kane, Stephen Bissette, Strange Science Fantasy | Leave a comment

Dennis O’Neil (1939-2020)

Posted on June 13, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

One of the greatest figures in comics since the late 1960s, Dennis J. O’Neil (affectionately known as Denny), passed away two days ago. Although he dabbled in all sorts of genres, his specialty as a writer were brazenly pulpy, two-fisted … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Denny O'Neil | Leave a comment