Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

A couple of old-school detective novels

Posted on June 11, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Because I also like books without pictures, this week let’s switch gears for a bit and look at a couple of very cool non-comics detective novels: THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS (Eric Ambler, 1939) “A Frenchman named Chamfort, who should have … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged books without pictures, Eric Ambler, espionage, noir, politics, Ross MacDonald | 1 Comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (8 June 2020)

Posted on June 8, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

One of the reasons this section of the blog went weekly a couple of months ago was as a way to encourage those who could to stay at home in order to help contain the covid-19 pandemic. Now is the … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Artie Simek, Bill Everett, covers, Creepy Worlds, Dick Ayers, Gil Kane, horror, Ira Schnapp, Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert, Mike Esposito, politics, Ross Andru, Stan Goldberg, Stan Lee, Star Spangled War Stories, Steve Ditko, Strange Adventures, Tales of Suspense, Tales to Astonish | 2 Comments

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 2

Posted on June 4, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #440 As promised a couple of weeks ago, here is the second installment of my recommended reading order for the various Gotham City-based comics of the 1990s, which tended to play particularly well off each other. What follows is … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Anton Furst, Batman's personality, Cam Kennedy, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Dave Gibbons, Denny O'Neil, Denys Cowan, Doug Moench, Dwayne McDuffie, Elaine Lee, Flint Henry, Gabriel Morrissette, Jim Aparo, Jim Fern, John Ostrander, John Wagner, Keith Giffen, Kelley Puckett, Louise Simonson, Luke McDonnell, Marv Wolfman, Matt Wagner, Mike Baron, Mike Grell, Mike McKone, Mike W. Barr, Norm Breyfogle, Pat Broderick, Peter Milligan, reading order, Rich Hedden, Steve Rude, Tim Drake, Tom Grindberg, Tom Lyle, Val Semeiks | 8 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (1 June 2020)

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

Among the outrage and chaos, your heart-pumping reminder that comics can be awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Al Williamson, Any Kubert, Bill Everett, Chris Samnee, covers, Creepy, Doc Savage, Frank Frazetta, Jordie Bellaire, Journey into Unknown Worlds, Ken Kelly, Mike Royer, Neal Adams, Rocketeer, Stan Goldberg, Weird Fantasy | Leave a comment

Two-fisted fantasy comics

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

Lately I’ve been writing mostly about sci-fi for this section of the blog, so I think it’s time to shift our attention to another great adventure genre: fantasy. Fantasy is one of those umbrella genres that covers a massive spectrum … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Grant, Alfonso Azpiri, Archer & Armstrong, Archie Goodwin, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bernie Wrightson, Black Hawk, Clayton Henry, Cold War, Conan, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Eliot Rahal, Emanuela Lupacchino, Fred van Lente, Gerry Conway, Gerry Finley-Day, Gil Kane, Jim Starlin, Jody Houser, John Buscema, John Jakes, John Romita, Ka-Zar, Kelvin Gosnell, Khari Evans, Len Wein, Mark Waid, Massimo Belardinelli, Pere Pérez, politics, Roy Thomas, Russ Heath, Savage Tales, science fiction, Stan Lee, Steve Gan, sword & sorcery | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (25 May 2020)

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

Your weekly reminder that comics can be awesome, Weird Mystery Tales edition…

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged covers, Ernie Chan, horror, Howard Purcell, Luis Dominguez, Weird Mystery Tales | 2 Comments

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 1

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

Legends of the Dark Knight #69 I’ve mentioned plenty of times in this blog how one of my favorite eras of Batman comics took place in the 1990s when, under the group editorship of Dennis O’Neil, the various titles in … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Alan Moore, Andrew Helfer, Archie Goodwin, Arthur Ranson, Batman's personality, Brian Bolland, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Darwyn Cooke, Dave McKean, David Mazzucchelli, Denny O'Neil, Denys Cowan, Doug Moench, Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, horror, J.J. Birch, James Owsley, Jeph Loeb, Jim Aparo, Jim Starlin, Joe Staton, Joey Cavalieri, John Byrne, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Luke McDonnell, Mark Pacella, Mike Hoffman, Mike Mignola, Mindy Newell, Neil Gaiman, Norm Breyfogle, reading order, Tim Sale | 6 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (18 May 2020)

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

Your violent reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Charles Biro, covers, Creig Flessel, Crime Does Not Pay, Detective Comics, Graham Ingels, Gunfighter, Impact, Jack Davis, Joëlle Jones, Lady Killer, Laura Allred, Marie Severin, noir, western | Leave a comment

Scott McCloud’s earnest Superman

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

A couple of months ago, I wrote about how Steve Gerber approached Superman comics from offbeat angles, articulating them with real-world issues. Today I want to spotlight a writer who chose the opposite direction – Scott McCloud’s approach to the … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF SUPERMAN COMICS | Tagged Aluir Amancio, Marie Severin, Rick Burchett, Scott McCloud, Terry Austin | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (11 May 2020)

Posted on May 11, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman + gorillas = today’s reminder that comics can be awesome.

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Carmine Infantino, Charles Paris, covers, Dexter Vines, Dick Giordano, Ed McGuinness, Ira Schnapp, Jim Aparo, Joe Giella, John Workman, Lew Schwartz, Rich Buckler, Tatjana Wood, Win Mortimer | Leave a comment