Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Steve Gerber’s twisted Superman

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

With his propensity for heady digressions, offbeat satire, and countercultural sensibility, Steve Gerber was one of the most fascinating American writers in mainstream comics. While he didn’t exactly deconstruct superheroes in the radical form that some of his successors would … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF SUPERMAN COMICS | Tagged Bryan Hitch, Chris Chuckry, Cold War, Doug Wheatley, Gene Colan, Greg Adams, horror, John Byrne, Mark Bright, politics, Rick Veitch, science fiction, Steve Gerber, Tom Ziuko, Tony DeZuniga, Val Mayerick | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (30 March 2020)

Posted on March 30, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Media and politicians continue to refer to the ongoing pandemic as a ‘war,’ but I have some issues with that metaphor. It’s the kind of jingoistic language that is used to exclude any possibility of critical dissent, to exacerbate xenophobic … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Airboy, Blackhawk, covers, G.I. Combat, Gaspar Saladino, Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Reed Crandall, Ron Frenz, Star Spangled War Stories, Timothy Truman, Weird War Tales, World War II | Leave a comment

On World War II adventure movies

Posted on March 26, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Writing about The Unknown Soldier last week made me think that I should expand a bit more on the specific genre that is World War II adventure. In fact, I want to go straight to the source and actually talk … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, espionage, Graham Greene, movies, noir, politics, World War II | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (23 March 2020)

Posted on March 23, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

It may not be a big consolation in these troubled times, but Gotham Calling will continue its mission of drawing attention to the wonders of pulpy fun. In the hope of bringing a smile and brief distraction to those struggling … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged covers, Dick Dillin, Forbidden Worlds, House of Mystery, Ira Schnapp, Joe Doolin, Jonah Hex, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Marie Severin, Ogden Whitney, Planet Comics, Sam Rosen, Sheldon Moldoff, Tower of Shadows | Leave a comment

Spotlight on The Unknown Soldier, 1977-1980

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

When I last wrote about The Unknown Soldier – DC’s cult comic about the top US secret agent in World War II – I mentioned how David Michelinie briefly turned the series into a vicious anti-war parable, casting the hero … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Bob Haney, Cold War, Dick Ayers, Erick Santos, Esphidy, espionage, Gerry Talaoc, Jean Simek, Jerry Serpe, Joe Kubert, Milt Snappin, politics, Romeo Tanghal, Unknown Soldier, World War II | Leave a comment

Gotham books for the current times

Posted on March 12, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, I keep hearing people claiming that this all feels like a movie. They’re probably thinking of medical disaster dramas like 1995’s Outbreak or 2011’s Contagion (Jason Read wrote a few insightful remarks about … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Arkham Asylum, Chuck Dixon, Dan Slott, Denny O'Neil, Dick Giordano, Doug Moench, espionage, Gary Frank, Gotham City, Greg Land, horror, Jennifer Graves, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Kelley Jones, Lee Loughridge, Matt Haley, politics, Ryan Sook, Steffano Raffaele, Tommy Lee Edwards | Leave a comment

10 Alan Moore short stories in others’ sandboxes

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

The conversation in the comments section of The Tempest’s post back in January got me thinking about how much of Alan Moore’s career was spent playing with other creators’ toys, providing some of the greatest gun-for-hire work in the medium… … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Davis, Alan Moore, Ben Dimagmaliw, Bill Willingham, Bob Lappan, Bryan Talbot, C.D. Alexandar, Carl Gafford, Dan Mishkin, Facundo Percio, Gene D'Angelo, God Is Dead, Hernan Cabrera, Jenny O'Connor, Joe Orlando, John Costanza, John Higgins, Jonathan Hickman, Kevin O'Neill, Kurt Hathaway, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Melinda Gebbie, Michael Zulli, Mike Costa, science fiction, Star Wars, Stephen Bissette, Stephen Murphy, Steve Dillon, Steve Potter, Terry Austin, Todd Klein | 1 Comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (March 2020)

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

Your noirish reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Charles Biro, Clue Comics, covers, Crime Does Not Pay, Darwyn Cooke, Dave Stewart, Francesco Francavilla, J. Bone, noir, Steve Ditko, Strange Suspense Stories, The Shadow, The Spirit | Leave a comment

Spotlight on Imperium

Posted on February 26, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

A while ago, I did a post about violent superhero movies that explore how scary it would be if there were actual super-beings around, especially ones less bound by old-fashioned morals than your regular mainstream heroes… This line of speculation … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Adam Pollina, Andrew Dalhouse, Brian Reber, CAFU, Dave Sharpe, Doug Braithwaite, Imperium, Joshua Dysart, Juan Jose Ryp, Khari Evans, Matt Kindt, politics, science fiction, Scot Eaton, Ulises Arreola | Leave a comment

Batman comics and gun control

Posted on February 20, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

The Batman Adventures #28 While gun control has certainly been a running theme in Batman comics throughout the ages, their relationship with this issue is not as straightforward as some seem to think. I don’t mean Batman’s relationship with gun … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Ann Nocenti, Batman's personality, Brian Bolland, Chuck Dixon, Darwyn Cooke, Devin Grayson, Doug Moench, Ed Brubaker, Ethan van Sciver, Frank Miller, Geoff Johns, guns, John Floyd, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Norm Breyfogle, politics, Roger Robinson, Scott McDaniel, Ty Templeton, Vince Giarrano | Leave a comment