Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Gothic Batman stories from the ‘90s

Posted on October 23, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Goth subculture had quite a devoted fan base in the 1990s. You couldn’t miss the hordes of stylish, pretentious teens with black clothes and eyeliner back then. Tim Burton and Marilyn Manson were all the rage for a while. Bands … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Adam Kubert, Alan Grant, Alisa Kwitney, Andy Kubert, Archie Goodwin, Cam Kennedy, Chris Bachalo, Doug Moench, Garth Ennis, Greg Wright, horror, Jamie Delano, Jeph Loeb, Jim Aparo, John Beatty, John Wagner, Kelley Jones, Mark Chiarello, Michael Zulli, Mike Mignola, Peter Milligan, Scott Hampton, Tim Sale, Todd Klein, Ty Templeton | Leave a comment

20 spectacular Spectre covers

Posted on October 16, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Apart from having a particularly gruesome origin story, larger-than-life powers, a sadistic sense of poetic justice, and at least a couple of awesome comic runs on his portfolio, a key aspect that stands out about the Spectre is his visually … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged covers, horror, Spectre | Leave a comment

Anatomy of Shadow of the Bat #45

Posted on September 28, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Last week I went on and on about the compelling and cathartic lack of subtlety in the Batman comics of Alan Grant, so I figured it would be fair to spotlight one of the few issues that fall outside that … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alan Grant, Brian Stelfreeze, Gerry Fernandez, Michal Dutkiewicz, Pamela Rambo, politics, western | Leave a comment

Alan Grant’s in-yer-face Batman

Posted on September 21, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

I suppose it is possible to do subtlety in Batman comics. To do it well, even: from Greg Rucka’s nuanced characterization to Grant Morrison’s elliptic narratives; from Dan Slott’s skill at disguising plot points to Ed Brubaker’s occasional flirts with … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alan Grant, John Wagner, Norm Breyfogle, politics | 10 Comments

Another year, another 50 kicks

Posted on September 15, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Today is the third anniversary of Gotham Calling. As usual, I’m celebrating by posting fifty images of Batman kicking people and monsters in the head, accompanied by evocative sound effects as well as the occasional thoughtful, witty remark. Have fun! … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged martial arts | Leave a comment

Len Wein (1948-2017)

Posted on September 11, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

In the same year, we lost Bernie Wrightson and Len Wein, the two creators of Swamp Thing. May you rest in peace and do not come back as a tragic vegetable creature or a patchwork Frankensteinian monster reanimated by Anton Arcane. … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Len Wein | 1 Comment

Elseworlds tales of sword & sorcery

Posted on September 5, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

After another season of Game of Thrones, my mind has been on sword and sorcery. I still think the series’ most engaging contributions to this genre take place on the edges of the adventure stuff, as the characters count the … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Alan Grant, Barry Kitson, Bob Layton, Brian Apthorp, Christopher Priest, Denny O'Neil, Dick Giordano, Doug Moench, Jim Murray, John Beatty, Kelley Jones, Les Dorscheid, Mike W. Barr, Scott Hampton, Stan Woch, sword & sorcery, Vince Giarrano | 2 Comments

Taking a break… (August 2017)

Posted on August 10, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Solo #7

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Tagged Mike Allred | 2 Comments

Kelley Jones’ technological Batman

Posted on August 3, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

When I did a post on Kelley Jones’ eccentric Batman art a couple of months ago, I talked about Jones’ flair for the grotesque, the gothic horror influences, the exaggerated capes and shadows, the neat chapter headings and preview blurbs. … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Kelley Jones, science fiction | 2 Comments

Spy comics: revisiting World War I

Posted on July 28, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last posts, you know that this month I’ve been discussing cool spy comics. Historically associated with imperial rivalry and pointless carnage in the public imagination, World War I doesn’t seem to have inspired nearly as … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Alex Grecian, Bruno Garcia, espionage, Fabien Nury, Petrograd, Philip Gelatt, Pierre Alary, politics, Riley Rossmo, Silas Corey, Tyler Crook | Leave a comment