Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Another 50 images of kicks in the head

Posted on September 15, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Today is Gotham Calling’s second anniversary, so you know what that means… Another year of compiling lists with questionable suggestions, writing down geeky rants and factoids, and thinking way too long about the characters, creators, and politics of Batman comics … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged martial arts | 3 Comments

Collections of Batman stories – part 2

Posted on September 8, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are another five compilations of Batman stories worth seeking out: TALES OF THE DEMON (1991) Tales of the Demon collects the first handful of stories Denny O’Neil wrote … Continue reading →

Collections of Batman stories – part 1

Posted on September 1, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Among the countless Batman books out there – old and new, classic or disposable – there is a whole subsection that strikes me as an ideal gateway for those who have heard of this Bruce Wayne fella but are still … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Brennert, Andrew Helfer, Archie Goodwin, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman's personality, Bill Finger, Brad Rader, Brian Bolland, Bruce Timm, Chris Sprouse, Chuck Dixon, Gardner Fox, Grant Morrison, Greg Wright, horror, Jeph Loeb, Kelley Puckett, Kevin Nowlan, Lee Bermejo, Martin Pasko, Matt Wagner, Mike Parobeck, Neil Gaiman, noir, Rick Burchett, Rick Taylor, Ted McKeever, Teddy Kristiansen, Tim Harkins, Tim Sale, Todd Klein, Ty Templeton, Walt Simonson | Leave a comment

Taking a break… (August 2016)

Posted on August 11, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #383

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Tagged Gene Colan | Leave a comment

Peter Milligan’s heady Batman

Posted on August 4, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Peter Milligan has written some of my all-time favorite comic series, including the surrealist fantasy Shade, the Changing Man, the existential crime thriller Human Target, and the superhero pop satire X-Statix. However, as even his biggest fans will point out, … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batman: The Animated Series, Brendan McCarthy, Duncan Fegredo, Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison, Jim Aparo, Joe R. Landsdale, Martin Pasko, Peter Milligan, Rick Burchett | 3 Comments

Spotlight on The Shadow Strikes!

Posted on July 28, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

The mid-to-late ‘80s were the true golden age of comic books. For a few years, the industry was set on trying out all kinds of ideas and outright bombarding readers with one memorable comic after another, featuring both new and … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Anthony Tollin, Dave Stevens, David Cody Weiss, Denny O'Neil, Eduardo Barreto, Garth Ennis, Gary Gianni, Gerard Jones, Gerry Fernandez, Matt Wagner, Mike W. Barr, Milton Caniff, Noel Sickle, noir, politics, Rod Whigham, The Shadow | Leave a comment

Spotlight on Greyshirt

Posted on July 21, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last posts, you know that this month I’ve been discussing eccentric vigilante comics. Hence Greyshirt. I have little doubt that the seeds for Greyshirt grew from Alan Moore’s contributions to The Spirit: The New Adventures, in … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Greyshirt, Melinda Gebbie, noir, Rick Veitch, Steve Moore, The Spirit, Will Eisner | Leave a comment

Spotlight on Foolkiller

Posted on July 14, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

As I explained last week, this month is all about vigilantes operating outside of Gotham City. Last July, I addressed obvious series about street justice like The Punisher and Vigilante, but this time around I’m focusing on more off-kilter comics. … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Foolkiller, Greg Wright, J.J. Birch, Jack Abel, politics, Punisher, Steve Gerber, Tony DeZuniga, Val Mayerick, Vince Giarrano | Leave a comment

Spotlight on The Shadow

Posted on July 7, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Every once in a while, I like to shift gears and spotlight comics or films set outside Gotham City that Batman fans should nevertheless enjoy because they are close to the mood of the world of the Dark Knight. Once … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged Alex Wald, Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, Cold War, Denny O'Neil, E.R. Cruz, Frank Robbins, Howard Chaykin, Joe Orlando, Kyle Baker, Marshall Rogers, Mike Carlin, Mike Kaluta, The Shadow | Leave a comment

Batman HATES guns

Posted on June 28, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

I’ve explained before why I don’t think Batman should use firearms. Given how much attention the gun debate has been getting of late, however, perhaps it is a good time to take a closer look at how strongly the Dark … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Batman's personality, guns, John Ostrander, Lee Loughridge, Michael Fleisher, politics, Rick Burchett, Terry Beatty, Ty Templeton, Vince Giarrano, Zylonol | 3 Comments