Category Archives: BOOKS OF THE YEAR

2025’s books of the year – part 5

Posted on February 5, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

As the countdown of my favorite graphic novels of 2025 reaches the top five, we are now in that stage where almost every pick had a fair shot at being Gotham Calling’s book of the year. I probably spent more … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Absolute Martian Manhunter, Aditya Bidikar, Alisa Kwitney, Alison Sampson, Assorted Crisis Events, Caspar Wijngaard, Cold War, Deniz Camp, Department of Truth, Drome, Elsa Charretier, Eric Zawadzki, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, James Tynion IV, Javier Rodriguez, Jesse Lonergan, John J. Pearson, Jordie Bellaire, Jorge Fornes, Kieron Gillen, Martin Simmonds, politics, Power Fantasy, science fiction, Steve Foxe, Tyler Boss | Leave a comment

2025’s books of the year – part 4

Posted on January 28, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

When considering candidates for Gotham Calling’s book of the year, I tend to gravitate towards graphic novels that more or less stand on their own, providing such a satisfying read that I can recommend them as isolated objects. For instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Aaron Campbell, Aditya Bidikar, Al Feldstein, Álvaro Martínez Bueno, Bill Gaines, Clayton Cowles, Cold War, Criminal, Ed Brubaker, Elsa Charretier, Fantastic Four, Hellblazer, horror, Jack Oleck, Jacob Phillips, James Tynion IV, Jesus Aburtov, Jordie Bellaire, Love Everlasting, Matt Hollingsworth, Nice House by the Sea, politics, Ray Bradbury, Ryan North, science fiction, Sean Phillips, Simon Spurrier, Tom King, Wally Wood | Leave a comment

2025’s books of the year – part 3

Posted on January 21, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

Welcome to the third part of Gotham Calling’s best graphic novels of 2025! Not a lot of Batman in the countdown this year (although he does show up today). This may speak less for the dropping quality of the Caped … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Alex Lins, Brian K. Vaughan, Briar, Brrémaud, Chris Samnee, Christopher Cantwell, Dan Mora, espionage, Germán García, Gilt Frame, Gleb Melnikov, Havana Split, Luis NCT, Margie Kindt, Mark Waid, Matheus Lopes, Matt Kindt, Niko Henrichon, Sophia Hilmes, Spectators, Tamra Bonvillain, Vic Macioci | Leave a comment

2025’s books of the year – part 2

Posted on January 14, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

If you’ve read last week’s post, you know this month I’m doing Gotham Calling’s top 25 graphic novels of 2025. Like in my previous lists, I’m sticking to English-language editions, although I have to point out that by far one … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Al Ewing, Barry Windsor-Smith, Dave Stewart, Don Heck, Doug Headline, Elliott Kalan, Gene Colan, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, horror, James Harren, Jason, Jason Wordie, Jim Steranko, John Buscema, John Romita, Johnny Craig, Kieran, Lee Loughridge, Marie Severin, Matthew Rosenberg, Metamorpho, Michael Dean, Mindy Lee, Neal Adams, Parker, Richard Stark, Roman Titov, Rook, Rus Wooton, science fiction, Stan Lee, Stefano Landini, Steve Lieber, Tower of Shadows, Ultramega, Wally Wood, We're Taking Everyone Down With Us | Leave a comment

2025’s books of the year – part 1

Posted on January 8, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

It’s been so long since I’ve properly written about comics at Gotham Calling that I’d figure I do something special to kick off this year… So I’m devoting the next five weeks to my top 25 comics of 2025! As … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Adriano Turulici, Alex Lins, Bill Walko, Brian Michael Bendis, Daniel Gete, Fortune and Glory, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Jamal Igle, Jason Aaron, Jason Wordie, Javier Rodriguez, Jeff Powell, Jordan Thomas, Mariko Tamaki, Namor, Neeraj Menon, Paul Davidson, science fiction, Skin Police, Sub-Mariner, Tom Peyer, Tyler Boss, Wes Dzioba, Wrong Earth, You'll Do Bad Things, Zatanna | Leave a comment

2024’s Book of the Year

Posted on January 1, 2025 by I.M. Baytor

The fact that the second volume of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters finally came out should’ve made the pick for Gotham Calling’s 2024 Book of the Year a clincher. Emil Ferris’ long-and-eagerly-awaited continuation of her dense, brilliant debut opus keeps … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Bill Everett, Cold War, David Small, Emil Ferris, Gene Colan, horror, Joe Maneely, Michael J. Vassallo, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Pete Morisi, science fiction, Venus, Werner Roth | Leave a comment

Runners-up for 2023’s book of the year

Posted on March 7, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

While ultimately no comic could top Shubeik Lubeik as Gotham Calling’s book of the year, there were strong contenders I left out but which I think deserve highlighting anyway… Now, I haven’t been reading as much as I used to, … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged A Guest in the House, Annette Kwok, Arif Prianto, Benoit Dahan, Brad Simpson, Cyril Lieron, Daniel Clowes, Emily Carroll, Felipe Sobreiro, Gene Ha, Gospel, Hi-Fi, horror, Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes, Jock, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Local Man, Monica, Nicola Scott, Phil Jimenez, Romulo Fajardo Jr, Sherlock Holmes, Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs, Wesley Wong, Will Morris, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment

2023’s book of the year

Posted on December 27, 2023 by I.M. Baytor

Before delving into Gotham Calling’s pick for book of the year, I tend to briefly highlight comics that didn’t earn such dubious title because, although awesome in their own way, they’re too distant from the kind of genre narratives this … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Blood of the Virgin, Charles Soule, Craig Thompson, Deena Mohamed, Eight Billion Genies, Paul Cornell, politics, Ryan Browne, Sammy Harkham, science fiction, Shubeik Lubeik, Steve Yeowell, Three Little Wishes, Will Eisner, Your Wish Is My Command | Leave a comment

2022’s book of the year

Posted on February 2, 2023 by I.M. Baytor

I read less comics than usual in 2022 – especially new stuff – so the pool for Gotham Calling’s book of the year was somewhat limited. Like last time, the one graphic novel that was bound to be the strongest … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Bryan Talbot, Catwoman, Cliff Chiang, Frank Miller, Gotham City, Luther Arkwright | Leave a comment

On Tunnels

Posted on March 31, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

When I chose The Department of Truth as Gotham Calling’s 2021 Book of the Year, I made a point of stressing that I still hadn’t managed to read Rutu Modan’s Tunnels, which was bound to be one of my favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Joe Sacco, politics, Rutu Modan, Tunnels | Leave a comment