Category Archives: WEBS OF FICTION

Fighting monsters in the multiverse – part 2

Posted on June 4, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

Against my better judgment, let’s look at more exciting adventures where shameless brand extension meets schlocky nerdy fun. I know these are cynical, blatantly manipulative works assigned to mercenary creators who could have been in pursuit of more original stories … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Adam Kubert, Al Ewing, Alejandro Sánchez, Alex Sinclair, Amanda Conner, Barry Windsor-Smith, Benjamin Percy, Bruno Redondo, Chip Zdarsky, Clayton Cowles, Dan Mora, Dan Slott, Deadpool, Declan Shalvey, Die!Namite, Ellie Wright, Evil Dead, Frank Miller, Fred van Lente, Gail Simone, Greg Capullo, Greg Land, Gurihu, Hayden Sherman, horror, James Tynion IV, Jay Leisten, Jordi Pérez, Joshua Williamson, Kei Zama, Kelly Thompson, Ken Lashley, Kevin Smith, Kike J. Diaz, Marco Finnegan, Marcos Martin, Matt Fraction, Nathan Fairbairn, Predator, Red Sonja, Scott Snyder, Steve Lieber, Terry Dodson, Tim Townsend, Todd Klein, Vampirella, Vincenzo Carratú, Wolverine, Zeb Wells | Leave a comment

Fighting monsters in the multiverse

Posted on May 6, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

Although perfectly aware that the current expansion of the multiverse in the form of exponential crossovers cynically reflects IP exploitation by new corporate quasi-monopolies, I admit I continue to derive a visceral pleasure from the concept, at least when there … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Adam Tierney, Alan Moore, Alien, Avengers, Carlos M. Mangual, Esad Ribić, Fran Strukan, Godzilla, horror, Ive Svorcina, Jay Stephens, John Layman, Jonathan Hickman, Mars Attacks, Miroslav Mrva, Red Sonja, Sean Peacock, Shakespeare, Tom Scioli | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (27 April 2026)

Posted on April 27, 2026 by I.M. Baytor

This week, comic book covers that pay homage to classic movie posters:

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Bruce Timm, Cage, covers, Darick Robertson, JUstice League America, Justice League United, Kevin Maguire, Marco D'Alfonso, movies, Suicide Squad, The Boys, Tony Avina | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (6 October 2025)

Posted on October 6, 2025 by I.M. Baytor

October’s first reminder that comics can be awesome is a tribute to comic-booky literary adaptations:

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged covers, Danny Crespi, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Ernie Chan, John Costanza, John Romita, Maltese Falcon, Marie Severin, Marvel Classics Comics, Odyssey, Rodlow Willard, Ron Wilson, Supernatural Thrillers | Leave a comment

More alternative Batmen

Posted on June 4, 2025 by I.M. Baytor

The Batman of Arkham This is Gotham Calling’s 800th post! Like a proper comic book nerd, I’m a sucker for these mini-benchmarks, so I can’t resist interrupting the blog’s (quasi-)hiatus and return to an old obsession: alternative Batmen. Basically, we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Alan Grant, Batman's personality, Frank Cammuso, Gary Erskine, Gregg Hurwitz, J. Michael Straczynski, Jamal Igle, Knighted, Mark Teixeira, Paul Constant, Peter Krause, Simon Bisley, Tom Feister, Tom Peyer, Tom Scocca, Wrong Earth | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (14 Abril 2025)

Posted on April 14, 2025 by I.M. Baytor

A self-reflexive reminder that comics can be awesome… Fortune and Glory: The Musical

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Bill Walko, Brian Michael Bendis, Fortune and Glory, Joshua Reed, Wes Dzioba | Leave a comment

Even more Batman movies without Batman – cult movies edition

Posted on October 24, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

I get a huge kick exploring various connections within pop culture, including the thematic and stylistic links between Batman comics and cinema. To be fair, many of the comics are quite open about their influences, to the point that one … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Cold War, espionage, horror, movies, noir | Leave a comment

80’s-style action comics

Posted on October 3, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Predator: Concrete Jungle #2 With its foul-mouthed, sweaty badass men (and women), anti-government attitude, and casualty-heavy set pieces, the 1980s’ wave of outrageous action movies had a specific vibe that has become affectionately known in some circles as ‘absurd macho … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Alien, Chris Chanelor, Chris Warner, Denis Beauvais, Diana Schutz, Evan Dorkin, John Arcudi, Mark A. Nelson, Mark Verheiden, movies, politics, Predator, Randy Stradley, Ron Randall, Sam Kieth, science fiction, Terminator | Leave a comment

Even more Batman movies without Batman – mainstream action edition!

Posted on September 12, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Every once in a while, I like to spotlight films that, although they don’t feature the Dark Knight himself, share enough of Batman comics’ quirky vibe to be of interest for fans of that sort of stuff. This time, my … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Chuck Dixon, movies, politics | 2 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (5 August 2024)

Posted on August 5, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

A reminder that comic book covers can be awesome… and also quite meta:

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Davis, Alex Ross, Anthony Tollin, Astro City, Bill Payne, Brendan McCarthy, Brett Ewins, Cary Burkett, covers, Crossover, Dee Cunniffe, Dick Dillin, Dick Giordano, Don Simpson, Emily Watson, Excalibur, FemForce, Geoff Shaw, Howard Bender, Ira Schnapp, Jim Sanders III, John J. Hill, Justice League of America, Laura Allred, Megaton Man, Mike Allred, Mike Harris, Paul Neary, Pete Poplaski, She-Hulk, Sheldon Moldoff, Strange Adventures, Todd Klein, X-Force | Leave a comment