Tag Archives: politics

Spotlight on Queen & Country

Posted on July 6, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

July is the month of spy comics here at Gotham Calling. Let’s kick things off with what is unquestionably one of the all-time greatest spy series in the medium: Queen & Country. Originally published between 2001 and 2007 by Oni … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Antony Johnston, Brian Hurtt, Carla Speed McNeil, Chris Samnee, Christopher Mitten, Cold War, espionage, Greg Rucka, Jason Alexander, Joe Sacco, Leandro Frenandez, Mike Hawthorne, politics, Queen & Country, Rick Burchett, Steve Lieber, Steve Rolston | Leave a comment

Anatomy of Batman #372 and Detective Comics #539

Posted on June 19, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

Back when I discussed Doug Moench’s 1980s Batman run, I singled out as its most striking features Moench’s literary emphasis on symbolism, characterization, politics, and intertextuality. This week, I’ll zoom in on one story in particular which powerfully combines all … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alfredo Alcala, Bob Smith, boxing, Don Newton, Doug Moench, noir, politics | Leave a comment

More minor but cool sci-fi comics

Posted on April 26, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

I did one of these last month, after watching Annihilation. Now, to celebrate the return of Westworld, I’m spotlighting another half-dozen underrated sci-fi comics: OCEAN It’s a testament to Warren Ellis’ creative mind and writing skills that Ocean is … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Al Feldstein, Bill Gaines, Brett Weldede, Carlos Trigo, Chris Sprouse, Cold War, Dan Abnett, Dylan Teague, Hernry Flint, Jack Kamen, Jack Oleck, Jack Potter, Jean Léturgie, Karl Story, Montero, Ocean, Pat Mills, Patrick Goddard, politics, Polstar, Ray Bradbury, Richard Elson, Robert Venditti, science fiction, Simon Léturgie, The Surrogates, Visible Man, Wardog, Warren Ellis, Zero Hour | Leave a comment

Batman’s animated team-ups

Posted on February 22, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

I wish I had something more original to say about the latest hit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I’m with the crowd: Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is a masterpiece. Building on utopic alternate history to respond to Afro-pessimism, the … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Batman TV series, Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm, Dwayne McDuffie, Frank Quitely, Gail Simone, Grant Morrison, J.M. DeMatteis, Joss Whedon, Matt Wayne, movies, Paul Dini, politics, science fiction, Stan Berkowitz, Warren Ellis, World War II | Leave a comment

Great ‘No Man’s Land’ stories – part 1

Posted on January 18, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

No Man’s Land was an ambitious crossover that ran through the various Batman-related comic series throughout 1999. It took place after an earthquake had destroyed much of Gotham City, in Cataclysm, leading up to a strand of tasteless disaster-related stories … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alex Maleev, Bob Gale, D'Israeli, Dale Eaglesham, David Stewart, Denny O'Neil, Devin K. Grayson, Gotham City, Guy Davis, Ian Edginton, Lisa Klink, Lovern Kindzierski, Matt Hollingsworth, No Man's Land, Pamela Rambo, Phil Winslade, politics, Sal Buscema, Wayne Faucher | Leave a comment

More sci-fi war comics

Posted on December 27, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Another December, another Star Wars movie, another Gotham Calling post spotlighting sci-fi war comics… To be honest, as far as the main Star Wars series is concerned, The Last Jedi may be the one that finally lost me. … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Moore, Drew Moss, East of West, Frank Martin, Gianluca Pagliarani, Halo Jones, Ian Gibson, Ignition City, Jay Faerber, Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, politics, Rus Wooton, science fiction, Scott Godlewski, space opera, Star Wars, Warren Ellis, western | Leave a comment

Anatomy of Batman #285

Posted on December 20, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

When it comes to twisted-yet-amusing Christmas tales, forget Gremlins and Rare Exports or even Krampus. I cannot think of many examples that are as fascinating as ‘The Mystery of Christmas Lost!’ (Batman #285, cover-dated March 1977, but, according to Mike’s … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Christmas, David V. Reed, David Vern, Frank Springer, Gotham City, Julius Schwartz, politics, Romeo Tanghal | Leave a comment

A year of sci-fi movies and shows

Posted on December 12, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

The Last Jedi hits the screens this week and we’ll see what comes out of it. So far, Rian Johnson is OK in my book. He did Brick, so I know he’s into film noir. He did The Brothers Bloom, … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged Al Williamson, Archie Goodwin, Carlos Garzon, horror, Jean-Claude Mézières, movies, Pierre Christin, politics, science fiction, space opera | 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