Tag Archives: politics

Spotlight on The Punisher MAX

Posted on July 30, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

What if The Punisher comics were much darker, more gruesomely violent, and aimed at a mature audience? That’s the premise of The Punisher MAX, Garth Ennis’ grim reimagining of Frank Castle’s war on crime. If Garth Ennis’ previous work with … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Andy Diggle, Darick Robertson, Duane Swierczynski, espionage, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Jason Aaron, John Severin, Lewis LaRosa, Paul Mounts, politics, Punisher, Rob Williams, Steve Dillon, Stuart Moore, Tim Bradstreet, Tom Palmer, World War II | 2 Comments

Spotlight on The Punisher – part 1

Posted on July 7, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Having looked at DC’s most renowned leftist vigilante last week, today Gotham Calling turns to Marvel’s notorious right-wing anti-hero, the Punisher. While he is usually quite a one-note guy (wears a skull on his chest, kills criminals, that’s it), what … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Chuck Dixon, espionage, Frank Miller, Gerry Conway, Jo Duffy, Joe Kubert, John Buscema, Jorge Zaffino, Matt Fraction, Mike Baron, Mike Zeck, politics, Punisher, Rick Remender, Steven Grant | 2 Comments

Spotlight on Mike Grell’s Green Arrow

Posted on July 2, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Every once in a while, I like to shift gears and talk about comics set outside Gotham City that Batman fans should nevertheless enjoy because their genres (crime, superhero, fantastic adventure) are close to the mood of the Dark Knight. … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Andrea Sorrentino, Brad Meltzer, Chuck Dixon, Dan Jurgens, Denny O'Neil, Dick Giordano, Ed Hannigan, espionage, Green Arrow, Jeff Lemire, Julia Lacquement, Kevin Smith, Lurene Haines, Marcelo Maiolo, Mike Grell, Neal Adams, politics | 3 Comments

Batman comics and World War II

Posted on June 29, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Although nowadays movies set in World War II have become mostly synonymous with tearjerker melodramas or grim military epics, this wasn’t always the case. The gravitas of that conflict and the overwhelming consensus about who the heroes and villains … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Archie Goodwin, Bill Finger, Bob Haney, Bob Kane, Dick Sprang, Don Cameron, espionage, Gary Gianni, George Roussos, Jack Burnley, Jack Kirby, Joe Greene, Neal Adams, politics, World War II | Leave a comment

On Barbara Gordon, Batgirl

Posted on June 22, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Leave it to comics to take a completely perfunctory and derivative concept and actually do loads of fascinating stuff with it. The best example I can think of is Batgirl, aka Barbara ‘Babs’ Gordon, who … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Alan Moore, Babs Tarr, Barbara Gordon, Barbara Randall, Batgirl, Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, Doug Moench, Frank Robbins, Gail Simone, Gardner Fox, Gene Colan, Gil Kane, Julie Schwartz, Karl Kesel, Kelley Puckett, Kevin Somers, Matt Haley, politics | Leave a comment

On Dick Grayson, the Teen Wonder

Posted on June 2, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

If Dick Grayson’s childhood was pretty unusual, his adolescence was totally out there. While Detective Comics didn’t promote him from Boy Wonder to Teen Wonder until 1970, in the mid-60s Robin became a founding member of the Teen Titans: … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Bob Haney, Cold War, Denny O'Neil, Dick Grayson, Elliot S! Maggin, Frank Robbins, George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, Mike Friedrich, politics, Robin | Leave a comment

Accessible superhero comics – part 1

Posted on February 12, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

As much as the Gotham TV show pretends that it isn’t the case, if you’re into Batman, you’re likely to enjoy superheroics. Although one can argue that Batman is not an actual superhero because he doesn’t have super-powers (I disagree), … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Alan Davis, Alan Moore, Alex Ross, Astro City, Barry Kitson, Brent Anderson, Brian K. Vaughan, Catalyst Comix, Dan McCaid, Empire, Ex Machina, Garry Leach, Joe Casey, John Totleben, Kurt Busiek, Mark Millar, Mark Waid, Miracleman, Neil Gaiman, Paul Maybury, politics, Rick Veitch, science fiction, Tony Harris, Ulises Farina | Leave a comment

Batman and fascism

Posted on January 20, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Some people apply the label ‘fascist’ to a specific early 20th century ideology, and perhaps to some later derivative political projects. Others use the term more loosely, applying it to people who come across as authoritarian, unapologetically violent, and/or intolerant … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batman's personality, Bob Haney, Christopher Nolan, espionage, Frank Miller, Howard Chaykin, Jim Aparo, Paul Pope, politics, World War II | Leave a comment

On the lifespan of Gotham mayors

Posted on December 4, 2014 by I.M. Baytor

While no job in Gotham City offers worse conditions than being a henchman, working in local politics comes remarkably close. Seriously, even House of Cards’ Frank Underwood would be scared of this place. As if it wasn’t bad enough that … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Batman: The Animated Series, Ed Brubaker, Frank Miller, Gotham City, politics | Leave a comment

Frank Robbins’ oddball Batman

Posted on November 17, 2014 by I.M. Baytor

The 1970s were a great time for the Caped Crusader, even if, looking back, we did miss out on the chance to see Batman with a turtleneck or Catwoman with an afro (problem solved). After the kitsch of the ’60s … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Bob Brown, Denny O'Neil, Frank Robbins, Irv Novick, Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, noir, politics | 2 Comments