Tag Archives: Rick Burchett

Spotlight on Batman’s Z-list villains

Welcome to Gotham Calling’s 200th post! Solo #7 Back when we reached the first hundred posts, Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was about to come out and I wrote about a handful of oddball villains whom I … Continue reading

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Great ‘No Man’s Land’ stories – part 2

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are some other great stories to come out of the 1999 crossover No Man’s Land:   ‘Dead Man’s Land’ (Hitman #37-38) Besides the captivating character work, much of … Continue reading

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3 Scarecrow-induced hallucinations

One of the reasons the core of Batman’s rogues gallery has proven so lasting is the fact that many of his foes are super-functional storytelling devices. The Joker is a clown, so he always looks scary. The Riddler has a … Continue reading

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Between Gotham City and Casablanca

I’m pretty sure I’m not breaking any new ground by stating that Casablanca is one of the most enjoyable films ever made. This 1942 classic about heartbreak and antifascism in a French colony bursting with contraband and political intrigue manages … Continue reading

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Taking a break… (December 2016)

Vigilante #47

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Fun Batman stories

Despite being an unabashed fan of gritty film noir, moody gothic horror, and even some of the dark superhero sub-genre (so far, the Marvel Netflix shows have all kicked serious butt!), every so often I find myself ranting in this … Continue reading

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Collections of Batman stories – part 1

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

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Peter Milligan’s heady Batman

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

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Batman HATES guns

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

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On Carrie Kelley, Robin

Of all the bare-legged kids who have given Batman a helping hand over the years, Carrie Kelley is probably my favorite. She’s this spunky teen who just goes ahead and dresses in that silly suit and totally owns it, kicking … Continue reading

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