Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

On Harvey bullock – part 1

Posted on December 19, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Harvey Bullock is one of the most beloved supporting characters in Batman’s cast, probably because he is such a fun counterpoint to the Caped Crusader: a cigar-chomping, donut-munchin’, overweight, unkempt police detective with a penchant for flashy ties and massive … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adrian Tomine, Alan Moore, Chuck Dixon, Don Newton, Doug Moench, GCPD, Gene Colan, Graham Nolan, Harvey Bullock, noir, Paul Kupperberg, Rick Veitch | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (16 December 2024)

Posted on December 16, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

An armed reminder that comic book covers can be freaking awesome:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Battle Pope, Brahm Revel, Chris Chalenor, Claudio Villa, covers, Deathstroke, Doom Patrol, Dylan Dog, Frank Miller, Gilbert Shelton, Guerillas, Jamie Hewlett, Joe Rubinstein, Knockabout, Lynn Varley, Mark Beachum, Mark Hazard: Merc, Matt Kindt, Mike Zeck, Mind MGMT, Simon Bisley, Tank Girl, Todd Klein, Tony Moore | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (9 December 2024)

Posted on December 9, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

This week, another reminder of how awesome – and how all-over-the-place – were the covers of pre-Crisis Wonder Woman…

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Bernard Sachs, covers, Dick Giordano, Harry Peter, Ira Schnapp, Irwin Hasen, José Luis García-López, Mike Esposito, Mike Sekowsky, Nick Cardy, Paris Cullins, Ross Andru, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment

Back to Slough House

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

Having recently read what may very well be my favorite Mick Herron novel so far, The Secret Hours, I was going to write one of Gotham Calling’s occasional pieces about spy yarns without pictures inside… Between this and catching up … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Cold War, espionage, John le Carré, Mick Herron, politics, Slough House | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (2 December 2024)

Posted on December 2, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

Another action-packed reminder that comic book covers can be awesome…

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged All-Star Western, Authentic Police Cases, covers, Danger Trail, Ed Hamilton, Frank Giacoia, Gaspar Saladino, Ira Schnapp, Jerry Grandenetti, Jim Sanders III, John Buscema, Lanciostory, Lawbreakers, Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, Our Army at War, Silver Sable, Stan Goldberg, Steven Butler, Syd Shores, The Spirit, Two-Gun Kid, Wanted, western, Will Eisner | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (25 November 2024)

Posted on November 25, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

This week’s reminder that comics can be awesome is a tribute to Ian Kennedy’s covers for the 1980s’ anthology Starblazer, with their deadpan combination of breathtaking vistas, psychedellic colors, and oddball concepts:

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE FUTURE | Tagged covers, Ian Kennedy, science fiction, Starblazer | Leave a comment

No-frills crime films

Posted on November 21, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

At the risk of making Gotham Calling look like a Letterboxd account, this week I’m turning back to movies, spotlighting half-a-dozen stripped down crime thrillers that, in the grand tradition of classics like The French Connection, make the most out … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged movies, noir | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (18 November 2024)

Posted on November 18, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

I’m a huge sucker for subgenres, niche branches of cultural production that are quite specific in their parameters but nevertheless spur a fair share of outputs, with variations that are mostly of interest to devoted experts/fans, usually capturing a momentary … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Adam Kubert, Anthony Tollin, Arthur Suydam, Bob Budiansky, Bob McLeod, Captain Britain, covers, Dick Giordano, Doom Patrol, Dracula, Erik Larsen, Fantastic Four, Gaspar Saladino, Ghost Rider, horror, Joe Sinnott, Legion of Super-Heroes, Metal Men, Mike Sekowsky, movies, Nikos Koutsis, Ron Frenz, Savage Dragon, Spectre, Steve Lightle, Stuart Immonen, Thor, Todd Doney, Tom Mandrake, Tom Taggart, Wolverine | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (11 November 2024)

Posted on November 11, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

This week’s reminder that comics can be awesome is a tribute to Rick Burchett’s pulpy covers:

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Black Hood, Blackhawk, covers, Dan Davis, Gabe Eltaeb, Green Arrow, Greystoke, Man of War, Marie Severin, Rick Burchett, Superman Adventures, Terry Austin, Todd Klein | Leave a comment

More comics that are COMICS

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

In case you need a break and to briefly take your mind off the news, for some reason, here is another post about scattered comics that I associate with just the kind of offbeat genre stuff this medium excels at. … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged Absolution, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Can See, Black Widow, François Miville-Deschênes, Griz Grobus, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Jess Polard, John Paul Leon, Know Your Station, Lee Loughridge, Liana Kangas, Mark Russell, Mike Deodato Jr, Patrick Horvath, Paul Cornell, Peter Milligan, Richard Connell, Sarah Gailey, science fiction, Scott Hanna, Sergey Nazarov, Simon Roy, Stefano Cardoselli, Steve Pugh, Sylvain Runberg, Tom Raney, Van Jensen, World War II, Zaroff | Leave a comment