Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

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

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (4 November 2024)

Posted on November 4, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

For this week’s reminder, let’s go back to headshots…

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Ben Oliver, Commando, covers, DCeased, FVZA, I Hate Fairyland, Jacob Phillips, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic, Ken Barr, Lobo, Mind MGMT, Sean Phillips, Simon Bisley, Skottie Young, Sleeper, Terror Inc., That Texas Blood, Todd Klein | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (28 October 2024)

Posted on October 28, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

First, some housekeeping: I’m still struggling to conciliate the blog with other commitments, but instead of going on yet another hiatus, I’m shifting into a biweekly rhythm, so the longer Thursday posts will now appear only every other week (the … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Artie Simek, Bill Everett, Christopher Rule, covers, D. Bruce Berry, Dick Ayers, Dr. Mabuse, George Klein, horror, Jack Kirby, Journey into Mystery, Kamandi, movies, politics, Stan Goldberg, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Strange Tales, Tales of Suspense, Tales to Astonish | 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

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (21 October 2024)

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

This week, a tribute to the classic archetype of the pulpy mystery man!

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Bill Sienkiewicz, Blue Beetle, covers, Dan Jackson, Denys Cowan, Frank Robbins, Green Hornet, Greyshirt, Jack Cole, Jack Kamen, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, John Cassaday, Lou Fine, Midnight, Mr. A, Mystery Men Comics, Nick Derington, Ray Fehrenbach, Rick Veitch, Smash Comics, Steve Ditko, Tatjana Wood, The Escapist, The Question, The Shadow, The Spirit, Todd Klein, Will Eisner | Leave a comment

Just one of those weeks…

Posted on October 17, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

I’m sorry, this is one of those weeks when I’m just not available… MONDAY Batman #110 TUESDAY Detective Comics #320 WEDNESDAY Detective Comics #513 THURSDAY Detective Comics #516 FRIDAY Detective Comics #526 SATURDAY Detective Comics #530 SUNDAY Batman #374

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Tagged Alfred Pennyworth, Vicki Vale | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (14 October 2024)

Posted on October 14, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

As the world drastically falls apart, I suppose there is little consolation left, apart from the fact that comic books can be awesome… In particular, this week’s selection pays tribute to covers that draw on the aesthetics of pulp paperbacks, … Continue reading →

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Absolution, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Black Widow, Chrononauts, covers, Deadpool, Fernando Dagnino, Grayson, Immortal Hulk, Jae Lee, Jon Sable, June Chung, Killers, Lee Loughridge, Mike Deodato, Mike Grell, Mikel Janín, Pilote, Scout, Sean Murphy, Timothy Truman | Leave a comment