Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Neal Adams (1941-2022)

Posted on May 2, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Neal Adams died last week. Years ago, I wrote briefly about his gothic artwork and his sensationalist Batman covers, but I can’t really overestimate Adams’ importance: he was arguably the greatest and the most influential artist in the history of … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged All-Star Western, Challengers of the Unknown, covers, El Diablo, Flash, From Beyond the Unknown, Gaspar Saladino, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hot Wheels, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, Neal Adams, Superboy, Superman, Tomahawk | Leave a comment

If you like Barton Fink…

Posted on April 28, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

By 1991, Joel and Ethan Coen had done three very different pictures, but they all shared some connection to crime fiction, not to mention a fondness for labyrinthic plotting. With their next project, though, the Coen brothers truly defied everybody’s … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged A Small Killing, Alan Moore, Coen brothers, Cold War, Dave McKean, Duncan Fegredo, Grant Morrison, horror, Jon J. Muth, Kyle Baker, movies, Neil Gaiman, Oscar Zarate, Peter Milligan, politics, World War II | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (25 April 2022)

Posted on April 25, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Your reminder that comic book covers can be awesome, Batwoman edition:

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batwoman, covers, Dan Panosian, Ira Schnapp, J.G. Jones, J.H. Williams III, Lee Bermejo, Michael Cho, Sheldon Moldoff | Leave a comment

Catching up with crime comics – part 2

Posted on April 20, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Welcome to another round of quick impressions about recent crime comics! If your definition of crime fiction accommodates horror-like gore and sadism, then these are exciting times, as serial killers remain a very popular trope (although by now everyone uses … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Andrea Mutti, B. Clay Moore, Daniel Hillyard, Dave Stewart, Doug Wagner, Ed Piskor, Elliott Kalan, horror, Laura Martin, Rubine, Stephen Molnar, Terry Moore, Tyler Boss | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (18 April 2022)

Posted on April 18, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

A sci-fi reminder that comic book covers can be awesome:

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE FUTURE | Tagged 2000 AD, Al Williamson, Bill Molno, Black Science, covers, Descender, Dustin Nguyen, Flash Gordon, Gene Fawcette, Gil Kane, Incredible Science Fiction, Johnny Bruck, Marie Severin, Massimo Belardinelli, Matt Hollingsworth, Mike McGhee, Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds, Out of This World, science fiction, Sean Murphy, Space Riders, Strange Adventures, Vince Alascia, Wally Wood, Weird Worlds | Leave a comment

On Blackgate Penitentiary

Posted on April 14, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Prison stories are basically their own genre, what with the dangerous, claustrophobic environment, the parallel rules of life in a world of outlaws, full of both comradery and suspicion, and the occasional trope of elaborate escape plots (which are kind … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Bane, Blackgate, Brian Azzarello, Chuck Dixon, David Roach, Doug Moench, Ed Brubaker, Eduardo Barreto, Frank Robbins, Gotham City, Graham Nolan, Greg Rucka, James A. Hodgkins, Jim Aparo, Joe Staton, John Kalisz, John Ostrander, Karl Story, Pat Garrahy, Peter Tomasi, Scot Eaton, Scott McDaniel, Steve Gerber, Tim Sale | 3 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (11 April 2022)

Posted on April 11, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

Because old crime series are also cool, this week’s reminder that comics can be awesome is a tribute to the amusing covers of 1940s’ and 1950s’ Real Clue Crime Stories:

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged covers, Dan Zolnerowich, John Prentice, Real Clue Crime Stories, Zolne, Zolne Rowitch | Leave a comment

Catching up with crime comics – part 1

Posted on April 7, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

In the past decade, the small screen has excelled in engrossingly dramatizing capitalism, from the inner workings of corporations in Mad Men, Succession, and Halt and Catch Fire to the parallels – and connections – to organized crime in Better … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged Alfonso Font, André Lima Araújo, Bastien Vivès, Brian Buccellato, Casey Gilly, Chip Zdarsky, Chris O'Halloran, Elsa Charretier, Florent Ruppert, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Hayden Sherman, Jacob Phillips, Jerome Mulot, Kurt Ankeny, Matt Fraction, Matt Hollingsworth, Max Bertolini, Nadia Shammas, Olivier Schrauwen, politics, Rick Remender, Ricky Mammone, Rus Wooton, Soo Lee, Ziyed Yusuf | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (4 April 2022)

Posted on April 4, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

A dazzling reminder that comic book covers can be awesome.

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Ascender, Captain Marvel, covers, Deadly Class, Doctor Mirage, Dustin Nguyen, Elektra, Grayson, House of Mystery, Iron Fist, Javier Pulido, Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic, Joëlle Jones, Kaare Kyle Andrews, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Kris Anka, Lee Loughridge, Mike Del Mundo, Mikel Janín, Sam Weber, Shade the Changing Girl, The Shade, Wes Craig | Leave a comment

On Tunnels

Posted on March 31, 2022 by I.M. Baytor

When I chose The Department of Truth as Gotham Calling’s 2021 Book of the Year, I made a point of stressing that I still hadn’t managed to read Rutu Modan’s Tunnels, which was bound to be one of my favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Joe Sacco, politics, Rutu Modan, Tunnels | Leave a comment