Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

Taking a break (August 2020)

Posted on August 6, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

The usual summer break… Regular posts will only return in September, but, since we are still living in unusual times, I’ll try to keep the weekly COMICS CAN BE AWESOME section going throughout August. After all, pulp fiction – from … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Tagged Alan Grant, Bill Oakley, Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, Joe Staton, Liam Sharp, politics, Sherilyn van Valkenburgh | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (3 August 2020)

Posted on August 3, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your suspenseful reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Bernard Baily, covers, Creig Flessel, Crime SuspenStories, Detective Comics, John Prentice, Johnny Craig, Marie Severin, noir, Perfect Crime, Real Clue Crime Stories, Suspense Detective | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 5

Posted on July 30, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman: Mr. Freeze By the late ‘90s, not only had the Batman family of books become a well-oiled machine, but three new awesome spin-offs joined the line: Nightwing, about Dick Grayson reinventing himself as a solo vigilante in the neighboring … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Anthony Williams, Arthur Ranson, Brian Apthorp, Brian Augustyn, Chuck Dixon, Darick Robertson, Denny O'Neil, Devin K. Grayson, Doug Moench, Duncan Fegredo, Eduardo Barreto, Fabien Nicieza, Garth Ennis, Gotham City, Graham Nolan, Grant Morrison, Jeff Johnson, Joe Quesada, John Francis Moore, John McCrea, John Royle, Karl Kesel, Klaus Janson, Len Kaminski, Mark Buckingham, Mark Waid, Michael T. Gilbert, Paul Dini, Peter Milligan, reading order, Rick Burchett, Rodolfo Damaggio, Roger Robinson, Scott McDaniel, Staz Johnson, Tom Peyer, Yannick Paquette | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (27 July 2020)

Posted on July 27, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

I wasn’t a fan of last year’s reboot of The Twilight Zone, but somebody convinced me to check out some of the second season’s episodes. Although they’re a mixed bag and still highly derivative, there is definitely some improvement. The … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged covers, Dick Dillin, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, My Greatest Adventure, Nick Cardy, Ruben Moreira, Sheldon Moldoff | Leave a comment

Expanding The War of the Worlds – part 2

Posted on July 23, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

If you read last week’s post, you know I’ve been discussing comics that expanded H.G. Wells’ classic novel The War of the Worlds. Today I want to start with The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore’s and Kevin O’Neill’s fun … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Moore, Cold War, D'Israeli, Emma Beeby, H.G. Wells, horror, I.N.J. Culbard, Ian Edginton, Kevin O'Neill, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, politics, Scarlet Traces, science fiction, War of the Worlds | 2 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (20 July 2020)

Posted on July 20, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your reminder that comics can be awesome, this week dedicated to the spectacular Batman covers of the artistic duo of Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson:

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Carmine Infantino, covers, Gaspar Saladino, Ira Schnapp, Murphy Anderson, Silver Age | Leave a comment

Expanding The War of the Worlds – part 1

Posted on July 16, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

A couple of months ago, I recommended (re)visiting H.G. Well’s The War of the Worlds. This classic sci-fi horror novel became a massive influence on pop culture as the urtext for books, films, television shows, theatre plays, and video games about … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Alan Davis, Amazing Adventures, Bill Mantlo, Cold War, Don McGregor, Fred van Lente, Gerry Conway, Greg Wright, H.G. Wells, horror, Howard Chaykin, James Robinson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Killraven, Manuel Garcia, Mark Farmer, Neal Adams, P. Craig Russell, Paul Cornell, politics, Roy Thomas, science fiction, War of the Worlds | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (13 July 2020)

Posted on July 13, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your badass reminder that comics can be awesome…

Posted in AWESOME COVERS | Tagged Black Science, Black Widow, covers, Elektra, Jeffrey Veregge, Joëlle Jones, Kaare Andrews, Lady Killer, Michelle Madsen, Mike Del Mundo, Ninjak, Phil Noto | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 4

Posted on July 9, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #530 (Yep, I’m still posting about superheroes, even though the latest proto-apocalyptic events seem to have finally pushed the genre out of public consciousness, perhaps suitably.) After the success of 1993-1994’s Knightfall, the different Batman books kept a closely … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Arcie Goodwin, Barry Kitson, Brian Stelfreeze, Chuck Dixon, Cindy Goff, Darren Vincenzo, Dave Taylor, David Roach, Deborah Pomerantz, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Flint Henry, Frank Miller, GCPD, Gene Ha, Gotham City, Graham Nolan, Greg Land, Greg Wright, horror, Howard Porter, J.M. DeMatteis, Jennifer Graves, Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, John Ostrander, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Kelley Jones, Keri Kowalski, Mark Waid, Mary Mitchell, Matt Wagner, Mike Chiarello, Mike Mignola, Mike Wieringo, Paul Gulacy, Peter Krause, politics, reading order, Scott McDaniel, Scott Peterson, Todd McFarlane, Underworld Unleashed, Yancey Labat | 2 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (6 July 2020)

Posted on July 6, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Prompted by the Atomic Age, the 1950s were one of the coolest decades for American science fiction. Ray Bradbury, a key writer in elevating the genre’s cultural status from disposable pulp to respected literature, published The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged covers, Frank Giacoia, Gil Kane, Ira Schnapp, Jack Adler, movies, Murphy Anderson, science fiction, Strange Adventures | Leave a comment