Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

10 brilliant issues of Astro City – part 2

Posted on July 2, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are another five brilliant issues of Astro City: ‘Where the Action Is’ (Astro City (v2) #21) Another blatantly ‘meta’ issue, albeit with a more satirical bent. ‘Where … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Astro City, Brent Anderson, Cold War, Dan Slott, Graham Nolan, Kurt Busiek, politics, Tom Peyer | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (29 June 2020)

Posted on June 29, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Your weekly reminder that comics can be awesome, Alfred Pennyworth edition… …and I just can’t resist adding this mouth-watering pastiche, from the wonderful blog Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues!:

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alex Ross, Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Smith, Brian Bolland, covers, Dick Sprang, Lee Loughridge, Terry Beatty | Leave a comment

10 brilliant issues of Astro City – part 1

Posted on June 25, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

I’ve mentioned before that Astro City is one of the most accomplished superhero comics in recent memory. This anthology series takes place in its own autonomous universe, providing us with fresh ways to look at all the archetypes developed by … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Alex Ross, Alex Sinclair, Astro City, Brent Anderson, Kurt Busiek, Richard Starkings, science fiction, Steve Buccelatto, Wendy Broome | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (22 June 2020)

Posted on June 22, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Readers of this blog know that I am a firm believer that, even in these agitated times, genre fiction remains an interesting way to conceptualize what is happening around us. For instance, if the first half of 2020 filled screens … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged Alfredo Elias, Bernard Baily, Bernie Wrightson, Carl Burgos, covers, horror, House of Secrets, Journey into Mystery, Mike Kaluta, movies, politics, Scary Tales, science fiction, Stan Goldberg, Swamp Thing, Weird Mysteries | Leave a comment

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 3

Posted on June 18, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Vengeance of Bane We’re back with another installment of the 1990s’ Batman comics reading guide! Sadly, in the meantime this feature has also become a tribute to the recently deceased group editor of these titles, Dennis O’Neil, whose vision was … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Azrael, Batman's personality, Bret Blevins, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Darren Vincenzo, Dave Johnson, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Garth Ennis, Graham Nolan, Jihn Wagner, Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Jo Duffy, Joe Quesada, John McCrea, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Kelley Jones, Kevin Altieri, Kevin O'Neill, Knightfall, Lee Weeks, Mark Bright, Mike Gustovich, Norm Breyfogle, Phil Jimenez, Punisher, reading order, Ron Wagner, Sam Kieth, Scott Peterson, Tom Grummett | 5 Comments

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (15 June 2020)

Posted on June 15, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Lately I’ve been using the COMICS CAN BE AWESOME section to spotlight nifty covers, mostly of old, Cold War-era series, from war/horror hybrids to pulpy fantasy anthologies (usually with the words ‘weird,’ ‘strange,’ and/or ‘mystery’ in the title)… I’m not the … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged 1963, Big Bang Comics, Bulletproof Coffin, Chis Ecker, Cold War, covers, Laura Allred, Madman, Mike Allred, Scott Morse, Shaky Kane, Stephen Bissette, Strange Science Fantasy | Leave a comment

Dennis O’Neil (1939-2020)

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

One of the greatest figures in comics since the late 1960s, Dennis J. O’Neil (affectionately known as Denny), passed away two days ago. Although he dabbled in all sorts of genres, his specialty as a writer were brazenly pulpy, two-fisted … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Denny O'Neil | Leave a comment

A couple of old-school detective novels

Posted on June 11, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Because I also like books without pictures, this week let’s switch gears for a bit and look at a couple of very cool non-comics detective novels: THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS (Eric Ambler, 1939) “A Frenchman named Chamfort, who should have … Continue reading →

Posted in HARDBOILED CRIME | Tagged books without pictures, Eric Ambler, espionage, noir, politics, Ross MacDonald | 1 Comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (8 June 2020)

Posted on June 8, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

One of the reasons this section of the blog went weekly a couple of months ago was as a way to encourage those who could to stay at home in order to help contain the covid-19 pandemic. Now is the … Continue reading →

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST | Tagged Artie Simek, Bill Everett, covers, Creepy Worlds, Dick Ayers, Gil Kane, horror, Ira Schnapp, Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert, Mike Esposito, politics, Ross Andru, Stan Goldberg, Stan Lee, Star Spangled War Stories, Steve Ditko, Strange Adventures, Tales of Suspense, Tales to Astonish | 2 Comments

1990s’ Batman comics reading guide – part 2

Posted on June 4, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #440 As promised a couple of weeks ago, here is the second installment of my recommended reading order for the various Gotham City-based comics of the 1990s, which tended to play particularly well off each other. What follows is … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Anton Furst, Batman's personality, Cam Kennedy, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Dave Gibbons, Denny O'Neil, Denys Cowan, Doug Moench, Dwayne McDuffie, Elaine Lee, Flint Henry, Gabriel Morrissette, Jim Aparo, Jim Fern, John Ostrander, John Wagner, Keith Giffen, Kelley Puckett, Louise Simonson, Luke McDonnell, Marv Wolfman, Matt Wagner, Mike Baron, Mike Grell, Mike McKone, Mike W. Barr, Norm Breyfogle, Pat Broderick, Peter Milligan, reading order, Rich Hedden, Steve Rude, Tim Drake, Tom Grindberg, Tom Lyle, Val Semeiks | 8 Comments