Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

The despicable pre-Crisis Man-Bat

Posted on May 8, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

Man-Bat isn’t one of the most inspired concepts in Batman comics. Taking to the extreme the notion that great villains are an inversion of the heroes, Man-Bat’s name is a literal reversal of Batman’s… As for his origin, it’s just … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Bob Haney, Chuck Dixon, Dick Giordano, Don Newton, Doug Moench, Flint Henry, Frank Robbins, horror, Jamie Delano, John Bolton, Kelley Jones, Man-Bat, Neal Adams | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (May 2019)

Posted on May 3, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

While I hope superheroes don’t become as hegemonic in film as they did in comic books, Anthony and Joe Russo’s Avengers: Endgame is further proof that this genre can make for great cinema that is both fun to watch and … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Adam Gorham, Black Widow, Brett Breeding, Dave Sharpe, Dead Drop, Ex Machina, George Pérez, JD Mettler, Jim Clark, Marvel Fanfare, Michael Spicer, movies, Petra Scotese, Ralph Macchio, Tom Orzechowski, Tony Harris | Leave a comment

Two-fisted cyberpunk comics

Posted on April 25, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

Every once in a while, the zeitgeist hits the world of cinema with just the right creative force for it to spit out a bunch of simultaneous gems with a similar mood. For example, 1981 was clearly one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged B. Clay Moore, Bloodshot, Christos Gage, Cory Smith, Daniel Kibblesmith, Duane Swierczynski, Emanuela Lupacchino, Fred van Lente, Guillermo Ortego, Jeff Lemire, Joe Harris, Johnnie Christmas, Joseph Cooper, Joshua Dysart, Magnus Robot Fighter, Matt Hollingsworth, movies, politics, Rick Remender, Roberto Castro, Rus Wooton, science fiction, Sean Murphy, Tokyo Ghost, Trevor Hairsine, Will Rosado | Leave a comment

On covers featuring Cassandra Cain as Batgirl

Posted on April 19, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

This week has been all about celebrating my favorite features of the first eighty years of Batman comics. I’ll finish with one that I don’t think has gotten enough attention, at least not in recent times… I’m referring to all … Continue reading →

Posted in COVERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batgirl, Cassandra Cain, covers, Damion Scott, James Jean, Kelley Puckett, Patrick Martin, Robert Campanella | Leave a comment

On prison breaks

Posted on April 18, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

Part of the general appeal of superhero comics is seeing how different creators face the challenges posed by the tight formulas. Some writers and artists manage to work their way around genre restrictions, others hang an amusing lampshade on them, … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Arkham Asylum, Brian K. Vaughan, Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson, Devin K. Grayson, Doug Moench, Jim Balent, John Lowe, Rick Burchett | Leave a comment

On the Joker’s broken reflection

Posted on April 17, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last posts, you know what’s going on. Each day this week I’m focusing on a specific aspect of Batman comics that really appeals to me. As any fan of this blog can tell, I love finding … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Alan Moore, Bret Blevins, Brian Bolland, Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller, John Higgins, Joker | Leave a comment

On giant cash registers

Posted on April 16, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

To celebrate eighty years of stories featuring the Caped Crusader, each day of this week I’ll be highlighting something I find especially neat about Batman comics. Today, let’s look at over-the-top action scenes set among giant props. Batman #185 Batman … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Alan Davis, Brent Anderson, Dave Cockrum, Dick Sprang, Ed Brubaker, Gotham City, Jim Mooney, Joe Giella, Lew Schwarz, Max Allan Collins, Mike W. Barr, Rick Burchett, Sheldon Moldoff, Sholly Fisch, Silver Age, Will Pfeifer | Leave a comment

On Gotham City’s beat cops

Posted on April 15, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

According to Mike’s Amazing World, the very first Batman tale came out eighty years ago this week, in Detective Comics #27. I figured I should mark the occasion on this blog with something different, so this week I’m going daily … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged GCPD, Gotham City | Leave a comment

John Ostrander’s expanded Batman

Posted on April 11, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

John Ostrander has written more cool comics than most of his peers. Some of them feature Batman and other Gotham citizens, although those projects don’t always play to his strengths, since they tend to be short fill-ins or mini-series. Ostrander … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Charles Paris, Denny O'Neil, Flint Henry, Gotham City, Jenette Kahn, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Mary Mitchell, Paul Levitz, politics, Tom Mandrake, Vince Giarrano | Leave a comment

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (April 2019)

Posted on April 3, 2019 by I.M. Baytor

Your monthly reminder that comics can be awesome: Ninja-K #4 Atomic Robo: The Flying She-Devils of the Pacific #3 Black Science #27

Posted in GLIMPSES INTO AWESOMENESS | Tagged Andrew Dalhouse, Atomic Robo, Black Science, Brian Clevinger, Christos Gage, Juan Jose Ryp, Matteo Scalera, Moreno Sinisio, Ninja-K, Ninjak, Rick Remender, Rus Wooten, Scott Wegener | Leave a comment