Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

3 blackout sequences by Adrienne Roy

Posted on November 3, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Much of this blog has been devoted to writers and artists of Batman comics but, like many other fans, I don’t talk nearly as much about colorists. With that in mind, this week Gotham Calling pays homage to Adrienne Roy, … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Joe Rubinstein, Lee Weeks, Scott Hanna, Tom Lyle, Tom Mandrake | 1 Comment

Elseworlds’ gothic homages

Posted on October 27, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

When coming up with alternative takes on Batman – usually as part of DC’s Elseworlds line – many authors have looked for inspiration in classic works of gothic literature and film. The reason this tends to work so well, I … Continue reading →

Posted in WEBS OF FICTION | Tagged Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Dave Stewart, Dennis Janke, Doug Moench, Guy Davis, horror, Jean-Marc Lofficier, Jeromy Cox, John E. Workman, John Francis Moore, Kelley Jones, Kieron Dwyer, Len Wein, Les Dorscheid, Malcolm Jones III, Mike Grell, Mike Mignola, movies, Randy Lofficier, Richard Pace, Ted McKeever, Todd Klein, Troy Nixey | Leave a comment

Awesome Swamp Thing splashes by Nestor Redondo

Posted on October 20, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Taking a break from Batman comics for a moment… Artist extraordinaire Bernie Wrightson deservedly gets a lot of praise for his work on the original Swamp Thing series – a true horror/fantasy classic! – but his successor, Nestor Redondo, did … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF HORROR COMICS | Tagged David Michelinie, horror, Len Wein, Marcos Pelayos, Nestor Redondo, Swamp Thing, Tatjana Wood | Leave a comment

3 creepy sequences by Gene Colan

Posted on October 13, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

With his tilted angles and grim shadows, Gene Colan was one of the undisputed masters of horror art and he proved it time and time again during his lengthy run on Batman comics, in the early eighties. Colored by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Adrian Gonzales, Adrienne Roy, Alfredo Alcala, Annette Kawecki, Ben Oda, Doug Moench, Gene Colan, Gerry Conway, horror, Paul Levitz, Tony DeZuniga | 1 Comment

13 Batman ghost stories

Posted on October 6, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Because I’m super original, I’m devoting the whole month of October to horror… What can I say, I can’t get enough of gothic comics, especially when they involve Batman battling some restless spirit or a freaky ancient curse! One of … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Archie Goodwin, Bob Haney, Denny O'Neil, Dick Giordano, Frank Robbins, horror, Irv Novick, Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, Robert Kanigher, Sal Amendola | 2 Comments

Another damn week in Batman’s life

Posted on September 29, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

MONDAY Batman #221 TUESDAY Detective Comics #617 WEDNESDAY Batman #453 THURSDAY The Batman Adventures Annual #1 FRIDAY Batman: Black and White #1 SATURDAY The Batman Adventures #21 SUNDAY Legends of the Dark Knight #29

Posted in GOTHAM INTERLUDES | Leave a comment

5 R-rated superhero comics

Posted on September 22, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

So yeah, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. There is something puzzling in almost every scene of this film. Why did Bruce’s employees wait for his phone call before evacuating a building that was obviously about to be crushed? Why … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Alan Moore, Alias, Brian Michael Bendis, Carrie Strachan, Cold War, Colin Wilson, David Mack, Davide Gianfelice, Ed Brubaker, espionage, Francesco Mortarino, Frank Miller, Frank Quitely, Jessica Jones, Juan Jose Ryp, Jupiter's Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, Mark Bagley, Mark Millar, Michael Gaydos, Michah Ian Wright, movies, No Hero, noir, politics, science fiction, Sean Phillips, Sleeper, Stormwatch Team Achilles, Tony Avina, Warren Ellis, Wilfredo Torres, Zack Snyder | Leave a comment

Another 50 images of kicks in the head

Posted on September 15, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Today is Gotham Calling’s second anniversary, so you know what that means… Another year of compiling lists with questionable suggestions, writing down geeky rants and factoids, and thinking way too long about the characters, creators, and politics of Batman comics … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged martial arts | 3 Comments

Collections of Batman stories – part 2

Posted on September 8, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are another five compilations of Batman stories worth seeking out: TALES OF THE DEMON (1991) Tales of the Demon collects the first handful of stories Denny O’Neil wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Davis, Alan Grant, Bob Brown, Darwyn Cooke, Denny O'Neil, Don Newton, horror, Irv Novick, Jim Aparo, Jo Duffy, John Wagner, Kieron Dwyer, Max Allan Collins, Michael Golden, Mike W. Barr, Neal Adams, noir, Norm Breyfogle, Peter Milligan, Robert Greenberger, Tom Mandrake | Leave a comment

Collections of Batman stories – part 1

Posted on September 1, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Among the countless Batman books out there – old and new, classic or disposable – there is a whole subsection that strikes me as an ideal gateway for those who have heard of this Bruce Wayne fella but are still … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Brennert, Andrew Helfer, Archie Goodwin, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman's personality, Bill Finger, Brad Rader, Brian Bolland, Bruce Timm, Chris Sprouse, Chuck Dixon, Gardner Fox, Grant Morrison, Greg Wright, horror, Jeph Loeb, Kelley Puckett, Kevin Nowlan, Lee Bermejo, Martin Pasko, Matt Wagner, Mike Parobeck, Neil Gaiman, noir, Rick Burchett, Rick Taylor, Ted McKeever, Teddy Kristiansen, Tim Harkins, Tim Sale, Todd Klein, Ty Templeton, Walt Simonson | Leave a comment