Author Archives: I.M. Baytor

On Dick Grayson, the Teen Wonder

If Dick Grayson’s childhood was pretty unusual, his adolescence was totally out there. While Detective Comics didn’t promote him from Boy Wonder to Teen Wonder until 1970, in the mid-60s Robin became a founding member of the Teen Titans:           … Continue reading

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On Dick Grayson, the Boy Wonder

Although the idea of Batman running around with an unarmed kid dressed in bright colors whom he takes to gun fights with psychopathic terrorists may strike some as, at the very least, child neglect, it’s an idea that has stuck … Continue reading

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Nods to the 1960s’ Batman TV show

          It’s not exactly a secret that one of the most fun Batman comics currently coming out is Batman ‘66, based on the sexy pop art TV series which originally aired from 1966 to 1968, starring Adam West as … Continue reading

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Gerry Conway’s marvelized Batman

After being largely ignored for a long time, Gerry Conway’s Batman run in the early 1980s has been the object of well-deserved rediscovery in recent years (not least because of the haunting pencils by Don Newton and Gene Colan). These … Continue reading

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Film noir detective stories – part 2

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are more film suggestions for fans of noir detective stories: DEAD RECKONING (1947) -Put Christmas in your eyes and keep your voice low. Tell me about paradise and … Continue reading

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Film noir detective stories – part 1

Although film noir was a product of the 1940s and (arguably) the 1950s, since then its serpentine plots, mordant dialogue, and shadowy atmosphere have persistently inspired spoofs as well as straight-faced pastiches, including several Batman comics. With that in mind, … Continue reading

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10 covers where Batman tries bizarre costumes

As a fan of covers that jump at the reader, I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of themes provide cool visuals. For example, I really dig covers where it looks like Batman is about to get shot. Another … Continue reading

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If you like Mask of the Phantasm…

With the possible exception of the Nolan trilogy, Mask of the Phantasm came the closest to capturing the feel of the coolest Batman comics and projecting it on the big screen. In fact, this movie spin-off of the awesome Batman: … Continue reading

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If you like Christopher Nolan’s Batman films…

While most superhero movies serve you generic, more or less well-crafted adventure/fantasy, an interesting thing about the cinematic versions of the Dark Knight is that they’ve all been lavishly shaped by their directors’ eccentricities. I’m OK with that – I … Continue reading

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If you like Joel Schumacher’s Batman films…

After Tim Burton brought to the screen a surreal, alternative version of the Batman universe with echoes of the 1940s, director Joel Schumacher picked up the mantle and drove this cinematic franchise into the Silver Age. Leaving behind the grim … Continue reading

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