Category Archives: ART OF BATMAN COMICS

Jim Aparo’s schlocky Batman

Posted on April 4, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Batman #415 For some, it may sound odd to describe Jim Aparo’s Batman comics as ‘schlocky,’ given that not too long ago Aparo came in second at CBR’s poll of greatest Batman artists, right after the immensely talented Neal Adams. … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alan Grant, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bob Haney, Christopher Priest, Flint Henry, James Sinclair, Jim Aparo, Jim Starlin, John Byrne, John Cebollero, Mark Buckingham, Mike W. Barr, Neal Adams, Peter Milligan | 11 Comments

Bernie Wrightson (1948-2017)

Posted on March 22, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

John Trumbull said it all. Hidden Treasures

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Bernie Wrightson, horror | 2 Comments

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

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

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

3 sleek fights by Bret Blevins

Posted on June 21, 2016 by I.M. Baytor

Bret Blevins has drawn a bunch of cool Batman comics and, in the process, delivered some truly rousing fight scenes. Although Blevins doesn’t always hit the mark (especially when working with inkers or colorists that screw up his crispy pencils), … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Bob Smith, Bret Blevins, Denny O'Neil, martial arts | Leave a comment

Bronze Age Splashes

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

Even though Archie Goodwin was an amazing writer (not to mention a legendary editor), I’m not as big a fan of his 1970s’ run on Detective Comics as others are. I gladly admit, though, that in terms of art, those … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Alex Toth, Archie Goodwin, Howard Chaykin, Jim Aparo, Sal Amendola, Walt Simonson, Will Eisner | Leave a comment

The Dick Sprang challenge

Posted on November 24, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Of Bob Kane’s various ghost artists, probably none was more defining than Dick Sprang, with his bold, clean-cut, upbeat, square-jawed, barrel-chested, Chester Gould-ish depiction of the Caped Crusader. But besides being one of the most recognizable and stylish Batman artists … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Bob Kane, Dick Sprang | Leave a comment

A symphony of kicks in the head

Posted on September 15, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

There is probably no cliché Batman fans hate more than ‘BIFF! ZAP! POW! COMICS ARE NOT JUST FOR KIDS ANYMORE!’ It’s bad enough that you don’t realize comics haven’t been *just* for kids for a very looooong time… but do … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Ben Oda, Jim Aparo, John Costanza, martial arts, Tim Harkins, Todd Klein, Willie Schubert | Leave a comment

3 more nods to the Batman TV show, by Klaus Janson

Posted on June 8, 2015 by I.M. Baytor

Last month I pointed out how various Batman comics have featured nods to the 1960s’ Batman TV show. I spotlighted some of the most obvious ones, but of course there have been plenty more sprinkled here and there throughout the … Continue reading →

Posted in ART OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Batman TV series, Klaus Janson | Leave a comment