Tag Archives: Len Wein

Spotlight on Slam Bradley

Posted on January 25, 2024 by I.M. Baytor

The Dark Knight isn’t the only detective in Batman comics. In fact, having finally read last year’s six-part mini-series Gotham City: Year One, my mind has been on the astounding significance gained by one of the oldest detectives around: Slam … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adam Hughes, Clayton Cowles, Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, Eric Gapstur, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Howard Sherman, Jerry Siege, Jim Aparo, Joe Shuster, Jordie Bellaire, Len Wein, Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Mike W. Barr, noir, Paul Gulacy, Phil Hester, politics, Scott Snyder, Slam Bradley, Tom King | Leave a comment

Spotlight on The Unknown Soldier, 1980-1982

Posted on April 15, 2021 by I.M. Baytor

This is the final installment in my overview of Bob Haney’s neglected run on The Unknown Soldier, which ended with a bang. By 1980, this World War II-set comic had turned into a fairly mechanic, well-oiled enterprise. Haney churned out … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Adolf Hitler, Bob Haney, Bob LeRose, Dick Ayers, Elizabeth Breitweiser, espionage, Garth Ennis, Gerry Talaoc, Jerry Serpe, Joe Kubert, Len Wein, Mike W. Barr, Paul Levitz, politics, Rick Veitch, Steve Epting, Unknown Soldier, World War II | Leave a comment

2020’s books of the year – part 2

Posted on January 14, 2021 by I.M. Baytor

If you read last week’s post, you know I’m doing a countdown of the most Gotham Calling books of 2020. Enjoy! 16. UNDONE BY BLOOD Collected as Undone by Blood or The Shadow of a Wanted Man, the first … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Adam Hughes, Alex Toth, Allan Harvey, Atlas at War, Charlie Kirchoff, Chris Brunner, Chris Weston, Christian Alamy, Chuck Dixon, Cold War, Cully Hamner, Dan Spiegle, Daniel Hillyard, David Michelinie, DC Goes to War, Doug Dabbs, Doug Wagner, Drew Moore, Ed Herron, Eduardo Barreto, espionage, Garth Ennis, Gene Colan, Gerry Talaoc, Hank Chapman, Harvey Kurtzman, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Jack Davis, Jack Kirby, Jason Wordie, Jerry Grandenetti, Jerry Robinson, Joe Kubert, Joe Maneely, Joe Simon, Joe Sinnott, John Severin, Judith Hunt, Laura Martin, Lee Loughridge, Len Wein, Lonnie Nadler, Mark Evanier, Marv Wolfman, Michael Esposito, Michael J. Vassallo, Michael Kelleher, Michael Uslan, Paul Reinman, politics, Robert Kanigher, Russ Heath, Sam Glanzman, Sam Kweslin, Sami Kivelä, Scott Nybakken, Stan Lee, The Ride, Tomm Coker, Undone by Blood, Werner Roth, western, World War II, Zac Thompson | 2 Comments

Two-fisted fantasy comics

Posted on May 28, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

Lately I’ve been writing mostly about sci-fi for this section of the blog, so I think it’s time to shift our attention to another great adventure genre: fantasy. Fantasy is one of those umbrella genres that covers a massive spectrum … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Grant, Alfonso Azpiri, Archer & Armstrong, Archie Goodwin, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bernie Wrightson, Black Hawk, Clayton Henry, Cold War, Conan, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Eliot Rahal, Emanuela Lupacchino, Fred van Lente, Gerry Conway, Gerry Finley-Day, Gil Kane, Jim Starlin, Jody Houser, John Buscema, John Jakes, John Romita, Ka-Zar, Kelvin Gosnell, Khari Evans, Len Wein, Mark Waid, Massimo Belardinelli, Pere Pérez, politics, Roy Thomas, Russ Heath, Savage Tales, science fiction, Stan Lee, Steve Gan, sword & sorcery | Leave a comment

On the periphery of Batman’s rogues’ gallery

Posted on January 23, 2020 by I.M. Baytor

This is Gotham Calling’s 300th post! I usually take these occasions to celebrate the richness and weirdness of Batman’s extensive rogues’ gallery, which includes all sorts of odd criminals, ranging from iconic characters like the Joker and the Penguin all … Continue reading →

Posted in GOTHAM CITIZENS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alan Grant, Batman's personality, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Calendar Man, Chuck Dixon, Crazy-Quilt, Doug Moench, France Herron, Gene Colan, George Roussos, Grant Morrison, Jack Kirby, Jerry Robinson, Jim Mooney, Joe Giella, Kevin Smith, Len Wein, Mike Deodato, Mikel Janín, Pat Broderick, Paul Dini, Rick Hoberg, Robert Kanigher, Ryan Benjamin, Scott Snyder, Sheldon Moldoff, Silver Age, Tim Sale, Tom King, Tony Daniel, villains, Walt Simonson | 2 Comments

Minor but cool sci-fi comics

Posted on March 22, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

After the remarkable Ex Machina, Alex Garland has now put together another tense, intelligent science fiction film in the form of Annihilation. The movie feels like a welcome reminder that, even though cinema tends to simplify the dense, heady tales … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 7 Against Chaos, Alan Moore, Alex Toth, Bernard Devillers, Brian Bolland, Bruno Gazzotti, Caliban, Carmine Infantino, Clear Blue Tomorrows, Daniel Clowes, Dick Sprang, Fabien Vehlmann, Facundo Percio, Fatima: The Blood Spinners, Frank Frazetta, Gardner Fox, Garth Ennis, Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, Gilbert Hernandez, Harlan Ellison, Heartburst, Hernan Cabrera, horror, Jack Kirby, Jim Mooney, Joe Kubert, Ken Steacy, Larry Niven, Len Wein, movies, Murphy Anderson, Mystery in Space, Otto Binder, Paul Chadwick, Ralph Meyer, Rick Veitch, Robert Kanigher, science fiction, Sebastian Cabrol, space opera, Stuart Moore, Tom Yeates, Virgil Finlay | Leave a comment

Len Wein (1948-2017)

Posted on September 11, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

In the same year, we lost Bernie Wrightson and Len Wein, the two creators of Swamp Thing. May you rest in peace and do not come back as a tragic vegetable creature or a patchwork Frankensteinian monster reanimated by Anton Arcane. … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITERS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Len Wein | 1 Comment

Batman collections for casual readers

Posted on March 17, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

You know who Batman is. At least the gist of it. You’ve seen him in books or in films or on television, hopefully at his best. Probably, you’re even familiar with some of his supporting cast and rogues gallery, not … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alan Grant, Archie Goodwin, Bob Haney, Brian Apthorp, Carlo Berberi, Carmine Infantino, Cary Bates, Chuck Dixon, Curt Swan, Dan Jurgens, David V. Reed, Denny O'Neil, Doug Moench, Eric Jones, Gardner Fox, Gerry Conway, J. Bone, J. Torres, Jack Abel, Jerry Serpe, Jim Aparo, Joe Giela, John Calnan, Kieron Dwyer, Landry Q. Walker, Len Wein, Linda Medley, Marshall Rogers, Mike Sekowsky, Neal Adams, Norm Breyfogle, Rich Buckler, Richmond Lewis, Stan Woch, Steve Englehart, Terry Austin, Tex Blaisdell, Tim Sale | 7 Comments

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