Tag Archives: politics

Weird futuristic war comics

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

It has become a kind of winter tradition here at the blog to do a post spotlighting cool sci-fi comics about warfare. This started out years ago, as a one-idea post prompted by Rogue One, but there is an endless … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Cary Nord, Cold War, D'Israeli, Doug Moench, Ed Hannigan, Hilary Barta, Janice Cohen, Jim Mooney, Joe O'Brien, John Ostrander, Keenan Marshall Keller, Lenin Delson, Mark Nelson, Mike Gold, Mike Grell, Mike Gustovitch, Mike Ploog, movies, Paul Cornell, Planet of the Apes, politics, Rob Prior, Robert Venditti, science fiction, space opera, Starslayer, Steve Oliff, Timothy Truman, Tom Neely, Tom Sutton, Ty Templeton, Xtnct | Leave a comment

2018’s book of the year

Posted on December 26, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

This is the time of the year when bloggers share their best-of-the-year lists. I don’t usually play along because I mostly read old stuff and don’t have enough of a grip on current publications to make any authoritative claim about … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOKS OF THE YEAR | Tagged Al Feldstein, Bernard Krigstein, Bernie Krigstein, Bill Gaines, Cold War, Greg Sadowski, horror, Nick Drnaso, noir, Otto Binder, politics, Ray Bradbury, science fiction | Leave a comment

On Mission: Impossible, the original TV series

Posted on August 11, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

After a whole month looking at spy fiction, it’s only fair I give you my take on the latest summer blockbuster, the spy thriller Mission: Impossible – Fallout. I’ll do that in the next post, though. First, some words about … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, Cold War, espionage, Mission Impossible, movies, politics | Leave a comment

Spotlight on Jimmy’s Bastards

Posted on July 24, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

In the fourth week of this year’s Gotham Calling spy month, we’re looking at Jimmy’s Bastards, a recently completed mini-series about a thinly-veiled version of James Bond, called Jimmy Regent (because Bond and Regent are both London tube stations, get … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Dave Gibbons, espionage, Garth Ennis, James Bond, Jimmy's Bastards, John Kalisz, Mark Millar, movies, politics, Rob Steen, Russ Braun | 1 Comment

Spotlight on Queen & Country

Posted on July 6, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

July is the month of spy comics here at Gotham Calling. Let’s kick things off with what is unquestionably one of the all-time greatest spy series in the medium: Queen & Country. Originally published between 2001 and 2007 by Oni … Continue reading →

Posted in SPYCRAFT & WARFARE | Tagged Antony Johnston, Brian Hurtt, Carla Speed McNeil, Chris Samnee, Christopher Mitten, Cold War, espionage, Greg Rucka, Jason Alexander, Joe Sacco, Leandro Frenandez, Mike Hawthorne, politics, Queen & Country, Rick Burchett, Steve Lieber, Steve Rolston | Leave a comment

Anatomy of Batman #372 and Detective Comics #539

Posted on June 19, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

Back when I discussed Doug Moench’s 1980s Batman run, I singled out as its most striking features Moench’s literary emphasis on symbolism, characterization, politics, and intertextuality. This week, I’ll zoom in on one story in particular which powerfully combines all … Continue reading →

Posted in POLITICS OF BATMAN COMICS | Tagged Adrienne Roy, Alfredo Alcala, Bob Smith, boxing, Don Newton, Doug Moench, noir, politics | Leave a comment

More minor but cool sci-fi comics

Posted on April 26, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

I did one of these last month, after watching Annihilation. Now, to celebrate the return of Westworld, I’m spotlighting another half-dozen underrated sci-fi comics: OCEAN It’s a testament to Warren Ellis’ creative mind and writing skills that Ocean is … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Al Feldstein, Bill Gaines, Brett Weldede, Carlos Trigo, Chris Sprouse, Cold War, Dan Abnett, Dylan Teague, Hernry Flint, Jack Kamen, Jack Oleck, Jack Potter, Jean Léturgie, Karl Story, Montero, Ocean, Pat Mills, Patrick Goddard, politics, Polstar, Ray Bradbury, Richard Elson, Robert Venditti, science fiction, Simon Léturgie, The Surrogates, Visible Man, Wardog, Warren Ellis, Zero Hour | Leave a comment

Batman’s animated team-ups

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

I wish I had something more original to say about the latest hit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I’m with the crowd: Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is a masterpiece. Building on utopic alternate history to respond to Afro-pessimism, the … Continue reading →

Posted in SUPER POWERS | Tagged Batman TV series, Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm, Dwayne McDuffie, Frank Quitely, Gail Simone, Grant Morrison, J.M. DeMatteis, Joss Whedon, Matt Wayne, movies, Paul Dini, politics, science fiction, Stan Berkowitz, Warren Ellis, World War II | Leave a comment

Great ‘No Man’s Land’ stories – part 1

Posted on January 18, 2018 by I.M. Baytor

No Man’s Land was an ambitious crossover that ran through the various Batman-related comic series throughout 1999. It took place after an earthquake had destroyed much of Gotham City, in Cataclysm, leading up to a strand of tasteless disaster-related stories … Continue reading →

Posted in BATMAN COMICS FOR BEGINNERS | Tagged Alex Maleev, Bob Gale, D'Israeli, Dale Eaglesham, David Stewart, Denny O'Neil, Devin K. Grayson, Gotham City, Guy Davis, Ian Edginton, Lisa Klink, Lovern Kindzierski, Matt Hollingsworth, No Man's Land, Pamela Rambo, Phil Winslade, politics, Sal Buscema, Wayne Faucher | Leave a comment

More sci-fi war comics

Posted on December 27, 2017 by I.M. Baytor

Another December, another Star Wars movie, another Gotham Calling post spotlighting sci-fi war comics… To be honest, as far as the main Star Wars series is concerned, The Last Jedi may be the one that finally lost me. … Continue reading →

Posted in FANTASTIC ADVENTURES | Tagged 2000 AD, Alan Moore, Drew Moss, East of West, Frank Martin, Gianluca Pagliarani, Halo Jones, Ian Gibson, Ignition City, Jay Faerber, Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, politics, Rus Wooton, science fiction, Scott Godlewski, space opera, Star Wars, Warren Ellis, western | Leave a comment