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THE AVENGERS Volume 1, Number 117 (November 1973) Holocaust
The worldwide conflict between the Avengers and the Defenders continues this time around. This multi-part crossover story was done at a time before such crossover “special events” were going on all the time, so readers from back then would have been blown away by all this.
HOLOCAUST
Synopsis: This issue opens up in the Dark Dimension ruled by Dormammu, the flame-headed villain who – with help from the blinded Loki – manipulated the Defenders into trying to reassemble the scattered fragments of the Evil Eye of Avalon.
Dormammu is raging and ranting in his confusion over why the Avengers are opposing the Defenders in their efforts.
The Lord of the Dark Dimension doesn’t know that Loki secretly manipulated the Avengers into becoming involved because he grew suspicious about whether Dormammu would really cure his blindness and share the power of the Evil Eye.
Loki feigns ignorance as he and Dormammu resume monitoring events from the Dark Dimension.
BATTLE FOUR: THE VALKYRIE VERSUS THE SWORDSMAN – The Avenger called the Swordsman has reached the Bolivian jungle in his Quin-Jet to search for his fragment of the Evil Eye of Avalon. The reader gets some character bits as Swordsy contemplates his checkered career on both sides of the law.
His respect for his lady-love Mantis and his gratitude toward her for getting him to go straight and rejoin the Avengers are prominently displayed as is his determination not to let down his fellow Avengers.
In the sky over a castle apparently built by a Nazi war criminal who escaped to Bolivia the Quin-Jet is attacked by the Defender called the Valkyrie astride the Black Knight’s winged horse Aragorn.
The Valkyrie uses her massive super-strength and the indestructible sword she appropriated from the incapacitated Black Knight to bring down the Quin-Jet. The Swordsman lands the crippled aircraft just outside the castle and pursues the Valkyrie inside, assuming that must be where the Bolivian fragment of the Eye is being held. Continue reading
DAY TWO, GAME ONE: The 5th seeded CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS started off Day Two with their game against the 8 seeds – the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS. The Tigers quickly shot off to a 3-0 lead in the 1st Inning and that score remained unchanged until the 4th, which ended in a 4-1 lead for Campbellsville U. The Rambling Rams gave up 5 more runs in the 5th Inning and the slaughter was in play. The Tigers won the game TWELVE to TWO for Pitcher Nick Johntson (sic). 
DAY TWO, GAME TWO: Up next the 6 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES – took on the 7th seeded OAKLAND CITY UNIVERSITY MIGHTY OAKS. After 2 scoreless Innings the Eagles went up 3-0 in the 3rd. After that Southwestern Christian University kept the Mighty Oaks off the scoreboard until the 9th Inning while adding runs of their own in the 6th and 7th. Jacob Spencer pitched for the 9-2 Eagles win. 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE: The day started with this clash between the 3 seeds – the BETHESDA (CA) UNIVERSITY FLAMES and the 7th seeded OAKLAND CITY UNIVERSITY MIGHTY OAKS. After 2 scoreless Innings the Flames grabbed a 2-0 edge in the 3rd. The Mighty Oaks made it a 2-1 game in the 5th Inning but by the end of the 6th Bethesda University held a 6-2 lead. From there the Flames coasted to a 9-4 victory with Pitcher Daniel Arellano getting the win. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO: Up next the 8th seeded BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS played the 4 seeds – the ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE EAGLES. Neither team scored until the 4th Inning, when the Eagles snuck on top 1-0. All that did was make the Rambling Rams angry and they proceeded to put up runs in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Innings. Daniel Ruiz pitched the entire game for the Rambling Rams in this 7-1 win. 
Balladeer’s Blog takes a break from mock headlines to do random lines from mock news stories. 
Balladeer’s Blog once again focuses on Adam Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard), the subject of my new “Give Them A Shoutout Before They’re Dead” feature. 
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO 
DELTA STATE 
COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY 
THE DEFENDERS Volume 1, Number 9 (October 1973) Divide and Conquer
Neither the Avengers nor the Defenders are aware that they are being manipulated by Dormammu – an enemy of Dr Strange and the Defenders – and by Loki, an enemy of Thor and the Avengers. The Avengers think they are preventing the Defenders from enacting revenge against the world over their various grievances, a revenge that the reassembled Evil Eye of Avalon will make unstoppable. 
TOP SEED 
SECOND SEED 
THIRD SEED 
Another day, another attack by Muslim fascists in the name of their blood-crazed religion. (If you doubt me on the “daily” part read my periodic Muslim Atrocity Roundups. This is a global conflict and not a day goes by without blood being shed.)
The Muslim attacker targeted a largely female crowd from around 6-18 years of age.
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