For this superhero-crazed world Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of B.C. Boyer’s neglected 1980s superhero the Masked Man. For Part One click HERE
ECLIPSE MONTHLY Vol 1 #3 (October 1983)
Title: The Birth
Villain: The Gypsy King
Synopsis: We open on the Masked Man leaving police headquarters after just having defeated and brought in the Jackson Gang. He is being swamped by reporters asking how he subdued the entire gang, the source of his abilities, the dangers of his vigilante career, etc.
At last our hero manages to get away from the mob and heads home to the apartment of his alter ego, private detective Dick Carstairs. With him as he arrives home is his newspaper reporter friend Barney McAlister, who publicizes the Masked Man’s deeds while keeping his secret identity confidential.
Dick wants to catch some sleep, anticipating another drab day at the routine tasks of a P.I. the next day. Unfortunately, African American reporter Dan Drekston has dug up the Masked Man’s secret identity and tracked him to his apartment. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES COLLEGE OF DIVINITY BEARS – against the 6th seeded OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS. A shootout of a 1st Half ended with the Bears on top of the Ambassadors 52-45 before they went on to win it by a final score of 97-89. Jerron Wilbut led ULACOD with THIRTY-ONE points. * THE BEARS ARE ACCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 4th seeded NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX took on the top seeds – the JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Lynx had the Wildcats on Upset Alert at Halftime with a 40-38 edge. From there New Hampshire Tech got more and more separation from their opponents for a 98-76 triumph. Sean Riley tossed in 22 points to lead the Lynx. 
MANDY (2018) – For anyone who was alive back then, 1983 was apparently different than you remember. Panos Cosmatos directed and co-wrote this blood-soaked, trippy combination of Hellraiser, Father’s Day, Werewolves on Wheels and Thou Shalt Not Kill … Except. 
The soundtrack by the late Johann Johannsson is so effective it practically deserves a co-director credit. Meanwhile, serving as something of a humanoid special effect is madman-in-residence Nicolas Cage, who stars as Red Miller. 
And no, that doesn’t mean I’m saying to ignore precautions. I’m only pointing this out because of the media frenzy which has been approaching Y2K proportions. Yes it is serious but don’t get hysterical. 
THE EGG OF DOOM – Near Leeds, England, in 1806 a hen laid an egg clearly inscribed with the words “Christ is coming”. With no internet and no supermarket tabloids it took longer than we today are used to for the “gullible chump” grapevine to spread the word about this amazing event. 
DAY ONE: GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the VERMONT TECH GREEN KNIGHTS – took the court against the 3rd seeded UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI AT CLERMONT COUGARS. This shootout found the Green Knights on top of the favored Cougars 50-39 by Halftime. From there Vermont Tech held off their opponents for a Century Club-level 108-100 Upset win. Drake Perry’s THIRTY points led the Green Knights. 
DAY ONE: GAME THREE – The 8 seeds – the SOUTHERN MAINE COLLEGE SEAWOLVES – tangled with the 9th seeded PENN STATE AT WILKES-BARRE LIONS. This Instant Classic saw the Seawolves holding a mere 37-36 edge at the break before eking out a tiny bit more separation from there to win out 70-68. Twenty-five points from Anthony Lobor led Southern Maine College. 
A ROUND TRIP TO THE YEAR 2000 aka A FLIGHT THROUGH TIME (1903) – Written by THE William Wallace Cook, this story was originally serialized in Argosy magazine from July through November of 1903. 
Since Lumley was already on the verge of ending his life anyway, he agrees to be the human guinea pig for Dr Kelpie’s time-car. Just as he’s driving off to the future, however, the relentless Detective Klinch shows up and leaps into the vehicle beside our hero. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS – faced the 3rd seeded RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE EAGLES. The Ambassadors made it clear they were in it to win it with their 50-36 Halftime lead which wound up as a 93-87 Upset victory. Parker Sutton’s 21 points led Ozark Christian College while teammate Brett Campbell notched a Double-Double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. 
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – The 7th seeded KANSAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FALCONS took on the 10 seeds – the FREE LUTHERAN BIBLE COLLEGE CONQUERORS. The Falcons were manhandling the Conquerors 48-21 at the Half, then coasted from there to an 87-56 blowout win. Jouvens Hyacinthe and Stephone Jackson led Kansas Christian College with 14 points each. 
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