SWORD WOMAN – This was the first story about Robert E. Howard’s fiery woman warrior Agnes the Dark aka Agnes de Chastillon, a sword fighting, butt kicking woman in 1500s France. Previously, Balladeer’s Blog reviewed the one and only story that R.E. Howard wrote about Red Sonya (NOT Sonja) – Shadow of the Vulture, set in the late 1520s, not in Howard’s fictional Hyborian Age.
Unlike Shadow of the Vulture, none of the Dark Agnes tales were published during Robert E. Howard’s lifetime. Sword Woman, the character’s origin story, saw print posthumously in 1975, 39 years after Howard’s suicide. The author dedicated the short story “To Mary Read, Graine O’Malley, Jeanne Laisne, Liliard of Ancrum, Anne Bonney, and all other sword women, good or bad, bold or gay, who have swaggered down the centuries, this chronicle is respectfully dedicated.” Continue reading
JUST A DAMNED SOLDIER aka One Damned Soldier (1988) – Balladeer’s Blog concludes its look at all ten films of Italian cult action icon Mark Gregory, real name Marco De Gregorio. I know IMDb states that he also appeared in the made for tv movie Rainbow, but I watched that film and he’s not in it. The error seems to have been made by someone who saw the name MARY Gregory in the closing credits and, because the font for the credits is a bit stylish, mistook the y in Mary for a k. 
I’ll wrap up everything by examining Mark’s final two films before he walked away from the business at age 25 in 1989, with no explanation and after having just made his highest amount of money from a movie role. 
Just a Damned Soldier features Mark in an ensemble cast as one member of a trio of badass international mercenaries who take on any dangerous, high-paying job that comes along. Our hero, whose character is also named Mark, serves alongside Cisco (Romano Kristoff) and their boss Bert Ernst (Peter Hooten). 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Fighting it out for the D2 crown in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) were the KANSAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FALCONS and the MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE THUNDER. 
BLONDE PHANTOM
ALL SELECT COMICS Vol 1 #11 (September 1946) 
Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog may remember that I’m a silent movie geek, and have reviewed some of them in the past. Today, I decided to post this beautiful silent era movie poster for Douglas Fairbanks’ forerunner of modern-day special effects blockbusters – his 1924 version of The Thief of Bagdad.
THE END OF AN EPOCH (1901) – Written by A. Lincoln Green, this novel about a world-threatening disease presented the tale of brilliant young Adam Godwin, a recent Oxford graduate who pursues his interest in microbiology. During the course of his research into antitoxins, Adam becomes aware of the controversial Dr. Azrael Falk. 
Ultimately, Adam starts neglecting Evelyn to the point that she lays down an ultimatum: Godwin must choose between her and his research. Adam chooses his research, so the engagement is ended, and the willful Evelyn joins her father’s expedition to the North Pole. 
Too many developments news-wise for 
LOVE OF RAIN (2022) – This excellent – and lightning-quick – collection of stories about life, love, and passion was written by Pritilata Nandi. She is from India, and has made these tales very accessible by avoiding complicated idiomatic expressions and by omitting from the stories all but the necessary elements of Indian history and culture. 
NORTH ATLANTIC DISTRICT – The BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES battled the NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE SPARTANS for this District title. By Halftime the underdog Jersey Blues were on top 46-38, and from there they maintained separation from the Spartans for a 90-84 victory. Darnell Askew led Brookdale College with a Double Double of 26 points and 14 rebounds. * THE JERSEY BLUES ARE NORTH ATLANTIC DISTRICT CHAMPIONS *
MIDATLANTIC DISTRICT – The last two teams standing in this District were the SANDHILLS COLLEGE FLYERS and the BUTLER COUNTY COLLEGE PIONEERS. The Flyers held a comfortable 53-36 advantage at Halftime. After the break, Sandhills kept up the pressure, ultimately defeating the Pioneers by a Century Club score of 114-91. Joey McMullin’s 22 points led the victors, & his teammate Jaquan Thurman logged a Double Double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. * THE FLYERS ARE MIDATLANTIC DISTRICT CHAMPIONS * 
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