Monthly Archives: December 2023

December 2, 2023 · 12:01 am

JUSTICE SOCIETY: 1979 STORIES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog concludes the final adventures in the Justice Society’s revived series in the 1970s. 

adv c 461ADVENTURE COMICS Vol 1 #461 (February 1979)

Title: Only Legends Live Forever 

Justice Society Roster: Dr. Fate, Wildcat, Power Girl, the original Robin, the original Flash, the original Green Lantern and the 2nd Huntress (daughter of Earth-Two’s Bruce Wayne and the late Selena Kyle)

Villain: The vengeful Bill Jensen

NOTE: The final stories of the revived Justice Society series are set in Adventure Comics now that All Star Comics was canceled with issue #74.

batman originalSynopsis: Bill Jensen, a corrupt former D.A. just released from prison, has been gifted with superpowers like the ability to shoot mystic energy blasts, conjure up unearthly fire, walk up walls, produce a force field and more. He refuses to reveal how he has gained these powers.

Jensen rampages through Gotham City, demanding that Batman, who sent him to prison, show himself so he can kill him. The Justice Society battles Jensen, who eventually climbs up Gotham Tower to continue fighting them.

The team is stalemated with the supervillain when, for the cliffhanger ending, the original Batman, who had retired long ago here on Earth-Two, arrives on the scene and presents himself, since he is the one Jensen wants to kill. Continue reading →

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December 1, 2023 · 6:35 pm

BEST OF JANUARY 2023

Mascot and guitar

Balladeer’s Blog

It’s the start of Balladeer’s Blog’s yearly retrospective, in which I randomly sprinkle in some highlights from earlier in the year for new readers who may have missed them. I review from January to September only, so just nine posts scattered throughout the month of December. My usual blog posts continue all the while.

andromeda nebula picANDROMEDA NEBULA (1967) – My review of this pioneering science fiction film from Russia about organized space travel in the far future. Sort of a combination of Dune, Star Trek and Alien. CLICK HERE. 

N.E.T. PLAYHOUSE – A season by season review of the programming on this milestone production of National Educational Television. Many productions from the U.S. and the world. CLICK HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

ARIZONA’S RED GHOST (1883-1893) – My look at the sightings of the monstrous “Red Ghost” creature that was reported around Arizona for ten years and the very real resolution of the mystery from examination of its remains. CLICK HERE.

les grands detectivesTHE GRAND DETECTIVES (1975) – A French television series in the tradition of Rivals of Sherlock Holmes and which presented other fictional detectives solving mysteries. Classy production. Featured American detective Nick Carter, French detective Monsieur Lecoq, Belgian Inspector Wens, Irish detective Slim Callaghan and, of course, Auguste Dupin and Sherlock Holmes. CLICK HERE.

THE MOST REPULSIVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS OF 2022 – The title says it all. Click HERE.

SPACE COMMAND (1953-1954) – Forgotten television from Canada as a pre-Star Trek James Doohan and others starred in this series about Earthlings exploring interstellar space. William Shatner guest-starred in one episode. CLICK HERE.

new y dayNEW YEAR’S DAY (1989) – My review of this early film featuring David Duchovny. Directed by Henry Jaglom. CLICK HERE. 

JANUARY THIRTEENTH IN HISTORY – A look at some of the tragic and triumphant events from previous January 13ths over the centuries. CLICK HERE.

JOE BIDEN SCANDALS OVERFLOWING – To say the least. CLICK HERE.

WHEN HERCULES JOINED THE AVENGERS – Following in the footsteps of his friend Thor, Hercules himself joined the Avengers for a time, helping them take on the Enchantress, Ares, the Tesseract, Dragon Man, Diablo, the Red Guardian, the Mandarin, Magneto and others. CLICK HERE. Continue reading →

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