For this weekend’s escapist superhero post Balladeer’s Blog will take a Halloween Season look at Marvel Comics’ character Lilith, the daughter of Dracula.
GIANT-SIZE CHILLERS Vol 1 #1 (June 1974)
Title: Night of the She-Demon
Villain: Dracula
NOTE: In the 1970s Marvel Comics launched several horror titles, most of which I have reviewed previously here at Balladeer’s Blog. One of those horror titles dealt with Dracula being on the loose in the present day. Lilith’s tales took place in that same continuity.
Synopsis: In England, Dracula visits one of his human thralls, Lord Henry, to order him to pursue diplomatic immunity for an alias that Drac will adopt.
The undead count’s presence in England has supernaturally triggered some stirring in a grave outside London. It is the grave of Dracula’s daughter Lilith, who was put there 30 years ago by vampire hunter Quincy Harker, Marvel Comics’ descendant of Jonathan Harker from the 1897 novel Dracula. Continue reading
WEST VIRGINIA EPIC – The FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS welcomed the FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS in this game last night. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 13-7 Bobcats lead come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Frostburg State up 16-7 and the Falcons pulling to within 16-14 in the 4th. 
UNDEFEATED – The number 7 team in the country – the DELTA STATE STATESMEN – improved to 8-0 on their visit to the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS. The Statesmen seized a 21-0 advantage in the opening Quarter and never looked back from there enroute to a 45-10 smackdown win. 
Time for another news roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. 
RABID GRANNIES (UNCUT VERSION) (1988) – We’ll start with the mildest one on this list. Yes, even in its original, uncut and graphically violent form it’s mild for this list. Those darn Belgians produced this Evil Dead-inspired movie which featured a pair of nonagenarian aunts being sent a birthday gift by their Satanist nephew. 
INVADERS FROM THE DARK (1925) – Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with this horror story written by Fanny Greye Bragg aka “Greye La Spina” for her skill at weaving. Invaders from the Dark was first published in the iconic pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1925, then republished in revised form in 1960.
In 1920s New York City, Portia Delore marries a magic practitioner named Howard Differdale, but Differdale’s sorcery forbids the pair from consummating their marriage. Portia learns a great deal of magic from her spouse, but a lady has desires, and after Howard’s death (dare I say “Howard’s End?”) Portia’s are aimed at handsome Owen Edwardes. 
STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946) – Halloween Month rolls along here at Balladeer’s Blog with this appealing cult film from 1946. Strangler of the Swamp seems destined to be forever overpraised or overpanned. Personally, I find it an ideal Halloween movie for those people who don’t like blood, gore and graphic violence in their horror films. 
*** Charles Middleton, who played Ming the Merciless in early Flash Gordon serials, portrays the ghostly ferryman of the title. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division 2 yesterday, the 2nd ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS visited the number 1 FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 14-10 Bulldogs edge come Halftime. Ferris State made it a 21-10 game to end the 3rd Quarter but in the 4th the Lakers came storming back for a 22-21 Upset. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Staying in D2 for now, the HENDERSON STATE REDDIES traveled to face the 8th ranked HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON. The Reddies saw their 3-0 lead in the 1st Quarter become a 7-6 Bison lead by the midpoint. Harding U was on top 14-6 in the 3rd but Henderson State ultimately won the game 15-14.
NUMBER NINE TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA the 24th ranked AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) played host to the number 9 team in the nation – the BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS. The Threshers were on top 7-0 in the opening Quarter and 14-7 at the Half. Avila University took a 21-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter before winning out 28-14 in the 4th. 
For this weekend’s escapist superhero post Balladeer’s Blog will take a look at the way the Marvel Comics writers became so enamored of the alien menace in the first Alien movie that they did their own imitation/ homage of it in the form of an insectoid alien race called the Brood. 
X-MEN Vol 1 143 (March 1981) 
Cut to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, where Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Angel go off on dates with Mariko Yashida, Amanda Sefton and Candy Southern, respectively. Storm, Colossus and Professor X leave in the professor’s Rolls Royce to pursue their plans for the evening and this leaves the newest member of the team – Sprite (Kitty Pryde) – alone for a few hours. 
FOUR QUARTERS WEREN’T ENOUGH – This bizarre game pitted the WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS against the home standing FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS. Neither team scored in the entire 1st Half, then the Hilltoppers went on top 21-0 in the 3rd Quarter. The Falcons proceeded to score 21 unanswered points in the 4th to force Overtime. In the Extra Session, Fairmont State notched a Field Goal followed by a Touchdown for West Liberty U in a 27-24 win. 
DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY GREYHOUNDS hosted the FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY RAVENS. The Greyhounds kept the Ravens off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter while putting up 7 points in all 4 stanzas. The final tally was Assumption U. 28 Franklin Pierce U. 14. 
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