Author Archives: balladeer

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About balladeer

I am passionately interested in college sports, ancient Greek comedies, bad/weird movies, mythology, the American Revolution, Puck Magazine, World War I, U.S. Presidential history, silent movies, the English Civil War, epic, lyric and comic poetry, U.S. Supreme Court history, the Revolutions of 1848, the Philippine War and old pulp heroes like The Moon Man, Pilot G8, Silver John and The Rio Kid.

MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post comes a little earlier than usual. This one examines various stories in the Thing’s team-up series titled Marvel Two-in-One after two adventures in Marvel Feature.

mf 11MARVEL FEATURE Vol 1 #11 (September 1973)

Title: Cry: Monster

Villains: The Leader and Kurrgo

Synopsis: The Thing and the Hulk get pitted against each other as part of a conflict between the Hulk’s archenemy the Leader (lower right) and the Fantastic Four’s old foe Kurrgo, the former dictator of Planet X. The Leader chose his greatest foe the Hulk as his champion in this fight, while Kurrgo chose the Thing, a member of his team of enemies the Fantastic Four.

LeaderThe villain whose champion wins the battle will win the prize – abducting BOTH monsters to serve them in their plans. In the Leader’s case, to take over the Earth, and in Kurrgo’s case, to conquer and once again subjugate his people.

While the battle goes on in a ghost town in the American west, Kurrgo cheats by secretly amping up the Thing’s strength via periodic cosmic energy transmissions. This causes the Leader to declare Kurrgo the loser by default. Meanwhile, the Hulk and the Thing battle Kurrgo’s high-tech robot. Continue reading →

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Filed under Superheroes

BANANA REPUBLIC CULTURE

democrats and violence

democrat republican or awakeIndependent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog, as always, welcomes all of you, no matter how you vote. The Biden Regime’s banana republic nature gets more and more blatant all the time. Career criminal Joe Biden stated the 2022 elections may be “illegitimate” and then blasted so-called “election deniers!” Repulsive hypocrisy.  

The Capitol police, who are supposed to be staffing security cameras at the Pelosi residence (because the privileged white one percenter Pelosis make taxpayers foot the expenses for such things) now admit that they can’t (or won’t) provide film footage of the “break-in” at the Pelosi home.

pelosi snobAmerica’s federal authorities, which lose more and more credibility by the day it seems, also claim that Capitol police WERE NOT EVEN MANNING THE CAMERAS AT THIS PARTICULAR MANSION OF THE OBSCENELY WEALTHY PELOSIS UNTIL AFTER OTHER POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.

Oops! This helps the compulsively dishonest Biden Regime obscure whatever they want to about this very questionable incident that Democrats have decided to blame on their political targets with no evidence. Well, no evidence other than a troubled man who was supposedly looking for Nancy Pelosi asking “Where’s Nancy?” (Highly inflammatory!)

biden plagBIDEN HATEMONGERS AGAIN, SAYING THAT QUESTIONING ELECTION RESULTS IS ONLY OKAY WHEN DEMOCRATS DO IT AND IT’S “DANGEROUS” WHEN OTHERS DO IT. As an Independent Voter I don’t hesitate to point out that Republican George W. Bush was “selected, not elected” and Democrats are fine with that. But when I point out that Democrat Joe Biden was “selected, not elected” Democrats fall to pieces.

hillary election denierPrivileged white one percenter Democrat and career criminal Hillary Clinton still claims she won the 2016 election and spreads tall tales that Republicans are trying to steal the 2022 and 2024 elections, then insists it’s a threat to democracy when the opposition party states such things.

The blithering Joe Biden, head of the Biden Crime Family, ranted about questioning election results last night, then pointed out that he and his political party intend to question election results that don’t go their way. Insanity!

Biden also stated that it may take several days to see if Democrats can manufacture and/or “find” enough votes for their candidates to win certain key election races around the country. Continue reading →

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: HUGO GERNSBACK’S SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURES (1915-1917)

scientific adventures of baronTHE SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURES OF BARON MUENCHHAUSEN (1915-1917) – Written by the iconic Hugo Gernsback in the years before he launched his own publication, these sci-fi tales presented the 1700s Baron being alive and having wild adventures. (The cover spelling does not match the one Gernsback used.)

Like most people I know, I just roll my eyes at the Baron Muenchhausen tall tales, so that’s why I used Hugo’s name in the blog post title. Hugo as the writer of this series of short stories is the REAL draw. The following items first appeared in the magazine Electrical Experimenter.

I MAKE A WIRELESS ACQUAINTANCE (May 1915) – Gernsback’s fictional counterpart I.M. Alier is a radio enthusiast and one day picks up transmissions from THE Baron Muenchhausen. The Baron tells him that in the 1700s he was injected with special embalming fluid which actually put him in suspended animation.

He emerged from that state a few years back and, forced to flee Germany over past offenses, has been having amazing scientific adventures. Alier is skeptical, but the Baron proves his claim by using some of the advanced science he has discovered to change the color of part of the moon. This convinces the narrator. 

HOW MUENCHHAUSEN AND THE ALLIES TOOK BERLIN (June 1915) – Alier learns that the Baron has been helping the French in the World War. Among his inventions was a tunneling device for launching sneak attacks but the Central Powers were able to reverse-engineer the technology, resulting in another deadlock.

The Baron and his friend Professor Flitternix have devised anti-gravity screens for a spaceship. They plan to fly the vessel – called the Interstellar – to the moon.    Continue reading →

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CELEBRITIES: SHALLOW, UNINFORMED AND EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE

Crazy Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, whose policies harm the working class and the poor.

Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog notes that the Democrats – whose political party I’m ashamed to say I used to belong to before they went insane – are trying their usual election time attempt to pass off an act of violence as having been caused by their political opponents. (Remember how shortly before the 2018 midterms a disturbed man in a decorated vehicle was painted as a supporter of the political foes of the Democrats? Learn some new scams, demagogues.) 

Uh, yeah, as if an unbalanced California nudist is somehow a Trump supporter and somehow tied to the nonexistent “insurrection” (LMAO) from January 6th, 2021. The senile yet corrupt Joe Biden even dribbled out some idiocy about how breaking into a home owned by a woman named Nancy & her husband and asking “Where’s Nancy?” could ONLY mean someone is tied to an incident from nearly two years ago.

Everyone out there who has friends, co-workers or relatives named Nancy probably never realized that you were swearing political fealty whenever you happened to ask “Where’s Nancy?” Someone could probably make a fortune now from t-shirts and other merchandise that says “Where’s Nancy?” Maybe even with a public domain picture of some fictional character named Nancy. Continue reading →

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S FAVORITE BOURBON BRANDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

As we approach the Thanksgiving/ Christmas/ New Year season here’s a look at Balladeer’s Blog’s Big Three favorites when it comes to bourbon. 

iron smoke bourbonIRON SMOKE BOURBON – Hunker down with some Iron Smoke Bourbon to help you and yours celebrate.

The people at Iron Smoke amusingly call their cask strength bourbon “Casket Strength.” It’s ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY PROOF, making it the most potent potable on this list. 

Remember, to be one of my favorite whiskeys it’s got to have incomparable taste PLUS be strong enough to let you blow flies out of the air right after you take a drink.  Continue reading →

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THE IRON ROSE (1973) FOR HALLOWEEN

title screen

the iron roseLA ROSE DE FER (1973) – This film’s title was translated into English as The Iron Rose even though The Rose of Iron would be a more literal translation, but that’s just a tiny nitpick. La Rose de Fer was the fifth movie from Jean Rollin, whose horror productions can range from brilliant to So Bad They’re Good level.

The Iron Rose is possibly the greatest example of the “love it or hate it” nature of Rollin’s films. Personally, I love it and consider it one of his best works, but I can certainly understand why some viewers dismiss it as dull, pretentious and self-consciously artsy.

iro roThere IS a body count in The Iron Rose, but there is certainly no blood and gore. As our story begins, a beautiful woman (Francoise Pascal) lounges on the beach and regards an iron rose that has washed in with the tide. After tossing it aside she goes about her business, and before long is on a bicycling date with a young man (Hugues Quester).

Eventually the couple – listed as Le Femme and L’homme in the credits – end up taking a walk through one of those bizarrely scenic European graveyards which were tailor-made for this kind of atmospheric, artsy film. A creepy female clown and a sinister-seeming old woman are among the few other people our main characters encounter in the sprawling cemetery.

Viewers have had a few hints along the way that neither one of these young people are one hundred percent stable, but things soon go to the next level. Continue reading →

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Filed under Halloween Season

NEWS BRIEF

democrat dumpstersWelcome back to Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog, where I take shots at both major parties! As always, no matter who you vote for you’re welcome here. I’m coming to you once again from senile yet corrupt Joe Biden’s corporate fascist kleptocracy.

I’ll make my Halloween post a little later today.

JOE BIDEN LIES AGAIN, THIS TIME CLAIMING GAS WAS $5.00 PER GALLON WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY $2.39 PER GALLON AT THAT TIME. Does Biden tell the truth about anything? The good news for Joe is that his supporters are never concerned with facts, just The Party’s talking points.  

UNFIT JOE BIDEN STATES AMERICA HAS FIFTY-FOUR STATES INSTEAD OF FIFTY. Joe’s a walking, talking embarrassment.

biden the fascistAND YET ANOTHER BIG BALLOT-HARVESTING OPERATION GETS BUSTED BY AUTHORITIES. No matter how many dozens of stories come out about such electoral cheating, the corporate media STILL tries to insist there’s no evidence of any of it.

Here’s a reminder that wise words can come from almost any source: ” …  (F)ree flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last lose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.” Continue reading →

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 29th

HEADLINES

Bethel (TN) WildcatsKNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – In the NAIA the number 6 team in the nation – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS – traveled to face the 3rd ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 7-7 tie at Halftime turned into a 21-13 Wildcats lead to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th Bethel U. held on for a 21-16 Upset of the Blue Raiders.

Susquehanna University River Hawks helmetNUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS played host to the number 7 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The River Hawks put the Blue Jays on Upset Alert at the midpoint with a 14-12 edge. Each team scored 12 points in the 2nd Half for a 26-24 Susquehanna victory. 

HillsdaleDOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Up in NCAA Division 2 the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS welcomed the number 9 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. After a 7-7 1st Quarter tie the Chargers led 14-10 at the Half and then 22-20 in the 3rd Quarter before winning out by a final score of 36-20. Continue reading →

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CREATURE COMMANDOS

For this weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post we’ll do the DC characters called the Creature Commandos.

wwt 93WEIRD WAR TALES Vol 1 #93 (November 1980)

Title: The Creature Commandos

Villains: Nazi soldiers

Synopsis: This story introduced Project M, a fictional 1942 War Department effort to unleash supernatural monsters upon the Axis armies. The members of these Creature Commandos:

*** Warren Griffith, an institutionalized teenager who irrationally thought he was a werewolf, so the scientists of Project M turned him into a real, biological man-wolf who could become his monstrous self at will. 

*** Marine Private Elliot “Lucky” Taylor, who blew away much of his body by stepping on a land mine. Government scientists used patchwork body parts to reassemble him into a huge, yellow-skinned Frankenstein’s Monster figure.

cc 1*** Army Sergeant Vincent Velcro, who was given a choice of 30 years of hard labor for crippling a superior officer or being a human guinea pig for chemical injections derived from bat blood. The injections turned him into a science-spawned vampire.

*** Lieutenant Matthew Shrieve, Army Intelligence, a normal human placed in charge of the Creature Commandos. 

In their first mission, the Commandos are sent into France to attack Castle Conquest, where the Nazis and French collaborators are designing android duplicates of high-level politicians from Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on down. The plan is to use the nearly completed robots to replace the originals and surrender to the Axis Nations. Continue reading →

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Filed under Halloween Season, Superheroes

AND FOUR MORE NEGLECTED MONSTERS FOR HALLOWEEN SEASON

Balladeer’s Blog’s recent looks at Eight Neglected Monsters for Halloween Season and Six More Neglected Monsters for Halloween Season were big hits with readers, so here are four more.

maldoror and his smile by lord orlandoMALDOROR

First Appearance: The Songs of Maldoror (1868)

Cryptid Category: Malevolent Unearthly Entity

Lore: Maldoror repeatedly lied about his nature and origins, casting doubt upon everything except the unspeakable vileness of … whatever he was. He/ It was possessed of greater than human strength, sadistic cunning and the ability to sprout tentacles, wings or other appendages from his shoulder blades.

This supernatural menace glided through the world with a serial killer’s mentality and viewed all other living things – even children and animals – as nothing but potential victims. Maldoror’s graphic violence against those he preyed upon was so disturbing that it would know no equal until the most depraved murderers of the 20th Century came along.

The monstrous entity encountered many other oddities like a hermaphrodite, a philosophical mad gravedigger, a large black tarantula, the Angel of the Lamp and others. Continue reading →

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Filed under Halloween Season