For this weekend, Balladeer’s Blog’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post will look at the Golden Age superheroine the Blonde Phantom from Marvel Comics, back then called Timely Comics.
BLONDE PHANTOM
Created By: Stan Lee (yes, he was that old), Charles Nicholas and Syd Shores
Secret Identity: Louise Grant
First Appearance: All-Select Comics #11 (September 1946) Her final Golden Age appearance came in 1949.
Origin: Wanting to fight crime and foreign spies without endangering the lives of people close to her, Louise Grant, secretary for private investigator and former OSS man Mark Mason, donned a costume and fought the forces of evil as the Blonde Phantom.
Powers: The Blonde Phantom was in peak human condition and was more agile than an Olympic gymnast. She was a master of unarmed combat and was also incredibly proficient with her .45 handgun. In addition, this heroine was an expert investigator.
Comment: Louise Grant’s boss Mark Mason had the hots for the Blonde Phantom but overlooked his secretary Louise, who downplayed her beauty in her secret identity.
ALL SELECT COMICS Vol 1 #11 (September 1946)
Title: The Atom Spells Doom
Villains: Signor Korte and Senator Mushbell
Synopsis: The Blonde Phantom is referred to as having been active for a while even though this is her first appearance. She thwarts the theft of atomic secrets by a spy ring that includes a South American diplomat and a traitorous American Senator.
Title: The Scarlet Scorpion Continue reading
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 * 
DELTA FORCE COMMANDO (1987) – Balladeer’s Blog’s salute to cult icon Mark Gregory continues, with two movies that proved he could be just as dynamic as the villain as he was playing the hero, like in his other action flicks. Previously, I’ve reviewed Mark’s two movies in which he played the post-apocalypse/ dystopian biker Trash in 
Because Italian filmmakers were always Enzo-on-the-spot with cash-in imitations of mainstream movie hits, it was inevitable that they would produce flicks coat-tailing on the popularity of Delta Force. Mark Gregory’s screen presence in Delta Force Commando reminded me of what a shame it is that he walked away from his acting career in 1989, just when he was at the peak of his game and his earnings. If only he’d signed up with Cannon films then.
Hell, in Delta Force Commando, Mr. Gregory spices up the schlock as the main villain, even though his character is never even given a name! Hey, that’s Italian exploitation cinema for ya! 
team of communist commandos from Nicaragua in a daring raid on a military base in Puerto Rico. Villain X and his team succeed in making off with a nuclear bomb despite a few firefights, one of which kills the pregnant wife of Delta Force member Lieutenant Tony Turner (Brett Baxter Clark). 
FRONTIER CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS and the PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ARGONAUTS clashed in this conference title game. Points flew like shrapnel as the Orediggers led 62-55 at Halftime, then defeated the Argonauts by a Century Club final score of 103-95. Asa Williams notched 23 points to lead Montana Tech. * THE OREDIGGERS ARE FRONTIER CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS * 
GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this title tilt the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS faced the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES. At the Half, the score was knotted up at 42-42, and from there the underdog Defenders managed some separation from the Jimmies for an 86-81 victory. Jacob Vis led Dordt University with 21 points. * THE DEFENDERS ARE GPAC CHAMPIONS * 
PART FOUR
Synopsis: Adam Warlock has come to after his lapse into unconsciousness caused by the trauma of his Soul Gem’s theft of Kray-Tor’s soul at the end of last issue. He has awakened into a bizarre alternate reality with walkways and small islands of matter floating in an endless sky. Bizarre symbols and designs ornament the skyscape like imagery from an acid trip. 
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