This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post will examine the early years of Marvel Comics, which was called Timely Comics back in 1939.
Their first superhero series was titled Marvel Comics, which was changed to Marvel MYSTERY Comics beginning with the second issue.
MARVEL COMICS Vol 1 #1 (October 1939)
Title: The Human Torch
Synopsis: A human-looking android is created by scientist Phineas Horton and made known to the public. Bizarrely enough, the android’s body bursts into flames upon contact with the air (it’s the little things, really) so this misnamed Human (Android) Torch is sealed up tight to prevent it from running amok.
This figure escapes, learns to control its ability to “flame on” and “flame off”, and defeats the crime boss Anthony Sardo and his gang. When Phineas Horton hints at using his android creation to make money, the Torch rebels and flies off to function in the world on his own. Continue reading
KONG ISLAND (1968) has also been released under the titles King of Kong Island and Eva, the Savage Venus. Every one of those titles could let viewers build a strong case for false advertising. There’s no island, no king OR King Kong and though the third title listed above may hint at something lurid, the wild jungle woman of that title has very little screen time. 
BURT DAWSON (Brad Harris) is the muscular soldier of fortune who hires on for any job, legal or illegal. Kong Island opens with Burt and a few accomplices on the run after robbing a payroll. They stop in the wilderness to split the loot only to be double-crossed by their colleague Turk (Paul Carter), who shoots down the other survivors of the raid. 
THE CAPTIVITY OF THE PROFESSOR (1901) – Written by A. Lincoln Green, a presumed pen name, this story was first published in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine in the February 1901 isssue. 
VICTORY BOWL – The 2022 edition of this showcase game in the NCCAA will pit the defending Victory Bowl champions – the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS – against the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. 
NEPTUNE BOWL – Out of the USCAA the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (think Shipbuilders) will face D3’s BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE EAGLES. 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – the defending National Champions – will play the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM. 
Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the 2022 midterm elections based on what we know now. As regular readers know I despise both the Republican and Democrat Parties and would like to see them both splinter into multiple smaller parties, so I can provide a non-partisan view. 
Without the Democrat losses in 2020 there is no way the Republicans would have taken back the House this time around. Hey, who was at the top of their ballot in 2020? 
LET’S TALK AT HOME (2001-2003) – This cult program is often called “Mexico’s MST3K.” Its Spanish language title is A Platicar a su Casa, which has been translated into English as Let’s Talk at Home, Do Your Talking at Home and similar titles.
Balladeer’s Blog has written a great deal about earlier Movie Host shows, from 1950s efforts like Vampira, Mad Marvin and others on up through Moona Lisa and Ghoulardi in the 60s and 70s to 1980s programs like Elvira’s Movie Macabre, Texas 27 Film Vault, Laraine Newman’s Canned Film Festival, etc,
The wisecracking hosts were Andres Bustamente and Trino Camacho, two legends in Mexican comedy. The jokes were what you would expect – shots at the poor quality and/or low budget of the films, their odd storylines plus some social and political commentary about life in Mexico. 
Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog will take a look at the 2022 midterms when we at last know the final results. The Party’s official lie is that this is normal, and we are all supposed to ignore all those other elections we witnessed in our lifetimes in which results were tallied and announced the next day. 
TOPPLING NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division 2 the 16th ranked INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Crimson Hawks led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 10-7 come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with IUP on top 24-7, but they had to hold on in the 4th against a furious Rams rally for a 24-21 win. 
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER TWO – Down in NCAA Division 3 the number 2 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS paid a visit to the BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS. This odd game saw the Warhawks out in front 17-0 at the Half. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter the Yellow Jackets rallied for 21 points in the 4th but fell short. UW-Whitewater won out 23-21.
This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post deals with Marvel’s enigmatic mercenary Paladin, whose activities on behalf of his clients often put him on both sides of the law. 
DAREDEVIL Vol 1 #150 (January 1978)
Balladeer's Blog 