SUPER PRESIDENT (1967): FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

superpresident

Super President

SUPER PRESIDENT was an actual cartoon series from the 1960s that has virtually disappeared. It’s rare to catch a glimpse of this DePatie- Freleng show anywhere or even to find people who have heard of it outside of oddballs like me.

This cartoon was not intended for laughs, like it would be today. It honestly featured a superhero whose “secret identity” was being President of the United States. First off, there’s the absurd fun of the name AND the fact that calling yourself Super President  instantly blows your cover anyway, unless you think people are dumb enough to not figure out what you’re the president OF. (The Teamsters Union? The National Egg Council?)  

President James Norcross was our title superhero and like the Fantastic Four a half-dozen years earlier got his powers from a cosmic ray storm. He had super-strength, could fly via small rockets on his belt and as the topper could transform himself into any substance – steel, granite, water, electricity and on more than one occassion – “ozone”. (Ozone?)

Super President also had a nifty Omnicar that could drive, fly and serve as a submarine. The Omnicar was stashed in a secret room in the White House that served as SP’s version of the Batcave (How was this addition to the White House added without attracting attention and how much did it cost?). Continue reading

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KILLRAVEN: CHAPTER LINKS

Reader Daniel Kibblesmith reminded Balladeer’s Blog that I had not followed up my reviews and revisions of the original Killraven stories (1973-1976) at Marvel Comics with my usual collection of links in one handy blog post. Here we go:

Killraven 1WAR OF THE WORLDS – Jonathan Raven, rechristened Killraven in the gladiatorial circuit of Earth’s alien conquerors of the “future,” leads a group of Freemen in an attempt to retake the planet. CLICK HERE   

THE SIRENS OF SEVENTH AVENUE – After learning the truth about Earth’s alien conquerors AND about his possession of “The Power” (a pre-Star Wars variation of the Force), Killraven leads his Freemen against genetically modified women called Sirens as well as against assorted other post-apocalyptic threats. CLICK HERE

Killraven WarlordTHE WARLORD STRIKES – On the run after the destruction of their Staten Island rebel colony, Killraven and his Freemen run afoul of the Warlord, a human quisling who has wanted revenge against the rebel leader ever since he escaped from the gladiatorial pens. CLICK HERE 

THE MUTANT SLAYERS – The Freemen are joined by scientist Carmilla Frost and her monstrous creation Grok as they battle the Warlord and an assortment of mutated Earth creatures and deadly beasts from the aliens’ home planet. CLICK HERE  Continue reading

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FOOL KILLER THIRTY-SIX: JUNE OF 1910

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK HERE

Fool Killer timelessPART THIRTY-SIX: Here’s a look at the Fool Killer’s targets in the June of 1910 issue of James Larkin Pearson’s Fool-Killer publication:

*** Women who chewed snuff, whom Pearson and his Fool Killer called “snuff-dipping girls.” (Snuff-dipping girls, they make the rockin’ world go ’round! … Had to be said.)

*** Human traffickers. 

*** People who drank, since Pearson was oddly stuffy about alcohol consumption.

*** In a tongue-in-cheek bit he targeted Bronchitis itself, since stories were in the news about ex-President Theodore Roosevelt battling the illness. The Fool Killer implied that Bronchitis was a “fool” for daring to tangle with Teddy. He also made a joke about Teddy’s personality being so huge it took attention away from Halley’s Comet.

*** People who had predicted that the comet would hit the Earth, wreaking immense damage.

*** Scholars who thought they had discovered the Missing Link in Illinois.

*** Religious hypocrites who wore pointlessly expensive clothes to church just to show off their wealth. Continue reading

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JOE BIDEN BLITHERS MORE AND MORE INCOHERENTLY: NEW SUPERCUT

Joe Biden smileThank you to the BERNIE BROS who brought this video compilation to my attention. Doddering, inept Joe Biden continues stumbling along. His incoherent ramblings have become such an embarrassment to his presidential campaign that he has been put under wraps, available only for prepackaged statements (which he frequently muffs) and delicate softball “interviews” with supportive Democrats in the media.

Below (OR CLICK HERE ) is the latest supercut of Biden’s senile attempts to put on his big boy pants and pretend he would be capable of handling emergencies like the Coronavirus. The Democrats seem to have already designated Joe Biden as their 2020 candidate while snubbing Bernie Sanders once again.

Joe Biden senile manAs Bernie Sanders supporters point out, with over 60% approving of de facto Third Party President Trump’s handling of the current crisis, Bernie might make a better candidate than Biden against the FDR-like Trump. 

To quote from the story: “In a series of interviews Tuesday, Joe Biden attempted to remind America he’s still running for president, but ended up providing President Trump a treasure trove of campaign fodder.”

“On The View, Biden scored an own-goal after trying to take down Trump, saying: “We have to take care of the cure. That will make the problem worse no matter what — no matter what.” (NOTE FROM BALLADEER: Joe may be suffering from dementia. Watch the whole video.) Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NCAA D3 ROUND TWO

NCAA DIVISION THREE

Swarthmore College GarnetROUND TWO: IC VS SC – The SWARTHMORE COLLEGE GARNET took the court against the ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS. The 1st Half ended with the score knotted up at 44-44 but after the break the Garnet outscored the Bombers 42-34 for an 86-78 victory. Vinny DeAngelo led Swarthmore College with 21 points. 

Pomona Pitzer College Sagehens NEWROUND TWO: EU VS PPC – The POMONA-PITZER COLLEGE SAGEHENS battled the EMORY UNIVERSITY EAGLES in a game that was for the birds. The Sagehens were chasing the Eagles 34-29 at the Half but regrouped in the locker room to manage a 71-70 come-from-behind win. Micah Elan’s 20 points led Pomona-Pitzer College. Continue reading

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AND TWENTY MORE FAILED PREDICTIONS BY PSYCHICS

Balladeer’s Blog once again shamelessly panders gives readers what they want with yet ANOTHER list of Twenty Failed Predictions By Psychics.

Post ApocalypseBERKELEY PSYCHIC INSTITUTE (For 1975-1981)

*** In 1978 a war would break out between the Soviet Union and Germany. Several smaller countries would be drawn into the conflict and ultimately a new government would rise in the Soviet Union.

*** In 1976 the President of Mexico along with members of his family and two of his ministers would be assassinated, ending in the overthrow of the government.

*** Around 1978 or 1979 a Slovakian avatar would appear. This figure would operate on a psychic level and some time later would manifest himself as God. (Remember when that happened? Good times.) 

Mascot new look*** On May 26th, 1977 a war over fishing rights would break out between the Soviet Union and Greenland with nuclear torpedoes being used.

*** In 1980 several icebergs near the North Pole would break apart, revealing the remains of an advanced ancient civilization. Among the items that the submarine explorers would find would be machines, a time capsule and possibly materials from another planet revealing that they kicked off life on Earth. A giant glowing ball radiating tremendous energy would drive away the explorers. Continue reading

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TALES OF TWENTY HUNDRED (1911-1912): ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION

Blue Book May 1912TALES OF TWENTY HUNDRED (1911-1912) – Written by William Wallace Cook, originally serialized in the monthly publication Blue Book Magazine from December of 1911 to May of 1912. This is Balladeer’s Blog’s third look at a work by THE William Wallace Cook and in this case it’s a six-part serial consisting of a half-dozen interconnected short(ish) stories.

PART ONE: THE BILLION DOLLAR CARGO (December 1911) – The year is 2050 A.D. Airships run by solar energy fill the skies while land vehicles are powered by radium engines. At hospitals “germicide treatments” can heal people of virtually any illness. Mind-reading machines called psychographs are used to read the thoughts of people who are on trial.

The United States, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Austria and the nations of Scandinavia comprise a huge geopolitical entity called the Quadruple Alliance. That alliance’s greatest global rival is the Federated States of South America, made up of the nations of Central and South America. 

masc chair and bottleGeo-engineering on a massive scale has become possible. Wealthy industrialist Vincent Blake has already completed a project involving the elimination of the Aleutian Islands to allow the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean to turn the Arctic region into a place with more moderate temperatures. Hilariously, this is depicted as having no adverse effects on the planet. (Hey, it’s a 1911 story.) 

Next on the schedule for Blake is an even more ambitious project – he plans to straighten the Earth’s axis and provide mild summer conditions year-round all over the world. This type of absurd notion was also featured in the 1894 book A Journey in Other Worlds, previously reviewed here at Balladeer’s Blog.

In that earlier story the establishment of year-round moderate weather was presented as a fait accompli and had had no negative side-effects. In this tale the Federated States of South America are convinced that Vincent Blake’s project will negatively impact them and launch violent plans to stop him. Continue reading

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DEMOCRATS BLOCK CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE: DEMOCRAT ATROCITY ROUNDUP

Democrat rat logo

DEMOCRAT PARTY

WE NEED THIRD PARTIES! And we need for even more of us former Democrats to #WALKAWAY from that divisive and destructive organization. Congressional Democrats decided to ignore what HAD been a bipartisan relief package regarding the Chinese Coronavirus and instead play their usual political games.

Crazed Nancy PelosiEven the Democrats at the New York Times pointed out in their headlines how the Democrats had scuttled this package.

I didn’t think I could still be surprised by the depths the Democrats will sink to but they proved me wrong. This revives the often-asked question about Congressional Democrats: Are they vermin or are they just large clumps of bacteria sculpted into human form?  Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND OTHER TOURNAMENT ACTION

NJCAA DIVISION THREE

Sandhills College FlyersNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the top seeds – the SANDHILLS COLLEGE FLYERS – against the 2nd seeded MOHAWK VALLEY COLLEGE HAWKS (should be the Mohawks). The Flyers were chasing the Hawks 50-47 at Halftime but came from behind in the 2nd Half to win the game 93-89. Sayaun Dent led Sandhills College with 27 points. * THE FLYERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE NJCAA DIVISION THREE TOURNAMENT *

NCAA DIVISION THREE

christopher newport universityROUND ONE: CNU VS CC – The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS did battle with the COLBY COLLEGE WHITE MULES. The Captains embarrassed the White Mules in the 1st Half, leading them 32-17 by the break. From there Christopher Newport University stayed out in front all the way for a 74-64 triumph. Adrian Beasley and Luther Gibbs led the Captains with 13 points each.

Yeshiva MaccabeesROUND ONE: WPI VS YU – In this game the YESHIVA UNIVERSITY MACCABEES played the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE ENGINEERS. The Maccabees put up 51 points in each Half, leading the Engineers 51-30 at the midpoint, then winning by a Century Club-level score of 102-78. Ryan Turell notched FORTY-ONE points to lead Yeshiva University. Continue reading

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ROBERT LUDLUM EXPANDED UNIVERSE

masc graveyard newReader Daniel Kibblesmith requested this item about how I’d treat an expanded universe from Robert Ludlum’s espionage novels. Here at Balladeer’s Blog I’m about responding to you readers. I had sprinkled my reviews of Robert Ludlum’s Top Seven Novels with observations of what I would have liked to see in terms of offshoots or spin-off stories. So, since Expanded Universes are becoming all the rage in recent decades here’s an outline of my fan fiction-style view of an Expanded Robert Ludlum Universe.

Robert LudlumI. BEOWULF AGATE – Series of short stories or a made for cable series. The tales would be set from the 1950s to late 1970s, ending just before the events in The Matarese Circle. Ludlum’s fictional intelligence organization Consular Operations would take center stage.

Brandon Scofield, codename Beowulf Agate, one of the main characters of The Matarese Circle, would be shown pulling off his highest level defections from the Soviet Union in his best “Cold War version of the Scarlet Pimpernel” style. Every so often he would clash with his archenemy – KGB Agent Vasili Taleniekov. To up the suspense level sometimes Taleniekov would win their clashes. 

Bourne IdentityII. OPERATION: MEDUSA – Another series of short stories or a made for cable series. Ludlum’s Operation: Medusa was his fictional version of the Vietnam War’s real-life Phoenix Project. Operation: Medusa was the top-secret, paramilitary Black Operations outfit in which David Webb aka Jason Bourne got his first covert experience.

Officially disavowed by the U.S. government, Medusans spent the final few years of the Vietnam War pulling off assassinations, abducting and torturing information out of North Vietnamese movers and shakers, committing acts of sabotage AND facilitating escapes from POW camps. David Webb, his brother Gordon, D’Anjou (Codename: Echo), Alexander Conklin and “The Monk” himself, David Abbot would be the main characters but we would meet new Medusans, too. Continue reading

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