This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at Australia’s very different version of a superhero called the Shadow.
THE SHADOW
Secret Identity: Jimmy Gray
Debut Year: 1950
Origin: When Jimmy Gray inherited the family fortune, he used the money to train himself physically and mentally to fight crime and wrongdoing around the world. He would often rob the criminals and give the proceeds to charity.
Powers: The Shadow was in peak physical condition, was more agile than an acrobat and was a master of unarmed combat.
He wore a tight purple custom mask to conceal his face and tight rubberoid gloves to conceal his fingerprints.
Comment: Many of this hero’s villains were femmes fatale along the line of the Spirit’s foes. For the Shadow, that included Fifi Daniels, commander of an all-female crew of pirates in a submarine, Mira, an Arabian belly dancer, Senora Montez, a former Nazi spy turned Communist spy, and Lol Soho, international smuggler and jewel thief.
Despite his 1950 series being canceled in March 1952 after 23 issues, a new Shadow series was launched later in 1952. That second series ran until 1966, making it the 2nd longest running comic book series in Australian history.
THE SHADOW: 1950-1952 SERIES Continue reading
CONVERSATIONS ON THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS (1686) – Written by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle. The author offered up some science fiction concepts that were considered real possibilities in 1686. These ideas were presented within the frame of conversations, as indicated in the full title. The conversations happened over the course of six evenings. 
NELLIE BLY (Elizabeth J. Cochrane), one of the most famous reporters in history, set forth on this date in 1889 in her well-publicized attempt to make it around the world in less than the 80 days used by Jules Verne’s fictional Phileas Fogg. She was 25 years old.
Another look at current events from 
Also, in November and December of 2016 anti-Trump fascists tried intimidating the members of the Electoral College into not casting their votes for Trump even though he won the election, even going so far as DOXING those Electors. I mention this because too many people seem to have forgotten the anti-Trump push for “Faithless Electors” 8 years ago. 
HALLELUJAH AND SARTANA … SONS OF GOD (1972) – Ron Ely played Hallelujah and Alberto Dell’Acqua was Sartana in this at best so-so Spaghetti Western. 
Sartana, on the other hand, was a long-established Spaghetti Western figure who was portrayed by plenty of other actors during the 60s and 70s. Sartana was a pro bono vigilante when he wasn’t busy at card tables across the west. 
ALL THAT GLITTERS (1977) – With the syndicated late-night soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman becoming a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s, Norman Lear launched this oddball, self-consciously “adult” program which added a touch of parallel world sci-fi stories to the soapiness. 
Want to see women running the business world and men serving as secretaries while getting ogled and sexually harassed? This show’s got it! Want to see a tuxedo-clad groom carrying flowers and walking down the aisle toward his intended bride? This show’s got it! 
THE HAT IN THE RING GANG: THE COMBAT HISTORY OF THE 94th AERO SQUADRON IN WORLD WAR ONE – Written by Charles Woolley, this excellent book covers America’s 94th Aero Squadron aka The Hat in the Ring Gang. 
DOUGHBOY WAR: THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN WORLD WAR I – Written/ edited by James H Hallas. I feel this book is perfect for people who are just diving into World War One and don’t want inundated with all of the overwhelming details of more involved works. Doughboy War covers every aspect of American soldiers’ experiences in the Great War, often in their own words. 
THIRTEEN OVER SEVEN – The NAIA’s 13th ranked NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS visited the country’s number 7 DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. In this very strange game neither team had scored by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter saw the Red Raiders put up 3 points which wound up being the ONLY points scored in the game. Yes, 3-0 was the final tally in this clash of ranked teams. 
NUMBER EIGHT FALLS – Staying in the NAIA for right now, the number 15 BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took it on the road against the 8th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. MNU were on top 7-3 in the 1st Quarter, but the Wildcats went up 10-7 by the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by Baker U. winning out 20-14. 
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