This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog will examine Marvel Comics’ publications for January of 1968, excluding reprints.
TALES OF SUSPENSE Vol 1 #97 (January 1968)
NOTE: At this time Tales of Suspense featured two series – one for Iron Man and one for Captain America. Beginning with issue #100, Tales of Suspense would be retitled Captain America while Iron Man was moved over to his own new title beginning its issue count at #1.
Title (Iron Man): The Coming of Whiplash
Villain: Whiplash
Synopsis: Picking up from the previous issue’s cliffhanger, Iron Man lies helplessly on the pavement at Stark Industries’ Long Island headquarters after exhausting himself while defeating Thor’s old supervillain foe the Grey Gargoyle.
Jasper Sitwell, S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison to Stark Industries, tries to revive the fallen hero while a crowd gathers. Iron Man (believed back then to simply be “Tony Stark’s high-tech bodyguard”) has a sleazy cousin named Morgan Stark. Morgan ran up a huge gambling debt with the Maggia (Marvel Comics’ version of the Mafia) and, to save himself from harm at the hands of their thugs, betrays Iron Man into their clutches by transporting the nearly motionless hero to where he told Sitwell that Tony Stark was waiting to repair the armor. Continue reading
Here is the latest current events roundup from 
THE ELUSIVE AVENGERS (1967) – This movie is often classified as part of the subgenre called “Easterns/ Osterns” – counterparts of Westerns. As an example of global cinema, The Elusive Avengers is worth a watch maybe once in a lifetime, but the cringe factor is heavy as it romanticizes four young guerilla fighters during the Russian Civil War. 
Judged purely on its production values and competent direction, The Elusive Avengers fascinates as much as it repels. In a world where a piece of garbage like deranged war criminal Vlad Putin runs Russia it can make a film like this a challenge to sit through without the real world intruding on one’s thoughts, but again, for anyone interested in world cinema history the movie is a revelation. 
For several years now I’ve meant to make a blog post recommending the YT Channel of Decker Shado, the often-hilarious figure who calls himself “The internet personality with the best hair.” He focuses mostly on genre films – new and old – and offers a lot of fresh insights on anything from schlock to blockbusters. 
January 8th is the combined marking of Elvis Presley’s birthday and the Battle of New Orleans, in which General Andrew Jackson and French Pirate Jean Lafitte defeated the British in the final battle of the War of 1812. 
LOVE ME TENDER (1956) – Elvis was the latest reason that the saga of the Reno Gang/ Reno Brothers got distorted on the big screen. The need to turn the Reno story into a vehicle for Elvis Presley made this attempt the most unintentionally funny of them all. 
ONE AND TWO ROLL – The number 1 team in the nation – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS – downed their hosts the GOSHEN COLLEGE MAPLE LEAFS by a Century Club score of 108-78. ### While elsewhere, the 2nd ranked LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be the Hugheses) obliterated the visiting SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES by another Century Club score of 100-59. 
OVERTIME THRILLS – The (14) LOURDES UNIVERSITY GRAY WOLVES used OT to defeat the MADONNA UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS 81-68 ### Meanwhile, the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES survived a 109-108 visit to the MIDLAND U. WARRIORS ### And the (7) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS won 85-80 over the (15) ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. 
JOHN CARTER, WARLORD OF MARS Vol 1 #1 (June 1977) 
January 4th of 1967 saw the release of the first album from the Doors. Obviously, Jim Morrison and company achieved fame long before my time, but their work has endured for several decades. My personal affinity for the Doors over other 1960s musical acts comes partly from their precious few years together before Morrison’s death. 
BREAK ON THROUGH – Not only is the song powerful, but it is rightly hailed as one of the most – if not THE most – appropriate opening songs on a first album ever. The Doors’ signature style burst on the scene with a figurative “I’m here, you gotta DEAL with it” boast. 
THE RESCUE OF RUGGIERO – In the cliffhanger ending of our previous installment, Ruggiero the Saracen was still on the island divided into separate kingdoms by Morgana’s sisters – the evil sorceress Alcina and the good sorceress Logestilla. 
THE 14 AMAZONS (1972) – My review of this terrific movie about the women of the legendary Yang Family in China. This film is set when there were so few male family members left due to losses in war that the women of the family band together and set out for revenge on the Yang enemies. Click 
SURF NAZIS MUST DIE (1987) – My review of the renowned post-apocalypse film about a black woman taking on a gang of Surf Nazis to wipe them out for killing her son. A wild ride. Click 
OF ANTICHRIST AND HIS RUIN (1692) – John Bunyan’s neglected novel about the Antichrist, his methods and the destructive war that is unleashed. Click 
