Adam Warlock, one of the Marvel Comics superheroes who are not that well known to the public at large right now, will probably be a household word soon like just about every other Marvel character who gets thrown at the big and small screens.
At this point if Marvel tried launching film versions of It, The Living Colossus or Fin Fang Foom they’d probably take over Kaiju leadership from Japan & Godzilla. Recently Balladeer’s Blog did an examination of The Magus, the seven-part 1975-76 Adam Warlock story. If you missed it here are chapter links:
PART ONE – ENTER: THE MAGUS – Includes my quick recap of Adam Warlock’s fictional history from 1967 to 1975, including his encounters with the Fantastic Four, Thor and the Incredible Hulk.
Then it’s on to Adam’s first clash with the galaxy-spanning Universal Church of Truth and the mad god it worships – the Magus. CLICK HERE
PART TWO: DEATH SHIP – Adam Warlock gains a new ally in Pip the Troll when he is taken captive by the Church’s starship The Great Divide.
While participating in a prisoner uprising to seize the vessel he also learns more about the atrocities perpetrated on over a thousand worlds by the Magus and his Universal Church of Truth. CLICK HERE
PART THREE: THE TRIAL OF ADAM WARLOCK – *** FIRST EVER APPEARANCE OF GAMORA *** Overcoming even more Black Knights of the Church and another battle with the Soul Gem, Warlock at last confronts the Matriarch, the worldly leader of the Universal Church of Truth.
She puts Adam on trial for heresy as part of her plan to seize control of the Church from the Magus. CLICK HERE
PART FOUR: ONE THOUSAND CLOWNS – Pip the Troll and Gamora, the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, try to free Adam Warlock from the Pit of the Sacred Palace.
Meanwhile our hero resists the Matriarch’s surreal attempts to indoctrinate him into the Universal Church of Truth. CLICK HERE
PART FIVE: THE INFINITY EFFECT – Face to face with the real form of the Magus, Adam Warlock learns the horrific fate that lies ahead for him as he will transform into the Church’s god while being tortured over a period of 5,000 years.
Gamora’s mysterious secret is revealed. CLICK HERE
PART SIX: THE REDEMPTION PRINCIPLE – While evading the Black Knights of the Church Adam, Gamora and Pip encounter the dying Matriarch.
Thanos reveals Gamora’s mind-bending, paradoxical origin and the In-Betweener draws ever closer in order to steal away Warlock and transform him into the Magus. CLICK HERE
PART SEVEN: HOW STRANGE MY DESTINY – The story’s final mind-boggling developments unfold as Adam Warlock struggles to fight his fate.
Plus Thanos’ real motives for helping our hero are revealed in the final battles with the Magus, his Black Knights and the cosmic being called the In-Betweener. CLICK HERE
Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK 
PART ELEVEN: MORE MELUNGEON VARIATIONS
The area covered was still Eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina. The Fool Killer roamed those regions, wielding his iron club/ walking stick/ cudgel topped with a skull crafted from Melungeon gold. 
ROUND THREE, DAY ONE: FIRST MATCH – ICONICA VS LA INDIANA. In this Match Iconica – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Creators – rode against La Indiana – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Indians. 
The Creators put the ball between the Uprights 3 times in the First Chukker, compared to the 1 lone Goal mustered by the Indians. In the Second Chukker La Indiana outscored their opponents 2 Goals to 1 to pull within 4-3. 
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) 
*** 6. WRIGHT STATE AT THE LAKE LAKERS ### 7. BRYANT & STRATTON (NY) BOBCATS ### 8. FLORIDA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONQUISTADORS ### 9. STRATFORD UNIVERSITY CARDINALS ### 10. COLLEGE OF SAINT JOSEPH’S (sic) FIGHTING SAINTS ### 
ROUND TWO, DAY FIVE: FIRST MATCH – EQUULEUS VS COCA COLA. Equuleus – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Constellations – rode into action against Coca Cola: Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Red Colossus. 
In the First Chukker the Red Colossus dominated on both sides of the ball, notching 4 Goals while limiting the Constellations to just 1. The Second Chukker saw the two teams score 2 Goals each, making the new tally 6-3 with Coca Cola on top. 
Concluding Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of another old, old, OLD Marvel Comics hit. 
PART SEVEN (Conclusion) 
Through that rift the Magus leads General Egeus and the entire army of the Black Knights of the Church, super-powered beings from countless planets never before featured in Marvel Comics up to this point. (This makes them forerunners of the Shi’Ar Imperial Guard over at The Uncanny X-Men.) 
We readers know from the end of the previous installment that the Magus suspected that Thanos wanted him to attack, since he had dropped Sanctuary‘s defensive shields. However, even if he’s playing into the Mad Titan’s hands, the Magus had no alternative but to attack since his viewscreens showed him that Thanos and Warlock were about to use a Time Probe to try and prevent the Magus from ever coming into being. 
As the Magus and his Black Knights pour through the teleportational rift the self-proclaimed god orders his knights to kill Thanos, Gamora and Pip the Troll but leave Adam Warlock to him. 
NCCAA 
*** 5. MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS ### 6. SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WARRIORS ### 7. JUDSON UNIVERSITY EAGLES ### 8. GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY PANTHERS ### 
ROUND TWO, DAY FOUR: FIRST MATCH – ASPEN VS SANTA CLARA. In this Match Aspen – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Eighty-Fivers – rode against Santa Clara – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Saints. 
The Eighty-Fivers were all over the Saints in the First Chukker, outscoring them 3 Goals to 1. In the Second Chukker the scoring slowed down as the teams mustered just 1 Goal each for a 4-2 Aspen lead. 
PART TEN: MELUNGEON VARIATIONS
If he had, one possible source would be the Fool Killer figure from Melungeon folklore in East Tennessee and other Appalachian areas. Or, since we have no way of checking exact dates, Evans’ darkly satirical tales may have influenced the existing Melungeon lore since Melungeons at the time were scattered from Tennessee to North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia. 
