BALLADEER’S BLOG
This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog provides another look at Marvel’s publications – this time from January of 1977.
Reading superhero stories as a kid served as a gateway to some of my adult passions like mythology and opera, so I will always have a soft spot for them.
MARVEL TEAM-UP Vol 1 #53 (Jan)
Title: Nightmare in New Mexico
Villains: Major Del Tremens and the Tranquility Base troops
Synopsis: This issue picks up from Spider-Man and the X-Men’s shared adventure against the Lords of Light and Darkness in Marvel Team-Up Annual #1. Still in New Mexico, Spider-Man and the current roster of X-Men (Wolverine, Storm, Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Colossus and Cyclops) try to check out the deserted town of Liberty.
The mutants are driven away by the deadly nerve gas that killed all of the town’s inhabitants in the origin story of Marvel’s fairly new hero Woodgod (Marvel Premiere #31). Spider-Man proves immune to the nerve gas so he investigates further.
The genetically engineered human/ animal hybrid creature Woodgod (at right) – also immune to the nerve gas – is still being contained in the depopulated town by Major Del Tremens and his troops at Tranquility Base, who caused the nerve gas leak.
Hulk arrives in Liberty and winds up fighting Woodgod, his near-equal in strength. Major Tremens and his forces decide to seize the opportunity to kill Hulk, Spider-Man and Woodgod all at once and unleash all their remote-controlled military hardware and aircraft on Liberty.
The three misunderstood heroes are victorious, but an enraged Hulk still wants to fight Woodgod and Spider-Man in the cliffhanger ending. Continue reading
The SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVERHAWKS will host the WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS. 
The WHEATON COLLEGE THUNDER will host the CROWN COLLEGE POLARS. 
CHUP – The sun god of the Ainu. His wife is Tombe, the moon goddess. Ainu homes orient their sacred window toward the east to greet the rising sun. Until recent decades it was customary to salute the sun upon exposure to its rays, similar to the practice of genuflecting to the center of an altar, but done without kneeling. 
The PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS will host the CHADRON STATE EAGLES. 
The COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES will host the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN FALCONS. 
RYAN O’NEAL – Let’s face it, Errol Flynn himself probably looked down from above with envy when it came to Ryan O’Neal’s escapades with women. And it’s a cinch that Flynn would have envied O’Neal’s acting talent, which was never spectacular but was above that of many of Hollywood’s biggest names.
Ryan tried his hand at boxing, then started his film career as a stuntman before gravitating to acting. At one time he was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, but his legendary partying and volatile behavior ultimately led to him being passed over for roles that might have cemented him as an upper tier thespian in Hollywood. 
GREEN ICE (1981) – Sadly, by 1981 the age of classic heist films like Rififi was long over and that may have contributed to the less than stellar box office results for this project. Ryan O’Neal starred as Joseph Wiley, a former engineer turned adventuring globe-trotter. 
An attempt on his life drives Wiley closer to Lillian and Argenti, but after intrigues and double-crosses involving Colombian rebels, Lillian’s missing sister and clashes with the corrupt Colombian government, Argenti emerges as the main villain. 
THE ULTIMATE INHERITORS (1914) – Written by Berg Bellair. This is a very entertaining work of vintage or “ancient” science fiction and is especially noteworthy for the way it anticipates the many “big bug” movies of the 1950s and later. 
The WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN will host the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. 
MRS. COLUMBO (1979-1980) – During its brief 13-episode run of hour-long episodes, this detective series – produced by Fred Silverman – was also titled Kate the Detective, Kate Callahan and Kate Loves a Mystery. Much Ado About Nothing might have been a more fitting title given all the energy expended trying to make this Kate Mulgrew program a success, but for so little return. 
The 4th seeded CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS will host the 5 seeds – the FRESNO CITY COLLEGE RAMS. 
The 3rd seeded DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS will host the 6 seeds – the BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three, the 25th ranked FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUEJAYS. A 7-0 Bluejays lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-14 advantage by Halftime. The Diplomats forced Overtime with a 21-21 tie, and in the extra session won out 29-28. 
NUMBER FOUR TOPPLED – In NCAA Division Two, the VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS traveled to face the country’s number 4 UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. By the midpoint, the Argonauts were out in front 30-23. From there the Blazers tied the score 44-44 to end Regulation, then went on to win in Overtime 47-44. 
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA, the number 9 MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS visited the 6th ranked DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. The Mustangs were on top 13-7 in the opening Quarter and 20-14 at the Half. After the break the Defenders knotted things up at 28. In Overtime Morningside U. triumphed 34-28. 
Balladeer's Blog 