This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at DC’s character Man-Bat.
DETECTIVE COMICS Vol 1 #400 (June 1970)
Title: Challenge of the Man-Bat
Villains: The Blackout Gang
Synopsis: Kirk Langstrom, a Gotham City zoologist, makes his first appearance in this issue. Langstrom was using genetic components from bats to try restoring hearing to the deaf, but the formula instead wound up transforming him into a human-sized bat creature.
The anguished Langstrom realizes he must go into seclusion until he can devise a cure for his condition. That night he happens by as Batman interrupts the Blackout Gang’s attempt to rob a Gotham museum.
Man-Bat helps Batman defeat and capture the gang and reveals to the curious hero that he is not wearing a costume before departing, leaving the caped crusader stunned. Continue reading
LIBERTY VS LYNX: GAME THREE – The NEW YORK LIBERTY visited the MINNESOTA LYNX as this best of five series stood at 1 game apiece. 
THE WERWOLVES (1898) – Written by Honore Beaugrand, this story features fairly unique werewolf lore. The tale is not structured in a traditional way but instead expands upon accounts of lycanthropy in campfire tales as if they really, truly happened. 
FRANKENSTEIN (1910) – This first ever cinematic depiction of the classic horror story was produced by Edison Studios, as in Thomas Edison. Luckily Frankenstein has survived, and existing copies run from 11 minutes to 16 minutes. 
Edison Studios efforts were known for their slipshod, seat of their pants nature, and Frankenstein serves up my all-time favorite back-to-back dialogue boards. “Frankenstein leaves for college.” followed by “Two years later Frankenstein has discovered the mystery of life.” (… And Frankenstein Created Cram School) 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – In the NAIA the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX hosted the number 4 team in the nation – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter, but the score was tied at 7-7 come Halftime. After the break, the Phoenix outscored Bethel University 14-7 for a 21-14 Upset.
INDIE TEAM OVER NCAA – This game saw the independent NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) welcoming the D3 MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY MARINERS. The Builders returned the opening kickoff for a Touchdown, then notched a 35-12 1st Quarter lead. The Apprentice School never looked back from there, demolishing the Mariners SEVENTY-TWO to TWENTY-SIX! 
PENITENTE (Penitent) 
To redeem himself in the eyes of Heaven, the Penitente had to save seventy times seven the number of innocent victims he had killed while alive. As part of this purgative servitude he would also be periodically pitted against dark forces which had escaped from Hell. 
Comment: Our hero rose from his grave and masked his decaying, scarred face behind a red cloth like those worn during Brazil’s Procession of the Penitents. 
LYNX VS LIBERTY: GAME ONE – The MINNESOTA LYNX visited the NEW YORK LIBERTY to get the Finals started. 
A MAN CALLED SLOANE (1979) – Robert Conrad, often called the ultimate man’s man, was famous for several television series over the decades, especially The Wild Wild West and Black Sheep Squadron. Here is a look at his modern-day spy series from 1979, the last Quinn Martin Production. 
Sultry Michelle Carey, daughter of MacDonald Carey and a veteran of many Wild Wild West episodes herself, provided the voice of EFFIE, the supercomputer at UNIT headquarters. Dan O’Herlihy played UNIT’s director. 
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