For this weekend’s light-hearted, escapist blog post about superheroes, Balladeer’s Blog goes back to the Justice Society of America, this country’s very first superteam.
Years ago, I covered the early years of the JSA, from their first appearance in December 1940 up to their December 1945 issue, which wrapped up their World War Two tales with a look at disabled veterans. Earlier this summer I covered their 1946 stories and their 1947 stories.
ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #39 (February 1948)
Title: The Invasion From Fairyland
Justice Society Roster: Dr. Mid-Nite, Johnny Thunder, the 1st Wonder Woman, 1st Flash, 1st Green Lantern, 1st Atom, 1st Black Canary, and 1st Hawkman
Villainess: The Lorelei
Synopsis: Every thousand years, a portal appears connecting Fairyland to the real world for 24 hours. The Lorelei, evil ruler of Fairyland, wants to lead an army of evil figures from fairy tales to take over the Earth.
The JSA members enter Fairyland and try to stop the Lorelei, a basilisk, a griffin, a dragon, Gallifron the Ogre, tinderbox dogs and a giant from using the portal to invade Earth. Lorelei leads her army in destructive attacks around the globe. Continue reading
HAPPY FRONTIERADO! The first Friday of every August marks this holiday devoted to the myth of the old west rather than the grinding reality. For some of us the celebration kicks off Thursday night, for others they wait until the actual day of Frontierado to hold their festivities. Enjoy your buffalo steaks, rattlesnake fried rice, corn on the cob, tumbleweed pizza, cactus salad and more today and tonight, and enjoy the leftovers on Saturday and Sunday.
THE DENVER DOLL – The annual Frontierado Holiday will be tomorrow, Friday August 4th. Here is yet another seasonal post while there is still time. 
DENVER DOLL, THE DETECTIVE QUEEN; or YANKEE EISLER’S BIG SURROUND (November 14th, 1882) – In this debut appearance, the Denver Doll’s two fisted, gunslinging, card playing, crimefighting nature is established, along with her mysterious past. The heroine’s secrets aren’t revealed until her fourth and final tale. 
JIM LEAVY/ LEVY – This gunslinger’s last name shows up under both spellings at times. He was definitely from Ireland. Some accounts claim he was Jewish, but those sources may have jumped to conclusions if they were going by the Levy spelling. 
In early 1868, a Silver Rush began to eastern Nevada and our subject moved there with hopes of striking it rich. Trying his luck here and there, Jim was eventually prospecting at Pioche, NV, one of the most underrated of the deadly boom towns of the old west. 
RIVERBOAT (1959-1961) – We are less than a week away from Frontierado 2023, observed on Friday August 4th this year. For a combination Frontierado and Forgotten Television post Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at some of the best episodes of the old western series Riverboat. 
Grey Holden captained the Enterprise, but the more experienced Chief Pilot was Ben Frazer, played by the one and only Burt Reynolds. Riverboat was, for a television western, atypically set during the 1830s and 1840s. Some of my favorite episodes are historical fiction, featuring our heroes aiding Texas rebels during the Texas Revolution, clashing with river pirates, or encountering young Abraham Lincoln and a few other historical figures here and there. 
THE AVENGERS Vol 1 #119 (January 1974) 
The crazed, uncomprehending Loki is kept in custody at Avengers Mansion because this is set during a period when Odin had forbidden him to return to Asgard under any circumstances. Time passes, and at one point the Black Panther pursues with Mantis his wish to learn some of her other-worldly martial arts. T’Challa first got the idea when he saw how well 
COMANCHE JACK – Balladeer’s Blog presents another seasonal post for the upcoming Frontierado Holiday, observed Friday August 4th this year. Frontierado celebrates the myth of the old west, not the grinding reality. 
During that four-year period, he developed his marksmanship, as well as his scouting, Indian fighting and wilderness survival skills. In the snowy months, Comanche Jack rode with hunting parties along the Beaver, Canadian and Wolf Rivers. 
BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU – A SPACE FANTASY BY KURT VONNEGUT JR (March 13th) – Dated humor mars this generally well made 86-minute sci-fi story directed by Fred Barzyk and based on the writings of Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 
ROSEBUD ROB, BALTIMORE BESS AND CINNAMON CHIP – Here’s another seasonal post for the upcoming Frontierado holiday on Friday August 4th. As always, Frontierado is about the myth of the old west, not the grinding reality. 
ROSEBUD ROB … the KNIGHT OF THE GULCH (February 1879) – Rosebud Rob was a Wild West detective, like the real-life Charley Siringo (covered 
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