Balladeer’s Blog’s posts about neglected Pulp Heroes like the Nyctalope, G-8 and His Battle Aces and others have proven enduringly popular over the years. My work on the then-obscure Moon Man from the 1930s caught the eye of author Greg Hatcher, who was kind enough to thank me for my synopses of all 38 original Moon Man stories AND to send me a copy of his story in the 2014 collection of new Moon Man (and other hero) tales by modern authors.
Since I’m as vain as the next guy I’ll even thank Mr Hatcher again for his kind November 2013 note that read in part: “I was writing to thank you for your invaluable index (Of Moon Man stories). I literally couldn’t have done it without your scholarship to fall back on … I thought the least I could do was let you have mine in advance as a thank-you, and also let you see the afterword where you and your blog are acknowledged.”
Anyway, writing a blog isn’t JUST about getting death-threats and such. You sometimes hear from very kind-hearted people like Greg Hatcher.
This brings us back to the Nyctalope, the neglected bionic French Pulp Hero created in the VERY early 20th century by France’s sci fi icon Jean de la Hire. My review of some of the Nyctalope novels in the original French predated a couple of the recently published English language translations and assorted readers were wondering when I would finish the whole series, like I did with G-8, Silver John and Northwest Smith.
Rest assured my reviews of The Moroccan Sphinx, The Amazons of Everest, Voyage of the Nyctalope, The Nude Sorceress, Assassination of the Nyctalope and The Mysterious Skeleton are forthcoming … Just like my completion of the Son of the Black Mass samurai films & novels, The Flashman Papers and other items. Hopefully we’ll all still be alive by then.
FOR MY ORIGINAL NYCTALOPE ARTICLE CLICK HERE
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – Tipping off the 2019 National Tournament for the NJCAA Division One was this clash between the 17 seeds – the CAPE FEAR COLLEGE SEA DEVILS – and the 16th seeded ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. The Sea Devils led 48-40 at Halftime, following which points continued to fly like shrapnel. In the end Cape Fear College defeated the Matadors by a Century Club-level score of 104-90. JJ Miles put up 28 points to lead the Sea Devils. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – Next the 20th seeded KASKASKIA COLLEGE BLUE ANGELS faced the 13 seeds – the SHERIDAN COLLEGE GENERALS. The Blue Angels put the Generals on Upset Alert by the break with their 47-37 advantage. From there Kaskaskia College managed to eke out just an inch more separation to win the game 92-80. Parker Dortch couldn’t lose, leading the way for the Blue Angels with his 21 points. 
ENDGAME (1983) – More Weirdness at the End of the World with yet another Italian imitation of The Road Warrior. These Spaghetti-pocalypse movies were to the 80s what Spaghetti Westerns were to the 60s and 70s. 
Lilith works like a figurative Mutant Called Moses (with apologies to Harriet Tubman) and has been heroically smuggling mutants out of the cities, Underground Railroad style. 
DAY THREE, GAME ONE – One of the 1 seeds – the NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS (“or something” as Nicolas Cage would say) – took on their Region’s 5th seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA TIGERS. By Halftime the Sharks were up on the Tigers 41-31 and for the rest of the game NSU kept their opponents at roughly that same distance. The final tally was Sharks 89 West Alabama 80. THIRTY-TWO points from Mark Matthews led Nova Southeastern. 
DAY THREE, GAME TWO – The 2nd seeded AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY JAGUARS faced the 3 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT AIKEN PACERS. The Pacers were leading 37-28 at the break but the Jaguars roared back to force Overtime with an 84-84 tie. In the extra session Augusta University won it 93-89. Tyvez Monroe led the Jaguars with 21 points. 
DAY THREE, GAME THREE – This game pitted another 1 seed – the QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE ROYALS – against the 4th seeded CATAWBA COLLEGE INDIANS. The Royals had compiled a 44-35 advantage by the midpoint but then had to hold on tight for a 96-93 victory. Daniel Carr put up THIRTY-THREE points to lead Queens University of Charlotte. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS faced the 2 seeds – the ROBERTS WESLEYAN COLLEGE REDHAWKS – for the title in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The opening Half was a defensive epic which ended with the teams tied up at 26-26. After the break the Yellow Jackets mustered a bit of separation from the Redhawks for a 64-58 victory. Conner TenHove’s 14 points led Cedarville U. * THE YELLOW JACKETS ARE NCCAA CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Tournament were the 2 seeds – the HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS – and the 5th seeded ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES. An Upset seemed to be in the offing as the Golden Eagles led 37-31 at Halftime. From there the Generals came from behind to win the game by a comfortable 72-60. Herkimer College ends the season with one lone loss. * THE GENERALS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA DIVISION THREE * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The SWARTHMORE COLLEGE GARNET clashed with the CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS as D3’s Final Four action commenced. The Garnet led the Captains by a Lucky 7 points, 36-29, come Halftime and then maintained that advantage for a 70-63 triumph. Cam Wiley put up 23 points to lead Swarthmore College. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS against the WHEATON (IL) COLLEGE THUNDER. By the midpoint the Titans were on top of the Thunder by a score of 46-41. From there UW-Oshkosh went on to win it by a Centennial Club-level 104-85. The victors were led by Jack Flynn’s Double Double of 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the turning point story for Adam Warlock, a Marvel Comics character … and therefore probably destined to become a pop culture demi-god like almost every other Marvel figure thrown at the screen. (He was already an Easter Egg in their Cinematic Universe)
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2 seeds – the ROBERTS WESLEYAN COLLEGE REDHAWKS – took the court against the 3rd seeded HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE UNIVERSITY TROJANS. The Redhawks found themselves chasing the Trojans at Halftime as they faced a 35-22 deficit. After the break Roberts Wesleyan College mounted a massive comeback, winning the game 63-61 led by 19 points from Peyton McLaurin. 
Balladeer’s Blog’s original reviews of The Top Five Harry Flashman Novels were such a hit I followed it up with bonus reviews of what I consider the 6th through 10th novels. It may be a few weeks until I finish any of my reviews of the remaining books in the series so here’s quick links to the 6th – 10th place selections. 
SIXTH PLACE
SEVENTH PLACE 
EIGHTH PLACE 
