Here’s a look at seven of the neglected monsters Balladeer’s Blog has covered over the years. These horrific figures deserve as much love as the better known characters like Dracula or La Lorona.
THE BARENHAUTER
First Appearance: Isabella of Egypt (1812)
Cryptid Category: Living Dead Servant
Lore: A misanthropic mercenary soldier grown disgusted with the human race accepted a bargain with Satan: in exchange for a period of years spent without shaving or bathing and wearing nothing but a bearskin he would be rewarded in the end. That reward: after finally shaving and bathing at the end of his time as a hermit he was incredibly handsome and well-built.
On top of that the Devil granted him a fortune in jewels and coins, making him the ultimate catch – physically perfect AND wealthy. In return Satan claimed the souls of the Barenhauter’s dumped former lovers, who would take their own lives in despair. (It was implied that the Barenhauter also had incomparable amatory skills on top of wealth and handsomeness.)
After death the Barenhauter paid his own price for his deal with the Devil. Anyone who came into possession of any part of his former treasure could summon him from his grave to serve them in any way they wanted (usually for evil purposes). The revenant’s perfectly-preserved body never tired and felt no pain. Continue reading
DAVENPORT CONQUERS THE WORLD – As usual an NAIA team toppled a team from a higher division in yesterday’s action. The NAIA’s DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS squared off against the visiting QUINCY UNIVERSITY HAWKS from NCAA Division TWO. This was a true game for the ages, with the Panthers squeezing out a 14-10 upset. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIIIVE! – The unranked WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS. For 4 bruising Quarters these two teams went blow for blow but there could only be one winner. That winner turned out to be the Buffaloes, who dragged down the Mustangs by a score of 35-27. 
With superhero Cosplay rivalling monster themes for Halloween these days I figured it was a good time to showcase the various superhero pantheons that Balladeer’s Blog has examined in a style similar to my mythology posts. 
AUSTRALIAN SUPERHEROES 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER TWO – The unranked GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS engaged in a gridiron grudge match with the visiting 2nd ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Rustlers managed a 7-0 edge by Halftime. From there Golden West College clung to a 14-10 lead over the Gauchos to end the 3rd Quarter and held their opponents off for a 20-17 upset win. 
NUMBER FIVE WENT DOWN, TOO – The number 13 MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES hosted the 5th ranked LONG BEACH COLLEGE VIKINGS (should be the Beachcombers). The storied Mounties seized a 6-0 1st Quarter lead then expanded that into a 20-3 advantage by the midpoint. After the break Mount SAC stayed in control, improving to 4-2 with a 34-3 triumph. 
As always October is one long celebration of Halloween here at Balladeer’s Blog. The hulking undead figure in the picture is Simon Garth, the title character in Tales of the Zombie from Marvel Comics. Marvel still hasn’t properly used their horror figures, with just Blade the Vampire Slayer (Debut Year 1973) and the Ghost Rider (Debut Year 1972) getting treatment on the big and small screens. 
THE MESSENGER (1897) – Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues with another neglected work of horror – this one penned by Robert W Chambers, author of The King in Yellow, which I reviewed 
NUMBER ONE GETS DETHRONED – The 4th ranked EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS welcomed the number 1 team in the nation – the NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS. The Lions seized a 7-0 edge in the opening Quarter and built that into a 24-17 advantage at Halftime. After a tight 3rd Quarter East Mississippi College exploded for 20 points in the 4th, winning the game 51-32.
THE ALL-NAME GAME OF THE WEEK – The SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES (yes, really) traveled to face the EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS. The Fighting Artichokes managed a 12-8 1st Quarter lead and then took charge from there. At the break they led the Gila Monsters 19-8 on their way to a FIFTY-TWO to TWENTY evisceration of their opponents. 
THE SPECTRE LEAGUERS – In 1792 the Gloucester Leaguers returned from the dead to plague Massachusetts 100 years after their horrors had first been unleashed.
