Once again Poe tries his hand at using his ratiocinative talents to put across a hoax. But whereas "Hans Pfall" at least a few amusing moments, "Balloon-Hoax" is utterly mundane, "fantastic" only in terms that Poe couldn't know exactly what elements would be needed for a balloon-ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Forgettable in almost every way.
A TALE OF THE RAGGED MOUNTAINS, however, is definitely underrated "Marvelous Poe." An unnamed narrator describes his friendship with a fellow named Augustus Bedloe, whose entire body had become rather elongated due to his suffering from neuralgia. Bedloe has been treated for years by a private doctor, Templeton, who is a follower of the doctrines of Mesmer, though mesmerism seems to play no role in the story.
Bedloe disappears from Charlottesville, the city in which he and the narrator reside. When Bedloe shows up at last, he tells a story of having got lost in the neighboring mountain range, the Ragged Mountains. Bedloe tells his friend and his doctor that before going for a walk in the mountains, he had a breakfast of coffee and pain-killing morphine. He then stumbled across a city and took part in an armed conflict before finding himself alone again. Templeton believes that Bedloe experienced a flashback to an earlier life, when a man named Oldeb, an acquaintance of the doctor, died during a riot in Benares, India. A little later, Bedloe perishes in a manner loosely similar to the fate of Oldeb, whose name is almost exactly the same.
There are strong parallels between this story and E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Sandman," published in 1816.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Thursday, September 27, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #182
Primary RICHARD CARLSON (not shown, but a veteran of a half-dozen important SF films), narrated THE GOLDEN BLADE.
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Primary VERONICA CARLSON has one (uncredited) role in CASINO ROYALE.
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Primary HOPE MARIE CARLTON acted in a minor role in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST 4.
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Primary ROGER. C. CARMEL played "Colonel Gumm" in BATMAN and "Harry Mudd" in two STAR TREK episodes, "I, Mudd" and "Mudd's Women," voiced characters in TRANSFORMERS, the 1986 JONNY QUEST, and the animated STAR TREK, and acted in THE SILENCERS and episodes of THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE MAN FROM UNCLE.
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Peripheral JEANNE CARMEN acted in THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS with--
Primary LES TREMAYNE (not shown) from KING KONG VS. GODZILLA.
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Primary JULIE CARMEN acted in episodes of AIRWOLF and the 1980s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
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Peripheral HOAGY CARMICHAEL acted in TOPPER with--
Primary DOODLES WEAVER from THE MAN FROM UNCLE.
Primary VERONICA CARLSON has one (uncredited) role in CASINO ROYALE.
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Primary HOPE MARIE CARLTON acted in a minor role in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST 4.
Primary ROGER. C. CARMEL played "Colonel Gumm" in BATMAN and "Harry Mudd" in two STAR TREK episodes, "I, Mudd" and "Mudd's Women," voiced characters in TRANSFORMERS, the 1986 JONNY QUEST, and the animated STAR TREK, and acted in THE SILENCERS and episodes of THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE MAN FROM UNCLE.
Peripheral JEANNE CARMEN acted in THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS with--
Primary LES TREMAYNE (not shown) from KING KONG VS. GODZILLA.
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Primary JULIE CARMEN acted in episodes of AIRWOLF and the 1980s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Peripheral HOAGY CARMICHAEL acted in TOPPER with--
Primary DOODLES WEAVER from THE MAN FROM UNCLE.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
RAR #33: RED HAWK
Red Hawk is a forgettable character who organizes his fellow tribesmen, "the Navarros," to protest against their land being co-opted by a greedy entrepreneur. Superman tries to help the tribe without overtly breaking the law. When Red Hawk grows impatient, he uses his knowledge of modern technology to create a red-sun device that saps away the superhero's powers, the better to use him as a bargaining chip.
It's a pretty simple "relevance" story by Leo Dorfman, memorable mainly for a couple of nice covers in ACTION #401-402.
RAR #32: THE WAQUO IDOL
Here's a story of "evil Indians" that almost makes Jack Cole's "Great Warrior" tale from PLASTIC MAN look classy: a rebellious tribe called "the Waquos" (Yaquis, maybe?) wants to expel the whites from their land. To this end they revive a big clay idol called "Yaho" (as in "Yahoo," I guess), which causes some limited havoc until the Black Condor sets things right.
Not only do the storytellers basically steal the idea of the clay idol from the Jewish idea of the Golem, the Waquos are given the noses of cartoon dogs for some reason. Maybe the artist, identified as one Charles Sultan, was just in an antic mood at the time, but the overall effect is pretty repulsive. From CRACK COMICS #7 (1940).
Not only do the storytellers basically steal the idea of the clay idol from the Jewish idea of the Golem, the Waquos are given the noses of cartoon dogs for some reason. Maybe the artist, identified as one Charles Sultan, was just in an antic mood at the time, but the overall effect is pretty repulsive. From CRACK COMICS #7 (1940).
Thursday, September 20, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #181
Primary GEORGE CARLIN voiced "Zugor" in TARZAN 2.
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Primary LYNN CARLIN acted in BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS and in episodes of THE BIONIC WOMAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK.
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Peripheral MARY CARLISLE acted in DEAD MEN WALK with--
Primary GEORGE ZUCCO from TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS.
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Primary KAREN CARLSON acted in THE OCTAGON and in episodes of BUCK ROGERS. THE MAN FROM UNCLE, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK.
Primary LYNN CARLIN acted in BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS and in episodes of THE BIONIC WOMAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK.
Peripheral MARY CARLISLE acted in DEAD MEN WALK with--
Primary GEORGE ZUCCO from TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS.
Primary KAREN CARLSON acted in THE OCTAGON and in episodes of BUCK ROGERS. THE MAN FROM UNCLE, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK.
Monday, September 17, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #180
Primary MACDONALD CAREY acted in episodes of THE MAGICIAN and BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY.
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Primary MICHELE CAREY acted in a SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN TV movie and in episodes of THE WILD WILD WEST (2 roles), MAN FROM UNCLE, MAN FROM ATLANTIS, and A MAN CALLED SLOANE (contributing "the voice of Effie.")
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Peripheral OLIVE CAREY (not shown) acted in BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA with--
Primary JOHN CARRADINE for his role in the WONDER WOMAN episode "Gault's Brain."
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Primary ROLAND CAREY played "Jason" in THE GIANTS OF THESSALY.
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Primary TIMOTHY CAREY acted in episodes of AIRWOLF, KUNG FU, MAN FROM UNCLE, and THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.
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Primary GIA CARIDES acted in the second AUSTIN POWERS film and an episode of THE LIBRARIANS, and played a regular on ULTRAMAN: TOWARD THE FUTURE.
Primary MICHELE CAREY acted in a SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN TV movie and in episodes of THE WILD WILD WEST (2 roles), MAN FROM UNCLE, MAN FROM ATLANTIS, and A MAN CALLED SLOANE (contributing "the voice of Effie.")
Peripheral OLIVE CAREY (not shown) acted in BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA with--
Primary JOHN CARRADINE for his role in the WONDER WOMAN episode "Gault's Brain."
Primary ROLAND CAREY played "Jason" in THE GIANTS OF THESSALY.
Primary TIMOTHY CAREY acted in episodes of AIRWOLF, KUNG FU, MAN FROM UNCLE, and THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.
Primary GIA CARIDES acted in the second AUSTIN POWERS film and an episode of THE LIBRARIANS, and played a regular on ULTRAMAN: TOWARD THE FUTURE.
Thursday, September 13, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #179
Peripheral CLAUDIA CARDINALE acted in the 1977 JESUS OF NAZARETH with--
Primary LAURENCE OLIVIER from the 1980s CLASH OF THE TITANS.
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Primary HARRY CAREY SR acted in THE NIGHT RIDER.
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Primary HARRY CAREY JR. acted in CHERRY 2000 and in shows like KNIGHT RIDER, THE LONE RANGER, and THE BIONIC WOMAN.
Primary LAURENCE OLIVIER from the 1980s CLASH OF THE TITANS.
Primary HARRY CAREY SR acted in THE NIGHT RIDER.
Primary HARRY CAREY JR. acted in CHERRY 2000 and in shows like KNIGHT RIDER, THE LONE RANGER, and THE BIONIC WOMAN.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #178
Primary KATE CAPSHAW acted in DREAMSCAPE and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM.
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Primary CAPUCINE acted in ARABIAN ADVENTURE.
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Primary ANTONY CARBONE, best known for CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA, is not shown for his episode of MAN FROM UNCLE.
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Primary NESTOR CARBONELL acted in the movie DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and the serials THE TICK and LOST, as well as voicing characters in JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED, AMERICAN DRAGON, and KIM POSSIBLE.
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Primary LINDA CARDELLINI is most famous for her "Velma Dinkley" in the two live-action SCOOBY DOO movies, and also acted in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
Primary CAPUCINE acted in ARABIAN ADVENTURE.
Primary ANTONY CARBONE, best known for CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA, is not shown for his episode of MAN FROM UNCLE.
Primary NESTOR CARBONELL acted in the movie DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and the serials THE TICK and LOST, as well as voicing characters in JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED, AMERICAN DRAGON, and KIM POSSIBLE.
Primary LINDA CARDELLINI is most famous for her "Velma Dinkley" in the two live-action SCOOBY DOO movies, and also acted in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
SUPERHEROES ARE DAMN-NEAR EVERYWHERE #177
Peripheral EDDIE CANTOR acted in ALI BABA GOES TO TOWN with--
Primary JOHN CARRADINE for his appearance in THE GREEN HORNET TV-show.
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Primary YAKIMA CANUTT (going only by his credits as an actor, not as stuntman) appeared in PERILS OF NYOKA, SPY SMASHER, MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN, and assorted other serials, usually in very minor roles.
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Peripheral TRUMAN CAPOTE acted in MURDER BY DEATH with--
Primary DAVID NIVEN from CASINO ROYALE.
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Primary AHNA CAPRI acted in ENTER THE DRAGON.
Primary JOHN CARRADINE for his appearance in THE GREEN HORNET TV-show.
Primary YAKIMA CANUTT (going only by his credits as an actor, not as stuntman) appeared in PERILS OF NYOKA, SPY SMASHER, MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN, and assorted other serials, usually in very minor roles.
Peripheral TRUMAN CAPOTE acted in MURDER BY DEATH with--
Primary DAVID NIVEN from CASINO ROYALE.
Primary AHNA CAPRI acted in ENTER THE DRAGON.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
RAR #32: THE BIRD MAN
Making four appearances in WEIRD COMICS #1-4 (1940), the Bird Man may be the first Native American superhero, preceding even the Bronze Terror. The only thing that makes him problematic, apart from the fact that his depiction varies between white and red skin, is that he has no origin as such.
Still, since the first story states that the Bird Man is "a descendent [sic] of an ancient Indian god," he fits my definition of a Real American, since even if he were white, he would still be steeped in Native American culture. His wings seem to be a real part of his body, and he patrols the deserts of the American West. His only weapons are a knife and a bow-and-arrow.