From alt.sex.stories.tg Sun Jun 16 01:39:14 1996 Path: mordred.cc.jyu.fi!news.funet.fi!news.eunet.fi!EU.net!usenet2.news.uk.psi.net!uknet!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!netcom.net.uk!btnet!news.euro.net!xs4all!basement.replay.com!not-for-mail From: nobody@REPLAY.COM (Anonymous) Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.tg Subject: The Ballad of Eden Blake Date: 12 Jun 1996 21:59:07 +0200 Organization: Replay and Company UnLimited Lines: 184 Sender: replay@basement.replay.com Message-ID: <4pn7ib$duo@basement.replay.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: basement.replay.com X-XS4ALL-Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 21:59:10 MET DST XComm: Replay may or may not approve of the content of this posting XComm: Report misuse of this automated service to *** The Ballad of Eden Blake --From the desk of J.D. -- I didn't write this poem (song?), and claim no responsibiity for it. But as a fan of the comic heroine "Mantra" (the original, not the junky, kid-oriented "new Mantra") I think it's rather good. Eden Blake was the secret identity of the superheroine Mantra. Before its recent cancellation (along with most of Malibu Comics' titles following a change of ownership), the series MANTRA carried comicdom's only continuing TG heroine. Basically Lukasz was the champion of a mighty wizard who kept reincarnating him for 1500 years, into the body of one male warrior after another. But just before the wizard's capture, he chose to place the soul of his noble knight into the body of a beautiful housewife who, unbeknown to herself, but known to the wizard, possessed great magical powers. Lukasz, very reluctantly, assumed the identity of Eden Blake, took responsibility for her young children, and did many brave deeds of sorcery under the name of "Mantra." Unfortunately, shortly before the retirement of the character, Eden inexplicably lost her magic powers and became an ordinary woman. But all is not lost. It has been announced that Eden Blake shall make a guest appearance in the upcoming Ultra Force #11 (August?). If anyone wants to send thanks or comments to Malibu Comics, their address is 26707 Agoura Road, Calibasas, CA 92302-1960 EDEN BLAKE by Anon I was Mantra once before, powers too great to ignore; to learn the ways of witchcraft was my goal. If the simple truth be told, all my battles, brave and bold, seemed tame beside the struggle in my soul. When you've lived as long as I you're used to reaching for the sky, and a life forever new remains a joy. Daring what the morrow brings, trying out heroic things, that's been my nature since I was a boy. How it knocked me for a whirl when I turned into a girl after fifteen hundred happy years a man. To be slain a solider true, and come back the mom of two, was a silly fate I simply couldn't stand. If you own an iron heart it gets softened at the start; your tastes go weak and whimpy, so I've found. One could take it calm and slow, but that's not my way, you know. Lukasz never faced trouble lying down. I became a balky horse; I was snappish, rude, and worse. Those kids thought their poor mamma had gone mad. It was all a big mistake; this thing rides you 'till you break, and hurting decent people's for a cad. You may say that I am cursed 'cause this spell can't be reversed, but that which can't be fixed best leave alone. So I settled in the life of a busy young housewife, the most atrocious bivouac I have known. Then I studied sorcery while I cooked and cleaned for three, and searched the bargain racks for children's size. When it all was said and done, I found motherhood was fun; every day brought some new wonder or surprise. But I'm still an ingenue with a long, long way to go until I know what's me and what's pretend. Yet it's good to be alive, even working nine to five, just to earn the family income that we spend. I am learning how to flirt and to wear a microskirt, while I run those little errands for the men. If stilettos be my fate, 'least they make my legs look great, and chic fashion is working gal's best friend. My days are hits and misses, sometimes dodging stolen kisses; beauty brings out all that's bad in girls and guys. At first I used to hate it, then decided it was fated. I'll either lose my senses or get wise. I could almost flip my lid, 'cause there's an ego and an id battling like two ultras in my mind. I thought I'd seen the worst of a life thrown in reverse, but from the very first step I was blind. When the Mantra power goes, for what reason no one knows, bitter fate can cut more cruelly than a knife. Once a super-powered dame, now just Eden Blake's my name, I'm forced to lead an ordinary life. Just another pretty face, always swept up in the race of working hard each day to keep ahead. Just an ordinary mom with a sad and wistful calm, who's home each night to put the kids to bed. Will I ever know the joy that is due a girl or boy? May a lonely human heart give birth a smile? Yet, I've gifts I've never known, like a family and a home -- precious things my soul has yearned for all this while. We'll just have to wait and see what next fate will do to me. Will it leave me with a single scrap of pride? But to pity Eden's wrong, for a hero's spirit's strong and loving fans root for her far and wide. (reprise and fade-out) When you've lived as long as I you're used to reaching for the sky, and a life forever new remains a joy. Daring what the morrow brings, trying out heroic things, that's been my nature since I was. . . (softly) I was a *boy*. . . . I was Mantra here before, powers too great to ignore; to learn the ways of witchcraft was my goal. If the simple truth be told, all my battles, brave and bold, seemed tame beside the struggle in my. . . (softly) in my *soul*. . . . I could almost flip my lid 'cause there's an ego and an id battling like two ultras in my mind. I'd thought I'd seen the worst of a life thrown in reverse, but from the very first step I was. . . (softly) I was *blind*. . . . "Eden Blake" Anon