Mythology Gods: Zeus

Posted on December 24, 2024 by bloodlinematt

Merry Christmas Eve! And welcome back to Rotten Ink, and man is it just me or did 2024 just seem to fly by as it’s crazy to think that tomorrow is Christmas and that Santa Claus is on his way! So you younger readers make sure to leave out some milk and cookies and get to bed early, oh and asked a loved one to read you The Night Before Christmas to help you drift off to slumber. And now to what this holiday update will be about and it will also be one that will be a fast and entertaining read as we will be talking about the Greek God Zeus! That’s right nothing says Christmas like Zeus the God Of Thunder, who was the King of the Gods when it comes to Greek Mythology…wait, you don’t think of Zeus around this time of the year? Well I do, as Christmas time is that time I think back to the stuff that I enjoyed when growing up and mythology was something I loved to read about. So with that, let’s grab some lightning bolt shaped cookies and a tall cold glass of milk and sit around the fireplace and chat about the one and only Zeus!

Zeus is The God Of Thunder and is one of the most powerful of the Gods in Greek mythology as he led his brothers and sisters into battle to bring down the Titans who had tormented them as well as mankind. He also was the first to survive his father Cronus’ hunger for eating his own offspring so that they could never challenge him for his throne, as he was a Titan who was cruel but Zeus is able to defeat him as well as free his brothers and sisters that had been eaten alive when they were just infants. And from that moment on, Zeus became the King Of The Gods and would rule both his fellow Gods and Mankind with an iron fist as he was truly one that demanded respect. Zeus and his fellow Gods would sit atop Mount Olympus in Greece and would watch over the people and as well would look for the tributes given to them from the mortals. And during this time when thunderstorms would come to the area they would think that it was Zeus who was doing this as he was angry with them or was in battle. As time would pass Zeus would start to lose his worshipers and other religions would enter the area and become the main source for mankind to follow with Christianity and Islam being the two big ones, and Zeus and his fellow Gods would find themselves being viewed as myths and legends and would fade away from minds and would become stories told around fires, heroes in books and later movies and shows and their statues and shrines would be art in museums. Even Mount Olympus is now a tourist attraction in Greece that thousands of tourist visit every year. But while it is a smaller group, now Zeus does have cults that still follow and worship him, and that is one thing about Zeus while his reign has long came to an end he still has those who follow him and his ways of ruling.

When I think of Zeus when it comes to movies and TV, a few names come to mind with the first being Anthony Quinn who played him in the hit TV Show “Hercules The Legendary Journeys” and the made for TV films that aired before it became a full series. He was sauvé, a prankster and a ladies man and for some reason I think he is my favorite version of Zeus in media. I remember being very disappointed when Toy Biz never released a Zeus figure in their action figure line based on the show. Some of my other favorites include Laurence Olivier who played Zeus in the 1981 film “Clash Of The Titans”. Rip Torn, who lent his voice to play Zeus in the 1997 Disney animated film “Hercules”. Claudio Cassinelli who played Zeus in the Lou Ferrigno films “Hercules” and it’s sequel “The Adventures Of Hercules”. And I also have to say I enjoyed Russell Crowe who played Zeus in the 2022 Marvel movie “Thor: Love And Thunder”. I will say that it’s odd that back in the day of the sword and sandal film boom of the 1950’s -1960’s that no film that stared Zeus as the main hero was made, and in fact I cannot think of one film or show that has Zeus as the main hero…odd. So if you are an indie filmmaker and are making films about Greek gods, make one about Zeus as I am sure I am not the only one in the world who would enjoy it.

Zeus has always been interesting to me as growing up I was a big fan of Greek mythology and can remember checking out books at the local library to read as well as would watch any classic film that featured the likes of Hercules, Zeus and all the others. And it makes you wonder what it was like in the time of his rule in Greece and just how people lived in the fear of his wrath or felt safe under his watch, and it would have been amazing to see all the shrines to all the different Gods in the villages all around…it must have been something to see. But as I said, I am going to make this update a fast one so I think we should get to the review part of our Christmas Eve Holiday update. First I would like to thank Amazon for having this graphic novel comic in stock and making this update possible. I would also like to remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So if you are ready, let’s head to the top of Mount Olympus and see what Zeus has in store for us.

Olympians: Zeus # 1 **1/2
Released in 2010 Cover Price $12.99 First Second # 1 of 12

Mother Earth Gaia took Ouranos the sky as her lover and husband and together they birthed the Titans who would go to run the Earth and those who lived on it. Kronos, was the youngest of the Titans and is also the one to took down his own father, imprisoned his Cyclops brothers in the dark ground and truly became the King Of The Gods at his time. Kronos would take the Titan Rhea as his wife and they would have a total of six kids together with Kronos eating five of them whole and eating a stone wrapped as a baby for the sixth as his younger son Zeus was hidden away by Rhea and Gaia to live in a cave. You see Gaia was upset about Kronos for defeating his father, imprisoning his brothers and of course eating his own offspring as it is said that they would be the ones to bring Kronos’s rule to an end and he could not stand for this. Zeus grows up and has great powers including the ability to change into any animal and is given a plan by Gaia in order to free his brothers and sisters from the belly of his father by making him eat a special plant, and with the help of his lover Metis they pull this off! Now out of his stomach the Gods are Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hades and Hestia and they join Zeus in a war against the Titans in order to be the new rulers and Gods of Earth and even Gaia herself tries to still help Zeus in his war by sending him to free the Cyclops, but before he can do that, he has to kill the dragon Kampe. Zeus along with his brother, sisters and uncles the Cyclops have a final battle against the Titans where Zeus defeats them by using his new powers of Thunder and Lighting to take down Kronos for good. Once Zeus gets the power and the title King Of The Gods he marries his sister Hera, imprisons his uncles the Cyclops again and enjoys his Kingdom and the powers he now holds…but his grandmother Gaia is not happy with his actions.

So as you can see, this comic about Zeus features his birth to defeating his father in battle to claim the Earth as his own to rule over, and it’s done in a fast way that brings in elements of superhero comics as well as tries to do it’s best to make it more interesting for younger readers. Zeus from the start of the issue is showcased more as a hero who was tasked with being the offspring of Kronos that would end his cruel rule over the Earth as well as would be the one to free his bothers, sisters and uncles from the cruel imprisonment that was holding them. Zeus once grown up is a true ladies man and is learning how to use his new powers that changing into any animal, being indestructible and later learning how to use lightning bolts and thunder as weapons. We also see that Zeus is a great leader who takes control and is able to get his brother and sisters to work together, but we also see that once Zeus gets power he is no better than his father in some aspects as he continues to imprison his uncles and rules over mankind with an iron first and makes them fear him at times. It’s also clear that he was built to be The King by his Grandmother Gaia, only to disrespect her by killing off some of her children and as well treating other of her children with disrespect. The main villain of this comic is of course Kronos who was a Titan that was cruel and would not only treat his own offspring bad but also truly scared the hell of humans, and would eat them as well as offerings that were given to him in order not to be eaten! And even when the odds are against him and his fellow Titans Kronos still has a massive ego! The final fight between Zeus and Kronos really does feel like a battle in a superhero comic from DC or Marvel and that is why I have to say Greek Mythology is so cool and like the creator of this comic George O’Connor says these really are like the original superheroes. The cover for this graphic novel comic is ok and pretty eye catching as it shows Zeus raging with lightning all around him and the interior art is done by George O’Connor and is pretty cool, not the style of comic art I like but I can still respect it. While this is a very fun read I do wish that it would have dove a little deeper into the legacy of Zeus as truly this issue only covers his battle with his father and ends with he and his siblings taken control of the Earth and teaching humans how to take care of themselves. But to be fair to this comic as well it is also geared toward young readers as well, so George clearly did not want to dive to deep into the more mean side of Zeus. Check out the artwork below to see the style O’Connor used in this comic. To sum this up, if you want a read a comic based on the early life of Zeus that is for young and older readers give this a read.

This was such a fun update to do and if you want to learn more about Zeus as well as the other Greek Gods make sure to head to your local library and check out some books on the subject, or you could also look up their legends and tales here on the net. And I think that in the future I might do a few more of these Olympians graphic novels for updates, as this was a fun one to do. I also hope that you enjoyed this faster paced update as I think when I cover more of the Greek Gods in the future they will be done in this format. And I have to say a big Thank You for spending a small part of your Christmas Eve here at Rotten Ink with me and I hope that you have a great and safe Holiday Season and an amazing Christmas day. I also would like to let you know that our next update will be my Countdown for Films I have seen in the Cinema in 2024 and will be the first update in 2025! So until next time read a comic or three, watch a Christmas film or two and as always spend some time with your loved ones. See you soon as we need to talk Cinema and I am looking forward to sharing my Horror Movie Countdown! Oh and I have to say Merry Christmas!

Red Ryder: The Master Of The BB Gun

Posted on March 23, 2024 by bloodlinematt

Welcome back to Rotten Ink. As you can see, we are now at the final update for Cowboy Month 2024, and I think that today’s western topic is very iconic and has a huge legacy behind him for many decades now as his name is all over the most purchased BB gun in history. I am sure you know by now I am talking about Red Ryder, the cowboy hero that has been the star of comic strips, films, radio and merchandise. This has been an update that I have wanted to do for many years now as Red Ryder was still kind of popular with kids my age growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s mostly thanks to one holiday movie that we will talk about a little later on. So with that introduction, let’s grab some Frito corn chips, a bowl of chili and our trusty BB guns as it’s time to hit the planes with Red Ryder and his buddy Little Beaver.

Fred Harman was a real life cowboy and a great artist who worked not only on paintings, for Disney’s animation, but also started working as a comic strip artist, and in 1933 he created the western strip called “Bronc Peeler” that was a self syndicated project that ran until 1938. And in 1938, while Harman was trying to find newspapers to run the Bronc Peeler strip, he met Stephen Slesinger who was at the time looking for an artist to work on a strip he was writing called Red Ryder that was a western comic and the two hit it off and started working on it together. Even efore it was published in papers, they knew they had something special and lots of other great ideas were put into action to promote the strip and most importantly the character. They had movies, public appearances, radio shows and novelty items in place to help get Red Ryder as one of the most popular comic strip characters ever. The comic strip would be syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association and would be run in many papers and would be the most popular western comic strip of all time and proved that doing multi media for your character can grow and make them even more important in pop culture. The strip would run until 1965 and truly was a very iconic strip as the young and young at heart enjoyed reading the western adventures of Red Ryder and his friend Little Beaver as they fought for what was right around their home at the Painted Valley Ranch. And this was just a very quick crash course on the history of Red Ryder, and we will get into the character and the things he spawned a little later in this update. But I am sure most of you reading this update know the name Red Ryder one way or another.

Red Ryder is a cowboy who lives on Painted Valley Ranch along with his trusty horse Thunder as well as his aunt Duchess. Also on the ranch are Red’s sidekick the Native American youngster named Little Beaver and his horse Papoose. Red is also a very skilled rider as well as a great shooter and has a lovely girlfriend named Beth Wilder. Red Ryder is a fighter for what he finds to be right and is always brave and caring to those who cannot protect themselves or are being cheated. His main two rivals are Ace Hanlon and Buckskin Blodgett, both whom of Red has had many run in’s with over the years. Red is most skilled with his six-shooter but also talented with a rifle and is well respected by the townspeople and those he helps. In other words, Red Ryder is your typical Western Hero from this era and was just so well written and drawn that he was destined to be a pop culture icon in America.

Daisy Outdoor Products started in 1882 out of Michigan and was the leader in making airguns as well as BB Guns, and in 1940 they would team with the creative minds behind the comic strip Red Ryder to make a line of BB Guns that would carry the Red Ryder name and be marketed towards young males, as it was used to teach them how to safely handle a firearm as well as learn to shoot at a young age. The Red Ryder BB Gun was a very popular seller and would have big ad campaigns in magazines as well as comic books with the store displays featuring Red Ryder and Little Beaver and would go on to be Daisy’s top seller even to this day as they are being made even though the Red Ryder comic strip ended in 1963. And what is crazy to think is that the Red Ryder BB Gun is also very popular among adults now who grew up with them and on Daisy’s official website they sell starter kits, targets and all the Red Ryder BB gun rifles and accessories you could ever need. Growing up, we always had a Daisy BB gun in the garage but sadly it was not the Red Ryder brand, and I can remember sneaking and firing it at the ground. Now as an adult I have found myself wanting to get a Red Ryder BB Gun and might just get one sooner than later…even though I have heard that the quality of the BB Gun is not as great as they use to be.

Red Ryder was a superstar when it came to comic strips and even radio shows, but he also made an impact in the world of cinema as he had a total of 27 films as well as serials that would air at the local theaters. The first 12-chapter film serial was called “The Adventures Of Red Ryder” and was released in 1940 with the final film in the Republic Pictures coming out in 1947 and was called “Marshal Of Cripple Creek” and after that Eagle-Lion Films would take up production of Red Ryder films and would make a total of four with their final film being the 1950 film “The Cowboy And The Prizefighter”. Red Ryder would also try to make is way onto TV with three pilot attempts that just for some reason did not stick with television watchers. Over the years such actors have played the role of Red Ryder and those names are Don “Red” Barry, Jim Bannon, Wild Bill Elliot and Allan Lane. These films were very popular at the time of release as Red Ryder was a household name and the idol for many of youngsters. The films over the years can now be found on home media from VHS to DVD and some can also be viewed on YouTube. I myself own a few of these Red Ryder films on DVD and they are very enjoyable if you like classic style cheesy westerns.

The Red Ryder BB gun was one of the most popular style of BB guns in all of America when it was introduced to the market in 1940 and is still being made to this day by the Daisy Outdoor Products. And in 1983 the BB gun got even more of a bust and became a must have item for kids after it was the ultimate Christmas gift for Ralphie Parker in the film “A Christmas Story” and because of this film the phrase “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out.” became a way for parents to tell kids no. In the film Ralphie really wants a Red Ryder BB gun and even has daydreams of using it to save his parents and brothers from outlaws and is looking forward to shooting targets in his backyard. And the crazy part is that the BB gun made for the film was custom and would not get made closer to it until 2020. And when you look back at it back in the day BB gun rifles were a very popular item for young boys to get for Christmas and while they have lost a little steam now they still remain a popular item for households. And you know that still to this day when kids watch A Christmas Story, they ask their parents for a Red Ryder!

Red Ryder over the decades has had all types of merchandise for his fans to collect and many of the vintage stuff is super collectible and can fetch high prices. Stuff that Red Ryder has graced over the years besides the BB gun and comics include coloring books, cups, toys, posters, standees, trading cards, pocket knives, books, home media and shirts to name a few! And over the years I have not sadly had much in the ways of merchandise of Red Ryder besides a pocket knife as well as some of the comics and films on DVD. One day soon I do plan on getting a Red Ryder BB Gun just for the fun of having it. But say what you will about Red Ryder and his creators but one thing is for sure they knew how to market him.

So as you can see, I would say next to Lone Ranger I would say Red Ryder is the second most iconic cowboy that came from the pages of comics, radio, movies and shows. And now I think its time that we take a look at one of the comic books that was released that collect some of his comic strip adventures. And I would like to thank Bell Book And Comic for having this comic in stock and making this update possible. I would also like to remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So if you are ready, let’s head on down to the Painted Valley Ranch and see what Red Ryder is up to.

Red Ryder # 1 ***
Released in 1989 Cover Price .10 Red Ryder # 1 of 1

Red Ryder and Little Beaver come across The Devil Hole Gang who are trying to rob the stagecoach and they have already killed the driver and are about to Beth Wilder when Red scares them off and with the help of some near by miners the gang leaves empty handed. Red and Beaver escort Beth into the lawless town of Devils Hole and meet Ace Hanlon who runs the town and hires Red to be the new sheriff as all the others have been killed. Once Red is sworn in as sheriff he punches out Ace in front of the town as the corrupt man was pushing around Little Beaver, and this causes Ace to get his friend Lash to get the Devil’s Hole Gang to come after Red and they come up with a plan to take over the gold mine of Jack Adams and his father Ben and once Red gets there they plan on using gun powder to blow up the cabin…and they do just that! But unknown to them Red Ryder, Little Beaver, Jack and Ben all made it safely inside the mine and out of the range of the explosion. Red the next day gets to town and orders all of the Devil’s Hole gang to leave town for good, and this makes Ace really mad and he comes up with a plan that has the town people think that Red Ryder robbed the towns bank and killed the teller and this goes off smoothly as the town wants to hang Red who barely escapes in time. But things get bad when Ace captures Little Beaver and starts beating him up to try and get answers, Red rushes back to town and saves his friend and they both head to the hideout of the gang in order to try and clear Red’s name. But Ace gets a posse together and they track Red down who tells his side of the story and exposes Ace as the leader of the gang and the one who gave the orders to rob the bank and kill the teller…and after some back and fourth and evidence found Ace and his men are locked up and Red Ryder’s name is clear of all charges.

What a fun read and you cannot beat that classic western feel as the story is very basic as has a happy ending for our hero. The plot is this Red Ryder stops a robbery in progress and helps a pretty young lady back to her hometown that is over run with corruption and quickly becomes the towns new sheriff and tries his best to ride the town of crime and criminals and becomes the target of the towns crime shot caller…and after being framed he is able to clear his name and bring all the baddies to justice. Red Ryder is a hero who stands up for not only what he thinks is right but also for those who can’t protect themselves, he is very smart and skilled in fighting as well as shooting (sadly we don’t get to see him use his gun). He is also one who does not run away from issues and will come up with a good game plan in order to seek the finish of what he starts. The ladies also seem to really like him and the criminals all seem to want to see him dead. His friend the young Native American named Little Beaver tries to help the best he can but also at times seems to be in the way and cause issues for Red like he always seems to be getting captured or bullied by someone. But you can look past that as his young age makes him make some real rookie mistakes, but to be fair he does also help out lots like getting help when needed as well as listening to the enemy’s plans. The main villain of this issue is the rich and sleazy Ace Hanlon who plays the town like fools and is the one truly calling the shots for the Devil’s Hole Gang, as he gives orders not only to rob places but also to murder people that are in his way or just to be used as a tool in his plots. Ace also is racist against Native Americans and is just a pure scumbag character, the kind you just want to punch in the face. The plot while simple does draw you in as the reader as you go along the ride as Red cleans up the town, gets framed and hunted by the town to by the end getting the full respect of the town. I also like how Red Ryder just enters a town and becomes the sheriff and from the start is making changes and knocking out baddies. The one downside to this issue is that it is a reprint and some of the scan quality is a little rough as dialogue boxes are fuzzy and the words are small…making for a semi challenging read if you are not in a bright enough room. The cover is great and very eye catching if you are a Red Ryder or western fan and the interior art by Fred Harman and is amazing classic comic strip work and you have to love the way he draws the wild west. Over all this was a very fun read and while the scans had some issues the story made up for it. Checkout the artwork bellow to see the style used by Fred Harman for this comic strip comic reprint.

As you can see, Red Ryder really is a fantastic comic strip character and is a true icon in American Pop Culture and I for one am really happy that I was able to get this comic and make this update possible as covering Red Ryder was long overdue. And with this update Cowboy Month 2024 also comes to an end and that means our time at the Rotten Ink Ranch as well has came to an end and before he head out of the range I should let you know that next month with find us at the Rotten Ink Arena as WWE Wrestlemania Month will once more be taking place and our first wrestler will be Lucha Libre Legend La Parka! So until next time, read a comic or three, watch a western film or two and as always support your local Horror Host. See you next update as the Chairman of WCW has lots of Lucha Stuff to show us.

Best Ohio Minor League Baseball Mascots Countdown

Posted on August 4, 2023 by bloodlinematt

Ohio has always been a big city for sports from high school to college to the minors all the way to the majors…the Buckeye State loves its sports teams and cannot get enough of the games that each team has. And one sport we love here in Ohio is Baseball as it really is America’s favorite pastime. We have so many school, collegiate, minor, softball and two very important major league teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians! And as you long time readers know, in 2021 I did my best MLB Mascots Countdown that you can read here and in 2022 I did my best Retired MLB Mascot Countdown that you can read here…and now in 2023 I think it’s time that I deliver a countdown of Ohio’s collegiate, softball and Minor League team mascots as we have so many fantastic teams and mascots, and I think it really is their time to shine here at Rotten Ink. So grab yourself some popcorn, nachos and a hotdog and don’t forget you pop, beer or water as the Rotten Ink Stadium is open and it’s time to play ball!

Now let me take a moment to say what rules I gave myself when ranking these Mascots as it was both very easy and very hard all at the same time as I think each and every one of these Mascots are great in their own ways. I took my time and watched videos of each mascot doing their thing from on-field antics all the way to videos on their social media! I looked at how well loved they are by the fans, critics as well as the team they represent. I looked at how well their costumes look as well as their personality. I looked at if they had any limitations in their antics as well as slightly how well they fit the team they mascot for. I as well ruled out teams that try to use real animals, humans as well as fans as their mascots, because those are not true mascots, as we all know and love them. I ruled out my love for the team as just cause I love the team don’t mean they have a great mascot. And most important and taken into consideration is of course my personal like for the mascot again not the team but the mascot themselves. And again remember this is all for fun and I must stress I feel all of them mean something to their fans just like Horror Hosts so they are all important in their own ways. So with that let’s find our seats at Rotten Ink Stadium and order a drink and some junk food and let’s talk Ohio Minor League Mascots as I give you my personal countdown from least favorite to my top pick.

# 24

Captain Clipper
Team: Lake County Captains Debut: 2005 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

First things first I want to stress I hate inflatable mascots at any and all baseball games as they are cheap looking, limit the mascots antics and just are so blah in over all nature that for me they bring no fun, no laughs and should not be used at all. So with that said The Lake County Captains are guilty of releasing the worst mascot in minor league Ohio ball history with Captain Clipper an over 9ft tall inflatable Captain that stands around awkwardly on the dugout and tries to pull off some very limited antics, and man is this guy lame. While I am sure he has his fans and he is great with the crowd at the stadium he just is really bad in my opinion and I am moving on as inflatable mascots should be left in Used Car Lots to bring in buyers. Also the better Captain Clipper of Ohio baseball will be coming up on this list.

# 23

Homer
Team: Akron RubberDucks Debut: 1997 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

I have to start of by saying that I am sure Homer has his fans and that I am sure he adds some entertainment to those who are attending Akron RubberDucks games, but that does not stop from me placing him in second to last place in this countdown as he is one of the cheesiest and limited mascots in any of baseball! Homer is a purple penguin with white polka-dots who does what he can to hype up the crowd and is pretty much just really lame as he is mostly used for photo ops as well as a few laughs. Hands down one of the worst Mascot on this countdown list and one that we should just move past.

# 22

Wink
Team: Dayton Dragons Debut: 2003 Affiliated: Cincinnati Reds

Wink is a Cyclops secondary mascot for the Dayton, Dragons and walks around the field and the stands trying his best to entertain the fans…the downside to him is just like Homer (Akron RubberDucks) the blown up costume makes him awkward and limits what he can do in his antics. To be honest I have never even seen Wink at a game and have not seen him out at public appearances so I am going to guess they limit how often he is used and do not send him to events, cause well he is pretty lame and I hate the trend of blow up mascot costumes as they don’t look good and they limit what they can do on and off the field. To sum it up Wink is the Dragon’s weak link and from what I can tell has been faded more and more out of the teams home games.

# 21

Fastpaw
Team: Champion City Kings Debut: 2014 Affiliated: None

What can be said about Fastpaw, the lion mascot for the Champion City Kings a collegiate summer baseball team based out of Springfield, Ohio besides I feel that they didn’t even try with his look, and just dressing him in cloths that dads wear when shopping at Wal-Mart does not help capture ones eye. But while his look is a little sloppy and cheesy I have to say when it comes to his antics and interactions with the fans he does a great job as he not only does work at the ball stadium, but also at local events. While Fastpaw ranked in near last place, he still does a great job of getting those in attendance hyped for some Champion City Kings baseball.

# 20

Harry The Ice Hauler
Team: Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers Debut: 2020 Affiliated: None

The Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers are a Collegiate League Team that started in 2020 and has quickly became a popular team and some of this is thanks to their mascot Harry The Ice Hauler who is a Yeti who loves cheering on his team as well as meeting and entertaining the teams fans! This super furry guy might be very limited in his antics but he makes up for it with his bond with the fans. Not much to say about Harry as he is really new to the world of Baseball Mascots but I think in a few more years he will find his true bits and antics and will be one of the best on the Collegiate Baseball level.

# 19

Muddonna
Team: Toledo Mud Hens Debut: 1996 Affiliated: Detroit Tigers

Muddonna is one of three mascots for the Toledo Mud Hens and she is the female counterpart for the teams main mascot Muddy (who we will see later on this list) and she does a great job at creating a fun experience for fans at the ball park. She is great with fans of all ages and she has some great antics that get laughs, and she as well plays well off Muddy in skits! But while she is a pretty great mascot and does a good job of being an extra bonus for fans at games I have to rate her this low as she is really just a carbon copy of Muddy just in a dress and with a long pony tail, and she lacks her own look as they really only gave here some very minor changes and its clear that her costume was just a modified Muddy costume and that’s why I sadly have to rate Muddonna this low on my countdown as she just lacks her own style. But I will say I love her name and how it plays off Pop Singer Madonna.

# 18

Rubberta
Team: Akron RubberDucks Debut: 1997 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

The Akron RubberDucks have a total of four mascots for the team and the main one is Webster and of course he had to have a female counterpart so enter Rubberta who has her own style and personality and for the most part is a really good mascot who has funny antics, plays well off her fellow mascots, does great with fans young and old and promotes her home team well. She is sent out not only during games but has also done many public appearances all he while entertaining those who she was around. And placing her at the # 17 spot was really hard as I find that she is great and think she could and possibly should be higher on the list as she is really good, I think why she is this low is that while she is a top notch mascot she does not capture my attention like many of the others on this list still to come. But with that said Rubberta rocks!

# 17

Wheelie
Team: Akron Racers Debut: ???? Affiliated: None

The Akron Racers are an amazing Ohio female Soft Ball team that are apart of the National Pro Fastpitch League and play their games at the Firestone Stadium and was a team founded in 1999. And their mascot that helps cheer on the Racers as well as get the crowd laughing and cheering is named Wheelie and he is a pretty dang good mascot who does a fine job of entertaining. Wheelie is a cheetah like cat and has a very friendly look to him and is great with younger fans and is well loved by not only the fans but also the team he represents. Wheelie is a real cool cat who loves himself some softball and is a true staple of sports mascots in Akron. If you like in the state of Ohio and are in Akron during a season make sure to see the Racers play a game as well as give Wheelie a big old thumbs up.

# 16

Thunder
Team: Ohio Bison Debut: 2006 Affiliated: None

So I am not 100% sure if Thunder really debuted in 2006 as I am not even sure if the Ohio Bison were even called that in 2006, but at least I think what has when the team that is now called the Ohio Bison started with a stress on the word THINK. And of course this collegiate summer baseball team has a mascot that is a Bison named Thunder! This Bison does what he can to rile up the fans as well as get his team pumped to play some baseball, and form what I hear he does a pretty good job at doing so! There is nothing bad to say about Thunder as he is a friendly looking Mascot who takes time to entertain the fans and is great with the youngsters in the stands. And while Thunder is pretty dang cool, I must say that he is lacking just something that I cant put my finger on that would rank him higher on this countdown. Maybe it’s that he is a little to kid friendly and I would like to see him be a little fiercer and more fitting of a true Bison. And for some reason Thunder looks like the kind of guy you would run into at a bar during a Great White concert.

# 15

Larry
Team: Lima Locos Debut: 1987 Affiliated: None

The Lima Locos are another collegiate summer baseball team that is based out of Lima, Ohio and play at the Simmons Field and their mascot is Larry a train conductor with a massive hat and a crazy bright yellow mustache who is fun, silly and a master of dancing around and bringing attention to the Lima Locos on and off the field and he is a true champion for the team. For all I have read the fans all love Larry and he is truly really good at his antics to get the crowd fired up for the home team, plus he is great with fans and is always up for a picture with them. So as you can see Larry is a great mascot and the only thing holding him down on my list is that he is not as eye catching as others on this list as he really just looks like your crazy uncle who had one to many at the 4^th of July cookout and he is ready to party…even if everyone else is not….Rock on you crazy diamond you Larry and never change.

# 14

Stomper
Team: Lake Erie Crushers Debut: 2009 Affiliated: None

The Lake Erie Crushers play out of Avon, Ohio and are apart of the Frontier League and are not affiliated with any MLB team and this gives them the freedom to play in smaller stadiums as well as sign their own players and their # 1 fan and mascot is a grey furred bear named Stomper! So fans who attend Sprenger Stadium are treated to the antics of Stomper who does a great job or getting them pumped and taking time to make the game special for the younger fans, and that’s truly were Stomper shines as the teams mascot as he is great with the fans and loves to do public appearances and spread the word of Crushers baseball. Like with Krash (Columbus Clippers) he is great at what he does and is a good mascot, its just the competition is really tough with this countdown and his look and style did not set him above those to follow. Oh and I also would like to say that the Lake Erie Crushers were the league champions in 2009.

# 13

Gem
Team: Dayton Dragons Debut: 2003 Affiliated: Cincinnati Reds

Gem is the female Dragon and is the second main mascot of the Dayton, Dragons and is all around a pretty cool mascot who does some cool antics and plays pretty well off Heater the team’s main mascot. Gem does a great job at games interacting with the fans and making young fans feel welcomed and gives them someone to look forward to seeing. The Dayton, Dragons also send Gem out for many public appearances as she is well loved by fans and does a fantastic job promoting Dragons baseball. And her design is different from Heater and this gives her way more character then say Muddonna (Mud Hens) who was just the same costume as the male counterpart just with a few changes. It’s crazy to think that Gem is this low on this list and it shows you that we have so much more amazing mascots to come!

# 12

Krash
Team: Columbus Clippers Debut: 2004 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

What can be said about good old Krash who is a green-feathered parrot who spends his time entertaining the fans at Clippers games! He is the newest Mascot member to the Clippers and has a great following among their younger fans as Krash always makes sure to put smiles on faces. The thing is Krash is very good at his job and gets the crowd to cheer for the Clipper the whole time from their introduction on field all the way to the last pitch. The reason for Krash taking this spot on this list is cause his competition is tough and while he is a great mascot his look is a little standard and he could not stand on his own without Lou Seal his partner in crime. So I have to stress while in this place Krash is a great AAA team mascot and when at a Clippers game make sure to give him a high five!

# 11

Chief Krazy Horse
Team: Chillicothe Paints Debut: 1993 Affiliated: None

The Chillicothe Paints are another unaffiliated teams that was once apart of the Frontier League that is now just as collegiate summer baseball team that plats at the V.A. Memorial Stadium and their mascot is the one and only Chief Krazy Horse who is a super tall horse headed creature who loves to entertain the fans and cheer on his team the Paints. Every time I see Chief Crazy Horse I think that he just might be the cousin of Rangers Captain the mascot for the Texas Rangers, and Chief Krazy Horse is that cousin who at family gathers runs around the house like a kid hyped on sugar to get the attention of everyone in the house…but that’s a good thing as he also brings that energy to the field and makes the games more entertaining for Paints fans! I like Chief Krazy Horse and think that he is one hell of a good mascot and has a fun look to him and brings the antics that the fans love. Now that I am thinking about it Chief Krazy Horse should party with Larry of the Lima Locos as I am sure those two would show the state of Ohio how mascots do it.

# 10

Orbit
Team: Akron RubberDucks Debut: 1997 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

Orbit The Space Cat is a red furred cat from well outer space who has went from being the main mascot for the Akron Aeroes and then became the secondary for the Akron RubberDucks when the team switched names and owners. Orbit is well loved and has a long history in Akron minor league baseball and does a great job with his on field and in stand antics, does really well with fans at the stadium and in appearances, works well with his fellow mascots, is apart of some funny skits and has a great look to him! Orbit is also really good with kids and is well loved by young and old and is really top notch in all things mascots. I like Orbit and I do feel that he is one of the better mascots here in Ohio and he really does add to the RubberDucks games.

# 9

Scrappy
Team: Mahoning Valley Scrappers Debut: 1999 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

The fans that fill the Eastwood Field are not only treated to the Scrappers playing some great AAA baseball but also to Scrappy their hardhat wearing, chain around the neck bulldog mascot who looks mean and ready for a fight, but really all he wants to do is entertaining the fans and get them pumped for the home team! Scrappy is a great looking mascot as he brings the toughness of the sport but also has a fun look to him that kids are drawn to. Scrappy is fitting for his team as he seems like he is ready to get into a scrap or even head to a job site and haul away all the scrap metal and still be on time to pump the crowd up for a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game. To sum Scrappy up he is a great mascot with solid antics, is great with the fans, fits his team and has a great look. The Scrappers have a good one for sure with him. Oh and if you live near the Mahoning Valley Scrappers make sure to go and see games as in 2020 they almost got shutdown by the Minor League team commission!

# 8

Homer
Team: Southern Ohio Copperheads Debut: 2002 Affiliated: None

The Southern Ohio Copperheads plays out of Athens, Ohio and their home games are played at Bob Wren Stadium and are another collegiate summer baseball team, but this team also has a very cool Mascot named Homer who looks like he is ready for not only baseball but also adventure! Homer is an orange furred bear with a big grin and is dressed like a mix of Indiana Jones, Crocodile Dundee and Yogi Bear and is pretty well liked by Copperheads fans that are entertained by his silly antics that includes running around and interacting with fans and leads cheers and chants. Homer is also really good with the younger fans that like to hang around him during the games and laugh at is over all silliness. But while Homer has a great look and his good with the fans, his costume does also limit his antics slightly and holds him back from really becoming a true Ohio Baseball Mascot Icon. But while limited I also must stress that I really do like Homer as he is a very cool mascot who brings joy and entertainment to Southern Ohio Copperheads games.

# 7

Horatio
Team: Lake County Captains Debut: 2023 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

Horatio is the new mascot on the block and this super tall and sassy sea bird has already worked his way into the hearts of the fans! And while he is new and is trying to figure out his style of mascoting he is a master of practical jokes and he loves pulling them on his fellow Captain’s mascot Skipper! So far Horatio has had a few public appearances and has been entertaining the fans this 2023 season! Only time will truly tell if Horatio becomes a true icon of Minor League Baseball Mascots here in Ohio or if he will only have a short run before ending up in the Mascot Retirement Home, but I for one am a fan and think he will be around for decades to come. Really watch his video on social media and you will see just how great of a Mascot he is!

# 6

Captain Clipper
Team: Columbus Clippers Debut: 1990 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

The first ever sports team mascot I ever seen in person was Captain Clipper at a Columbus Clippers game back when I was a kid and it was awesome! The good old Captain was very limited in his antics as his oversized head kept him from being like other mascots and he mostly just lead the fans in cheers, songs and chants and while he was limited he was great at what he did! I wish that I had a camera at the time cause it would have been great to have gotten my picture with him. The thing about Captain Clipper is while he was well loved by fans he also at times scared the youngsters with his appearance and that’s why the team retired him in 1996. While he has been gone for many decades now and only lasted six years in the mascot spot he still is very much remembered by the older fans of the team who would like to see him return for a few appearances, that I sadly think will never happen as The Clippers really have sent Captain Clipper out to sea for a peaceful retirement. And yes I think that I placed Captain Clipper this high on the countdown due to nostalgia, but I really do think he is great and added so much to the Columbus Clippers.

# 5

Muddy
Team: Toledo Mud Hens Debut: 1896 Affiliated: Detroit Tigers

The Toledo Mud Hens are a very iconic Minor League Baseball Team here in Ohio and have been around for a very long time and their mascot is the one and only Muddy who is a bright yellow bird who looks like he is from Sesame Street and is fantastic with his antics that brings so much joy to the fans in the stands as he not only makes them laugh but he also gets them to cheer for the Mud Hens as that’s his favorite team and thinks it should be yours as well. He is great with young and old fans and always takes the time to meet and great with them and is always up for a photo, and Muddy really is an attraction all his own for fans that go to the games. Muddy really is the total package of Minor League Baseball Mascots and should be in the Mascot Hall Of Fame, and just think we have four more mascots to go! And is it just me or does Muddy also remind you of a mix of Big Bird and the San Diego Chicken?

# 4

Webster
Team: Akron RubberDucks Debut: 1997 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

Webster is the main mascot for the Akron RubberDucks and is a truly loved mascot for Minor League Baseball and is a staple for fans who attend games as they look forward to seeing him just as much as they look forward to see the team in action. Webster is an orange duck who is a true master of the art of mascoting as he delivers the laughs on and off the field and the younger fans flock to him in order to get pictures as well as to watch him act silly. And Webster is also joined in the ballpark by Orbit and Rubberta and they help add to his antics and he does a great job of entertaining the fans with his antics. Webster is a true icon of Minor League Baseball mascots and should be a future candidate for the Mascot Hall Of Fame! If you find yourself in the Akron area and love baseball make sure to get to a RubberDucks game and watch Webster in action and you will see why I say he is such a great mascot.

# 3

Skipper
Team: Lake County Captains Debut: 2003 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

Skipper is the green furred mascot for the Lake County Captains a Minor League team that plays out of Eastlake, Ohio and he is a big hit with the fans as he does great antics and could easily be placed in any major leagues stadium and get the crowd pumped. You see Skipper is truly a well loved mascot who at times gets more attention from the fans then the players do as he is just that well loved and that entertaining. Skipper is a master of working the fans in the stadium and his goofy mascot style and Muppet look makes him standout from the pact and allows him to build a bond with the fans that get joy at laughing at his antics and cheer alongside him for the Captains. Skipper also makes public appearances around the Eastlake area and fans young and old come out to see him. Skipper almost made the # 2 spot but while he is a master of the Mascot Arts, he just could not capture that spot. But with that if you love classic style mascoting make sure to checkout Skipper as he is a great one who will surly make you laugh.

# 2

Lou Seal
Team: Columbus Clippers Debut: 1994 Affiliated: Cleveland Guardians

The Columbus Clippers are my favorite Minor League Baseball Team as they are the first ones I ever got to see multiple times when I was a kid and the first sports mascot I ever remember seeing in person was Captain Clipper and his replacement was the one and only Lou Seal who is well a seal that is dressed as a pirate and for awhile worked along side the Captain before fully taking over as the main mascot for the team. Lou Seal is pretty dang great and has some great antics over the years that has brought the belly laughs from fans over the decades and he even does a great job of playing off Captain Clipper in the past as well as now Krash. Lou Seal is truly awesome and while very simple in his look he is amazing when it comes to his antics, skits and interaction with players and fans and is one of my favorites in all Minor League Ohio Baseball. And think about this Lou Seal and Captain Clipper are two of my personal favorites from my home state and Clipper only came in at # 7 and Lou here is # 2 so you know that the next one to come truly has to be the best of the best. I also want to say The Clippers Lou Seal came years before the MLB teams San Francisco Giants Lou Seal and the Clippers Lou Seal is 1000% better then the Giants one. Also I am the proud owner of a Lou Seal plush doll as well as have his autograph.

# 1

Heater
Team: Dayton Dragons Debut: 2000 Affiliated: Cincinnati Reds

Ok I know what you are all thinking that Heater got the # 1 spot on this list cause of him being from Dayton’s team…well you are wrong I mean sure I have seen him do is thing at games live and being able the experience him in action as I have been to several Dragons games over the years does help get him this spot, but Heater got this win all on his own! Heater is great at his job as he not only draws the younger fans in and the older fans as well adore him as he dances, races and entertains before, during and even after the games. And when Heater makes appearances for charities among other events he is always surrounded by fans that want to meet and great with him. And Heaters dance movies will always get the fans to pop during a game as he along with his sidekick Gem dance on the dugouts. And lets also not look past just how cool Heater looks as he could be one of the best looking mascots in the Ohio baseball! And I really do mean this when I say if you find yourself in the Dayton, Ohio area and are looking for a fun baseball game to watch head to The Dragon Stadium and but yourself a good ticket and some snack food and a drink or two and keep your eye not only on the game, but also on Heater and then you will see why I gave him the # 1 spot on this countdown as he really is that good at what he does and what he does is bring even more entertainment to the world of minor league baseball.

I really love the sport of Baseball and next to Pro Wrestling and Boxing its one of my favorite sports to watch live as well as on TV and I truly do think that the mascots in baseball help make the sport even more fun and adds a level of entertainment during the slower parts of the games. And I truly want to thank Heater, Gem, Lou Seal, Krash, Skipper and all the other mascots that do fantastic jobs for their respective teams. And I love that many of these mascots as well have merchandise for their fans to collect from plush dolls to shirts you can rock your favorite Ohio mascot in your household. Well the Rotten Ink Stadium is closing up for this season and as we make our way out lets not only take a moment to remember a great moment in baseball history, but let me also tell you that our next update will take us to the world of Pro Wrestling again and another visit to the Rotten Ink Arena as we will be taking a look at the legend the square circle the one and only Bobo Brazil! So until next time read a comic or three, watch a baseball game or two and as always support your local sports mascots! See you next update for the some Coco Butts!