Author Carlo Carrasco

BSP sees 6-7% economic growth in 2023 for Philippines

February 23, 2023February 20, 2023carlocarrasco

As far as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is concerned, the Philippine economy will grow between 6% to 7% this year, according to a news report by BusinessWorld. By comparison, HSBC and the World Bank forecast growth rates of 4.4% and 5.4% respectively.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the BusinessWorld news article. Some parts in boldface…

THE “CONTINUED NORMALIZATION” of post-pandemic mobility will help the Philippine economy expand within the government’s 6-7% target this year, but slower growth is likely in 2024, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

“GDP (gross domestic product) growth is projected to settle within the DBCC’s (Development Budget Coordination Committee) target of 6-7% for 2023, but economic headwinds could result in slower GDP growth in 2024,” the BSP said in its latest Monetary Policy Report (MPR).

“The full-year growth forecast for 2023 was adjusted upward from the previous MPR. Meanwhile, the growth forecast for 2024 is lower compared to previous round, reflecting weaker global prospects and the impact of cumulative policy rate adjustments of the BSP,” it added.

While the central bank does not give its exact growth forecasts, the DBCC targets 6.5-8% GDP growth in 2024.

According to the central bank, the economy will be “driven by growth in the industry sector as manufacturers signal increased production plans as the economy reopens further.”

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the service sector expanded by 9.8% in the fourth quarter last year, while the industry sector grew by 4.8%. Annually, services jumped by 9.2%, and industry expanded by 6.7%.

Better labor market conditions, higher demand for tourism, and greater economic activity due to the resumption of face-to-face classes are seen to boost growth in the services sector, the BSP said.

“Moreover, the implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act, and the second tranche of the reduction in personal income taxes could help further bolster the domestic outlook in 2023-2024,” it added.

Meanwhile, the overall balance of supply and demand conditions, as reflected by the output gap, is expected to “remain broadly neutral” in the near term.

“Estimates from the BSP’s Policy Analysis Model for the Philippines (PAMPh) indicate that the output gap is estimated to be slightly positive in early 2023, reflecting the sustained economic expansion in 2022,” the central bank said.

The economy grew by 7.6% in 2022, exceeding the government’s 6.5-7.5% target, and the fastest growth since 1975.

“Thereafter, the output gap is seen to remain in broadly neutral territory as the impact of policy interest rate adjustments takes hold on the economy. A projected slowdown in global growth owing in part to tightening monetary conditions across countries could likewise dampen aggregate demand,” the BSP said.

The Monetary Board last week increased the benchmark policy rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 6%, the highest in nearly 16 years. Rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also increased to 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively.

According to analysts, higher interest rates could drag economic growth slower this year.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines can achieve economic growth beyond 6% this year? Do you think the government should do more with post-pandemic living and economics in mind?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Several Parañaque City officials face graft complaints before Ombudsman

February 23, 2023February 20, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a certain resident from Barangay San Antonio filed graft complaints before the Ombudsman against several local officials, including new mayor Eric Olivarez according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer news report. The complaints are related to the contract of the new garbage hauler hired by the City Government this past December.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…

Several officials of the Parañaque City government, including first-term Mayor Eric Olivarez are facing graft complaints before the Ombudsman for approving an allegedly “railroaded” contract worth almost P415 million with a new garbage hauler last year.

Aside from the city mayor, also named in the complaint were bids and awards committee (BAC) chair Voltaire dela Cruz; BAC vice chair Johnson Ong; and BAC members Rosa Rebecca Viñas and Josephine Mary Centena.

Also named as respondents were members of the BAC technical working group: Mark Espinosa, Kristine Joy Teston; Francisco Agamata; Ivan Hortilano; Maan Shayne Pausanos; Ricardo Factor; Ronald Austria; Danilo Nopuente; and Leonard John Navata.

In his 25-page compliant filed on Feb. 16, Genaro Clemente, Jr., a resident of Barangay San Antonio, urged the Ombudsman to put Olivarez and his co-accused under preventive suspension “in order to avoid the destruction or manufacture of evidence and to prevent them from threatening and harassing employees of the local government of Parañaque.”

Olivarez awarded the contract to Metrowaste Solid Waste Management Corp. on Dec. 27, 2022, amounting to P414,803,520.

This was just 25 days after the BAC published its call for bidding at the PhilGEPS website on Dec. 2, 2022.

Clemente claimed that Metrowaste failed to acquire the necessary documentary requirements of the bid, which resulted in garbage piling up in the streets of Parañaque during the holidays.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Do you believe the allegation that the new garbage hauler failed to acquire the necessary documentary requirements of the bid?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Tales of Symphonia Remastered now available on Xbox platforms

February 22, 2023February 18, 2023carlocarrasco

Anyone who loves Japanese role-playing games (Japanese RPG or JRPGs) will be delighted to now that Bandai Namco fulfilled their promise with Xbox gamers as Tales of Symphonia Remastered has officially been released for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One consoles this past February 17.

To begin with, watch the official Xbox launch trailer of Tales of Symphonia Remastered below. It’s something to get excited with…

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement by Bandai Namco published through Xbox.com. Some parts in boldface…

Twenty years ago, we experienced the original story of Lloyd Irving and his journey to save the two worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe’alla with his friends. Filled with unforgettable characters and an emotionally charged storyline, it still resonates with longtime fans.

Today, it is our pleasure to bring Tales of Symphonia Remastered to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. As part of the excitement, our production team would like to share a few personal tips with newcomers and returning veterans to set you on the right path. We hope you will enjoy your journey in Sylvarant and Tethe’alla!

The adventures of Lloyd and his friends is a tale to remember. Guide the party by honing your swordsmanship and sorcery skills.

Arts and Techniques – Set up each character to use magic or techniques, which can be called a special technique. As character levels increase, each character will learn magic or techniques. When magic or techniques are used, the character will perform powerful attacks or enable recovery by consuming a character’s TP.

On the menu screen, you can set the magic techniques that the operating character activates with the left stick combination and the magic techniques that you want your companions to perform. For techniques, there are “beginner magic,” “intermediate magic,” and “advanced magic,” while for skills, there are “Lv1. Special Attacks,” “Lv2. Special Attacks,” and “Lv3. Special Attacks. However, not all techniques are earned from character levels. Some techniques can only be learned by using a lower-level technique 50 times.

EX Skills – Additional abilities can be added to your character. During the game, you may obtain EX Gems, which you can equip on your character to grant them EX Skills.

When certain EX skills are equipped on the same character, a compound EX skill can be learned at the end of a battle. For example, in the case of Colette, if the level 1 skills Defend and Accuracy are equipped, she can learn a compound EX skill called “Search Item”.

Character Types – EX skills have a function, which allows the character type to be changed. Type determines the arts and techniques a character learns, and the current type is indicated by a gauge on the status screen. This gauge changes with each battle, and the number of EX skill types set determines whether the character will grow into a T-Type or S-Type.

T-Type (Technical) – They learn techniques that have a large number of hits and area effect techniques capable of targeting multiple enemies or allies. For those who emphasize continuous techniques or like to specialize in magic, the T-type is recommended.

S-Type (Strike) – This type learns techniques that are focused on powerful single target damage. The S-Type is recommended for those who want to deliver a powerful blow. It is especially effective against single bosses.

Production Team Tip: For characters who use magic, it is recommended they grow into a T-Type and learn magic with a wide range of effects. For example, Indignation is a lightning type of skill with a large area effect and high power, which will give you the upper hand in battle!

For further information about the game, read the entire article by clicking https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/02/17/tales-of-symphonia-remastered-one-of-the-most-beloved-installments-of-the-series-is-now-available-on-xbox/

For the newcomers reading this, the original version of Tales of Symphonia was released on the Nintendo Gamecube way back in 2003 followed by the PlayStation 2 in 2004, PlayStation 3 in 2014 and Windows PC in 2016. The Remastered version’s release marked the first time ever the game – which was positively received critically and commercially – got released on Xbox platforms and it further adds to the Xbox ecosystem becoming a significant haven for gamers who love fantasy role-playing games (fantasy RPGs) in the years to come.

Of course, it remains to be seen how Tales of Symphonia Remastered how today’s JRPG enthusiasts and Xbox gamers in general will react to the game’s features and overall fun factor. Regardless, anyone who plays games on Xbox and enjoys RPGs from Japan should seriously consider this game and make the decision.

Watch out for Tales of Symphonia Remastered on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One right now.

In ending this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment.

+++++

Buy-bust operation in Las Piñas City results in the arrest of a suspect and seizure of weapons and illegal drugs

February 22, 2023February 19, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Las Piñas, the local police organized a buy-bust operation which led to the arrest of a 30-year-old man suspected of drug peddling, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Seized from him were illegal drugs and weapons.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Members of Las Piñas Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) seized illegal drugs, a grenade and a gun from a suspected drug peddler during a buy-bust operation on Friday, Feb. 17.

Col. Jaime Santos, city police chief, said the suspect, Roberto Aringo,30, alias Jon, reportedly known for his illegal drug trade, was nabbed at about 6:30 p.m. in Kawayanan Tambakan, Pulanglupa Uno, Las Piñas.

Santos said police operatives confiscated from the suspect three heat-sealed transparent sachets containing 12.2 grams of shabu worth P82,960.

The city police chief said that aside from shabu, the cops also seized from the suspect a hand grenade, .38-caliber revolver, and the P500 buy-bust money.

Santos said the confiscated shabu was turned over to the Southern Police District (SPD) Forensic Unit for chemical analysis.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that loose firearms and illegal substances are affecting your local community?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Over 50 displaced families in Muntinlupa receive assistance from City Government

February 21, 2023February 18, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, 51 families who were displaced by a fire that consumed their homes and items in Barangay Poblacion received assistance from the City Government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The 51 families is composed of over one hundred eighty individuals.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government has provided assistance to 51 families or 185 individuals who were displaced when a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Poblacion on Feb. 17.

According to the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the fire razed houses at No. 209 Bukal Street at about 6:01 a.m. The fire was placed under control at 6:48 a.m. and was put out at 7:01 a.m.

No one was injured in the fire. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon immediately ordered city departments to provide assistance to the affected families as he visited the area and met with residents.

“We provided food packs and non-food items such as slippers, pails, cooking utensils, mats and basic necessities. And we will also ask help from the DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], national government for additional assistance,” said Biazon.

The Muntinlupa Social Services Department (SSD) led in the distribution of relief goods to the families while the City Health Office provided medical assistance and hygiene kits.

The families were given family kits (such as shirts, shorts, underwear and towels), kitchen kits (spoons, forks, frying pan, ladle, drinking glasses, bowls, pots and plates), sleeping kits (mosquito nets, mats, folding beds and blankets), food relief (50 kilos of rice, 25 assorted canned goods, oatmeal, sugar and coffee), and hygiene kits (nail cutter, powder, towel, diaper, napkin, toothpaste, toothbrush, bath soap and shampoo).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the assistance from City Government will be sufficient for the victims?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

A Look Back at Backlash #3 (1995)

February 21, 2023February 24, 2023carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the wild 1990s and explore a part of the WildStorm universe through a tale of Backlash!

In my previous retro review, Backlash and Taboo went on a mission infiltrating a special social event that attracted the rich and powerful. Jacob Marlowe, the founder and leader of WildCATs, was targeted by S’ryn and Pike who were at the said event disguised. Backlash took action but got wounded while fighting S’ryn. As the chaos continued, the Savage Dragon entered performing police duty.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Backlash #3 published in 1995 by Image Comics with a story written by Sean Ruffner, Jeff Mariotte and Booth. Booth was the artist.

Early story

The story begins Jacob Marlowe trying to escape away from the party. While trying to summon his team, he gets cornered by Pike. Pike noticed that Marlowe is not fully aware about the powers he has as a Kherubim. Shortly after Marlowe gets hit, Taboo suddenly jumps in and hits Pike to free the WildCATs leader. Taking advantage of Taboo’s help fighting Pike, Marlowe calls his team by phone.

At the party venue, Savage Dragon tells S’ryn that he is under arrest. Backlash is down on the floor bleeding…

Quality

*You will get to see Backlash and Savage Dragon fight each other.*

If there is anything very notable here, it is the fact that the creative team not only ramped up the superhero spectacle but also emphasized crossovers by having Zealot and Void of WildCATs involved in the action as well as having Savage Dragon participate heavily during the events. This story continues what started in issue #2 and along the way, you will see Marlowe’s Kherubim heritage emphasized as he is a high-level target of the Daemonites represented by S’ryn here.

While the plot is rather light, the high amount of action turned out to be very entertaining to see while the interactions between the characters were pretty engaging to follow. It is fun to see Backlash and Savage Dragon (Erik Larsen’s creation) conflict with each other over S’ryn. For Backlash, S’ryn is too dangerous to be handled by the local law enforcers while Savage Dragon sees him as a suspect who has to be jailed due to the chaos caused within the local jurisdiction. It should be noted that Savage Dragon was more than capable on bringing down S’ryn which essentially makes Backlash look like a failure.

Pike here noticeably became a more prominent villain. Not only was he dead serious with his mission to kill Jacob Marlowe, he proved to be a formidable foe against Taboo and even the highly proficient Zealot. This is interesting to see since Pike’s participation in the WildCATs mini-series was not too great and the dialogue the creative came up with emphasized his personality a lot.

As this is an action-heavy story, I can say that Brett Booth’s visual work here is very good. He knew how to set-up the action sequences as well as how to frame the action in sequence. There were even moments in which some aspects of his art resembled that of Jim Lee. Speaking of crossovers, Booth’s artistic take on Zealot, Void and Savage Dragon was nice to see.

Conclusion

*Zealot and Void of WildCATs got involved in this story.*

Backlash #3 (1995) is another fun ride but on a higher gear and with stronger emphasis on crossover elements. To really enjoy this, one must be oriented enough with Savage Dragon and WildCATs to grasp this comic book’s concept and how the guest characters fit into the narrative. This is a meaningful crossover within the WildStorm universe. Fans of Backlash will have a lot to be engage with in this comic book.

Overall, Backlash #3 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Freex #15 (1994)

February 20, 2023January 27, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the wild 1990s and explore a part of Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse through a tale of Freex.

Since after facing off with Contrary (who eventually became part of UltraForce) and her so-called school and students, Freex had been traveling far and long (refer to my previous Freex reviews here, here and here) and gained Old Man as a useful companion. Along the way, they encountered the unknown deep underground and even saw a powerful being. They even got to the city of Denver temporarily. As they went on, they found the path that led them back to civilization.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Freex #15, published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Gerard Jones and drawn by Scott Kolins. This is a flip-side comic book with Ultraverse Premiere #9 (1994) on the other side.

Early story

The story begins with Freex – composed of Plug, Sweet-Face, Pressure, Anything and new member Cayman – have been traveling for some time deep underground with Old Man. They find themselves back in San Francisco, the one city that brought them together. While still a long distance away from the city proper and there are no locals who could see them, the team cautiously move to a high communications tower. Michael/Plug uses his special ability to transform himself into electronic matter and makes his way through the communications network of the city to do something very important. Cayman meanwhile becomes the object of discussion between Pressure and Sweet-Face as he has yet to share with them details about himself.

As Cayman himself was part of Contrary’s academy and joined Freex recently, he has trouble gaining the trust of the others. After wearing new clothes that Lewis found, a guy suddenly appears to them. He introduces himself to them as Evan…

Quality

*The very evil Rafferty monitoring Freex secretly and enjoying his advantage over them.*

Considering what happened in the previous issues, this story feels like a breath of fresh air not only because of the new location the team got into but also because of strong twists that happened. Instead of going through fantastical encounters, Freex found themselves in situations that are more grounded with reality (within Ultraverse standards specifically) and more notably, the story emphasized crossover as Freex and Old Man encountered Firearm. The said crossover, quite cleverly, sets up Freex into a collision course with the serial killer Rafferty (who encountered The Strangers elsewhere within the Ultraverse). For the newcomers reading this, Rafferty is one of the most evil characters of the Ultraverse who has murdered a lot of people – including his own parents – and has developed tremendous hatred of Ultras.

The inclusion of Rafferty here also sheds light on the Freex’s past connection with the Night Man (click here and here). More notably, the said serial killer turned out to be so resourceful and totally obsessed with murdering people with special abilities, he became a formidable force towards Freex. This leads to a pretty powerful and twisting conclusion that must be seen.

Conclusion

With a good amount of intrigue, characterization spectacle, strong dialogue and the element of crossover, Freex #15 (1994) is a pretty engaging comic book to read. The biggest feature here is having Freex in a conflict with a very obsessed killer who not only hates Ultras but also has an extensive record of murdering many people over a long period of time. In my view, the Freex-Rafferty conflict was nicely structured and it added depth to the plot. What happened in the end of this comic book should resonate with dedicated fans of Freex.

Overall, Freex #15 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

Wanted person from Leyte arrested in Parañaque

February 20, 2023February 14, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a wanted person from the province of Leyte was arrested by the local police, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The said person was previously charged for statutory rape and his arrest happened in Barangay San Antonio.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

A 31 year-old-man facing statutory rape charges and two counts of acts of lasciviousness was arrested in Parañaque City on Monday, Feb. 13.

Col. Renato Ocampo, city police chief, said members of the Tabontabon Muncipal police station coordinated with members of the Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) for the arrest of the suspect identified as Gilbert Barbo Durana.

Ocampo said Durana, who was listed as Top 1 wanted person in Tabontabon, Leyte, was arrested around 6:40 p.m. along San Antonio Valley-1, Barangay San Antono.

He said members of the Tabontabon Municipal police station conducted manhunt operations against Durana after a warrant of arrest for statutory rape was issued against him on Feb. 1.

The city police chief said Judge Catherine Jane Lopez, of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Eight Judicial Region, Branch 15, Burauen Leyte, ordered the arrest of Duran.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that more wanted persons could be hiding in your local community in Parañaque?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985)

February 17, 2023January 21, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 1980s and examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Back in the year 1985, Marvel Comics published their big-time limited series Secret Wars II, which saw the arrival of the powerful yet ignorant deity Beyonder on Earth. As a major publishing event spearheaded by then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, Secret Wars II had events that impacted a certain number of regular monthly comic book series whenever an issue was released. In one of the early issues of Secret Wars II, the Beyonder converted an entire tall building within New York City into pure solid gold. As the golden building could not support its own weight, it collapsed and the authorities scrambled to secure the perimeter. Spider-Man himself gets involved by rescuing the victims and he learned something along the way (as seen in Web of Spider-Man #6).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #268, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man swinging high and noticing that the perimeter of the collapsed building of pure gold has been covered (with a large tarpaulin) and secured by armed personnel. People were not allowed to pass which makes them speculate about what happened. Having witnessed government operative Anderson compensating the Kingpin with typewriters made of pure gold secretly, Spider-Man is deeply troubled and decides to go home to take a rest.

At the site of disaster, several personnel equipped with laser weapons worked hard to cut down every part of the collapsed building and transport as much gold as possible onto trucks which are tasked to deliver them to a huge cargo ship at the city’s port. The authorities are concerned that the excessive amount of gold from the collapsed golden building will cause tremendous shockwaves in the world’s markets and they strive hard to keep everything secret…

Quality

*Spider-Man sneaking on to the ship as he pursues answers to hot questions about what has been going on.*

Being a tie-in story to Secret Wars II, this is indeed a really unique Spider-Man story that does not put the iconic hero in direct conflict with a powered villain at all which can disappoint certain readers and fans who craved for action-packed conflicts. Instead, this story was designed to be a mystery which strongly reflects the consequences of the Beyonder’s action during his presence in New York. You will get to see Spider-Man work on finding out the answers to all the questions in his head and his knowledge about the involvement of the Kingpin and the United States government were more than enough to motivate him to figure things out even though it means putting himself at risk with powerful authorities.

In terms of story structuring and presentation, the tale moved at a moderate pace and the creators took their time with the revelation of key details (clearly designed to cause intrigue with the readers) as the narrative moved forward. This is indeed an engaging read and it has aged well.

Conclusion

Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985) is an intriguing and entertaining read even though it does not have Spider-Man in direct physical conflict with a bad guy. The Kingpin, an established supervillain, is present in the story mainly as a background character who still has strong influence with the sinister forces present. The biggest feature of the comic book is the situation itself (local efforts on dealing with the collapsed building of pure gold while preventing the public from knowing all about it) which got triggered by the Beyonder’s reckless act of trying to help humanity by turning a building into pure gold believing that it would help all people financially and socially. As for Spider-Man himself, it is refreshing to see him work his way through in a mystery tale and this comic book has a very solid approach on mystery.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Wonder Woman #24 (1989)

February 16, 2023February 3, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late 1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the Queen of Superheroes herself…Wonder Woman!

In my previous retro review, Wonder Woman’s spiritual superior Hermes makes his presence felt on Earth as she continues her interaction with members of the local society. Unsurprisingly, a great disturbance happens with the people as they let their guard down after witnessing something supernatural. This made things more complicated with Wonder Woman who has been trying her best doing her duty as Themyscira’s representative while maintain the personal relationships she established with certain mortals. And then something wrong happened with Hermes.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Wonder Woman #24, published by DC Comics in 1989 with a story written and drawn by the late George Perez.

Early story

The story begins Vanessa Kapatelis at home watching news on TV about the strange attack on Hermes. In the city of Boston, two police officers find a man sitting with junk at a wall who cannot help but be very scared of something. The man points to a certain building very nearby.

Beneath the foundation of the building, the earth rumbles with very eerie sounds. The gorgon Euryale and Ares’ son Phobos are on top of a pit and below them is Ixion, the first mass murderer to have ever walked the earth. It turns out, Ixion has long been chained to a large wheel that not only restrained him but also tortured him. The generations of torture disfigured Ixion as well. Hermes, who was defeated very recently, cannot help but be shocked at the sight of Ixion whom he left imprisoned in another place. Phobos tells Hermes he could thank his foolish Olympians as they were so busy with the cosmic migration, it paved the way for him (Phobos) to sneak into Hades and pull out Ixion.

It turns out, it was Hermes who forged the unbreakable chains holding Ixion and only he could break it. Euryale, who wears Hermes’ mystical hat, mocks Hermes. Phobos reveals that he has Hermes’ caduceus all to himself and then uses it to capture and harness energy which he uses to free Ixion.

Suddenly, the building crumbles and Ixion emerges with Hermes caught firmly by his oversized hand. The rise of Ixion terrifies the people of Boston…

Quality

*Look at how intimidating Ixion is while Hermes is so helpless and pathetic.*

Wow! This is one epic Wonder Woman tale that has a nice blend of fantasy, action and 1980s American culture. The stakes within this comic book are so high as a result of the disaster caused by Ixion who really put many people’s lives in danger. Ironically, the huge scale of disaster did not attract the assistance of other superheroes within the shared comic book universe of DC and this only made Wonder Woman’s involvement more significant. Not only would you see Wonder Woman really struggle with fighting Ixion, you will also see her struggle emotionally and logically when she deals with the helplessness of her superior Hermes (who is rather pathetic here and he really looks like a reject from Olympus) and facing the raging evil of Phobos while trying to prevent any further loss of life. By the way, Ixion here is more than just being one large monster for Wonder Woman to face off with.

While this is indeed a tale heavily loaded with action, the script by Perez sheds light on key themes that are indeed worth thinking over. For one thing, how should Wonder Woman handle herself upon realizing her lord Hermes becomes vulnerable and unworthy of godly authority? How should people deal with idolatry (which is foolish and unholy) when they realize a mythical figure like Hermes is so helpless not so long after he convinced them with his amazing display of the supernatural? More on relationships between mortals and powerful beings, how can an ordinary human like Julia Kapatelis really maintain a sisterly bond with Wonder Woman whose powers and responsibilities are so tremendous and are beyond the reach of humanity? There definitely is something engaging to reflect over in this comic book and the richness behind the writing (as opposed to the visual spectacle) is undeniable.

Themes aside, Perez also crafted very rich dialogue which is very evident near the end of the story. I won’t say which characters engaged in the rich conversation but I assure you it is worth getting this comic book for. The said conversation is not only philosophical but also marks another step in the development of the characters involved.

Conclusion

Wonder Woman #24 (1989) is indeed a great Wonder Woman tale and it is a significant improvement over issues #22 and #23 with regards to storytelling, conflict and characterization. This comic book is a lively reminder about how great George Perez proved to be when it comes to writing. It has lots of superhero spectacle to keep readers entertained but ultimately it is Perez’s writing that made this one a great read. It certainly has aged well and by the time you read this particular comic book, you will really miss the late Perez. Lastly, this Wonder Woman tale should serve as a lively reminder to you all that Zeus, Hermes, Aphrodite and all those so-called gods are all false and you should never fall into worshiping them. You engage in idolatry, and you will go to hell. There is only one true God and He has a Son named Jesus who redeemed humanity, established a living covenant with the faithful, died on the cross, overcame death, met with the faithful again and ascended to Heaven with a promise to return.

Overall, Wonder Woman #24 (1989) is highly recommended!

+++++

	#running on Japanese Triathletes Defend Su…
	#blogpost on Japanese Triathletes Defend Su…
	#tumblr on Japanese Triathletes Defend Su…
	#tumblr on Raising Of Immigration Fees In…
	Tim on Five Drug Suspects Arrested In…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: