adventure – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 107

October 27, 2025October 20, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Lost Odyssey Revisited – Back in 2008, I played Lost Odyssey on my Xbox 360 console and it was my most anticipated game of the time as I enjoyed playing Final Fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) on different consoles several years prior. In my experience, Lost Odyssey truly is a Final Fantasy game without the name and it remains an Xbox 360-exclusive game that happens to be compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles (still available digitally online). For the newcomers reading this, Final Fantasy creator and former Square Enix producer Hironobu Sakaguchi co-wrote the story of Lost Odyssey and his own independent studio Mistwalker laid the foundation and the other studio Feelplus did the coding of the game. Not only that, famous game musician Nobuo Uematsu composed and scored the music of the Xbox RPG. To find out how the game was conceptualized, how its production happened and why it became an Xbox-exclusive game, watch the selected retrospective videos below.

#2 No Kings Protest Fails – In America, the Satanic Leftists, the woke extremists, the climate change zealots and other pawns of the Democrats organized the No Kings protests which eventually failed. The Leftists hatred for US President Donald Trump is so intense, they became out of touch with reality and they end up hating America. Lastly, many on the Left cannot tell the difference between a president and a king. The Democrats meanwhile are still obsessed with embracing immorality, destroying the traditional American family, empowering Islamic terrorists and support illegal immigrants. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#3 Delicious Meals With Big Portions In Japan – If you plan to do food trips while touring Japan, what exactly will you be looking for among the many food joins there? If you crave delicious food with big servings, there are indeed places to visit, and you can find what they offer and where could visit them by watching the Nippon TV video below. A friendly reminder for all who intend to visit Japan as foreign tourists…always behave yourselves by following local rules and being respectful to the Japanese.

#4 VKunia Reacts To Scary Movie – In 2000, Scary Movie was released in cinemas in America on July which was during the summer blockbuster season. The horror comedy parody film succeeded beyond expectations making almost $280 million worldwide on a budget of less than $20 million. Here in the Philippines, Scary Movie opened on November 1 of 2000 and I saw it that day inside the local cinema which was almost full. I noticed a lot of local moviegoers enjoyed its crude comedy under direction of Keenen Ivory Wayans and the performance of Anna Faris. Recently, VKunia posted her reaction video of Scary Movie and her reactions are similar to how the moviegoers around me reacted on November 1, 2000. Watch her video below.

#5 WarGames Revisited – Back in the 1980s, the Cold War was still hot in people’s minds and information technology (IT) itself was gradually becoming important in America. The 1983 movie WarGames featured a tale about war simulation, hacking, artificial intelligence (AI), the use of super computers for military operations and more. Back then, US President Ronald Reagan saw the film and this led to discussions with members of Congress, advisers and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A review of full nation security was eventually ordered by Reagan. In today’s age, artificial intelligence is very common and it is causing varied disturbances worldwide which makes WarGames still relevant. To see how the movie impacts YouTubers, watch the selected reaction videos below.

+++++

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

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992)

October 24, 2025October 18, 2025carlocarrasco

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, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

What happened in issue #284 was a turning point in storytelling and it is only a part of the early period of the X-Men – Gold Team’s operation. The X-Men were on the way home (with Jean Grey successfully retrieved and restored) following their encounters with Fitzroy’s gang and the mutant from the future Bishop only to proceed to a specific island in response to a distress call. By the end of it, something significant happened which separated the X-Men from Professor X and Forge.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #285, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio, Jim Lee and John Byrne (who worked on the script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins with Jean Grey and Colossus (carrying a female primate) who find themselves not only disoriented but also separated from their teammates Iceman, Archangel and Storm. A unknown amount of time has passed since they were sucked forcefully into a void which turned out to be a portal into a new world of unknown origin.

As soon as they land, several primates (humans wearing armor and futuristic gadgets) immediately ganged up on them, knocking Jean Grey out successfully while ramping up their attacks on Colossus. With Colossus down after intense hits, the Russian X-Men member does not fight back and eventually saw his metallic skin turn into flesh fully exposing his human identity. The primates suddenly changed their attitude as they referred to Colossus as a returned savior who has fulfilled the prophecy they grew up with.

Elsewhere, in the middle of a hot desert, Storm is down on the sand feeling weak and groggy. She tries to alter the wind but fails. Suddenly, a man arrives with the intention of carrying Storm to his home…

Quality

*The natives in this page, Archangel is not only accepted by the leader but also perceived to be a great figure of destiny in connection with their beliefs.*

This particular X-Men tale is the result of the turning point that happened in the previous issue. In this comic book, the X-Men’s Gold Team members are separated from each other and the world they are in is alien in nature and yet filled with unusual looking humans who clearly have a long-lasting culture, history and cultural norms formed through generations. This concept the creative team came up with has strong vibes of the 1980s American science fiction TV series Otherworld which I saw a very long time ago. In fact, I find the overall concept of this comic book an inspired piece of work.

Like in Otherworld, the X-Men are in a totally new and unknown world that somewhat looks like Earth but then it is not as the natives they encountered are totally unlike anything they encountered before. Like in The Empire Strikes Back, the X-Men here are separated from each other which opened up opportunities for the creators to develop the characters, show particular threads of their respective personalities (or their talents) and emphasize how they perceive new people and the new world they are in.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the natives of the unknown world are living with the foolishness of idolatry which can be seen at least in how they believe Colossus (in the flesh) is their savior and the fulfillment of the prophecy they were oriented with. The idolatry aspect of the tale serves as the twist on the primates’ (specifically the few who went to Earth willing to fight to the death) who first appeared to the X-Men as very daring opponents and it adds depth to the X-Men’s struggle on understanding the new world they are in.

When it comes to character development, Colossus and Jean Grey are strongly emphasized by the creative team who also managed to do the same with Iceman, Storm and Archangel. This tale also serves as a relief from the back-to-back good-versus-evil battles that took place since issue #281 and I can say the writing is solid.

Conclusion

*A very helpless Storm is approached by a man in the middle of the desert.*

While it lacks the usual conflict between Marvel’s mutants and evildoers, Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992) is an inspired piece of work filled with sci-fi concepts, the overwhelming power of discovering a new world and established natives, and a lot of character development on Colossus, Storm, Jean Grey, Ice Man and Archangel. As I read the story, the mystery builds up and there were these subtle pay-offs that happened along the way. Overall, this comic book is a huge pay-off to what was established in issue #284 and the notable thing is that the X-Men Gold Team (who have Sunfire with them) are just getting started in the unknown world.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992) is highly recommended!

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 106

October 22, 2025October 16, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 You, Me and the Movies React To G.I. Joe: The Movie – When I was very young, me and my friends were fortunate enough to watch the 1987 animated movie G.I. Joe: The Movie on home video which was in high demand for rental in our entire village. We were all very entertained and astounded by the feature film and, unsurprisingly, a lot of G.I. Joe fans in the community started talking about it. Considering its pop culture significance and the involvement of Don Johnson as Lt. Falcon, it is surprising that there are actually few reaction videos of G.I. Joe: The Movie on YouTube as of this writing. Recently, You, Me and The Movies posted its reaction video which I found entertaining. If you have not seen G.I. Joe: The Movie yet, watch it entirely first. Otherwise, enjoy the reaction video below.

#2 Panzer Dragoon Saga Revisited – I never played any of the Panzer Dragoon games released by Sega. What caught my attention was the critical acclaim Panzer Dragoon Saga received in 1998 and it was not only a Sega Saturn-exclusive game but also a role-playing game (RPG). I found this retrospective YouTube video of Panzer Dragoon Saga and it has a fascinating look at the game’s production, history and the fact that two members of game developer Team Andromeda died. Watch it now.

#3 Explore a 7-Eleven Convenience Store In Japan – Months ago, Nippon TV (NTV) posted an exploratory feature news video about the many interesting stuff foreign visitors will find inside a 7-Eleven convenience store in Japan. Apart from the usual food and beverage stuff people expect to see inside convenience stores, 7-Eleven stores in Japan has its own features ranging from unique products to the consumer-friendly services available. The good thing about Nippon TV’s feature video is that the information is presented in English. Watch the video below.

#4 The Fifth Element Revisited – What can be said about the 1997 sci-fi film The Fifth Element? For me, it was a zany action movie that had a strong European touch on comedy and expressions, and it so happens that it had the famous Bruce Willis as the action hero. Of course, the film managed to arouse certain emotions or reactions from moviegoers, and the same can be said about YouTubers who did reaction videos about it. Watch and enjoy the selected reaction videos of The Fifth Element below.

#5 Steven Spielberg’s Animation Legacy – If you have extensively researched the work and creative history of Steven Spielberg, then you should be aware of his involvement in the production of animated movies…both hand-drawn and computer-generated. Since the 1980s, Spielberg produced animated feature films that happened to be directed by others, and I saw An American Tale as a young boy. Much later in life, I saw The Adventures of Tintin which Spielberg himself directed. Spielberg’s history with animation is extensive and you can discover a lot by watching the video below.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 105

October 17, 2025October 13, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Tour of Tokyo Game Show 2025 – When I was very young, I used to be obsessed with visiting the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) in direct connection with my love for playing video games and arcade games. The obsession is now gone now that I am much older and console gaming has changed drastically over the past thirty years. From time to time, I watch videos on YouTube that explored the TGS and found two videos of this year’s TGS that are amusing to watch. Watch the videos below.

#2 Pasta in Japan and more – Moving from steak, I found another video about pasta – spaghetti specifically – prepared by Japanese cooks in a local food joint (referred to as a pasta shop) to a lot of people who clearly enjoyed what they ate. You might learn something new about how to prepare a spaghetti for others. Watch the video below.

#3 Learn to Reject Radical Islam – Asmongold TV posted recently a video in which he reacted to another video that specifically focused on how a certain country rejected radical Islam. It is indeed a very sensitive matter but it still is significant because there are so many Islamists – both people from Muslim-majority nations and people in the West who declared themselves strong believers of Islam – worldwide and they are always destructive and extreme. There are these Westerner Islamists who arrogantly declared they want to destroy Western civilization and replace it entirely with Islam. Go watch Asmongold TV’s video now.

#4 Rocky V revisited – Way back in January 1991, I saw Rocky V inside the local cinema with my father and brother. Having enjoyed the first four Rocky movies a lot, we were excited to see Sylvester Stallone reprise his iconic role in the fifth movie even as we wondered where the story will go following Rocky’s victory over Ivan Drago. Ultimately, we, along with many others, left the cinema feeling disappointed with Rocky V’s story and direction. Even though the 1990 film – which had Tommy Morrison and Sage Stallone as new additions plus the short return of Burgess Meredith – was disliked by a lot of Rocky fans, Rocky V still went on to become a popular feature in many movie reaction videos as well as retro video reviews. For your viewing pleasure, posted below are the selected videos.

#5 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Birds – If you are fond of Ashleigh Burton doing reaction videos and if you are an Alfred Hitchcock enthusiast, then you will be very interested in the YouTuber’s reaction video of 1963’s The Birds. Posted below is Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video and I encourage you to watch it.

+++++

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #284 (1992)

October 15, 2025October 8, 2025carlocarrasco

As of this writing, I really enjoyed reading the tales about the Gold Team of the X-Men under the co-writing of Whilce Portacio and John Byrne (click here, here and here). Following Bishop’s debut in issue #282, issue #283 featured his intense first-ever encounter with the X-Men while concluding the mutants mission (retrieving Jean Grey).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #284, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert, Scott Williams and Karl Altstaetter.

Early story

The story begins at the Sakhali islands located off the coast of Siberian Russia and separated from Hokkaido of Japan. Previously a territory of China and explored by the Japanese, the island is now bustling with unusual activity as government officials and personnel of both Russia and Japan focus on a massive, sealed crater there. After meeting with the Russians and his fellow Japanese on location, the mutant Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) proceeds to do a task with his immense power on the crater. The scientists quickly detect intense readings that went off the scale and it seems the void of the crater is responding to Sunfire’s assault. The void adapted its own frequencies with Sunfire’s and returns fire at him. The void then begins to change.

Elsewhere, the X-Men’s Gold Team are spending quality time together on board their supersonic blackbird heading home. Jean Grey, who previously occupied Emma Frost’s body temporarily, is back as herself and interacting with her teammates. With them is the unconscious body of Emma Frost (White Queen). Professor X and his mutants are uncertain as to what happened to Emma Frost’s mind and Bobby Drake (Iceman) speculates that she could have transferred her psyche into some unsuspecting victim (note: the party at the Hellfire Club’s headquarters in issue #281 was filled with hundreds of people).

Having heard Iceman’s opinion, Professor X decides to scan Emma Frost for the last dim echo of her personality. He tells Jean Grey to join him to scan Frost. Suddenly, the X-Men receive a distress call from the Sakhalin islands…

Quality

*After Sunfire got hit, a new batch of enemies emerged from the void.*

Following the intense and enduring events of issues #281 until #283, this comic book’s concept had Charles Xavier and the Gold Team get busy yet again due to an emergency at the Sakhalin islands. This opened the opportunity for Portacio and Byrne to introduce a new conflict at the said islands (which turns into a war zone), a new force of opposition for the X-Men and giving the Japanese mutant Sunfire a share of the spotlight in X-Men comics.

At the heart of the conflict is the crater and void at the mentioned islands which brought out a strong element of mystery slowly backed up with intriguing revelations. The new force of opposition are armored, human-like beings (whose heads, hair and masks easily remind me of the Predator design of Stan Winston in the movies) who are armed, dangerous and determined to achieve their goals no matter how difficult. What is intriguing is how the new beings (referred to as aliens) remain concerned and caring with each other even during the intense moments of their encounter with the X-Men.

The climax of the conflict here is a must-see. You just have to get a copy of this comic book to find out.

When it comes to the visuals, Portacio continues to deliver solid artworks which showcased intense scenes, scenic shots, dynamic superhero action and subtle moments of drama (especially when the X-Men are together and in comfort). As there were three guys who inked Portacio’s work, there is a noticeable inconsistency with the visuals as the story went on.

Conclusion

*Following their recent encounters with Bishop and Trevor Fitzroy, the X-Men still have the unconscious body of Emma Frost with them.*

While some readers might find the X-Men Gold Team’s involvement in the conflict rushed, Uncanny X-Men #284 (1992) remains an enjoyable read. As the situation is very new, the stakes are different here and for the most part, this comic book is a build-up of a new concept that just happened to be filled with a lot of action scenes. Portacio and Byrne delivered a fun-filled read with a good amount of intrigue and some surprises as they introduced a new force opposite the X-Men. And for the people are who are fond of Bishop, he and his companions are here but not with the X-Men.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #284 (1992) is recommended.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 104

October 13, 2025October 6, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Heavy Steaks in Japan – If you were able to visit Japan, did you crave for steak as a meal there? I found another video by the Japanese Food Noodles channel that showed another place to enjoy steak. Apart from seeing the food cooked and served, there is something new to learn from the individuals who managed the food joint. Watch and learn from the video below.

#2 Overtourism in Japan – In Japan, there is a massive number for foreign tourists who kept coming in and spending quality time there. The number of visitors from overseas is so great, it is resulting in a mix of positive and negative results. While certain local businesses are benefiting from foreign tourists, others are experiencing negative effects such as littering, worsening traffic congestion and even the violation of privacy. Let’s be clear: overtourism in Japan is undeniably real and there are some foreign tourists who could not behave themselves. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#3 The Twilight Zone Movie Tragedy and Trial – Have you ever seen the 1983 film Twilight Zone: The Movie? I did but not inside the cinema. I previously blogged about retrospective videos about it. The movie was an ambitious revival of The Twilight Zone franchise and among the directors who worked on it (note: the film had short stories) were Steven Spielberg and John Landis. The movie was mired in strong controversy due to the tragedy that happened in Landis’ segment starring Vic Morrow who died along with two minors her carried with him. Not only did deaths and injuries happen, there were also some violations of established laws committed. To find out what happened and how the trial against the filmmakers ultimately turned out, watch the video below.

#4 Trump confronts the wicked United Nations and other evil stakeholders – Recently US President Donald Trump spoke to the members of the wicked United Nations in their building in New York City. He bravely confronted the many evil stakeholders there – the Islamo-Leftists, the socialists, the terrorist-loving members, the illegal immigration advocates and climate change zealots – and spoke the truth that they refused to realize. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#5 Top Secret! revisited – While the 1984 ZAZ comedy Top Secret! never came close to achieving the success and impact of 1980’s Airplane!, the movie still went on to entertain others who were born after it was released. Top Secret! is also the cinematic debut of the late Val Kilmer and it was an early showcase of his artistry and creativity. That being said, it is not surprising that there are lots of reaction videos of Top Secret! on YouTube and I found three entertaining videos for you to enjoy. Watch the videos below.

+++++

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #283 (1991)

October 6, 2025September 28, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

Uncanny X-Men #282 marked the continuing conflict between the X-Men and Trevor Fitzroy’s group, and the arrival of one of the most notable additions to Marvel’s Mutants…Bishop. To be clear, Bishop was not alone when arrived from the future through one of Fitzroy’s portals. In relation to everything that happened in the comic book, the arrival was a very powerful conclusion to read.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #283, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins in the arctic lair of Trevor Fitzroy. The arrival of Bishop and his two mutant companions – Malcolm and Randall – from the future caught everyone by surprise (including the X-Men). Bishop, who has Trevor Fitzroy subdued, tells his companions to throw their takes (members of Fitzroy’s force) into the portal.

Bishop intends to have Fitzroy go first which draws a loud reaction from the mutant madman. Fitzroy, who had been using the life force of captive mutants to open portals, knows exactly what would happen if he goes first. His exchange of words with Bishop shows they have a history together.

When Bishop’s companion moved a subdued person into the portal, it tore him apart. Fitzroy reveals to Bishop that the portals he created only function one-way and he tells him that he and his companions are stuck in the 20^th century.

In response, Bishop assumes complete judicial authority and tells Malcolm and Randall to standby for termination sweep. The X-Men begin to react…

Quality

*Professors takes a huge risk to help Jean Grey who recently occupied the body of Emma Frost.*

When it comes to the creativity, this comic book is both a strong pay-off to the build-up of issues #281 and #282 while also serving as a new build-up focusing on Bishop’s arrival. At the heart of this tale is Bishop’s first-ever personal encounter with the X-Men which instantly expanded the lore of Marvel’s mutants a lot.

Bishop is a mutant from one possible future (of the Marvel Comics shared universe) in which Storm, Iceman, Archangel, Charles Xavier and others are remembered as legacy figures of the X-Men. In this comic book, you will see there is a good amount of depth with the way Bishop is dramatized and with many notable details on the dialogue prepared for him. Co-created by Whilce Portacio and John Byrne, Bishop is really an inspired work and clearly is not a mere addition. There is Filipino inspiration behind the creation of Bishop (click here and here) with some elements of John Ford and Prince mixed in (click here).

As far as the storytelling is concerned, there is notable shift of tone here as Bishop, Malcolm and Randall received much of the spotlight and yet there was still some room left for focus on the X-Men and Fitzroy’s group respectively. What makes this comic book an intriguing read is the first-ever personal encounters between Bishop and the X-Men which involved the temporary blurring of the boundary between good and evil. The interactions between Storm and Bishop are easily the most dramatic to see, and you will witness how their respective toughness (plus leadership) collide intensively.

Along the way, there is a lot superhero action to enjoy here. In fact, there are many forms action that served as extensions or pay-offs to the exchange of words between Bishop and a few specific X-Men members. Even a non-action scene like Professor X helping Jean Grey (who was in Emma Frost’s body temporarily) resulted in some visual spectacle.

Conclusion

*Bishop’s first-ever encounter with the X-Men not only challenged his perception but also brought out traits of his attitude.*

Uncanny X-Men #283 (1991) is another very compelling, intriguing and entertaining read from the Portacio-Byrne duo. The X-Men lore has been expanded more and Bishop’s first encounter with the X-Men is easily the most engaging aspect of the story. At the same time, the conflict between the X-Men’s Gold Team and Trevor Fitzroy took a twist that really turned the plot to an unexpected new direction which is not surprising as Bishop’s presence made a huge impact (even on Storm herself). This is one of the best superhero stories of 1991 I have read so far.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #283 (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 35

October 1, 2025September 24, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Intellivision print ad

*Were you able to play a game on the Intellivision long ago?*

In 1979, Mattel launched their Intellivision game console in America which instantly placed them in competition with Atari’s 2600 console. In a bid to convince gain market share, Mattel daringly came up with a competitive print ad like the one above showing two TV sets (with an Atari 2600 baseball game and a similar game on Intellivision), descriptive text that explained why the intellivision and its games are better, and even mentioned Atari by name several times. Obviously the tactic did not lead Mattel to ultimate market victory but the above print ad showed it was okay for a newcomer to mention their competitor and aggressively attack it to gain customers (both newcomers and active gamers).

2. Popeye Japanese arcade flyer

In 1982, Nintendo released the Popeye arcade game which was incidentally the result of the success of their original Donkey Kong arcade game. To promote the game, Nintendo came up with an arcade flyer that had a very lively front (note: the characters were instantly recognizable thanks to the great art used) and the rear having easy-to-read instructions on how to play the game, what levels to expect and what must be done when playing. Popeye was an arcade hit in Japan, but an even bigger hit in America. This old arcade flyer still looks nice.

3. Time Gal arcade flyer

*On face value, this one looks more like an anime promo since gameplay elements were missing.*

Released in Japanese arcades in 1985, Time Gal is one of those games that used the expensive LaserDisc technology to stream pre-recorded animation (made by Toei) and challenged gamers to react quickly (using the joystick and button for commands) in order to progress in real-time. The arcade flyer has a very lively visual design making it clear to players and arcade operators that a lot of anime awaits those who play Time Gal. Technically, players watch anime cutscenes happen and react using the controls. Time Gal was an arcade hit and it made its way outside of Japan by getting ported for the Sega CD.

4. 3DO print ad

*If you bought a 3DO long ago, was it for gaming or for home entertainment purposes?*

Remember the 3DO? Developed by the 3DO Company and launched in 1993, the 3DO was designed to not only play video games but also function with multimedia features. In fact, the 3DO was initially marketed as a machine that allows users to watch videos, play music, browse digital photographs, and even immerse themselves with software focused on different topics. This is exactly what the above 3DO print ad emphasized. In retrospect, it was so odd for me to see the print ad inside video gaming magazines I read.

5. Atari Jaguar print ad

*The strong focus on gaming was clear with Atari for the Jaguar.*

Over a month after the launch of the 3DO, Atari launched its Jaguar console with a strong focus on video gaming. As console sales slowly grew in 1994, Atari came up with the above print ad – showing lots of games for the Jaguar – to lure in customers aggressively. If you look closely at the descriptive text of the ad, it mentions the Atari Jaguar as 64-bit system emphasizing that it is more powerful than other video game machines of the time. The bit count controversy harmed Atari and eventually the Jaguar failed.

6. NBA Action ’94 print ad

*Remember when Sega made NBA basketball video games that were exclusive to the Genesis console?*

Remember when there were a lot of basketball video games licensed by the NBA in the 1990s? Through its own sports games brand – Sega Sports – Sega was dedicated to making exclusive sports video games for its customers and their NBA games were under the NBA Action brand. In 1994, they released NBA Action ’94 for the Genesis console and this two-page print ad they came up with had a catchy visual design (a supposed basketball player showing his palm and message to the camera on one side of the ad). Looking closely at the descriptive text, the ad mentions “most realistic 16-bit pro basketball”, “digitized players” and having all 27 NBA teams and star players. Sega Sports is no more but it’s legacy still lives on among Sega fans.

7. X-Men Sega Game Gear print ad

Similar to its approach with the Sega Sports brand, Sega developed exclusive games for the Game Gear. The company secured from Marvel the license to make an original X-Men game and to promote it, this 2-page print ad showcased original art of the established X-Men characters of the time while using the remaining spaces for the screenshots and descriptive text. This old print ad still looks attractive and will easily resonate with X-Men fans as well as 1990s superhero comics enthusiasts.

8. Liberty or Death print ad

*American history is the core concept of this strategy game by Koei.*

If there is anything notable about the Japanese company Koei, it is the fact that it released strategy and simulation games that tackled varied topics while making each game distinct and playable regardless of platform. In my experience, I had a lot of fun playing their business simulation Aerobiz Supersonic on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). In 1993, Koei released their turn-based strategy game Liberty or Death which tackled American history for its setting (note: Koei already established itself with historical simulations). To sell the game, Koei came up with a print ad that had a very eye-catching historical art (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin among the figures), a few selected screenshots and descriptive text that emphasized the essence of the game. This print ad is a reminder that no video game company today would make a historical simulation due to geopolitics (note: there are a lot of woke activists among video game employees today) and for business reasons.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 102

September 29, 2025September 21, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 CinePals react to Predator 2 – I saw Predator 2 a number of times since the 1990s. I even reviewed the first issue of its 2-part comic book adaptation. Predator 2 was essentially a police story with science fiction elements mixed in and it was a worthy sequel. That being said, I saw a lot of Predator 2 reaction videos on YouTube and in my view, the reaction video by CinePals is the most entertaining one yet. Watch the video below.

#2 How AMD overtook Intel – Do you own a personal computer that has an AMD chip inside it? Mine does not but our Xbox Series X console has. In the world of business, the rivalry between AMD and Intel on CPUs has lasted for decades. While Intel led the industry for a very long time, it has gradually lost market share to AMD over the past several years. The company behind Ryzen and Athlon CPUs bounced back significantly under the leadership of Lisa Su and their alliance with TSMC was a great gamble that paid off well. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Do You Like Japanese Pork Cutlet? – When was the last time you had a pork cutlet for a meal? In Japan, their pork cutlet called Tonkatsu is popular and there are lots of food joints that offer it to customers. Tonkatsu is composed of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet, and historically it started during the Meiji era in the late 20^th century. I recently discovered a YouTube video about one particular Japanese food joint that offer Tonkatsu that look large. Watch and enjoy the video below.

#4 Clash of the Titans (1981) Reaction Videos by Rhetorical Thrill and You, Me and The Movies – As a very young boy, I was fortunate enough to have seen the fantasy film Clash of the Titans inside the movie theater. The 1981 film was also the final work of stop-motion visual effects legend Ray Harryhausen and it had Burgess Meredith (the same actor who played Rocky’s trainer in the first 3 Rocky movies) in a key supporting role. I found two entertaining movie reaction videos of Clash of the Titans (1981) from You, Me and the Movies and Rhetorical Thrill. I encourage you to watch their respective videos below.

#5 Get To Know IMAX Better – You may have seen some movies inside an IMAX theater but are you aware of what IMAX really is apart from the experience of seeing a movie on a very large screen? IMAX is a brand, a special film format, a series of large cameras, a chain of special cinemas and an enterprise to say the least. Among the Hollywood directors, Christopher Nolan is the most prominent one who uses IMAX cameras in films like Dunkirk, Interstellar, Oppenheimer and his two last Batman movies. You can learn more about what makes IMAX different from the rest by watching the video below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts to Iron Eagle – What is there to say about the movie Iron Eagle? A movie about fighter planes and American military culture, the film was released the same year as the more famous Top Gun. I only saw the film on home video but in 1986, I had friends who were raving about Iron Eagle. That said, you should watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video about the old movie.

#7 A Look At Silent Hill 2 – Back in 2001, I still remember there was a lot of pre-release hype for the video game Silent Hill 2. Released on the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox console (Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams), the game went on to achieve big commercial and critical success. To this day, a lot of gamers called Silent Hill 2 as the most definitive game of the entire Silent Hill game franchise. To know more about the history and production of Silent Hill 2, watch the video below.

+++++

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991)

September 26, 2025September 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Uncanny X-Men #281 was a great read. For most of the early 1990s, I read more X-Men stories about the Blue Team than the Gold Team. In Uncanny X-Men #281 – which took place after X-Men #5 – the spotlight was on the Gold Team which showed the strategic leadership of Storm, the X-Men revisiting the headquarters of the Hellfire Club, Jean Grey’s own recollections of past events and the new threat of Trevor Fitzroy and the Sentinels.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #282, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins inside the School For Gifted Youngsters when the Gold Team arrives (with Colossus carrying the inactive body of Jean Grey) and disrupts the chess game between Professor X and Forge. Charles Xavier mentally examines Jean and notices that her psyche survives and has been displaced. He realizes Jean is alive but not in her body.

In New York City, Trevor Fitzroy (who is carrying the body of an inactive Emma Frost) and his Sentinels surprise Shinobi Shaw showing what is left of the cyborg of Pierce. Trevor boasted to Shinobi that he won claiming that he has terminated one of the founders of the inner circle, captured a small band of Hellions and has Emma Frost as a trophy. Very slowly, Jean Grey – now occupying Frost’s body – wakes up…

Quality

*Trevor Fitzroy does not know who is inside Emma Frost’s body.*

I can say out loud that this is a great follow-up to the previous issue (which itself is a great read) as it has a lot of hefty payoffs to the build-up from before. With the story concept already established in issue #281, the progression continued strongly, the narrative is clearer and the stakes were raised even higher.

In this issue, Trevor Fitzroy still has extreme tendencies and he might look insane or unhinged to you. Still, Fitzroy really has diabolical plans to execute and those plans involves his ability to open portals to bring in his reinforcements from far away, including the “denizens of the future.” Adding to Fitzroy’s merciless and arrogant personality is his use of the captives’ life force to energize himself to open portals. Really, he does not care much about the lives of captives as he treats them as nothing more than bodies of energy for his use. Whilce Portacio really excels in not only bringing the script to life but also showcasing the personality and expressions of Fitzroy who at this point in comic book history was a brand new villain for the X-Men.

As for the X-Men’s Gold Team, not having Jean Grey was really disadvantageous to them which compels Professor X to actually join them on their mission. This is a notable development as Xavier is very close with Jean (his original student and fellow telepath) and he knows that great odds await their team. Xavier’s involvement added a lot to the plot itself and I love the way John Byrne and Portacio portrayed him here.

When it comes to the storytelling, the pace noticeably moved faster as a lot of payoffs to the build-up were executed here. The X-Men themselves each got their respective share of the spotlight and all of them were portrayed consistently in character. The stakes were raised here this time and the handling of all the details and developments was very solid.

Conclusion

*Knowing great odds await them, Charles Xavier joins the X-Men on their mission to save Jean Grey.*

Even with the stakes raised higher, the creative team delivered the great stuff Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991) is a very worthy follow-up to the previous issue. In fact, I find this comic book more entertaining and more intriguing to read from start to finish. Fitzroy is indeed a very worthy new enemy for the X-Men’s Gold Team, and there is much that long-time X-Men fans can enjoy here.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

	Shaman Tiers on A Look Back at Fatale #1 …
	Luke on Trump Administration Weighs Hi…
	Instapundit »… on Trump Administration Weighs Hi…
	Roaming Rhonda on Christian Music Appreciation:…
	Instapundit »… on Trump Administration Rescued O…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: