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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.
This review will examine not only the first-ever appearance of the X-Men foes the Brood but also the effects of other developments that made their impact on key members of Marvel’s team of mutants.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #155 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins as a jet carrying Cyclops, Storm and Corsair flies. Tensions are already intense as Cyclops is struggling with the shocking truth that his father – Corsair the leader of the Starjammers – is still living and recently returned to Earth seeking help.
Storm tries to emotionally reconnect with her teammate but Cyclops pushes back as he just found out that she knew Corsair was his father for several months already and never bothered to tell him. Tension grew worse as Corsair tried explaining himself to his son only to get a harsh response in return. Cyclops questioned his father if he even tried to learn what happened to him and his brother Alex (Havok) over the previous twenty years.
Suddenly the jet begins to glow. It turns out that a transporter beam hit them. In an instant, jet got transported forty thousand kilometers above the Earth and into the deck of the Shi’ar Dreadnought. Cyclops, Storm and Corsair find themselves surrounded by armed personnel and an audience of several alien beings.
Suddenly, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine and Professor X appeared out of nowhere and right next to the jet…
Quality
Wolverine takes on one of the Brood. As this marked the Brood’s first appearance in comics, Wolverine’s encounter with one of them here is a prelude of more intense things to come.
Upon close inspection of the storytelling, this comic book is pretty loaded with details related to developments that took place in previous issues. Apart from Cyclops’ personal struggle on accepting the truth about his father’s existence, there are references to what happened recently on the parts of Xavier, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. Not only that, this story also reveals details about Professor X’s past interaction with Empress Lilandra and the Shi’ar race.
As it turns out, the Empress was abducted by terrorists and many of her ministers got killed. This previous event incidentally sets the stage for the new tasks for the X-Men to handle in this particular story which also comes with strong science fiction elements.
Adding further to the X-Men’s new mission to follow the trail to Earth and liberate Empress Lilandra if she is still living, Cyclops’ father Corsair was found to be a conspirator (to be punished) and the Shi’ar’s high officials will only follow Xavier’s lawful command (as the imperial consort) to a certain limit. This new conflict is literally loaded with lots of details that became part of the build-up, and to really grasp it all, you should pay close attention to the details here and in the previous comic books. In other words, this is not an easy read.
Apart from the general concept and plot structuring, Chris Claremont pulled off some clever moves with the way he portrayed Charles Xavier’s leadership and cunning. The X-Men leader knows that a lot is at stake in the new mission and he is certain that further Shi’ar presence on Earth would result in catastrophe.
As for the mission itself, the X-Men got someone from the Avengers to aid them. With Storm and Corsair moving and operating apart from the rest of the team. This leads to another series of developments plus twists that you should read for yourselves.
Conclusion
An intense scene that really puts the X-Men into a predicament and a potential conflict between worlds.
Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is not an easy read but if you have a strong understanding of the many plot details and related character developments, then you will eventually enjoy this story. The literary debut of the Brood here is not too significant as it preceded the further emphasis of the alien monster race in the succeeding issues. A highlight here is the intriguing portrayal of Professor X as X-Men leader, as Lilandra’s lover and as the bridge between humanity, mutants and the aliens of the Shi’ar empire. There is also a good amount of spectacle to keep you entertained, particularly during the 2nd half of the story. Considering all the build-up and exposition that took place in this comic book, don’t expect the mission to be concluded within.
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is highly recommended!
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!
In my previous review, things changed for the worse for the humans as their colonial community gets overwhelmed by the presence of Aliens and Predators. Risking her own life, Machiko Noguchi does what she could to protect her constituents. Along the way, one certain Predator that was restrained and examined in the laboratory eerily decides to help the humans.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator #4, published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood. This is the final issue of the mini-series.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Noguchi and Miriam flying in a Copter and right below them is the chaos composed of a cattle stampede and the ongoing conflict between Alien Xenomorphs and the armed Predators. While flying, Noguchi and Miriam spot a lone Predator climbing up a tower while fighting off several Xenomorphs chasing him unrelentingly. It turns out the said Predator was Miriam’s own patient at the laboratory and she urges Noguchi to help him.
As part of the tower separates itself, the Predator is about to fall down and the Copter piloted by Noguchi comes closer to help him. Miriam uses a communicator to help the Predator realize they are helping him. As the Predator hangs on to one part of the Copter, an Alien jumps towards the vehicle causing Noguchi to react instinctively by jerking the controls. The Copter then spins on its axis as the nearby tower collapses.
The Copter begins to fall down on the street below…
Quality
Even as this comic book is packed with lots of action scenes, thrills, and Aliens-Predator fights, the creative team succeeded in emphasizing the narrative all throughout.
I am delighted to say that the Stradley-Norwood duo succeeded with maintaining the high quality works of this mini-series and concluded it with impact. At the heart of the story is the theme of survival with the humans being symbolized as casualties of a raging conflict between the fully determined and instinctive Aliens and the strategic and technological Predators.
Through the protagonist Machiko Noguchi, readers will realize that as a species, humans can survive not only by having a powerful will to progress backed with focus, but also by communicating and cooperating with an intelligent non-human species that shares their traits. In this case, the non-human species I’m referring to are the Predators. That being said, the Aliens are the non-human species with limited intelligence, fully determined to hunt anyone or anything, and absolutely do not care about morals nor the existence of any species they find different from themselves. All the symbolism about the three species got portrayed powerfully and creatively throughout the story here.
As before, the plot moved at a medium pace and details are emphasized through dialogue, visuals and narrations without ever dragging the pace down. This shows how the creative team proved to be efficient with explaining the details as they focused on telling the story in ways to keep readers engaged.
I should mention that the protagonist Machiko Noguchi became even more significant in this comic book. Without spoiling the details, I can say she blossomed into a heroic figure who risks her life to help many even as she faces tremendous odds. In case you are wondering, Noguchi is NOT a rip-off of Ellen Ripley as she is the colonial overseer dedicated to the corporation. It just so happens that Noguchi shares common traits with the cinematic icon such as bravery, the refusal to give up and having the will to help others even while risking her own life. I can only imagine Ripley and Noguchi conflicting with each other if they were together under normal circumstances.
Noguchis’s short but intense union with the cooperative Predator was told very believably which added depth to the story as well as impact on the conclusion.
As this is the final issue of the mini-series, the creative team really ramped up the big-payoff to what was built up before. In fact, the final conflict here seems to show that Stradley and Norwood were aware about what made the cinematic final conflicts of Aliens (1986) and Predator (1987) entertaining and memorable to moviegoers. That being said, I can say that certain action and sci-fi elements from those movies were implemented in this comic book’s final conflict which I found really engaging, inspired and fun to read.
Conclusion
The union between Machiko Noguchi and this particular Predator is a must-read!
Aliens vs. Predator #4 (1990) is truly a great comic book as well as a powerful conclusion to this very significant comic book mini-series. The creative team not only told the whole storyline with great quality, a steady pace and strong engagement all throughout. It is also here where you will get to see Machiko Noguchi become very significant not only within the Aliens-Predator comic book universe of Dark Horse Comics but in sci-fi comics in general. The ending of this comic book is very powerful and served also as a big pay-off to what preceded it. This is a genuine sci-fi comic book classic!
Overall, Aliens vs. Predator #4 (1990) is highly recommended!
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to examine another chapter of the Superman vs. Aliens mini-series.
In my previous retro review, an object from space on Earth and Superman (who previously as Clark Kent learned of the Kryptonian language from the signals transmitted by the object) intervened the discovery of it in the presence of Lexcorp. After much talk and an agreement, Superman went into space with one of Lexcorp’s space ships (under the watch of Dr. Kimble who leads the corporation’s space division) leaving behind Lois Lane at the space station with Kimble. Deep in space, Superman arrives and discovers a ruined city with physical signs of struggle. What he does not realize is the presence of eggs and the Xenomorphs lurking within the new environment.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. Aliens #2, published in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work done by Kevin Nowlan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a space ship sent home by Superman is about to collide with the space station near Earth. As one of the crew members failed to take remote control of the incoming ship, a very determined Dr. Kimble takes over the controls and eventually took command of the said ship. Lois Lane, who showed signs of self-restraint and deterioration of her professionalism as a journalist, watches. As Kimble, Lane and the crew members approach the ship at the station’s docking bay, one passenger was found dead (a Chestburster alien came out of him) while three others were still alive.
As Dr. Kimble and personnel brought the surviving passengers in the infirmary, Lois Lane takes advantage of the situation by climbing up the ship to examine it closely. She knows that without the ship, her beloved Clark Kent/Superman is stranded in space. She is completely unaware of the presence of a fully grown Xenomorph alien watching her from a dark corner.
Meanwhile at the ruined city on the other side of the galaxy, a blindfolded Superman is carefully guided by the armed Kara going to a place that has medical equipment and supplies…
Quality
Lois Lane during her encounter with the Xenomorph inside the space station.
This is a solid follow-up to what was established in issue #1. In this comic book, the creative team gradually raised the stakes as two sides of the story were told extensively in alternating fashion – the side of Superman and Kara in deep space, and the other side of Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble (clearly the 3rd most important character in this mini-series) inside the space station.
As the story went on, Superman became even more vulnerable not only because he grew weaker as he has been cut off from the sun (a primary source of energy for him), but also because struggling with the aliens wore him down a lot and he still insists on avoiding any acts of killing due to what happened to him previously. As the Man of Steel became more vulnerable, Kara (who is experienced already in fighting the Xenomorphs which she referred to as the uglies) became an even more significant character (next to Dr. Kimble) and she became a highly essential partner for the icon.
Even for us readers, Kara creatively became even more engaging as she shared memories of events (note: exposition) that happened sometime prior which explains why her city got ruined and how the Aliens arrived and made her people’s problems even worse. The visualization of the said events were efficiently done for a good immersion into the past.
While the Superman-Kara thread emphasized survival facing tremendous odds, the Lois-Kimble thread became a more significant part of this mini-series as the space station became the new place for Xenomorph attacks. While Dr. Kimble remained obsessed with achieving results with scientific discoveries and corporate interests in mind, Lois Lane became the hunted similar in the style of Ellen Ripley in 1979’s Alien.
If you are looking for action, you will find a lot of them in both threads of the story. While just one Xenomorph on the space station led to some incidental action moments, a lot more action happened on Superman-Kara’s side of the story as they (along with a few human survivors on the ruined city) faced a huge horde of aliens that kept on attacking them from all sides. If you are looking for superhero spectacle, you won’t find it here as the action is more grounded with sci-fi’s interpretation of reality and Superman here is weaker and a lot more worn down physically. Then again, this is not surprising given the tone and concept the creators aimed for.
Conclusion
Superman and Kara struggling hard as they are surrounded by lots of Aliens. One of Kara’s fellow people is present in this shot.
Superman vs. Aliens #2 (1995) is really engaging to read and there were lots of fun moments along the way. Even as the creators were building up something for the third and final issue, they managed to pull off big pay-offs to what was built up in issue #1. While the lack of superhero-style spectacle is clear, it is not a problem at all as there is a lot of action involving the many Xenomorphs in the ruined city plus the bouts of suspense and incidental action executed during Lois Lane’s encounter with a single but deadly Alien. Considering how much fun and engagement this comic book has, it remains to be seen how the next issue will live up to it.
Overall, Superman vs. Aliens #2 (1995) is highly recommended!
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to examine what was back then one of the most unthinkable comic book crossovers to ever happen – Superman vs. Aliens (also referred to as Superman/Aliens).
I remember sometime back in 1994, I bought a new superhero comic book from the local comic book retailer and what caught my attention was the print ad on the back – an Alien chestburster crashing through the iconic Superman S logo. A few of my friends who saw the same print ad chuckled at the concept of having the Man of Steel together with the monsters from the movie franchise that first started in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s Alien. Then came 1995 and eventually the first issue of the Superman vs. Aliens mini-series made it on the shelves of local comic book stores. Its cover easily attracted the attention of many and I saw the image of Superman being smaller to the Xenomorph alien in the background, the concept of the crossover started to intrigue me.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. Aliens #1, published in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work done by Kevin Nowlan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a fast moving object from nowhere heads towards Earth which was detected by a satellite of Lex Luthor’s corporation. Behind the scenes, personnel initiated an alert for a certain Dr. Kimble.
Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane arrive at the headquarters of Lexcorp. It turns out they were suddenly called for by the corporation due to what happened in space. As they ride the elevator heading towards the rooftop, Clark and Lois talk about Lexcorp’s space program and Dr. Kimble who happens to lead the said program.
At the roof, they meet Dr. Cheryl Kimble and immediately ride with her in the helicopter going to a certain destination in anticipation of the probe’s estimated arrival. During the trip, Kimble reveals that they received radio signals from the incoming probe which were garbled almost unintelligible. She then plays an excerpt of the radio signals for Clark and Lois to listen to.
For Clark, he cannot help but feel shocked as he finds the audio sounding like Kryptonian…
Quality
Superman finds a dead Facehugger alien.
Firstly, I can say without any hesitation that the creative team succeeded in making the crossover between Superman and the Aliens believable within this very comic book. For one thing, Dan Jurgens came up with a script and visual design that radically different from what was shown in Superman comic books of the time. The script had this somewhat adulterated tone that made the comic book move away from superhero fantasy and move into the realm of cinematic science fiction. For setting the tone and the look, the creative team scored a home run.
Secondly, the script was properly structured to immerse readers with the tale initially following Superman, Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble which ultimately served as a build-up. The good news here is that readers don’t have to wait too long for the pay-off to be executed. In fact, the pay-off itself (which happens when the Man of Steel finally encounters the Xenomorph for the first time) is huge and immediately the tension and depth of the plot really shifted into high-gear which I enjoyed. Along the way, the expository dialogue or the presentation of details (to help readers understand) was nicely balanced.
Thirdly, I love the way how Dan Jurgens presented Superman as being more troubled and more vulnerable than usual. To see the American icon go into personal obsession over the Kryptonian details was a really unique way to presenting his human side. Also having Superman deep in space far away from any sun or star (the essential source for his powers) really made him truly vulnerable as he actually got weaker even before facing off with a Xenomorph. Being in a vulnerable state, you will see the Man of Steel in real danger which truly goes against type (note: being super strong and invulnerable all the time). As such, the danger of the Aliens against him is believable and intense. What I do find weird, however, is how awkward it is for me to see Superman actually trying to reason with the first Xenomorph he encounters. Of course, he has no previous knowledge about the violent nature of the Aliens but we readers – and millions of people who saw any of the movies – know better than him.
As part of the build-up, Dan Jurgens inserted details and flashbacks that recalled previous tales that were published during the early stage of the post-Crisis era of DC Comics. This not only includes Superman’s arrival on Earth but also his strategic killing of General Zod, Zaora and Quex-Ul using green Kryptonite (as published in Superman #22 of 1988). As such, Superman’s deep regret of taking life away from others serves as a build-up for his avoidance of killing in this crossover. This actually races the stakes for his upcoming encounters with the Aliens.
Even though the story is told through Superman, Dan Jurgens still had enough room to develop Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble. Kimble symbolizes the driven corporate executive who is in-charge of operations that could help her make claims on scientific discoveries and new technologies. Lois Lane here served as the intellectual opposite of Kimble without ever going into the extremes of gaining something for her journalistic career.
Conclusion
Superman with Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble.
Very clearly, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is indeed a great comic book as well as great opener for its mini-series. Dan Jurgens established a tale that had sufficient build-up and when the pay-off started, the crossover aspect really made the story more compelling to read. Ultimately, this one made the crossover between Superman and the Xenomorphs believable, engaging and intriguing. This comic book is a great start and I am eager to find out what happens next.
Overall, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is highly recommended!
Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! Long before he went all-in with digital filmmaking and made the Avatar movies, James Cameron made a huge impact in the sci-fi action genre with the use of practical effects when they were still the standard in Hollywood filmmaking.
After making waves with The Terminator in 1984, Cameron went on to make the sequel Alienswhich became a huge success and remains a fine example of how to do sequels. To be very clear, the production of Aliens (which starred Sigourney Weaver who returned as Ellen Ripley) has a very detailed and colorful history about notable twists in Hollywood that connect it with The Terminator. As Arnold Schwarzenegger worked on a Conan sequel, production of The Terminator got delayed and along the way, Cameron – who got involved in the Alien sequel – used the extra time to make the script for Aliens (note: working title was Alien II) which was 90 pages long. That script was submitted to Fox’s then new president Larry Gordon who loved it and agreed to wait until Cameron completed The Terminator just so that he could direct Aliens.
Aliens was released in cinemas in 1986 and went on to gross over $130 million worldwide while winning mostly positive feedback from movie critics. When the film was shown on TV in 1989, a modified cut with additional scenes were shown. In 1991, the extended cut of Aliens was released on LaserDisc format and it was 20 minutes longer than the theatrical version.
In the year 2016, the 30th anniversary celebration of the movie happened with the release of a commemorative and feature-loaded Blu-ray and it contained the movie’s two cuts!
Aliens 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray.
On face value, the Aliens 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is quite enticing to both movie fans and collectors as it contains the following content:
Theatrical Version and Special Edition of the movie (2 cuts)
NEW The Inspiration and Design of Aliens featurette
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Superior Firepower: Making Aliens
Superior Firepower: Making Aliens Enhancement
Pre-Production Galleries
The Art of Aliens
Gateway Station and Colony
Vehicles and Weapons
Aliens
Casting
Cast Portrait Gallery
Deleted Scene Montage
Look at all that stuff you will get with Aliens 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray! (photo source – Blu-ray.com)
Personally, I love watching Aliens which in my view is among the very best works of James Cameron and also the best movie of the entire Alien/Aliens film franchise. Through the decades I saw both the theatrical version and the special edition on different formats from video tape to LaserDisc, DVD and cable TV. The movie has Sigourney Weaver’s finest performance; a story that was crafted with a lot of inspiration; it has great action scenes, stunts and a very clever presentation of showing the Xenomorphs; it has very engaging music by the late James Horner; it has several moments of suspense that effectively served as build-ups for the action or intense pay-offs that followed; it has great creature effects by Stan Winston which proved to be an evolution of H.R. Giger’s designs; the Alien Queen was made possible by James Cameron and Stan Winston and ultimately became an essential addition into the Alien/Aliens lore; and ultimately this film moved the entire Alien/Aliens movie franchise forward creatively while respecting what was established in the first movie of 1979 (directed by Ridley Scott, written by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett).
Aliens also serves as a lively look back at the actors who made nice contributions. There was the late Bill Paxton who went on to appear in more films directed by James Cameron. There was The Terminator actor Michael Biehn who joined the film as a replacement. Lance Henriksen, who also appeared in The Terminator, played the new android Bishop which led to further appearances in two other films of the Alien film franchise.
As much as I love the movie, I have yet to acquire the Aliens 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. In the back of my mind, a 4K Blu-ray release of Aliens could be announced suddenly and I have preference for 4K Blu-ray viewing. Be aware that already there is a 4K Blu-ray version of Alien in the market and even the hugely disappointing prequel Alien Covenant has a 4K Blu-ray release. With the woke Disney company in control of 20th Century Fox, there is no telling when will Aliens have a 4K Blu-ray version.
To know more about Aliens, watch the following videos below…
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!
In my previous review, the humans of Prosperity Wells begin to get impacted by the presence of the Predators and the Aliens. A family got killed by Predator hunters at their home in the wilderness and only a young boy was able to get away and catch people’s attention in the outpost. Machiko Noguchi and her team initiate defensive measures in response to what has been happening. Two people even brought back a living Predator with them from the ruins of a Predator ship they inspected in the wilderness.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator #3, published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Noguchi who finds herself in a dangerous position. In front of her is a horde of Xenomorphs and behind her is one Predator warrior who even assisted her a few moments prior. Armed with futuristic weapons, the armored warrior suddenly jumps above her and right into the Xenomorphs. The Predator efficiently slashed off the parts of a few Aliens using a bladed weapon and blew up one of them using another weapon.
The warrior eventually gets overwhelmed by more Aliens that came into the action. As the Xenomorphs focused strongly on the downed Predator, Noguchi takes advantage of the situation to run away and somehow get back to protecting the people as the outpost has been clearly invaded by two deadly non-human species.
Meanwhile inside the huge cargo ship that did not launch, two crew members freed themselves from the Xenomorphs’ restraints and try to sneak by the Alien Queen which they perceived to be sleeping…
Quality
This is a fine example by the creative team on telling a sequence of intense moments without a single word of dialogue.
From a storytelling point-of-view, this one is a huge pay-off to the build-up established in the first two issues and I can say I enjoyed this one. At this stage of the 4-issue mini-series, the human colony has turned into a battle zone between the Predators and the Xenomorphs and this obviously results in a lot of action scenes and other wild turns of events. It is also in this story where you will get to see Machiko Noguchi at her bravest yet, as well as her uncompromising way of protecting her people and solving the crisis at hand. As she and her fellow humans are in the middle of a crisis, nothing straightforward could happen nor could they make solid plans with any real chance of succeeding. The decisions Noguchi made here came with risks and through her struggles, you will be able to relate with her and you will also witness how the series of unfortunate events turn out with unpredictable ways which added some suspense and surprise to the narrative.
The spectacle here, unsurprisingly, are the battles between the Aliens and Predators. Such conflicts happened mostly in the background which is effective enough to establish the chaos that the humans have to endure. One of the Predators – which does not have a name – became a notable additional supporting player to the cast and his presence and actions added some intensity to storytelling even as the narrative consistently focused on Noguchi.
The way the story is told, this one maintains the natural progression of details from issue #1 and even though the action has been ramped up, there were still plenty of opportunities for readers to understand the details and grasp the plot. There is also rising tension as the narrative moves forward.
Conclusion
There is nothing like trying to sneak past an Alien Queen in an area surrounded by multiple eggs laid by her.
Being a big pay-off to the huge build-up of issues #1 and #2, Aliens vs. Predator #3 (1990) is highly entertaining and compelling to read! The action scenes and chain of incidents were ramped up a lot and yet this comic book never turned into a brainless fest of violence. The creative team managed to add some breathing space to not only let readers absorb the story details but also to immerse themselves with the situations. By the time I reached the end, I experienced this great satisfaction as well as further motivation to discover how the story will conclude in the next issue.
Overall, Aliens vs. Predator #3 (1990) is highly recommended!
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!
In my previous review, most of the humans living and working in Prosperity Wells are unaware about the creeping danger coming at them. Alien eggs were laid in the wilderness while a ship carrying multiple Predator hunters has landed. At the human outpost, the leader Machiko Noguchi remains disrespected as the staffers and ranchers still trust her predecessor Hiroki Shimura.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator #2, published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with the huge spaceship still at the launch platform of Prosperity Wells. The ship should have launched already with a huge cargo of indigenous animals – the Rynth – for export. It turns out that the two human pilots were captured by the Xenomorphs and in the presence of the Alien queen inside the ship, they witness one rynth (part of the herd from the ranching) die as a Chestburster alien comes out of its body.
Meanwhile, Machiko wakes up as her respected predecessor Shimura arrives and tells her that Dr. Revna still has not returned. During her talk with the wife (also a doctor), Machiko learns that the missing doctor was on his way to Iwa Gorge to find more aliens (note: the Facehugger alien) and that a lady worker (who made the first discovery of a Facehugger) informed him of the place.
As Machiko and Shimura analyze what they know, two outpost personnel discover the remains of a destroyed Predator space ship and, more notably, one unconscious Predator hunter…
Quality
The Predators looks really odd with the colors implemented on them by the creative team of this comic book.
If you were deeply engaged in issue #1, then you will have a lot to be engaged with in this issue. The script by Stradley is very solid and with a medium pace, details were consistently laid out for readers’ understanding while the build-up for the inevitable chaos – between Xenomorphs and Predators with humans in the middle literally – is strongly felt.
Machiko Noguchi’s management and ability to analyze situations really get tested in this story and along the way, you will see how much the outpost changes reflecting the moves made by her administration which is ultimately a response to a brewing crisis. At this stage of the comic book mini-series, the danger of the two galactic species begin to make impact on innocent humans in violent ways. The scene showing the home of people (located some distance away from the main complex of the outpost) getting invaded by the Predators has uncompromising violence which makes the incidental action look really disturbing.
More on the human characters, this comic book has very rich dialogue backed with special attention to details implemented by Stradley. This is very evident in the scene in which Machiko, Roth, Ackland and Shimura talk intensely about what happened and what factors caused those things to happen. Through the verbal exchange, you will witness Machiko’s bravery and leadership come to life as she confronts a rebellious rancher (who insulted her in a very personal way) over the truth about what happened. Not only that, you will also feel the stress she experiences as she manages the outpost at a time of crisis.
For the fans of Predators and Aliens reading this, you will see a lot more of them in this issue and I can assure you that Norwood is really great in visualizing them and showing them with violent action that will remind you of the movies. As with the previous issue, the colors implemented on the Predators remains very odd to look at.
Conclusion
Live humans helplessly watching an animal die as a Chestburster alien comes out of it in the presence of the Alien queen.
Aliens vs. Predator #2 (1990) is a great follow-up to issue #1. As expected, the stakes were raised higher and the tension really intensified as the narrative went on. The creative team really should be admired for not only crafting this high-quality chapter of the mini-series, but also for their believable and engaging build-up of the plot, the characters and conflict altogether. This comic book is a lively reminder of how great a non-superhero comic book crossover could be.
Overall, Aliens vs. Predator #2 (1990) is highly recommended!
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!
For the newcomers reading this, the respective movie franchises of Aliens and Predator started many years before the comic book crossover event happened. By the year 1990, moviegoers had enjoyed Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (late 1990). Cinematic between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Predator in the jungle and that of Sigourney Weaver and the Queen Alien became unforgettable sequences for many millions of people. It should be noted that an Alien head was shown near the end of Predator 2 emphasizing a crossover.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator #1, published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a fast-moving ship enters the atmosphere of Ryushi, a planet at the edge of the Chigusa Corporation’s holdings in the Beta Cygni System. On the planet is Prosperity Wells, a human outpost with a population of one hundred fifteen composed of freelance ranchers, their families and a staff of corporate overseers.
The ship’s presence gets detected by operators at Prosperity Wells and one of them speculated it to be a meteor that shows no signs of breaking up. Seeking Hiroki Shimura (no longer the head of the outpost), the operator instead contacts his replacement Machiko Noguchi and informs her about the perceived meteor. After talking with the operator, Noguchi tells her predecessor near her that even though she has been leading the outpost for nearly six months, people are still reporting to him as they treat her like a stranger. Shimura tells her that she’s been trying to adapt the job to her rather than adapting herself to it, and that she cannot just run an operation while hiding from it.
Meanwhile in the wilderness, a machine starts to climb out of the pit and starts releasing Alien eggs…
Quality
Whenever there are Alien eggs, trouble is inevitable.
I can say that this comic book is essentially one long build-up that intends to execute the conflict between the Aliens (also referred to as the Xenomorphs) and Predators later. While the two galactic species are indeed here, the narrative is told mainly through the humans whose operations – ranching, business administration, outpost activities – are emphasized with heavy and precise details. The result here is that by the end of the comic book, you will be fully immersed with the sci-fi concept, the characters and the related developments which ultimately will prepare you for the inevitable Aliens-Predator conflict. To put it clearly, Stradley crafted a script that efficiently introduces the characters (note: Noguchi is the clear protagonist), emphasize what has been going on while also moving the story forward in a well-paced manner without compromising the details.
That being said, don’t expect the Aliens and Predators to fight each other immediately here. This is one big build-up as a whole and very notably, there is nothing boring and there were no useless scenes portrayed. Everything told and shown in this comic book made sense, and if you are the kind of person who likes paying close attention to details of the story as well as the gradual development of the key characters, you will find this one an engaging read. The narrative moved at a medium pace and cleverly the suspense happens whenever the creative team gradually build-ups the tension for the inevitable Aliens-Predators fight.
As with many other entertainment tales across varied media forms, this story has a critical portrayal of the corporation slightly emphasizing greed while making the contractors (technically the laborers) look disadvantaged. It is not a one-sided portrayal against corporatism, however, as there were moments showing the contractors relying on deception (note: disregarding quality and the safety of consumers who will soon consume the products from the ranching operation) just to achieve their goals.
More on the protagonist Machiko Noguchi, she is not the typical corporate figure for readers to hate. In fact, she is somewhat sympathetic as she is has yet to earn the respect of others even though she had been working as the head of the outpost for months. The grudge against her is subtle yet clear. The comic book also made clear that she is destined for something significant in the upcoming fight between the two galactic species.
The art by Phill Norwood is very good. While the characters have that comic book aesthetic, the Aliens and Predators are easily recognizable and were drawn with sufficient visual details. What I find weird is the creative team’s approach on applying color on the Predators. Norwood also has a really nice approach on illustrating futuristic stuff (examples: the technologies, office equipment, clothes of the characters) while also emphasizing the wilderness of Ryuchi.
Conclusion
Machiko Noguchi takes charge even though she is despised by many.
Aliens vs. Predator #1 (1990) is one very detailed build-up type of comic book that happens to be pretty engaging to read and the set-up for the expected conflict between the two species worked nicely. By the time I reached the end of this tale, I got immersed into its concept, the situations and characters. The build-up also came out with really interesting parts here and there which made the reading experience a very good one. Right now, I am eager to read the next issue.
Overall, Aliens vs. Predator #1 (1990) is highly recommended!
Welcome back my readers, fellow people of faith and those who love entertainment. Today, I want to emphasize something within the 1983 sci-fi epic TV miniseries V: The Original Miniseries.
Before I proceed, I want to address the newcomers reading this. V: The Original Miniseries was about alien humanoids from space who arrived on Earth “in peace” but gradually took control of the world and its people through varied means. Told through the viewpoints of affected Americans in California, V: The Original Miniseries was a cerebral and reflective form of science fiction entertainment that strongly parallels Nazi German’s occupation and takeover of countries in Europe in relation to World War II. As expected, a group of resisting people forms led by a reluctant young woman.
I personally love V: The Original Miniseries as well as its 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle. I own Blu-ray discs of the two mini-series (click here and here) and I encourage you to check out my retro reviews (click here and here). To this day, both mini-series remain solid to watch and are worth replaying all over again in my experience.
Going back to the subject matter of this post, the one significant scene of V: The Original Miniseries I want to emphasize is the prayer scene in the 2nd episode. The prayer scene took place just before the human resistance (led by Julie Parrish played by Faye Grant supported by Mike Donovan played by Marc Singer, Caleb Taylor played by Jason Bernard and others) execute their desperate moves to free their people from the Visitors (the aliens). Watch below the video clip I recorded off-screen while replaying V: The Original Miniseries on Blu-ray disc…
The prayer scene of V: The Original Miniseries.
As you can see in the above clip, the affected people were about to pull off a major push back against the Visitors from outer space. They no longer had the local police (who are already working with the aliens) nor the National Guard, nor the State Government of California nor any American authority to help them. Caleb, who lost a son, reminded Julie of having a prayer as he knew that without the Lord, everything they will do will fail. Caleb knew that as a rebelling force, they could not succeed against the Visitors by focusing on themselves, their resources and their abilities. Caleb knew they had to look up to God even though he does not know the state of each group member’s personal connection with Him. It was also symbolic to see Julie Parrish declare amen before finally giving the go-signal for their next operation which eventually served as the series of spectacle (action scenes) and suspense serving as the big pay-off for viewers.
Within the context of the what happened in the 2nd episode of the mini-series, Julie and her crew moved to secure essential equipment and military hardware at a local facility guarded by the Visitors which results in acts of violence as both sides fire at each other. These scenes happened after the prayer scene.
That being said, I want to make clear that I am not emphasizing the concept of praying to God to be able to win against the oppositionby means of violence. Violence and using the very methods of wicked people as a means of getting back at them are clearly not the ways under the watch of the Lord. God has a plan for each and every one of us and we have Lord Jesus to follow to save the lost and unsaved souls. The Lord has His ways of defeating Satan and his pawns, and we only need to follow the Lord instead of taking matters on our own hands.
If you are oppressed and you truly need the Lord’s help for favor and breakthroughs, let the Holy Spirit guide you instead of giving in to your fleshly desire of using force on those who attacked you. Do not even think about using the ways the evil ones used against you. Trust in Him, not the worldly and certainly not your flesh. Always remember that vengeance is the Lord’s. Read the bible verses below…
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.
But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.
Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
Romans 12:19-21 (AMPC)
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, in the time when their foot shall slide; for the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom comes speedily.
Deuteronomy 32:35 (AMPC)
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Romans 1:18 (NLT)
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)
As seen among the bible scriptures above, Romans 12:19-21 should remind you all that vengeance is the Lord’s and we only need to follow Him because He knows best and has the means to help us overcome the forces of evil. In relation to that, this should remind you all that V: The Original Miniseries is not a faith-based story. Rather, it is a science fiction tale designed to entertain viewers while emphasizing the concept of what the world would be like if people welcomed foreign entities to come in peace pretentiously and take over societies by means of force, violence and fascism. Take note that the mini-series was released at a time when science fiction movies and TV shows were in high demand arguably due to George Lucas’ Star Wars.
The prayer sceneshould serve as a reminder that we the faithful in real life should keep trusting in the Lord and we need to support each other and strengthen our faith in Him no matter how twisted the world is around us. That is what makes it significant as part of the mini-series. Learn from the scriptures below…
For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!
Matthew 18:20 (TPT)
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)
In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).
Ephesians 3:12 (AMPC)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [at Christ’s appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.
Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (AMPC)
Finally, while focusing on being with other people of faith and praying to the Lord together as a united body of His, learn from the scriptures below pertaining to Lord Jesus’ ascension to Heaven and His faithful followers (the early Christians) who stayed united together at the Upper Room in Jerusalem and prayed together knowing they are living on with His victory. May this encourage you to be with your fellow spiritual family (God’s family) members and pray to Him together.
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 1:9-14 (NKJV)
Now watch this video I recorded during my first-ever visit to the Upper Room in Jerusalem which was part of the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church.
This was from my 2nd visit to the Upper Room in Jerusalem. I went to Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church because I desired to seek God’s kingdom there (read Matthew 6:33).
From this point on, I would like to reach out to all the lost and the unsaved people reading this. Did a religious and idolatrous extremist ruin your life? Have you been living in bondage for too long? Did the atheists, the humanists and the secularists fool you and abused you? Were you involved in the terrorist activities of Iran or the Palestinians? Have you been living as a homosexual or as a transgendered person? Are you still addicted to sex, drugs and other inappropriate elements? Did you spend an entire life worshiping statues, statuettes, images, people and relics? Are you a toxic person or one of those modern-day Leftist activists (Black Lives Matter, Democratic Socialists of America, Antifa, the abortionists and others) who got fed up fighting for worthless causes? Did you kill someone and have been living so long with the guilt?
All of the darkness related to what was mentioned above can finally end and you can decide to do it! How? You can save yourselves by submitting yourselves to the Lord Jesus willingly and realize He is the Light! There is no force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. For those who have decided to get born again now and gain salvation, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from a pastor.
Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Father God,
I thank You. I believe Jesus is Your Son. I believe that He died for me and redeemed me from all of my sins. He took my sins and, Father, thank You for loving me and You demonstrated Your love for me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive me for all of my sins. Jesus, I open my heart to You. I welcome You to enter into my heart. I confess today that You are now my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiveness. I receive forgiveness. Thank You for Your blood that cleansed me from all of my sins. I will follow You, Jesus. Thank You for Your plan. I receive the Holy Spirit. And Holy Spirit, help me to follow the will of God in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. Remember that idolatry is evil, Purgatory is a lie, penance is a deception and Satan always used religion and unbelief to prevent people from being saved by the Lord. Also, do not ever hail Mary (the mother of Lord Jesus) because all the praise and honor belong to God, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit only.
With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward and the best is yet to come! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).
The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close to it for it is the Word of God. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future. His return is what we must always remember and keep living with holiness under the watch of God. We can do our part in building up God’s kingdom here on Earth by preaching His Word, blessing the Jewish people and saving the countless lost and unsaved souls around us by leading them to Lord Jesus. Living as a Christian is always about the personal relationship with the Lord, and it is certainly not about religion. Never let the idolaters, the idol makers, the ritual practitioners and other sinister forces fool you into becoming unholy.
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. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the movie 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, readers! For only the 2nd time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, I managed to watch a movie inside the local cinema at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City. What is intriguing is that the movie I saw is actually a carefully edited compilation of footage sourced from an upcoming live-action series that is an ambitious Philippine adaptation of a certain giant robot anime from Japan. The movie I saw was Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience. Behind it all, the movie is part of GMA Network’s strategy of building up awareness for the Voltes V: Legacy TV series set to launch on May 8, 2023.
For the newcomers reading this, the original Voltes V anime series (Japanese title: Chôdenji mashin Borutesu Faibu) was launched in Japan in 1977. Shortly after, it made its English language debut here in the Philippines (note: Japanese characters’ names were Westernized) and ultimately it became very popular and it made an impact on millions of Filipinos who saw it and replayed it in the many years that followed. I noticed that many Filipinos of my generation think of Voltes V first when anime comes to mind. While I myself never became a fan, I saw lots of Voltes V anime episodes on TV at a time when Internet access, video streaming and social media were not yet realized here in the Philippines. I even saw GMA’s edited Voltes V anime movie (containing footage of the final five episodes of the anime series) in the cinema in 1999.
In recent years, GMA Network and its local talents joined forces with Toei Company of Japan to create a live-action TV series adaptation of the anime and there will be eighty episodes (double the anime TV series’ episode count) for broadcasting nationwide. This is Voltes V: Legacy and already the local production team went through lots of hard work making the episodes, the sets, the props, the costumes and the computer-generated images (CGI) to bring the classic series into life in coordination with Toei which reviewed and supervised the production. A lot of money has been spent into Voltes V: Legacy which was felt in GMA’s increased production costs.
As for Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience, the so-called movie contains varied footage allegedly from the first three weeks’ worth of TV episodes and it was exclusively screened in SM Cinema sites around the country for a limited time.
The story begins in the planet of Boazan where people with horns live in prosperity and privilege while those without horns have no choice but to live a hard, lower life. A gifted young Boazanian man named Hrothgar – who was born into royalty without horns and lived with his personal secret long enough into adulthood – was exposed by Zambojil’s group to be hornless and unworthy of Boazan’s throne. Sometime later, Hrothgar leads several fellow slaves and prisoners in an uprising against Emperor Zambojil’s authority. Before getting overwhelmed by the imperial forces, Hrothgar escapes into space with an Boazanian spacecraft and crashes into the sea on Earth.
He is discovered by Mary Ann and he gets introduced to Dr. Smith and Commander Robinson. Hrothgar informs them of his Boazanian origin and he expressed to them that Earth’s defenses are too weak to protect its people from alien invaders. As he adjusts with Earth life, Hrothgar changes his name into Ned Armstrong, marries Mary Ann and have children together. After several years on Earth, Ned Armstrong worked closely with Dr. Smith to prepare the people for future invasions…
Quality
The iconic Voltes V looks bulkier and more mechanical in CGI form and the good news is that the overall quality is great and there is a lot of fun seeing the giant robot in action. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
To begin with, the creative team of GMA managed to establish a cohesive narrative for the cinematic experience which is not an easy thing to do considering all the content from many selected episodes that had to be edited and arranged properly. This involves the presentation of the story details, the live-action elements, the CGI-heavy shots and the human performances to create a narrative that was easy enough to follow and absorb in my experience. I noticed that the so-called movie moved at a medium-to-fast pace which is not surprising because the goal of GMA was to entertain moviegoers and convince them to anticipate the live action TV series. Considering the speed of the pacing, there were some moments when I felt that some scenes were missing which only reminded me that the slower and more dramatic moments were being saved for the TV series.
When it comes to adapting the classic anime’s elements into live action, the creative team did a pretty good job most of the time. The costumes of the five pilots were made with a more practical physical design (note: they are not body tight) while retaining the classic colors and the V logo. The interior set of the Camp Big Falcon operations room looked more futuristic complete with having many people simultaneously operating. The interior set showing Prince Zardoz and his trusted companions closely resembles that of the anime. There was one particular physical set that did not look convincing – the outdoor street market in Boazan early in the movie had that indoor feel which not even the lighting could hide and the CGI shot showing the rest of the outdoor area and the far distance did not match with the place.
More on the artistic side of the presentation, I enjoyed the way the production people emulated the classic anime designs of not only the characters but also the key structures (places) and the giant robots (Voltes V and the two beast fighters) into live action. The cinematic Prince Zardoz looks so much like his anime counterpart and the same can be said about Dr. Smith and Mrs. Armstrong. The two beast fighters here were rendered to look much like their anime versions but were animated in a way to emphasize mass and scale.
The strategic posing in this notable shot is a fun and honorable throwback to a key moment in the very first episode of the original Voltes V anime TV series. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
There were some notable artistic discrepancies and flaws however. The cinematic Princess Zandra, Draco and Commander Robinson clearly did not quite match their anime counterparts. For some reason, Princess Zandra appeared with a very different costume displaying subtle sexiness instead of royalty. Could it be possible the creative team took inspiration from the Fatima Blush character (played by Barbara Carrera) in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again while modernizing Princess Zandra? As for Draco, he does not look as intimidating as his anime version and he even looks more like a cosplayer! Commander Robinson here does not display the maturity of the anime version due to the questionable quality of the costume provided and the actor’s appearance. In my experience watching the anime series, Commander Robinson looked and felt like a military man in his early fifties which the live action version never captured.
Now I want to talk about Voltes V itself. The highlight of the CGI combined with really good art direction is the iconic giant robot, including the five vehicles that compose it. To begin with, the use of CGI emphasizing multiple moving mechanical parts to emphasize Voltes V is a very smart move done by special effects team. While each vehicle has a new visual aesthetic to match the live action approach, they still remained recognizable to me. The biggest visual highlight in the movie is the volt-in sequence when each vehicle combined to form Voltes V in robotic form. As each vehicle connected to each other, the classic sequence from the anime was replicated excellently. Given the artistic direction and the CGI’s emphasis of multiple moving parts, the volt-in sequence here is much more detailed than the anime version! I should state that it is very likely that the visual effects team worked overtime to achieve the high-level of detail, the vibrant colors and the impressive animation on Voltes V.
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With the approach on multiple moving parts, Voltes V itself looks bulkier in a mechanical fashion which I really admire. It should be stated that showcasing the iconic giant robot in action – complete with CGI presentation of the many Voltes weapons – is a visual feast complete with very vibrant colors! Each time Voltes V hits a beast fighter by punching or using a weapon, there is strong impact felt with each blow! The sound effects team really did good work adding weight and power to the action.
The work done by the special effects crew in this external shot of Jamie Robinson’s cockpit is very impressive and detailed! Ysabel Ortega acted convincingly to what happened. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
Considering the high detail and strong animation on Voltes V, the two beast fighters shown in this movie had very similar visual qualities. There was no major discrepancy on visual quality between the iconic robot and the enemy during battles.
More on the CGI, I can declare that the locally produced visual effects (by GMA Video and Riot, Inc.) looked very good for the most part! Apart from the battles between the giant figures, the sequences of animating the Voltes V vehicles, the Boazanian flying saucers (with fast moving sharp edges that make them resemble motorized wood-cutting blades), the fighter planes and physical damage of places were nice to see. There were, however, several explosions that were badly rendered (note: even looking flat and out of place) in key scenes and there were moments when military vehicles looked more like they belong in video games from a few console generations ago. The formation of the blade of Voltes V’s laser sword clearly needs more work as it looks unpolished. In the post-credits scene, CGI for Octo 1 was badly done!
Apart from action scenes, the giant robots and their weapons, CGI was also used on established places or structures. Camp Big Falcon really looks magnificent while the floating mechanical Boazanian skull appeared very creepy. In shots showing the far distance, Camp Big Falcon in the background still looks good even though the visual quality falls short of capturing true photo-realism.
Considering the way GMA edited the footage and selected visual effects shots for this so-called movie, the overall quality of the CGI literally landed some notches short of photo-realistic levels. That’s not criticism at all but a confirmation that Filipino-produced CGI showcased here is the best I have seen yet! All in all, an impressive ton of work by the special effects teams using computers.
As for the human performances, I can say that the cast collectively did a good job bringing the characters to life and this includes paying special attention to details from anime while adding certain elements that reflect modernization. Zardoz was portrayed to be sadistic and obsessed on conquering planet Earth which reflects his imperial task and the pressure that comes with it. Sometimes, Zardoz looked and acted even psychotic. Mary Ann Armstrong is the definitive mother figure here and the producers emphasized her more with scenes showing her as a very focused authority during crisis as well as a tender and loving woman during her time with the family. In some ways, Mary Ann Armstrong is almost like the protagonist of this so-called movie and the live action version looks deeper than the anime version. While the live action Commander Robinson needs a lot of improving, Dr. Smith here really looks and feels like he was instantly ripped off the anime resulting in a very straightforward version fans will recognize. The live action Ned Armstrong here has some elements that deviate from what was portrayed in the anime (note: a very skilled fighter whose moves were so obviously choreographed during an action scene) while retaining key elements that still made him recognizable.
The actors who played the five pilots of Voltes V performed nicely. Even with all the layered Tagalog expressions (including gestures that we Filipinos are familiar with), Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie are all very recognizable not in terms of looks but through the dialogue, character details and acting. The production team really worked hard to not only balance their respective shares of the spotlight, but also get good enough performances from the actors. Take note that apart from the on-set dramatization, the actors of the Voltes V team had to perform accordingly in their respective cockpit scenes (note: the special effects teams painstakingly provided all the CGI to specifically reflect what had been happening with the pilots and with their machines) and this includes internal communications between the members. What we have right now are the best actors available portraying Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie and making them recognizable in terms of characterization.
With regards to the music, I can say that this one clearly needs improvement. There is orchestrated music in this cinematic experience that played new tunes while also redoing/recycling classic tunes from the anime TV series. When the anime tunes were played by the orchestra with a modern approach, they were recognizable to my ears but the power and essence of the original tunes were not replicated successfully. Sometimes, I just wished that the anime tunes were played more while the orchestra focused more on providing new music.
As for the famous Voltes V theme song, the new version performed by Julie Anne San Jose is a letdown! I’m not saying San Jose is a bad singer but her version – which even used the Japanese lyrics – lacked impact compared to the original version. While the volt-in sequence proved to be a grand visual feast for the fans and viewers who love great looking CGI sequences, its cinematic impact was brought down a bit by San Jose’s version of the theme song. How I wish that the movie producers just used the classic song from the 1970s anime series!
This original theme song should have been used in Voltes V: Legacy instead of the new version.
Conclusion
As expected, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience has a mix of strong points and flaws. The good news is that the good outweighed the bad and I pretty much enjoyed this cinematic version of the live action adaptation done by GMA, its strategic partners and the local talents. As this so-called movie was a mix of content from several episodes edited to form a suitable narrative, it succeeded in entertaining and engaging me. Yes, there were flaws and there were some parts showing weaknesses but those things did not damage the viewing experience too much. There is a good amount of fun with this so-called movie.
Obviously this cinematic version is part of GMA Network’s strategy to build up anticipation for the upcoming TV series (which has a declared 80 episodes for broadcasting). While some people will perceive Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience as a blatant form of marketing or even as corporate gimmick, I personally see it as a worthy showcase in the local cinema (note: cinemas here in the Philippines are still recovering from the massive damage of COVID-19) and it just might not be repeated. Let me remind you readers that this newest Voltes V adaptation highlights the peak of Filipino-produced CGI visuals and the Filipinos’ collective efforts to really make a worthy live action adaptation of a foreign entertainment property. This so-called movie is clearly not perfect (note: it is not deserving of perfect 10/10 scores that others gave it) but it is pretty good to watch in the cinema.
Voltes V looks better than ever and made a big entertaining impact in the cinema. How will Voltes V: Legacy turn out on TV given the fact that there are so many episodes set for broadcasting?(photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of the Voltes V anime and I’m not exactly anticipating the Voltes V: Legacy TV series. I do confirm that the long-lasting legacy Voltes V is clearly thriving here in the Philippines and the new TV series could potentially make a deep impact on Filipinos who love entertainment and possibly replicate what happened in the 1970s and 1980s when the classic anime TV aired on TV nationwide. How the new TV series will turn out is clearly GMA’s own problem.
Overall, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience is recommended.
Author Carlo Carrasco 