If you value your family, your personal safety and if also you have a lot of financial ends to meet, then you must avoid buying electric vehicles (EVs). With so many woke people, climate change extremists and Silicon Valley believers around the world, there is a sinister collective moment to deceive people into buying EVs – especially electric cars for personal/family use – while also campaigning to have combustion engines and fossil fuels banned. These Satanic Leftists are even conspiring with technology developers, government officials and electric vehicle manufacturers to manipulate people into owning EVs.
Of course, that sinister pro-EVs movement DOES NOT CARE about your personal safety and your family at all. They do not want you to realize that electric cars are not only very flawed and disadvantageous….the EVs can also kill you and destroy properties and harm entire communities.
To put things in perspective, watch the selected videos posted below. I encourage you to take time to watch each of them from start to finish and take notes about the key details.
There is also one particular issue that electric vehicle fanatics do not want to talk about and prefer to ignore…the number of deaths caused by electric cars that have gone wrong. Watch the video below.
And then there are also electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters) that cause fire. Watch the selected videos below.
The radicalized believers of EVs do not want you to realize the truth and the facts that electric cars (the most commercially available EV in the market) could spark into a fire hazard that will take so much effort to put out. Imagine yourself getting trapped inside the electric car as it shorts and burst into flames which could kill you and your companions. Electric cars are also very expensive to repair and the number of public electric chargers are still not so many. E-bikes and e-scooters, as seen above, are also dangerous to have.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Did you encounter people who tried to fool you into buying an electric car or an electric bike? Are the electric vehicle manufacturers honest and transparent when they try to sell EVs to you? Right now, do you prefer to buy an electric car or a car that runs on fossil fuel?
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 1980s and 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. Vendetta UK and North American arcade flyers
Vendetta arcade flyer for North America
Vendetta arcade flyer for the UK.
In 1991, Konami released the 2D side-scrolling beat-them-up game Vendetta in arcades around the world achieving commercial success. While it is hard to tell if the promotions helped the game commercially, there is no doubt that the arcade flyers for the North American and United Kingdom (UK) markets were indeed very eye-catching.
The North American Vendetta arcade flyer had a photographic approach showing models playing characters supposedly representing the Cobras gang and the Dead End gang. The display of wooden boxes and the rope was done to symbolize the rough city environments of the game. On the other hand, the UK arcade flyer has illustrated artwork that captured the look of the Cobras gang from the game.
2. Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters print ad
This ad has great art that strongly emphasizes its science fiction concept.
This print ad of Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters (PC version) really caught my attention when I read gaming magazines in the early 1990s. The painted artwork showing a human and a hideous alien in the background with a planet, space ships and space stations filling the rest of the space was very captivating to look at. So captivating, it enticed me to search for the game but our PC at home had really low specs. Strangely enough, I played another version of Star Control II on a rented 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console in 1995. For the newcomers reading this, the game was critically acclaimed and was declared as one of the very best PC games ever made. Enjoy looking at the print ad above.
3. Space Channel 5 print ad
The visual style and character designs are the result of the game designer’s research that includes interviews with lots of young girls over their interests and tastes in video games.
When Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late-1998, their financial health was already in a very bad state and the future looked grim. Even as they faced tremendous odds, Sega still went on to aggressively sell Dreamcast consoles with exclusive games and Space Channel 5 was one of them.
First released in Japan in 1999, Space Channel 5 was a musical, puzzle-oriented game that was the result of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s work backed with research he did that included interviewing young girls to find out what their tastes in gaming are. The print ad showing the highly stylized protagonist Ulala and a few screenshots really caught the attention of gamers and kept the Dreamcast in their minds. While the game did not achieve commercial success as a Dreamcast-exclusive, Sega went on to release a version of Space Channel 5 on the PlayStation 2 console, plus sequels.
4. Cybernator print ad
The mention of Terminator and RoboCop rivaled the artwork when it comes to grabbing people’s attention.
I remember seeing the print ad of Konami’s Cybernator (Japanese title: Assault Suits Valken) in several comic books I read back in 1992. I never got to play it but the print ad’s artwork was memorable as I was fond of robots in anime, movies and video games back then. What was arguably the most memorable aspect of the print ad was the line that mentioned RoboCop and the Terminator in a comedic way. This is a creative way to market the game.
5. NBA Basketball 2000 print ad
There were a lot more NBA video games back in the 1990s.
NBA Basketball 2000 was one of those basketball videos games of the 1990s that was not published by EA Sports nor published by the other established game publishers like Sega, PlayStation and Konami. In fact, the one thing on the ad that caught my attention was Fox Sports Interactive which published some sports videos games during the decade. The print ad also served as a reminder that there were a lot more NBA video games for gamers to choose from during the 1990s.
6. Food Fight arcade flyers
Food Fighter arcade flyer with illustrated artworks.
Food Fight arcade flyer with a photographic touch and actors.
I never got to play the 1980s game Food Fight in the arcades nor did I ever had the opportunity to play it on Atari consoles and Xbox 360. Released in 1983 in the arcades by Atari, Food Fight was designed to allow players to control a character moving through a 2D field to consume an ice cream on a cone (placed on the opposite end of the field) before it melts while avoiding the chefs who are out to chase and block the player.
The arcade flyer with illustrated artwork on the characters interacting with the arcade machine is really amusing to look at. Equally amusing is the other arcade flyer that had a photographic approach showing two kids (one playing the arcade machine and the other about to throw a pie) and four chefs. Considering the nice visual concepts Atari came up with for the arcade flyers, Food Fight actually never became a commercial hit selling only a few thousand arcade units.
7. X-Kaliber 2097 print ad
This print ad from the 1990s had a nice visual style.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) had plenty of 2D side-scrolling adventure games and among them was X-Kaliber 2097 released by Activision (now a Microsoft-owned company and integral part of Xbox) in America in 1994. The game had a really interesting story concept about a chaotic far future society plagued by overwhelming crime and violence. The print ad showed a mild taste about the game’s concept and gameplay, but it was more effective when it comes to showing the formidable foes that await the playable protagonist Slash. This print appeared in several comic books I read and was eye-catching.
8. Jet Moto 3 print ad
When was the last time the police caught you for over-speeding?
This print ad for Jet Moto 3 had a clever concept of showing a police officer apprehending a jet biker for over-speeding. The visual presentation was done in photo-realistic fashion to make the sci-fi aspect of the video game look real. The ad made me interested enough to do some research of Jet Moto 3 a few months before finally buying it for my PlayStation console.
9. Wipeout 3 print ad
Were you fond of futuristic racing and techno music back in 1999?
Released in 1999, Wipeout 3 was one of those video games that showcased what the PlayStation (originally launched in Japan in 1994) could do in terms of visual fidelity, special effects and frame rates. The print ad, which had a radical visual concept emphasizing intensity and energy, had style listing down vertically the technical details of the game which required a close look in order to be read. With only two screenshots displayed, the ad makers smartly included the E3 acclaim of “Best Racing Game of E3” as well as the names of artists behind the game soundtrack on the lower-right corner. This print ad was cool and intriguing to look at.
10. Breath of Fire II print ad
This was a good effort to lure American gamers to buy and play Breath of Fire II.
When Breath of Fire II was released on the SNES in America in late 1995, Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were not yet wildly popular among American gamers. To grab the attention of gamers, Capcom and the ad makers came up with the eye-catching image of a sword and posted key questions to emphasize the fantasy aspect of Breath of Fire II. While the game received mixed reviews upon its North American release, Nintendo Power listed it as 171st best game in its Top 200 Games chart published in 2006.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1The disappointing 9th console generation – If you are a long-time gamer who owns a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and/or an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, you might have noticed how disappointing the 9th console generation (started in late 2020) has been when compared to the previous four generations.
Apart from the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic deeply altered the games industry on the sides of gamers and game developers, the 9th console generation has seen lots of unfulfilled promises from the console makers, Xbox Game Pass (XGP) changing for the worse, great gaming experiences not being realized, consumers getting screwed, the lack of focus towards the fans, woke garbage involved in game productions and a lot more. To understand what is going on in the 9th console generation, I urge you to watch the selected videos below.
#2 Illegal immigration in America is the new slave trade – More than ten million people illegally entered the United States through the US-Mexico border since 2021, resulting in rising crime, increased taxpayers’ money spending on illegal aliens, and more hardship for America’s own citizens. That’s not all. There are cartels taking advantage of the open border in the south that kept thousands of people – including children – flowing into America and those illegal aliens themselves are forced to repay the debts to the cartels. These should remind you how bad immigration became in America under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (border czar who loves criminals and terrorists). This PrageU video is a must-watch.
#3 Retro gaming reported by KTLA 5 – It is not every day you get see retro gaming reported on mainstream news outlets. In America, KTLA 5 made a video news report about the resurgence of retro gaming and it’s not limited to gamers buying collected editions of decades-old games for their modern game consoles. In fact, the video game store in KTLA 5’s report is selling old games in physical copies as well as old game consoles at affordable rates. Watch the video below.
#4 The history and American origin of the Lawson convenience store enterprise – Here in the Philippines, the convenience store chain Lawson has been gradually growing and becoming more competitive with the likes of 7-Eleven and Uncle John’s. Not only that, Lawson is gaining a following of customers who keep on returning because of the variety of food and beverage items offered plus convenient ways of doing financial transactions. While it is common knowledge that Lawson is from Japan and is a Japanese enterprise, not too many people are aware of its American origin. To learn about the history of Lawson, watch the video below.
#5 Israel’s intensified campaign against Hezbollah – After the recent attacks against several members of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist group Hezbollah through their pagers, Israel’s military campaign against the terrorists intensified. This happened even as Hezbollah kept on firing at Israel (in response to the pagers attacks) and even hitting Nazareth which itself has many Arabs and Muslims in its local population. Don’t let the pro-terrorist, pro-Islamist mainstream news media fool you with their persistent lying. Watch the videos from credible news sources below to realize the truth. Lastly, keep praying to the Lord to support Israel and bring down the forces of evil.
6. Kamala Harris’ dishonesty and pathetic acting about border security explained
In recent times, the Communist Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris visited the US-Mexico border to check on the situation there as illegal immigration added so much to crime. The problem here is that Kamala was simply acting to be responsible and working, and it is not a secret that the Democrats hired Communist Hollywood people to stage it behind the scenes. Sky News Australia’s video below is a must-see and remember that Democrats always love illegal aliens, criminals, abortion and terrorists. Kamala herself publicly declared her support for illegal aliens and defended them.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video about V: The Original Miniseries, V: The Final Battle and V TV series – If you are a fan of the V sci-fi entertainment franchise that made big waves on television in the 1980s, then you must watch Minty Comedic Arts’ video which covers V: The Original Miniseries (1983), V: The Final Battle (1984) and the creative mess that was the V TV series. The video also includes the 2009 V TV series which makes it a complete package for all V fans. If you are a long-time V fan, now is a good time to test your knowledge by watching the video below.
#2 Moneymaking locations in Red Dead Redemption 2 – If you have been struggling to make big money in the realm of the 2018 blockbuster video game Red Dead Redemption 2, then this video by YouTuber MrBossFTW must be seen. In RDR2 there are indeed places where you can find gold bars, sets of Dollar bills and other valuables that can sell in-game. There are indeed challenges to find the riches but they are worth doing.
#3 Hezbollah terrorists and allies hit hard by as their communication devices blew up – Recently several Hezbollah terrorists and some allies got hit hard because the pagers used turned out to be bombs which blew up and crippled their communication network. The initial attack even injured the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon himself got injured because he was also using the same pager that Hezbollah uses. The high-tech attacks not only happened in Lebanon but also in Syria where some Hezbollah terrorists were present. Unsurprisingly, the Islamic terrorists blamed Israel. Watch and learn from the videos below.
#4 Wokeness of Dragon Age: The Veilgard exposed – I really don’t like when the woke activists working in entertainment deform video games, movies and comic books as they turned them into vehicles promoting their pathetic agenda. Simply put, whatever the Satanic Left touches, they ruin it. The same can be said about the upcoming video game Dragon Age: The Veilgard. Already it can be seen that there is indeed a lot of woke stuff in the new game and YouTuber Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost posted a video explaining what was found and why the gamers heavily rejected the new Dragon Age game. Watch and learn from the video below.
#5 Kamala Harris’ dishonesty and lying – There is no doubt that the Democrats in American nominated a very dishonest candidate for US President with Kamala Harris. Harris is truly a Communist and she will do anything bad to gain power. That being said, her lying is clear and the corrupted mainstream news media just let her get away with poisoning people’s minds. Watch and learn from the videos below.
#6 PS5 Pro reactions – In recent times, Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro) which is the upgraded version of the PS5. Apart from the flawed console presentation by Sony, PS5 Pro is overpriced at $699 for America and it does not even have an optical drive and no vertical stand is included. For your reference, posted below are selected videos about the reactions and analysis of the PS5 Pro. Things are not really looking good for the upgraded PS5.
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 1987 to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through the Web of Spider-Man monthly series.
In this review, we will examine the opening chapter of one of the more significant storylines of the entire publishing history of Spider-Man… Kraven’s Last Hunt. Behind the scenes, writer J. M. DeMatteis came up with a concept about a limited series featuring the Marvel hero Wonder Man getting buried and returning from the grave. After getting rejected, the writer redeveloped his concept, proposed it to DC Comics (with Batman in mind), got rejected again and pitched the concept again to Marvel (with Spider-Man in mind) with a new villain who would really define the storyline. Marvel accepted the proposal and DeMatteis proceeded to write it while adding more Spider-Man elements to it.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Web of Spider-Man #31, published in 1987 by Marvel Comics with a story by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Kraven The Hunter moving and attacking like an animal interacting with life-sized figures of animals inside his castle. Afterwards, he slows down, gets a drink and walks into another large room that has an open coffin. He pulls out a black costume that carries the design of Spider-Man’s own costume. Kraven, who was a child when his parents arrived in America shortly after the overthrow of the Czar in Russia, is convinced that the world seem to have followed Russia’s sad example and he found dignity in the jungles instead of the cities. He found honor in the primal, not the civilized. He knows he will die soon and Spider-Man is the central part of his final pursuit in life.
Meanwhile in another part of New York City, Spider-Man discreetly attends the private gathering of several men in a bar who pay their last respects to the late Joe Face (a helpful friend of Spidey). As soon as he revealed himself, the men got scared of him and tension intensified. The webslinger pays his respect to Joe Face and puts several Dollar bills into the collection of funds.
Spider-Man then swings his way home…
Quality
As Spider-Man travels, Kraven the Hunter pursues him obsessively.
I want to state first that this Spider-Man tale has a dark and gritty presentation. The story feels really grounded with reality and it has an almost perfect atmosphere for the concept about Kraven getting ready to eliminate Spider-Man and do something very ambitious afterwards. The pacing of the storytelling moved at a medium pace and most notably, the build-up is really great to follow.
Without spoiling the plot, Kraven is truly the most featured character of this comic book as Spider-Man was written to be his moving target. DeMatteis invested a lot of creativity to build up Kraven not only as the definitive menace but also as a human being. Through the rich writing, Kraven is a man who developed and heavily prepared himself to achieve his goal. You will realize what he thinks about modern society, how he views life and why he is acting as if each day would be his last. As a villain, the evil of Kraven is very subtle yet he emerges as the deadliest foe of Spider-Man. This is truly a major development of the hunter when compared to his first-ever appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #15 (1964).
Through the views of Kraven, you will realize his own perception of Spider-Man which is intriguing to read as we readers know the webslinger’s true identity while the obsessed hunter does not. In relation to his obsession with Spider-Man, Kraven truly immerses himself with what he knows and does things that all other people would never do. I should also state that the hunter’s intense preparation has strong parallels with Batman’s approach on preparing himself for a major encounter.
As mentioned earlier, the webslinger is the target. Spider-Man appears as a disturbed and vulnerable figure and there is nothing that his powers can do to help him overcome his problems. As the build-up grows, the troubles of Spider-Man intensified which made the reading experience captivating.
Conclusion
People getting spooked by Spider-Man’s sudden appearance.
Web of Spider-Man #31 (1987) is truly a great read and it is also a very powerful opening of its storyline. By having Kraven as the definitive character and Spider-Man as the target, this comic book really subverted expectations backed with powerful writing by DeMatteis. Along the way, Mike Zeck’s artworks truly captured the dark and gritty tone of the script and this resulted in a very captivating visual presentation.
Overall, Web of Spider-Man #31 (1987) is highly recommended.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1Google in legal trouble in America – Did you notice how overwhelming power Google really is in business as well as in your daily lives? Are you aware that Google made multi-billion Dollar deals with its competitors to ensure its dominance on search, online advertising and other forms of business? Google is now in legal trouble with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in America and ColdFusion’s video below is a must-watch!
#2 Games to look forward to while subscribing to Xbox Game Pass – In recent times, there were changes on Xbox Game Pass (XGP) implemented by Microsoft which I did not like (click here and here to learn the details). If you own an Xbox and you still have not yet subscribed to XGP, you should decide first based on how much you can afford to pay the new rates (note: there are different tiers to subscribe to in Game Pass), what kind of games you really like and how much time you can spare for playing in the comfort of your home. If you are into adventure gaming, then the video by YouTuber Skycaptin 5 below is a must-watch for your reference. Take note that one of the games shown has yet to be released and a few of the games may require the Ultimate tier of XGP.
#3 A look back at Amazing Spider-Man movies of Sony Pictures – Do you have any fond memories of the two movies that had actor Andrew Garfield as the cinematic Spider-Man? I saw The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) in the cinemas and I can say that they never thrilled me nor satisfied me as much as the first two Spider-Man flicks of Tobey Maguire. Those movies directed by Marc Webb were not terrible actually but flawed works. Whether you loved or felt disappointed with the two Amazing Spider-Man movies, I urge you to watch the analytical video by YouTuber Owen Likes Comics below.
#4 25 years of the American launch of the Sega Dreamcast – It has been over twenty-five years since Sega launched the Dreamcast console in America. In gaming history, the date of September 9, 1999 is still remembered as the time when Sega really made a very serious effort to re-establish trust with American gamers and they made record-setting numbers in the first 24 hours. As such, it was no surprise that “25 years” or “25th anniversary” videos about the Dreamcast suddenly appeared on YouTube and posted below are videos I selected for your viewing.
#5 You, Me and the Movies’ video reaction of Clash of the Titans (1981) – Whenever I search YouTube for movie reaction videos about the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, not too many pop out for some reason. If you are interested to see the film but don’t have the time or money to watch it in full, then the reaction video by You, Me and the Movies should entertain you.
#6 The fall of Circuit City explained – Way back in 2001, I visited a branch of Circuit City in California. I visited because I was curious and also interested in video games and also movies on DVD format. What I found was a variety of consumer electronic products and the presence of TV units with built-in DVD drives caught my attention. It was my one and only Circuit City visit and many years later, their brand re-emerged when there were these widespread news reports about its bankruptcy and liquidation. If you want to learn about the rise and fall of Circuit City, watch the video below.
#7 GoodBadFlicks’ comprehensive video about The Blob (1988) –The Blob remake of 1988 has always been very entertaining to watch. Not only does it have a really solid story to tell, it has a fine blend of spectacle with well-crafted action/stunt scenes and top-notch practical effects. On 4K Blu-ray, the movie looks better than ever and it is worth purchasing. When it comes to the making of The Blob (1988), the best video to watch online is the one from YouTuber GoodBadFlicks which is posted below for your viewing pleasure.
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 comic book readers, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, movie fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1992 to take a close look at the official comic book adaptation of the action movie Universal Soldier.
Universal Soldier stood out among Hollywood action films in 1992 as it had Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the main stars and both of them were established action movie stars each with huge followings of fans. As it grossed almost $100 million worldwide on a budget of less than $25 million, the movie was successful and eventually sparked its of franchise of movies, TV shows, video games and comic books. NOW Comics was in-charge of making and publishing the comic book adaptation of the 1992 film.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Universal Soldier #1 published in 1992 by NOW Comics with a story written by Clint McElroy and drawn by Lenin Delsol. This was the first chapter of a 3-issue mini-series.
The cover showing a photographic image of star Dolph Lundgren.
Early story
The story begins in Vietnam in 1969. The American soldier Luc Deveraux arrives at a village that was secured by the U.S. Army. To his shock, he finds several dead bodies of his squad members and villagers, then encounters Sergeant Andrew Scott with two Vietnamese individuals (male and female) tied together near him. It turns out that Scott, who made a necklace composed of severed ears, has gone insane and executes the Vietnamese man. As Deveraux refuses to follow Scott’s order to shoot the Vietnamese female, the sergeant kills he. Deveraux and Scott shot each other to death and eventually their corpses were recovered by another squad to be cryogenically frozen.
A few decades later in Nevada, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the UniSol (Universal Soldier) arrives and among the members are Deveraux (identified as GR44) and Scott (GR13) who have been reanimated by the government with their past memories fully suppressed. Their team gets deployed to the Hoover Dam (Mackinley Dam in the comic book) to resolve a hostage situation…
Quality
Operating very much like robots, two Universal Soldiers take down terrorists and manipulated their communication as they make their way through to save the hostages from the remaining terrorists.
As an adaptation, I find this comic book a surprisingly accurate translation of the movie’s early part of the story (note: the literary narrative ends when Deveraux leaves with the female reporter). While not 100% of the film’s plot and visual details were captured, this comic book still succeeded in replicating the look, feel and tone of the movie. It is clear that the comic book team had access to the footage of the film and a copy of the screenplay (written by Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch and Dean Devlin).
Clint McElroy really stuck close to the film’s plot, the dialogue and the way the characters were portrayed. Again, not 100% of the relevant details were adapted and some liberties were taken but McElroy managed to craft a comic book narrative that was solidly structured, had sufficient details to keep readers oriented and engaged, and ensured the story moved at a satisfying pace. By the time I reached the end of this comic book, I got oriented with the story, the characters and the details shown in between.
Like in the movie, this comic book emphasizes the government’s very cold and heartless approach on handling their Universal Soldiers who are treated more like tools instead of people.
Lenin Delsol’s artwork here is really good. It is clear that he had access to the film’s production footage as several images of locations and characters here very closely resembled what was shown in the movie most of the time. When it comes to the action scenes, Delsol did not go for visual dynamism (note: the dynamic action style was common with superhero comics of the 1990s) but rather he portrayed the action with realism and varying degrees of brutality.
When it comes to visualizing the characters, it is clear that the creative team was not authorized to use the likenesses of the actors. Luc Deveraux looks absolutely nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme while journalist Veronica Roberts does not look like Ally Walker. Ironically, there are a few images of Scott’s face that somewhat resembles Dolph Lundgren. The way I see it, it is not problematic to see the characters not resembling the actors from the film. In fact, I like the new character designs Delsol came up with for the characters.
Conclusion
This early scene sets the tone of the entire comic book. As for the characters, Deveraux look nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sergeant Scott does not look like Dolph Lundgren (note: in other images of Scott shown later in the comic book, he looked a bit like the actor).
Even though I was not a fan of the 1992 movie, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) succeeded in keeping me engaged and entertained until the end. This is a really good adaptation of the early part of the film and I like the approach the Elroy-Densol team took on establishing the literary experience. Of course, if you want more dynamic visuals of the Hoover Dam scene or if you want that strong rated-R vibe when it comes to hard action, you should watch the movie. As of now, I am convinced to look forward to the next issue of this 3-part mini-series adaptation.
Overall, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) is recommended.
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 1980s and 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. Sega Dreamcast launch print ads
This cryptic Sega Dreamcast American launch print ad has an image that emphasized that gamers are being watched.
This one has an image emphasizing emotions, impulse and excitement.
By the time Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late 1998, the company was already bleeding from back-to-back years of financial losses. The Dreamcast was their big bet to regain the trust of consumers and business partners, to sell a lot of consoles and games, and somehow survive.
For the North American Dreamcast launch, Sega of America organized an intriguing series of ads emphasizing the September 9, 1999 launch date in very stylized and cryptic ways. As seen in the two selected ads above, the Dreamcast name was not even mentioned but the console’s trademark swirl was present. Anyone who was obsessed with video games – even if one was not a Sega fan – could tell that the print ads made clear that the Dreamcast was going to launch in America. Ultimately, Sega sold roughly $98 million worth of Dreamcast consoles, games and peripherals in the first 24 hours in America.
2. Point Blank 2 print ad
This ad appeared in comic books and magazines.
When Namco released the first Point Blank game, it was commercial successful in both arcades and on the PlayStation console in different parts of the world. To keep on succeeding, Namco made the sequel Point Blank 2 and their confidence in it was made clear with the above PlayStation version print ad that promised it to be multiplayer-oriented and ensure enough content to give players sufficient bouts of fun whichever game mode they pick. The ad’s image of the lady with a gun (Namco’s Guncon peripheral) and the animal trophies were done with humor in mind.
3. Pac-Man arcade flyers
This ad showed that arcade operators can choose which type of machine of Pac-Man they could order.
Midway issued this flyer when Pac-Man was already successful.
In 1980, Namco released Pac-Man in Japanese arcades and it became a big hit in a short span of time. This prompted them to bring the game overseas, especially in America which already had a growing arcade market. In November that year, Namco brought Pac-Man and their other arcade game Rally-X game to a tradeshow and only got mild attention from attendees and distributors. After being turned down by Atari, Namco signed a contract with Midway to distribute Pac-Man and Rally-X in America, and they were formally released the following month.
Upon release, Pac-Man became a strong attraction in American arcades with weekly sales surpassing $8 million per week. When it comes to the presentation, Midway’s arcade flyers above gave arcade operators and gamers a clear view that Pac-Man is fun and available in three physical units (emphasized in the first flyer) and that it made a positive commercial impact (emphasized in the 2nd flyer). Ultimately, Midway went on to sell over 100,000 Pac-Man arcade units resulting in a massive gross of over $1 billion in quarters (coins of twenty-five cents in American currency).
4. Silent Hill print ad
A clear atmosphere of psychological horror in this ad.
Made by a certain team within Konami, Silent Hill on PlayStation turned out to be a surprising and intriguing hit game in 1999. It was a polygonal survival horror game that drew a few comparisons with Capcom’s Resident Evil but ultimately stood out with its gameplay features and psychological horror concept.
The people at Konami must have anticipated that gamers in America would be attracted by the game so they came up with the creepy print ad above which promoted the game with a clear touch of psychological horror. If you look closely, the 2nd screenshot (in the middle) even showed blood in digital form. This Silent Hill print ad was clearly aimed at adult gamers and PlayStation gamers who craved for more horror gaming.
5. Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad
The use of the image of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in this print ad was the right move to inform readers that the 1997 movie’s video game was coming out.
To really capture the attention of James Bond fans and gamers, MGM Interactive and Electronic Arts (the co-publishers of the game) came up with a Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad showcasing Pierce Brosnan as the iconic Agent 007 in a dominant fashion leaving a minor space for the text description, two screenshots and other details displayed. While some people might look at the ad as an act of desperation to sell the long-delayed game, I find it eye-catching and engaging to look at. It also was a lively reminder back then that Brosnan was James Bond of the 1990s.
6. Wipeout 64 print ad
This is still cool and sleek to look at.
Wipeout, the series best known for its very futuristic portrayal of high-speed anti-gravity racing, showcase of dynamic visuals and the use electronic dance music, made its way to the Nintendo 64 console with Wipeout 64. This 1998 release was significant because at that time developer Psygnosis was already owned by Sony and most Wipeout games of the decade were released on PlayStation. Wipeout 64 was released before the PlayStation-exclusive Wipeout 3 came out.
The above print ad had this very sleek display of two anti-gravity racers moving at high speed and on the side are five screenshots showing what the game looked like on the N64. If you look very closely, one of them shows the 4-player split-screen mode identified with the Nintendo 64’s capabilities. Overall, the Wipeout 64 print ad captured the vibe of the Wipeout series and remains very cool to look at.
7. Ehrgeiz print ad
You want a 3D polygonal fighting game that has Final Fantasy 7 characters in it? Ehrgeiz was the answer.
In 1999, the landscape of gaming really changed. More gamers played 3D polygonal fighting games over the 2D fighting games, and demand for Final Fantasy and Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were in high demand in the West arguably because of the massive commercial success of Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation. That being said, Squaresoft released their own 3D polygonal fighting game that had Final Fantasy VII characters in it – Ehrgeiz.
After achieving success in the arcades, Squaresoft brought Ehrgeiz to PlayStation in America in 1999. Unsurprisingly, the print ad had Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud and his signature sword in a prominent position which was obviously done to attract the millions of FFVII for potential sales. The screenshots on the ad were presented not for showing off but to give readers a clear view of what kind of gaming experiences they could expect. Ehrgeiz on console even had a standalone RPG mode.
8. Driver print ad
The art used for the muscle car and the police car was a tribute to the car chases of movies from long ago.
Even before it was released on PlayStation and PC in 1999, publisher GT Interactive knew they had something big for gamers to engage with. That game was Driver and developer Reflections Interactive made it with a lot of inspiration taken from cinematic car chases. This particular ad emphasized car chases, the exploration of four real-life cities in digital form, and engaging in a variety of missions. As it successfully delivered what it promised, Driver went on to become a big commercial success on PlayStation and PC, and spawned sequels in the years that followed.
9. Eidos Interactive games print ad
From the time when Eidos Interactive was at the top of its game and Lara Croft was its most popular character.
By the end of the 1990s, Eidos Interactive became a major game publisher which is the result of the massive success they achieved with the Tomb Raider games which collective sold many millions of copies worldwide.
Along the way, they acquired developer Crystal Dynamics which was already a prolific team with many games released and new projects in development. Under Eidos’ banner, Crystal Dynamics went on to release Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver in 1999. That being said, this print ad shows the ambitious offers Eidos Interactive had with the Tomb Raider, Gex and Legacy of Kain franchises. It is a reflection about success and confidence about the future of video games.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1HolyLandSite’s comprehensive videos about the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel – I love Israel and I will always stand with it in accordance to my uncompromising faith in the Lord and His Word (the Holy Bible). During the one and only day-off of the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined, I visited the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem and it is truly one of the most significant places to visit in the entire world. The Dome of the Rock (the Muslim shrine) occupies the space where the two Jewish temples used to be and inside it is the Foundation Stone (preserved layer of mountain top rock) which is the spot where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac before God sent the angel to intervene. Be aware that during the time of Lord Jesus, the 2nd Jewish temple was established.
HolyLandSite produced the most in-depth and most informative videos about the Temple Mount and I encourage you to watch them now.
#2 The #10 billion Apple Car disaster – You ever heard of the Apple Car? Such a project from the very same company behind iPhone actually existed and it ended up as a disaster worth an estimated $10 billion. What happened behind the scenes at Apple? Did the technology giant really believe it could make a positive impact on the automobile industry? You can find out more by watching ColdFusion’s video below.
#3 Venom: Lethal Protector revisited and explained – I should mention first that I am not a fan of the Marvel Comics super villain Venom. For the newcomers reading this, Venom emerged in the late 1980s as Spider-Man’s deadliest enemy and went on to become a murderer who somehow helped Marvel Comics sell a lot of comic books. Because comic book fans wanted more of him so much, Marvel went on to publish the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series in the early 1990s and it led to even more comic books showcasing him as an anti-hero (specifically a killer helping the powerless people). If you are interested to learn about the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series without having to go through all the trouble of finding the comic books, watch the video below. Better save your money.
#4 You, Me and the Movies’ reaction videos of the first three Jaws movies – YouTube channel You, Me and the Movies recently posted their movie reaction videos of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978) and Jaws 3-D (1983). Having seen all three movies before, I enjoyed these reaction videos. The first movie from 1975 is a true cinematic classic directed by a very young Spielberg and if you have not seen it, I encourage you to watch it entirely first before seeing the related reaction video. I cannot say the same about Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D (AKA Jaws 3). Once you are ready, enjoy the videos below.
#5 Retrospective videos of Suikoden and Suikoden II – Recently, Konami announced that it will finally be releasing the anticipated collection Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars on March 6, 2025 for varied game consoles plus Steam. The said collection was supposed to have been released in 2023 but a delay happened and Konami was very silent until recently. Now that fans of the first two Suikoden games have something to look forward to in 2025, here are some retrospective videos that will help you understand what the games are and why they are still popular among Japanese RPG (JRPG) enthusiasts.
#6 The wickedness and wokeness of Rachel Zegler exposed – Actress Rachel Zegler is not worth trusting as she went ballistic while promoting the new Snow White movie from woke Disney. Not only did she go against the legacy of the classic Snow White animated movie, she sided with the pro-Palestine movement and their terrorists. While her tweet could encourage pro-Palestine believers to watch the new Snow White, it is a fact that there already a movement of people who hate Israel telling people to boycott the said movie simply because it has Israeli actress (and Wonder Woman star) Gal Gadot. By being woke and reckless, Zegler is only turning off people from watching the new Snow White and if the movie fails, it will cost Disney a lot of money. Watch and learn from the selected videos below.
#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to King Kong (1933) and Godzilla (1954) – I really enjoy watching the movie reaction videos of Popcorn in Bed (PIB) and recently she posted new videos about two very significant movies…the original King Kong of 1933 and the original Godzilla (Gojira) film of 1954. As the two mentioned movies are cinematic classics, I encourage you to watch them first before watching Popcorn in Bed’s reaction videos. To those who saw classics already, watch the reaction videos below.
Way back in 1983, I had my first-ever 3D viewing experience inside the movie theater here in the Philippines. I saw the movie Jaws 3-D (AKA Jaws 3) on the big-screen using disposable 3D glasses and the theater was packed with lots of moviegoers who screamed from time to time.
If you are not familiar with movie history, Jaws 3-D was the 3rd movie of the Jaws movie franchise which itself started with the classic 1975 movie directed by Steven Spielberg. While the 1978 sequel Jaws 2 did not come close to matching the commercial success of its predecessor, it still managed to gross over $200 million worldwide and arguably influenced Hollywood movie studios to invest in making sequels to achieve summer box office success. Jaws 2 also propelled the rise of movie-related merchandising which paved the way for deals between movie studios and business entities.
When the 2nd Jaws sequel was proposed, producers David Brown and Richard Zanuck had the concept of spoof titled Jaws 3, People 0. National Lampoon writers were even commissioned to make the script. The Jaws 3 comedy project was shot down by Universal Pictures as a result of Steven Spielberg’s threat that he would never work with them again if they approved it.
Along the way, there were technological breakthroughs for cinematic 3D viewing which led to the short revival of showing movies in 3D in movie theaters. The Jaws 3 project was turned into a 3D-focused cinematic experience with a concept about an aquatic amusement park that falls into chaos as a result of a large great white shark that infiltrated it. Prolific production designer Joe Alves was hired as director and the cast includes Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Louis Gossett, Jr., Lea Thompson and Simon MacCorkindale. Even SeaWorld got involved and allowed the filmmakers to use their brand.
The movie poster.
Jaws 3-D was released in cinemas on July 22, 1983 and had a franchise-best opening weekend with $13.4 million. Its global box office gross was around $88 million.
When I first saw Jaws 3-D inside the movie theater, I was a young boy and simply enjoyed it for what it was. I occasionally replayed the movie through the years on cable TV and home video, and I eventually realized that the film was indeed very flawed and clearly inferior to its predecessors with regards to quality and storytelling. Jaws 3-D was simply made to give moviegoers a thrill ride inside the cinema with 3D viewing in mind as the moviegoers followed the 3D viewing revival trend of the early 1980s. When it was released on cable TV and home video, the movie was re-titled as Jaws 3 to reflect the lack of 3D effects.
Even though it was inferior to the first two Jaws movies, Jaws 3-D remains a popular movie subject to explore and there are several videos on YouTube that reflect that. If you are interested in Jaws 3-D but you don’t want to spend precious time and money watching it entirely, then you should watch the movie reaction video by You, Me and the Movies below.
If you want to learn more about how the movie was made, how it all started and what kind of technologies were used to make the 3D effects happen, watch the two retrospective videos below from Oliver Harper and Layton Eversaul.
If you are into movie trivia, then Minty Comedic Arts’ video below is recommended.
By the way, you must have heard that Jaws 3-D is now available in 4K Blu-ray format. Before you make the decision to purchase it, be aware that Universal used artificial intelligence (AI) to make it. Depending on how you want your movies to appear in 4K resolution, the results could turn you off. Watch the videos below from Jeff Rauseo and MidLevelMedia.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Have you ever seen Jaws 3-D? If you did, were you able to watch it inside the cinema or at home? Did the movie inspire you to watch movies in 3D? Do you think that the current 4K Blu-ray of Jaws 3-D is not worth purchasing?
Author Carlo Carrasco 