Tag: Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Prime #6 (1993)

A Look Back at Prime #6 (1993)

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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.

Hey everyone! Let me ask you…when you were a teenager, was there ever a time when you wished you could instantly transform yourself into a muscular man who can fly and use super strength to make a difference in local society? To be a standout with the public is one thing, but to deal with external forces who focus on you as a result of being super is another.

That being said, let’s take a look back at Prime , published in 1993 by Malibu Comics with a story co-written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones with art done by the late Norm Breyfogle.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Prime in an encounter with a large, meat-eating dinosaur. It’s a Tyrannosaurus Rex which puzzles the caped, muscular hero. The dinosaur traps him in its jaws and tries to eat him, but Prime manages to resist and finds a way to make it lose its balance.

As it turns out, the whole encounter was nothing more than a virtual reality sequence with Prime literally a captive. Behind the scenes are several people managing the secret operation with a high-ranking military officer in charge. The VR sequence ends and Prime calms down.

As the personnel work to aid Prime, the officer states that he needs him functional as he has o rove that his unit does not need the paranoid conspirators at Aladdin. As Prime wakes up, he quickly gets back on his feet putting the personnel off-balance and grabbing the military officer by the neck….

Quality

As expected, the writing and visuals were done with the usual high level of quality. What is clearly the main selling point of this comic book is its story which greatly emphasizes Prime’s place in the Ultraverse. To be specific, this is a tale about Prime (who is really a teenager inside) realizing his involvement with the United States government and its secret operations unit that involves the military and scientists. At the same time, this comic book digs deeper into the Prime’s origin not as a superhero but rather as a person (in the identity of Kevin Green) who was born with certain forms of manipulation done to him by someone who is linked with the government. The good news here is that the story is pretty cohesive and intriguing to read. At the same time, Prime’s personality got developed further and you will see how getting involved with his nation’s government impacts him.

More on the events within the Ultraverse, this comic book showed an early sign of the Prime series getting connected with elements of the respective series of The Strangers and Mantra.  

Conclusion

The money shot!

On face value, Prime looked like it was just filler-loaded comic book serving only as a build-up for the Break-Thru crossover event of 1993. In actuality, this one is another well-told story about Prime and even though there is no battle with any villain, it succeeded in telling a standalone story focused on the hero getting involved with his nation’s government. I should also state that this is a nice change of pace following two really big battles of Prime with Prototype and Maxi-Man.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Prime (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $4 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs .

Overall, Prime (1993) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government receives personal donation of one ambulance from DOTr Sec. Tugade to fight COVID-19

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government receives personal donation of one ambulance from DOTr Sec. Tugade to fight COVID-19

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Department of Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade turned over one unit of ambulance to the City Government of Muntinlupa, a personal donation to help the city’s fight against COVID-19. Recently, Tugade was assigned as an overseer in Muntinlupa by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi received the donated ambulance by Sec. Tugade in Muntinlupa City Hall yesterday via an online turn-over ceremony. Fresnedi expressed his thanks to Tugade for his support and assistance to the city. He said that the ambulance will be used for the transportation of COVID-19 patients and other emergency response activities.

The transportation secretary said an additional five ambulances will be turned over to Muntinlupa from the Department of Health in the coming months. Tugade vowed to assist Muntinlupa in its COVID-19 response efforts and in operationalizing national government services in the city.

Recently, cabinet members were assigned to Metro Manila cities and other provinces with high community transmission to strictly monitor health system performance, critical care capacity, and stringent compliance to surveillance, isolation, and treatment protocols.

Also joining the ceremony were Foton Motors Inc. president Rommel Sytin, DOTr Asec. for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, Atty. JayArt M. Tugade,  Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao, Ospital ng Muntinlupa director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac, Muntinlupa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Erwin Alfonso, Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officer Gary Llamas, and Public Information Officer Tez Navarro.

Last August 18, Muntinlupa LGU officials reported local initiatives for testing, tracing, and treatment such as the construction of the city’s molecular laboratory, testing efforts, construction of additional isolation facilities, and contact tracing to Sec. Tugade via online meeting.

Meanwhile, the Muntinlupa City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) called for an emergency meeting to discuss course of action on how to address the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases among the youth.

The City Health Office have recorded rising COVID-19 cases among the 0-19 age group and noted that possible transmission may have occurred from playing outside of their homes or visiting public parks and playgrounds. As of August 16, CHO recorded 62 confirmed cases on children from the city’s eight barangays.

MCCPC is set to submit a resolution recommending the review of existing ordinances on curfew hours and strict wearing of face masks, including “incentivizing” best practices of communities with regard to the fight against COVID-19.

Further, the local council also recommends for the mobilization of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to augment monitoring in the communities and creation of series of social media content and other information campaigns to bolster information dissemination of city ordinances.

Muntinlupa PNP has augmented police visibility in public parks and hotspots of COVID-19 transmission as determined by the council. Additional roving and stationary officers were installed to ensure that no children will be roaming outside their homes and other public spaces.

Muntinlupa City has 2,731 confirmed cases with 1,739 recoveries, 891 active cases, 101 reported deaths, 1,047 suspect cases, and 706 probable cases as of August 19.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, no distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Council for the Protection of Children raises concern over rising COVID-19 cases among the youth

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Council for the Protection of Children raises concern over rising COVID-19 cases among the youth

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Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi in a crucial meeting. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

The Muntinlupa City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) expressed concerns over the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases among the youth and issued advise to parents to exercise strict guidance for their children.

Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi who also serves as the MCCPC chairperson called for an emergency meeting last August 17 to convene council members and barangay representatives to discuss course of action on how to address the health crisis among the youth.

City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said they have recorded rising COVID-19 cases among the 0-19 age group and noted that possible transmission may have occurred from playing outside of their homes or visiting public parks and playgrounds.

As of August 16, CHO recorded 62 confirmed cases on children from the city’s eight barangays.

Tuliao discussed that some of the children who tested positive for COVID-19 violated quarantine protocols such as staying in their homes. She said some patients could have contracted the virus from face-to-face meeting with their peers while playing video games, and others from contact with their partners.

She also noted that teenage pregnancy also emerged as one of the pressing issues among the youth during the community quarantine. CHO recorded an increase of teenage pregnancies from 181 cases on the First Quarter to 234 cases on the Second Quarter of this year.

Muntinlupa PNP chief of police PCOL Melecio Buslig Jr. said he will order augmentation of police personnel in public parks and hotspots of COVID-19 transmission as determined by the council.

Buslig said additional roving and stationary officers will be installed to ensure that no children will be roaming outside their homes and other public spaces.

MCCPC is set to submit a resolution recommending the review of existing ordinances on curfew hours and strict wearing of face masks, including “incentivizing” best practices of communities with regard to the fight against COVID-19.

Further, the local council also recommends for the mobilization of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to augment monitoring in the communities and creation of series of social media content and other information campaigns to bolster information dissemination of city ordinances.

Mayor Fresnedi urged the youth and their parents to exercise vigilance and strict compliance to IATF guidelines and health protocols especially amid the shift to the more relaxed General Community Quarantine.

Muntinlupa City has 2,654 confirmed cases with 1,673 recoveries, 882 active cases, 99 reported deaths, 1,060 suspect cases, and 795 probable cases as of August 18.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, no distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: DOTr Sec. Tugade to donate one ambulance to Muntinlupa, coordinates with city execs for COVID-19 response and strategies

COVID-19 Crisis: DOTr Sec. Tugade to donate one ambulance to Muntinlupa, coordinates with city execs for COVID-19 response and strategies

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Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi in an online meeting with key officials. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Department of Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade is set to donate an ambulance to Muntinlupa to be used for COVID-19 response efforts after being assigned in the city as an overseer by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Tugade said he will personally donate one ambulance to the City Health Office, in addition to five ambulances to be turned over by the Department of Health, during an online meeting with Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and other Muntinlupa execs last August 18.

Fresnedi extended his thanks to the transportation secretary and said that the ambulance will be used for the transportation of COVID-19 patients and other emergency response activities.

Muntinlupa City officials have updated Sec. Tugade on local initiatives for testing, tracing, and treatment such as the construction of the city’s molecular laboratory, testing efforts, construction of additional isolation facilities, and contact tracing. As of August 18, Muntinlupa City has conducted 11,770 PCR COVID-19 tests and 8,600 rapid tests.

Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac reported that as of August 5, OsMun has 171 admitted patients for its 203 bed-capacity. He noted that for their COVID-19 dedicated ward with 66 beds, 61 are already occupied. While, there are 17 occupancy for its 54-bed capacity Quarantine Tent.

The City Government of Muntinlupa has partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of an additional isolation facility in Pacwood Site, Brgy. Tunasan with 128-bed capacity.

For contact tracing, Muntinlupa has mobilized 17 teams consisting of 2-3 health workers per team to contact trace 15-17 contacts per confirmed case. Further, Muntinlupa Traffic and Management Bureau chief Danidon Nolasco appealed for the utilization of e-tricycles from the Department of Energy (DOE) for COVID-19 response.

Nolasco said the City Government was instructed to lease the units to tricycle operators as part of a memorandum of agreement with DOE. He noted that the arrangement with TODAs were not materialized.

Sec. Tugade vowed to coordinate the concerns raised by Muntinlupa officials to the IATF and help in operationalizing national government services in the city.

Recently, cabinet members were assigned to Metro Manila cities and other provinces with high community transmission to strictly monitor health system performance, critical care capacity, and stringent compliance to surveillance, isolation, and treatment protocols.

Muntinlupa City has 2,522 confirmed cases with 1,601 recoveries, 823 active cases, 98 reported deaths, 1,011 suspect cases, and 775 probable cases as of August 17.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists, no distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

A Look Back at Hardcase #14 (1994)

A Look Back at Hardcase #14 (1994)

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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.

Hey comic book geeks and superhero enthusiasts! Are you ready for another trip back to the Ultraverse through the stories of Hardcase? Before getting there, I should state that the last Hardcase comic book I reviewed ended in a very intriguing way.

To find out more what followed, here is a look back at Hardcase , published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by the late James Hudnall and drawn by Steve Carr.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Tom Hawke/Hardcase wondering if he is turning insane. He went through a lot lately such as getting targeted by Aladdin for elimination, learning that a portion of Linda’s brain was taken by Aladdin via operation, and his new lover Choice (who has the mentioned part of Linda’s brain in her) just vanished in front of him and Lela Cho/Tech (of The Solution) who seated near him.

Lela tries to calm him down and shares to him that she herself went through a whole lot of trouble which made her form her team. Hardcase is concerned that Choice could be in danger already. Lela reminds him of what happened during their time on the moon. She states that there is something out there, a flat world. Hardcase speculates that someone from out there could have taken Choice away…

Quality

Compared to issue , the storytelling in this comic book went back to build-up tension and suspense for future developments waiting to happen. When it comes to characterization, you will find Hardcase being without a partner for the first time since the early issues of the series. This also resulted some short but notably dramatic scenes that further developed Hardcase’s personality. As this was written by the late James Hudnall, there is more crossing-over between Hardcase and a few members of The Solution which is pretty good creative move.

When it comes to the art, Steve Carr did a good job visualizing the characters. His art is a radical change from that of Kelly Krantz in issue .

Conclusion

Picking up from where issue ended.

To put straight, Hardcase will appeal to fans who don’t mind the lack of action (like issue ) for as long as the Hollywood hero became more prominent and his personality developed further. If you are wondering what happened to Choice, you’ll have to search elsewhere in the Ultraverse. Also there is continued build-up behind the scenes setting up gradually (yet again) the inevitable rematch between Hardcase and a certain nemesis from the past.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Hardcase (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $14 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $13.

Overall, Hardcase (1994) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

Focus on the Xbox-exclusive The Gunk coming in 2021

Focus on the Xbox-exclusive The Gunk coming in 2021

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Before discussing the main topic of this article, let me state that I am disappointed with the delay of Halo Infinite. I was looking forward to playing that game on my Xbox One and replay it as soon as I buy an Xbox Series X console (set for release this November). Now that Halo Infinite won’t get released until sometime in 2021, Microsoft will have to pull off the right moves to ensure that Xbox Series X will launch successfully. As per tradition in video gaming, exclusive games (whether it’s made by a 3rd-party developer or by the console maker’s own game studios) are attractive to consumers who intend to jump into the new console generation.

While Microsoft has Xbox Game Pass and a massively large library of games from the previous Xbox console generations that early adopters of Xbox Series X can enjoy, their potential lineup of launch games for the new console looks very uncertain (as of this writing) without Halo Infinite. Xbox division head Phil Spencer and the rest of Team Xbox still have yet to announce the price of Xbox Series X, confirm the existence of the rumored Xbox Series S, what games will be launching with the new console(s), what related devices will be released, emphasize how beneficial is game optimization for Xbox Series X truly is, etc.

And now for the topic at hand…

With so many games presented during the Xbox Games Showcase of July 23, it was rather easy to overlook certain games. After replaying the showcase, I came across The Gunk which is a sci-fi adventure game made by the same team behind the SteamWorld franchise of games. Watch this official video below.

Developed by Thunderful Development and published by Thunderful Publishing exclusively for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Windows 10 PC with a September 2021 release (with inclusion in Xbox Game Pass plus support of Xbox Smart Delivery), The Gunk is a 3D sci-fi action adventure game that (based on the above video) will be played in third-person (note: you’ll see your character in the middle) with platforming, running, jumping, exploring and vacuuming a living substance called the gunk off plants in a very exotic planet that’s just waiting to be explored in the game.

Based on available information, The Gunk follows the exploits of a character who arrives on a planet with high-tech equipment as part of a salvaging operation to explore the natural environment and find something good or interesting. What lies ahead and how much gunk from the planet should be vacuumed remains to be seen.

The protagonist?

As to why The Gunk is an Xbox-exclusive, Thunderful Group CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson explained that his team needed more power to realize their concept in 3D which is something they have not done before. They wanted a game where more is more. Below is an excerpt from the Xbox.com article:

One of our early hurdles was the defensive urge to “hold the game back” to ensure that The Gunk would run comfortably on any platform. It took us a while to understand that we were tasking ourselves with something impossible – we wouldn’t be able to maximize the game while worrying about frame rates. We had to choose, and we decided to go for the grand vision. Mind you, we had pulled off tricky stuff in the past and squeezed outlandish frame rates out of limited hardware, but to realize the full potential of The Gunk we would need real power. And so, we decided to talk to Microsoft and ask about this new hardware they were tinkering with. And now, dear reader… here we are: The Gunk will come out exclusively on Xbox Series X and Xbox One. ~ Brjann Sigurgeirsson

It’s so nice learn from the Thunderful Group that they came up with their first 3D project at a time when Microsoft developed the very powerful Xbox Series X. The Gunk being exclusive for the current and next-generation Xbox consoles just might turn out to be fun-filled hit and it should be noted that the Thunderful Group SteamWorld games not only earned a positive reception from critics and gamers, but also picked up an array of awards.

Nice art style – check. Nice visual effects – check. Mystery – check.

Personally, I really like what I saw in the unveiling trailer of The Gunk. It has a cartoonish character design that surprisingly looks good in 3D polygons. I also liked the artistic style and the clever use of lighting effects with regards to defining the look of the planet. In short, it really looked not only exotic but also out of this world! Apart from the exploration, the platforming and potential fun action, I hope that the game will have a really engaging story to tell and that their characters (note: no telling how many we’ll see) will be relatable. Since the game involves space travel, I hope that the developers will implement some space ship battles which is something that the great sci-fi RPG (role-playing game) The Outer Worlds lacked.

Right now, I am very interested in The Gunk. It has a high-quality look to it and it could deliver a whole lot of fun to gamers on the Xbox ecosystem. It just might become a standout among whatever Xbox-exclusive games will come out in 2021. What is clear is that The Gunk is a 3rd-party exclusive being made by very talented game makers for Microsoft’s consoles and that means a lot.

There a wide open environment waiting to be explored. Monsters and puzzles await us gamers.

For more on Xbox and video gaming, stay tuned!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – August 17, 2020

Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – August 17, 2020

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Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – August 17, 2020

The Las Piñas City Police Department continues to serve the local constituents by means of securing places, implementing rules and helping those who need assistance. Check out these recent media releases and pay close attention to the details written. Also posted below are the latest contact numbers regarding the city.

On August 15, 2020, elements of Sub-Station 4 under the supervision of PMAJ LEO GLENN T CALABIO, SS-4 Commander, and through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas CPS, established Police Assistance/Visibility and Strict Implementation of Social Distancing and Mandatory Wearing of facemask and other health safety protocols. (source – Las Piñas City PNP)
On August 15, elements of Sub Station2 led PMAJ JOYLENE A BULAN and six (6) others under the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP Las Piñas City Police conducted Checkpoint at C5 Extension, LPC which resulted to twentyfour (24) issued OVR including four (4) impounded motorcycle. (source – Las Piñas City PNP)
On August 15, 2020, elements of Sub-Station 4 under the supervision of PMAJ LEO GLENN T CALABIO, SS-4 Commander, and through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas CPS, established Police Assistance/Visibility and Strict Implementation of Social Distancing and Mandatory Wearing of facemask and other health safety protocols. (source – Las Piñas City PNP)
On August 15, 2020, composite personnel of Las Piñas CPS led by PLT DARWIN C PUA, with 5 personnel together with eight(8) augment SPD personnel led by PLT MICHAEL F TILAN under the supervision of PMAJ LEO GLEN T CALABIO, SS4 Commander, through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas City Police Station conducted QCP Checkpoint Operation at the above-said area. (source – Las Piñas City PNP)

If you are in Las Piñas City and you need the help of the local police, call 85516401 or visit https://www.facebook.com/pcrstation4/

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A Look Back at The Strangers #8 (1994)

A Look Back at The Strangers #8 (1994)

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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.

Hey comic book geeks and Ultraverse fans? It’s been almost two months since I last reviewed a comic book of The Strangers which had a nice crossover involving Prototype and in outer space no less! Crossovers within the Ultraverse were well done and nicely planned by the creative people at Malibu Comics.

If you want to find out what followed next, then you’re in the right place as I’m about to present a look back at The Strangers , released in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Rick Hoberg and Steve Shroce.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the Strangers having arrived back on Earth, safe and sound. As Lady Killer greeted “happy landings” to her teammates, Grenade recalls what they had done recently…stealing the rocket from the powerful J.D. Hunt. They were greeted by lots of people at Edwards Air Force Base in California and immediately the nosey journalists ask them repetitive questions.

A man confronts them and tells them to come with him for a debriefing. As the encounter was about to turn into a conflict, a uniformed official (who was granted control by the commander of the base) intervenes and took sides with the Strangers. According to him, the Night Man just prevented two murders from happening on the base. He then grants the Strangers possession of the rocket…

Quality

The conflict over Yrial.

As with the previous issues of The Strangers, this one unsurprisingly had a well-organized story structure which was brought to life by the illustrators and others who worked on the visuals. While it is a fact that the Strangers just got back from a misadventure in outer space, the suspense and excitement never faltered once they returned home. When it comes to character development, the one who stood out was Yrial whose wisdom and loyalty got tested when a chief from her tribe told her to return to them since her teammates learned the secrets of their powers. Of course, the team trusts her a lot and don’t want to lose her. Once again, the Strangers find themselves at odds with Yrial’s people and how the story was presented here is great to read.

Conclusion

Things got hot right after arriving.

The Strangers is a solidly fun comic book. Its pace to keep the reader engaged, entertained and in suspense never faltered one bit. At the same time, this comic book had some fresh ideas and twists that are worth reading.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of The Strangers (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $4 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $10.

Overall, The Strangers (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

A Look Back at UltraForce #0 (1994)

A Look Back at UltraForce #0 (1994)

carlocarrasco

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.

Hey everyone! I bet you heard the sad news about the layoffs over at DC Comics which is the result of a corporate restructuring on the part of AT&T. With the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, restructuring in the private sector is inevitable with the intention of keeping business surviving. Already I noticed some people are divided over the DC Comics layoffs – some people condemned the corporate hierarchy for laying off DC’s employees while some believe it is necessary to keep long-time comic book publisher alive. As for the socialist and Communist-minded critics, I wonder if they prefer the State Government of California (led by a tyrant governor) to fully take over DC Comics just to prevent layoffs and still be able to provide financial assistance (including taxpayers’ money) to illegal immigrants.

Wow. Just about any news development can get politicized. Regardless, the Political Left clearly support criminals, embrace corruption, move to destroy capitalism and move to betray their fellow citizens. Anyway, enough with the current events. If you want some escapism from the harshness of reality, then join me on my look back at UltraForce , published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story by Gerard Jones and illustrated by the legendary George Perez.

Great cover by George Perez.

Early story

The story begins at a cemetery where Ghoul rises from the grave and disturbs a man and a woman who planned to have a good time together that evening. The next morning on the streets of Hollywood, police officers struggle to separate the people who condemned ultras apart from those who believe in the ultras. Ghoul, now wearing a trench coat, is in the middle of the crowd and it turns out he is looking for his friends…the Exiles. Suddenly, Hardcase comes in and easily catches the attention of the aggressive news media who asked questions such as:

“As the most visible ultra, do you feel ultras should be feared or worshipped?”

“What about the accountability of corporate-sponsored ultras like Prototype?”

“How do we contain an out-of-control vigilante like Prime?”

Given his experience as a celebrity, Hardcase carefully explains that even though most ultras try to do the right thing, they are not accountable for each other. Elsewhere, young Kevin Green watches the live feed of Hardcase on TV. In response to what he saw and heard about having ultras held accountable, Kevin becomes fascinated with the idea of a team of ultras who are united and cannot be beaten by the government.

Suddenly Kevin’s chest begins to hurt and moves out of the house leaving his mother. After hiding himself behind the bush, he transforms into Prime and flies away to show the world what ultras can do when he leads them…

Quality

Premier rivals Prime and Prototype meet again!

I’ll cut to the chase. While UltraForce #1 showed how very notable superheroes of the Ultraverse banded together, this story cleverly explained what happened just a short time prior to that story. The very good news here is that the script written by Jones is very detailed and told a really cohesive story of its which was greatly brought to life visually by George Perez (which should not be a surprise at all). In fact, UltraForce (which had some of its content previewed in the pages of Wizard Magazine) and form one single narrative which was made with really high quality writing and visuals. It also showcases amazing production values by the creative teams at Malibu Comics.

For the newcomers reading this, this comic book sheds light on the impact ultras have on society and why people get divided when it comes to living knowing that someone much more powerful than them could suddenly impact their way of life. To put it short, this comic book’s social concept will keep you thinking and speculating. More on the writing, like the 1st issue, the storytelling here is certainly unpredictable (but still manages to tell a cohesive tale) and will keep you guessing what would happen next. Definitely this is not typical superhero story about someone saving the day and restoring the peace. Finally, I do confirm that this comic book is very loaded with spectacle and the pace of the story moves quite fast. By the end of this comic book, you will not only anticipate the following events (in issue ) but also get to know Prime and the others better and be entertained a lot.

Contrary and Pixx inside their secret ship.

Conclusion

Hardcase comes in as Ghoul struggles with all the attention.

I’ll say it out loud – UltraForce is a great comic book (as great as issue ) and it truly is one of the best Ultraverse comic books as well as one of the finest works done by Malibu Comics! As a superhero team concept, UltraForce is clearly the most symbolic team of the Ultraverse not just because it has major players like Prime, Hardcase and Prototype together but also with the way they were defined literally and visually. For more on the concept of UltraForce, check out the words of then Ultraverse editor Chris Ulm.

“UltraForce is the unluckiest group in the Ultraverse. Each one has their own conception of the what mission of UltraForce is. Each fancies themselves the leader. But somehow, they are able to forge a new kind of team that is greater than the sum of its parts,” wrote Ulm in the comic book.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of UltraForce (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $4.

Overall, UltraForce (1994) is highly recommended!

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City ready to distribute 90,000 face masks to city residents

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City ready to distribute 90,000 face masks to city residents

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City ready to distribute 90,000 face masks to city residents

City Government officials and others present the face masks to be distributed to local citizens. (Source – Muntinlupa PIO)

The City Government of Muntinlupa is set to distribute at least 90,000 face masks to the public in a bid to curb COVID-19 in the city. Recently, displaced seamstresses during the community quarantine were hired by the City Government, under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa mga Displaced Workers (TUPAD), to produce face masks for frontliners and city residents. Muntinlupa Gender and Development Office head Trina Biazon turned-over the face masks last August 12 for distribution. TUPAD beneficiaries rendered 15 working days in the program and receive a salary of P537.00 per day.

The face masks being prepared. (Source – Muntinlupa PIO)

The program was facilitated through the Muntinlupa GAD Office, Office of Congressman Ruffy Biazon Public Employment Service Office, Muntinlupa City Technical Institute, Public Information Office, and the Office of Coun. Arlene Hilapo. As of August 11, Muntinlupa City has 2,102 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,277 recoveries, 735 active cases, 90 reported deaths, 999 suspect cases, and 769 probable cases.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release.

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