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.
As you know by now, I really love following the stories of the Hardcase series of the Ultraverse published by Malibu Comics. Issue #12 had a very intriguing conclusion which gave the first fully year of the series a worthy ending (one that will compel readers to go back to issue #1 and search the origin story of Hardcase and The Squad) while setting up the anticipation for the next story in a compelling way.
As such, here is my look back at Hardcase #13 published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by the late James Hudnall and drawn by Kelly Krantz.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Hardcase and Choice agonizing over the shocking revelation from Lela Cho /Tech (The Solution) who helped them access crucial information they worked so hard searching. What they do not know is that they are constantly spied on by sinister figures.
“I knew it! I knew it! Those scum-sucking weasels! I’ll kill them,” said Hardcase in reaction to the shocking information. Lela Cho tries to calm him down as Choice agonizes on her knees.
As their emotions eased, Lela prepares her computer for their research of the highly detailed files that Aladdin has about them…
Quality
The story of Choice…
To make things clear, this comic book’s narrative is dominated by information-heavy references presented like computer files with accompanying images. There is actual little present-day story regarding Hardcase and Choice but that’s not a problem as the heavy exposition of background stories relating to Choice, Aladdin, Hardcase and others are very well written by Hudnall. By the time I finished the story, I got enlightened and also excited for the next story of Hardcase.
What I love about the heavy exposition was how it efficiently explained the details and completely avoided getting boring. The exposition also emphasized the specific roles Aladdin, the Choice Corporation, Ultratech and NuWare had in the Ultraverse and how they impacted the lives of people. This is comic book universe building crafted excellently by Hudnall.
Conclusion
More from the past of Choice.
The best way to describe Hardcase #13 is that it is an exposition-heavy, characterization-focused story that succeeded in its goal of enlightening the reader. James Hudnall’s writing is excellent which, by this time, is not surprising to me. As such, this comic book is worth reading more than once and like issue #12, it will compel you to go back to issue #1 and look deeper at the background of Hardcase and his time with The Squad.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Hardcase #13 (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 $11.
Overall, Hardcase #13 (1994) is highly 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
COVID-19 Crisis: Checkpoints installed in Muntinlupa City boundaries, City Government limits physical transactions
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi convenes the city’s Barangay Chairmen and members of Muntinlupa City Council on Tuesday to discuss MECQ guidelines and amendments with local ordinance to respond to the change of community quarantine status. Fresnedi orders local execs to implement stricter quarantine measures in the communities in a bid to curb COVID-19 in the city. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
The Muntinlupa City Police Station has installed checkpoints in city boundaries while the local government has limited its physical transactions as Metro Manila shifts back to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine starting August 4.
Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said Muntinlupa Police has installed checkpoints in city boundaries while quarantine passes will be required again to limit movement.
Navarro noted that old quarantine passes are still valid and can be used by residents in checkpoints while the City Council is yet to convene for the final quarantine guidelines. Those who will travel to work can still use their company identification cards or certificate of employment in checkpoints.
Checkpoints in Muntinlupa City are situated in Tunasan, Muntinlupa – San Pedro, Laguna, Susana Heights SLEX Toll, and Filinvest Alabang. The local police shall also put checkpoints in barangay boundaries to restrict non-essential inter-zonal travel.
At the Muntinlupa-San Pedro Laguna check point. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)At Susana Heights SLEX toll area. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
The Muntinlupa City Council will hold a Special Session on Wednesday to discuss amendments on the implementation of curfew hours, reinstatement of liquor ban, issuance of quarantine passes, and mandatory use of face mask.
Some offices in the City Government have also imposed limited physical operations starting August 4. The Muntinlupa Public Employment Service Office temporarily suspended processing of applications from walk-in applicants. PESO announced that it will only cater online requests for referral to companies and will continue to post job vacancies in their Facebook Page.
Muntinlupa Scholarship Program has also suspended its Drop Box applications following the placement of Metro Manila back to MECQ. MSP will only accept email applications during the period.
Taxpayers in the city can also process their transaction online. Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office and Muntinlupa City Assessor’s Office have announced electronic transactions for the processing of request for quarterly local business tax assessment, real property tax order of payment, copy of Assessor’s certification, among others, to limit physical transactions.
Meanwhile, the City Government will continue to enforce market schedule regulating the operations of Alabang Public Market. The implementation of the market schedule aims to limit interactions in public places which are hot spots for the transmission of COVID-19.
District 1 and non-Muntinlupa residents are scheduled on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. While District 2 residents can buy groceries in Alabang Public Market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Monday is designated for disinfection and sanitation of stalls and other areas of the market.
Further, tricycles will be allowed to operate in Muntinlupa despite restriction of public transportation during MECQ.
Tricycle drivers can only transport frontliners, workers of industries allowed to operate during MECQ, and heads of households buying essential goods. Only one passenger per tricycle will be allowed with an exemption for emergency cases with a fare of P25.00 per trip.
Minimum health protocols will still be followed including installation of transparent plastic sheet barriers, disinfection of tricycles at least twice a day, provision of alcohol-based sanitizers, and implementation of “no face mask, no ride” policy.
The odd-even scheme for tricycles will continue to be implemented where Tricycle Regulatory Unit (TRU) numbers ending in odd numbers will be allowed to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with even number can operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
To augment transportation, the City Government will continue to offer “libreng sakay” to commuters.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi continues to urge city residents to stay at home and follow health protocols such as frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, proper cough etiquette, and other precautionary measures.
As of August 3, Muntinlupa City has 1,634 confirmed cases with 803 recoveries, 756 active cases, 75 reported deaths, 705 suspect cases, and 802 probable cases.
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.
COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Rescue Unit resumes operations following one-week temporary shutdown
The Muntinlupa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MCDRRMO) announced yesterday the resumption of Muntinlupa Rescue’s operations and Emergency Medical Services following a one-week temporary shutdown.
MCDRRMO chief Erwin Alfonso confirmed that Muntinlupa Rescue resumed its full operations (on August 2) after the completion of disinfection activities and testing efforts of the emergency response unit.
On July 26, Alfonso ordered the temporary closure of the rescue unit due to three staff members to have tested positive for COVID-19 after conducting RT-PCR tests.
He noted that while MCDRRMO awaits five (5) remaining test results, Muntinlupa Rescue has enough personnel to continue with its daily operations.
During the one-week shutdown, 26 personnel of Muntinlupa Rescue were placed under quarantine and went to swabbing. Two additional staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and were isolated for treatment.
The local Rescue Unit augments the City Health Office in handling the management and transportation of suspect and confirmed cases of COVID-19. This is in addition to assisting people during disasters, accidents, and emergency cases, and taking them to hospitals.
Emergency services and transportation of patients using Muntinlupa Rescue’s ambulances were temporarily handled by Barangay Emergency Response Teams (B.E.R.T).
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi says that stricter measures and quarantine protocols will be implemented in local government offices to ensure the safety of the public. The mayor urged city residents to continue to observe health protocols such as wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
As of August 2, Muntinlupa City has 1,541 confirmed cases with 745 recoveries, 721 active cases, 75 deaths, 869 probable cases, and 775 suspect cases.
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.
Looks like Xbox will be the haven for fantasy RPG enthusiasts in the 9th console generation
A shot from the trailer of Avowed.
With the Xbox Games Showcase behind us all, it is becoming clear that Xbox as an ecosystem is turning into a haven for gamers who love playing fantasy role-playing games (fantasy RPGs).
Let me emphasize my point starting with a key development from the 3rd party support that I never anticipated, a development announced during the pre-show period prior to the Xbox Games Showcase of July 23.
While Dragon Quest XI was previously released on other game consoles since 2017, its announcement for Xbox is still highly significant not simply because the game’s Definitive Edition will come with a lot of extra stuff and fun content but mainly because it marks the first-time ever that the Dragon Quest franchise becomes part of the Xbox ecosystem.
“I’m hugely pleased to finally see DRAGON QUEST make its Xbox debut,” Horii stated.
For the bigger picture, the Dragon Quest RPG franchise is over 30-years-old. While the Final Fantasy RPG franchise is wildly popular in the West in terms of video game sales, the same cannot be said with the Dragon Quest franchise of games.
Square Enix’s decision to release Dragon Quest XI’s Definitive Edition on Xbox One, PC and the XGP service could not only help itself sell more games (both physical and digital copies) to Xbox and Windows users who understand English, but also set the foundation they need to potentially release even more Dragon Quest games in the Xbox ecosystem.
While I can only speculate on what exactly was discussed in the business negotiations between Microsoft’s Xbox team and Square Enix (note: Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed visiting Japan to meet game creators and publishers there), in my view Microsoft tried hard to earn the trust and support of Japanese game creators/publishers to add variety of games for Xbox/PC users. The debut of the Dragon Quest series on Xbox is most likely the result of that.
When it comes to fantasy RPGs, Dragon Quest itself is highly significant given its commercial history and cultural impact with Japanese gamers. If the Definitive Edition of Dragon Quest XI (which is now up for pre-order) sells enough with Xbox gamers, it may lead to even more DQ games released in the future.
Next reason why Xbox as an ecosystem will be the haven for gamers who love fantasy RPG is because of the confirmed revival of Microsoft’s very own Fable RPG franchise being developed by a team within Playground Games (Forza Horizon series) for Xbox Series X and Windows 10 PC.
To put things in perspective, Fable is composed of three main fantasy RPGs developed by Lionhead Studios for the original Xbox and Xbox 360. While the main games (Fable, Fable II and Fable III) were flawed respectively, they resulted mostly positive reviews from the critics and many millions in game sales. Since after Fable III, however, the series went downhill in terms of quality and reception. Not only was Fable Legends canceled, Lionhead Studios itself closed down.
The trailer that end the Xbox Games Showcase of July 23 confirmed that it was indeed true that Fable as a franchise was being revived with the Forza Horizon studio doing the hard work.
Now there were concerns raised by gamers about Playground Games’ ability to not only make the new Fable game but how it will live up to the legacy and the factors that defined the game franchise.
Pay close attention to what Xbox executive Matt Booty said in an article by The Guardian related to Fable: “I just look at what Playground has done with the Horizon series – that attention to detail, the ability to represent these naturalistic landscapes. They also have a real passion for the IP and a unique point of view on what’s core to Fable. Everything I’ve seen as the game progresses tells me this is going to be a very high-quality release.”
In addition, the upcoming new Fable game will NOT be an MMO (massively multiplayer online) game but an action-oriented RPG with the single-player experience in mind. Having finished Fable and Fable III myself, this is great news and anyone looking for compelling single-player campaigns in the fantasy RPG genre can be confident with the new Fable game.
For those of you who never played any Fable game before, below is a retro review of Fable III for your viewing pleasure.
Of course, how exactly Playground will craft the new game and decide what kind of features it will have, and how it will balance between old features and new features for gameplay remains a mystery. Still there is hope that it will be high quality product since the Forza Horizon developer have people who previously worked on big projects that have nothing to do with racing games. Listen to the excerpt in Dealer Gaming’s video below.
“With any kind of franchise like that, where you’ve had existing versions, there’s always that balance between what you’re going to bring forward, what still stands up, and what you want to add that’s new,” he says. “It’s like the challenge of making a new Star Wars movie – there’s stuff that everyone wants you to bring along, but then you’ve got a responsibility to take that to new places and I trust Playground has a good vision for that,” Booty added in The Guardian.
If the new Fable game turns out great, it should inspire other game developers to make more action-oriented fantasy RPGs for the next-generation Xbox Series X.
Finally, the other factor as to why the future is bright for fantasy RPG enjoyment on the Xbox ecosystem is Avowed, the ambitious new first-person fantasy RPG developed by RPG specialists Obsidian Entertainment for Xbox Series X and Windows 10 PC.
Beyond the trailer, here are some details. The game is set in the world of Eora which itself is part of Obsidian’s established Pillars of Eternity games franchise. In terms of gameplay, not much has been revealed but the trailer suggests first-person movement and action will be the core way of playing which is fine by me since I played Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Potentially, Avowed will feature exploration of a large fantasy world laced with mysterious creatures, magic, varied locations and eventually varied quests to take part in. There is no release date yet although it is speculated it will be released in 2022. As it is being made for Xbox Series X, gamers sticking with their aging Xbox One consoles should upgrade if they really want Avowed.
Having enjoyed The Outer Worlds (a sci-fi, first-person shooting RPG) so much on my Xbox One, I really believe Microsoft made the right move on acquiring Obsidian and providing them the resources and time to make something that will be enjoyable and engaging. I also believe that from a business point of view, the Xbox executives know there is a huge group of gamers/consumers who are willing to spend good money on big budget, content-heavy, deep exploration fantasy RPGs like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I am confident Team Xbox knows their history that a great majority of the 3.4 million copies of Skyrim sold within the first two days of release in 2011 were on Xbox 360 (more than double what was on PS3).
As such, by now the Xbox executives should believe that making similar ambitious games like Skyrim makes great business sense and Avowed being made for Xbox Series X alone adds great value to the Xbox brand and ecosystem.
With Microsoft heavily investing in Avowed, this should attract the attention of other game publishers/developers who have vested interests in making fun, lengthy single-player RPGs to make such games on Xbox Series X.
Conclusion
With the new Fable, Avowed and the Definitive Edition of Dragon Quest XI coming in the foreseeable future, the Xbox as an ecosystem will be the hot spot for gamers who love fantasy RPGs. Apart from those future RPGs, there are already several Final Fantasy RPGs already available on Xbox not to mention the past Fable games and past RPGs developed by Obsidian such as Dungeon Siege III, Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II.
Be confident, gamers! Xbox’s appeal to gamers will no longer be limited to Halo, Forza and Gears of War. Microsoft’s two fantasy RPG franchises will break the mold and raise the level of enjoyment and engagement for Xbox fans and new gamers. Do not forget that there are other Xbox game studios that have yet to reveal their upcoming exclusive games on Xbox Series X. Who knows? There could be even more fantasy RPGs coming from those studios! What else? If the 3rd party game developers and publishers are watching the rise of prominence of Xbox in the 9th console generation, they may go ahead in bringing even more video games to Xbox Series X!
In ending this, posted below is Colteastwood’s newest video about the next big Xbox digital event…
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
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 fellow comic book geeks! Remember before that I reviewed X-Men #1 of 1991 drawn by the great Jim Lee? That was over a year ago and so far, that is my only retro review of a dominant Jim Lee-drawn comic book.
Instead of reviewing another X-Men comic book drawn by Lee or any of the illustrator’s other works, I’ve decided to focus on the 1990s particularly on Image Comics. Back in those days, Lee was one of the main figures of Image and through that company he turned his dream projects into published comic books. When Image Comics launched in 1992, Jim Lee launched his superhero team project titled WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams and issue #1 of that sold a lot. Eventually WildC.A.T.S. finished as a 4-issue mini-series.
Along with WildC.A.T.S were other projects launched under Lee and his company WildStorm (previously referred to as Aegis Entertainment) such as Stormwatch and Gen13.
Then in 1993, Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Brandon Choi worked again to produce even more WildC.A.T.S comic books for fans to enjoy and keep business at WildStorm moving. The result was the release of WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #5 which symbolically marked the start of a new regular series without starting with a new issue #1. Here’s an excerpt of Jim Lee’s explanation printed inside the said comic book:
I’m baaack!!! But rather than starting over with a new first issue, I decided to just “extend” the WildCATs miniseries into a regular series. Why? Well, I did it mostly for psychological reasons as first issues are always the most difficult ones to tell and draw. You have to get the readers to accept and understand a whole legion of new concepts and characters—characters which you’re illustrating often for the very first time. And as ant professional in the business can tell you, it takes a while for an artist to get the hang of certain characters-the way they movie, the way they talk, the way they reaction to different situations. And U’ve found that I haven’t really “connected” with any new characters until I’ve had four or five issues worth under my belt. ~Jim Lee
That being said, here is a look back at WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #5 published in 1993 by Image Comics with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, and with art drawn by Lee and inked by Scott Williams.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with WildC.A.T.S members Grifter and Zealot gliding quietly approaching a secret base. Following Grifter’s lead to go into action, Zealot joins him to crash through the glass window and take out the perceived enemy troops called the hunter killers shooting and assaulting them. It turns the two are in search for something and they have their other teammates ready to come in to provide back-up.
Even though they tried to sneak around the place quietly, mechanical enemy reinforcements spotted them and chased them. As a metallic door shuts and separates the two, Grifter successfully got through the armed defense system and finds himself at the vault. After informing his other teammates of his new location, Grifter opens the vault revealing something very captivating with regards to the Daemonites’ secret operations…
Quality
The team and the villain.
Visually, this is one great looking comic book filled with lots of dynamism and flare provided by Jim Lee and Scott Williams. Each and every character looks great and come with a good amount of visual details on them. Also I love the futuristic technology look that dominated most of the scenes. When it comes to spectacle, this one is loaded and Jim Lee’s presentation of adulterated action and stunts is undeniably fantastic. I should also state that the colors are very vibrant thanks to Joe Chiodo.
Great action drawn by Jim Lee.
When it comes to storytelling, however, this one lacks depth. In terms of plotting, it’s pretty basic and goes like this: two heroes infiltrate the base of an enemy, they get discovered and more enemy troops come in, the top villains come in followed by the rest of the heroes’ teammates. As the focus here was more on spectacle and suspense, there was definitely no room left for character development. There is a subplot here worth mentioning and it serves as a link leading to the eventual Killer Instinct crossover with Marc Silvestri’s Cyberforce.
Conclusion
Great visuals and action here but not much in terms of storytelling.
I should say that WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams #5is pretty tricky to recommend to all comic book geeks and superhero enthusiasts. I can easily recommend it to die-hard fans of Jim Lee, the die-hard fans of WildC.A.T.S, as well as those who love Image Comic books from the 1990s. If you are looking for a short bout of fun with action in mind, this comic book will serve you. If you are the kind of reader who wants deep storytelling and solid character development, this one will fall short.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams #5 (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $4.
Overall, WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams #5 (1993)is satisfactory. It’s a great looking comic book (with gate-fold pages) that does not have much to fulfill readers looking for the solid combination of art, storytelling, characterization and entertainment.
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 Carrascoand follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – August 3, 2020 (News Videos included)
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.
To start with, watch first these news videos provided by the City Police Department.
Now here are the latest photo releases…
On July 31, 2020, the abovementioned personnel led by PCPT ELEAZAR B CAMILING C, SIDMS thru the SCADS Office led by PEMS Michael S Holanda, PNCOIC under the supervision of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC conducted PNP GOOD DEEDS/ONLINE DALAW to the Persons Deprive of Liberty (PDL) held at the said venue. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 30, 2020, PCOL RODEL A PASTOR OIC together with abovenamed personnel led the Distribution of Facemasks in line with the observance of the 25th PCR Month Celebrarion with theme: Pinagigting na Ugnayan ng Mamamayan at Pulisya Laban sa COVID-19 Pandemya at the said venue. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 30, 2020, PMAJ JOEL P GOMEZ, SS-2 Commander under the supervision of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station inspected above-named Mobile Personnel standby at the above-said place. Likewise, reiterated the strict implementation of City Ordinances and health protocols under General Community Quarantine to include intensified campaign against criminality and illegal activity. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 30, 2020, elements of LCPS with personnel of Sub Station 4 Utilizing MC 111 under the supervision or PMAJ LEO GLENN CALABIO,SS4 Commander,and under the leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station conducted,UGNAYAN together with B/T Aguilar and two (2) barangay tanod likewise strictly implemented social distancing and mandatory wearing of face mask and remind health protocols to the public to include the presence of police in the area as part of visibility patrol. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)
The above information and images were provided by the Las Piñas City Police Station for the purpose of public information and transparency. 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 distorted views, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
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! If you are looking for something new with my retro reviews of Ultraverse comic books, then you will get it now as I’ve decided to go back to the Prime monthly series for the first time in over thirty days since my last Prime review.
That being said, here is my look back at Prime #5, published in 1993 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and drawn by the late Norm Breyfogle.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with an unbelievable yet living cartoon character called Maxi-Man about to strike a young and helpless Kevin (Prime actually) claiming to be doing it for the majesty of Boneyard (a villain of Mantra’s). Fortunately, Kevin got saved by Kelly who pulled him away from Maxi-Man’s deadly strike.
With the local community already in chaos due to Maxi-Man’s rampage, Kevin and Kelly ran to the nearby city park only to be stopped by the him. With her ankle hurt, Kelly could not move from her downed position and tells Kevin to run.
Kevin struggles with the tension building up as Maxi-Man makes his way to Kelly…
Quality
Heavily action-packed, smart, intriguing and engaging this comic book truly is! Let me start with the storytelling here. Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones crafted a great story that not only followed Prime’s exploits but also fleshed out his personality a lot with an emphasis on his civilian life as teenager Kevin who happens to be dealing with the pressure of living a double-life (as an unstable superhero and as a high school student). He pursues to be with Kelly but suddenly finds themselves in trouble with the unexpected presence of Maxi-Man, an in-story cartoon character Kevin admired so much as a child. This not only added to Kevin’s struggle with stress but also complicates his mind. By focusing closely on Kevin, you will feel his struggle a lot.
When it comes to the spectacle, Norm Breyfogle perfectly brought the script to life and ramped up the excitement a whole lot with his illustrations. The visual highlight is the big battle between Prime and Maxi-Man, and even though the fighting is extensive, it never feels dumb nor brainless due to the smart dialogue provided by the writers (note: observe closely the exchange of words Prime and Maxi-Man had with each other). Breyfogle clearly paced the action sequences smoothly and he chose the right moments to draw the action dynamically.
Speaking of dialogue, I love the following line Prime said during the fight with Maxi-Man…
“I’m what you’re supposed to be! I’m a hero! I grew up on your cartoons! I learned about heroism from you! About fighting for what’s right! I don’t know how you got to be real, or why you’re trying to kill us—but I’m gonna show you what you taught me!”
Back to the writing, there is a sub-plot that took place during the big battle. That one added a good amount of mystery and intrigue not only into the story but also to the Ultraverse itself.
Conclusion
Kevin (Prime), Kelly and Maxi-Man.
What can I say? Prime #5 is a great read! Personally, when it comes to Prime’s encounters, I found this one to be much more engaging, more fun and more intriguing than even Prime’s encounter with Prototype in the previous issue (which is supposed to be an essential encounter between the Ultraverse’s main superheroes). The way I look at this comic book’s quality, the creators actually over-did themselves to deliver superhero greatness.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Prime #5 (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 $8.
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
New Police Chief for Muntinlupa City Appointed by PNP
Philippine National Police (PNP) Southern Police District director PBGen. Emmanuel Peralta paid a courtesy call to Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi last July 30 to formally introduce PCOL Allan Nobleza as the newly appointed OIC of Muntinlupa Police. Nobleza, who has also served as the Muntinlupa Chief of Police years back, said he will continue to enforce peace and order in the city amid challenges of the pandemic. Peralta also extended his gratitude to Mayor Fresnedi for the local government’s continuing support to PNP. Also present during the meeting was City Administrator Engr. Allan Cachuela. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
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.
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.
At long last, the twelfth issue of the Hardcase monthly series (note: the series lasted a total of 26 issues) of the Ultraverse is finally here. Since the opening page of issue #1, Hardcase has been very engaging, enjoyable and intriguing to read complete with very deep character development as written by the late James Hudnall. In comparison with superhero comics in general, Hardcase itself is pretty unique (a superhero team member who ends up the only walking survivor who gets into Hollywood before returning to doing superhero acts) even by today’s standards.
As the series went on, Hardcase got involved with Choice initially solving mysteries and finding answers. It was only recently they got involved romantically, which hurt Hardcase’s other girl Linda (the other survivor from The Squad). Along the way, Hardcase and Choice got involved with The Strangers and The Solution in memorable crossovers.
Now the stage is set! We will find out if the first full year of the Hardcase series will be completed with impact or not with this look back at Hardcase #12, published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by James Hudnall and drawn by Scott Benefiel.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the night in the desolate land, just a few miles away from the secret base of Aladdin. Hardcase and Choice were together resting when suddenly Headknocker and Hardwire arrive to attack them. As Hardcase and Headknocker start their rematch (note: they first fought in issue #1), Hardwire goes after Choice.
Even though he knows Hardknocker is tough, the Hollywood superhero makes his move to take on Hardwire and help Choice.
Meanwhile over at Groom Lake Control Center, two men in suits look at the images and details of Hardknocker and Hardwire on oversized screens. As they analyze the situation happening outside their facility, they argue over the possible release and use of the other undesirable ultras they captured…
Quality
Choice and Hardwire meet again.
There is no doubt that this is a very high-quality comic book with a very strong script that mixes spectacle with character development, secret society intrigue, mystery and some drama. The storytelling itself was successful thanks to Hudnall.
The story started strongly with action scenes with some build-up of suspense and mystery emphasized when the narrative switches to another scene at a different location. While there is a notable twist in the comic book, it is the ending that really shook things up so much, it made me go back to issue #1 and other references to The Squad. This is great writing done by James Hudnall and he knew how to shake the foundation of the series.
When it comes to the art, Scott Benefiel work here is great and the best one yet within the first year of the series. I love the way he draws facial expressions that really show emotions or intensity and he knows how the pace the flow of events (and still manage to draw dynamic action shots).
Conclusion
Headknocker and Hardcase.
Hardcase #12 is a great read and it certainly is not the typical good-versus-evil type of superhero story. As the conclusion of the first year of the Hardcase series of the 1990s, this one really defined the title character’s place in the Ultraverse as Hudnall shook the foundation of the series in a very memorable way. The ending of the comic book is truly powerful and it should be seen. It is easily one of the most notable endings of any Ultraverse comic book.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Hardcase #12 (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 $11.
Overall, Hardcase #12 (1994) is highly recommended!
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Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – July 29, 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.
On July 28, 2020, elements of LCPS with personnel of Sub Station 1 under the supervision or PMAJ JOYLENE A BULAN ,SS1 Commander, and under the leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station together with Brgy Capt Cesar Rubio conducted Conduct Ugnayan/Dialogue, Police Visibility and Implementation of Mandatory Wearing of Face Mask and strictly implemented social distancing remind health protocols to the public to include the presence of police in the area as part of visibility patrol. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 28, 2020, elements of Sub-Station 1 under the supervsion of PMAJ JOYLENE A BULAN, SS1 Commander, and under the leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station, performed PNP Good Deed through “giving food” for Las Piñas residents of Las Piñas City. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 28, 2020, above-name SS-2 personnel under the supervision of PMAJ JOEL P GOMEZ, SS-2 Commander through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station conducted Conference and Briefing/PICE with SS-2 Group C personnel held at the above-said place. Likewise, disseminated COP Guidance in line with PNP Internal Cleansing Policy. Thus, personnel were advised to strictly adhere with said guidance. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)On July 28, 2020, elements of LCPS with personnel of Sub Station 3 under the direct supervision of PMAJ ALBERT DT AREVALO, Sub-Station 3 Commander through PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, OIC of Las Piñas City Police Station conducted Establishment Visitation and strict implementation of Social Distancing. Likewise conducted Distribution of IEC Materials/ Flyers Re: Safety Precautionary measures against Corona Virus Disease ( COVOD-19) in relation to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) as reminder to the health protocols to the public to include the presence of police in the area as part of visibility patrol. (source – Las Piñas City Police Station)
The above information and images were provided by the Las Piñas City Police Station for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.
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Author Carlo Carrasco 