Skyway Extension Project completion delayed to early 2021 due to accident in Muntinlupa

Were you among the many who got caught in slow-moving, heavy traffic along the northbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) heading towards Muntinlupa this past Saturday? On the morning of November 21, a tragic accident happened that effectively delayed the completion of the Skyway Extension Project from December 2020 to February 2021.

According to a PTV News report, a steel girder from the Skyway Extension Project fell down at the East Service Road in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, which was caused by the crane (of project contractor EEI Corporation) that fell on its side as it moved to its next position. According to a Manila Bulletin report, the steel girder fell on several vehicles causing the death of motorcyclist Edison Visaga Paquibot and injuring others.

A view of the tripped crane. (photo source – Muntinlupa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)

The local police stated that the vehicles that got damaged by the steel girder include a Mitsubishi Adventure, a Toyota Vios taxis, a Hyundai H100, a Suzuki Raider motorcycle, a Yamaha Mio motorcycle and a Honda Beat motorcycle. The casualties were rushed to different hospitals for emergency treatment. Unsurprisingly, traffic along the East Service Road had to be closed off temporarily which complicated the flow of traffic.

Today, as published through the Facebook page of the City Government of Muntinlupa, San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon S. Ang issued a personal apology and assured victims of the mishap that they will receive help. The published apology reads as follows:

Following the freak accident at the Skyway Extension project site in Cupang, Muntinlupa  over the weekend, the head of concession holder San Miguel Corporation (SMC) issued an apology to the victims and assured them  that the company would make sure all their needs would be taken care of, and more.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said that even while project contractor EEI Corporation was the one handling the construction of the project, as project proponent, SMC has a responsibility to take care of the victims.

“Even with a contractor handling construction, ultimately, we are responsible for the welfare of those who were affected. I would like to personally apologize to the victims and their families, as well as to our larger community in Muntinlupa,” Ang said.

The accident, reported to have been caused by a crane that tipped over as it moved into position, which then hit a steel girder causing it to fall on six vehicles, resulted in one fatality and four injuries.

“This terrible and tragic accident has affected me in ways I can’t even begin to express. I have not stopped thinking about the people who were affected, the four that were injured and most especially, the person who perished, and his family. There are no words that can ease the grief of losing a loved one,” Ang said.

“To the family, I can only offer my sincerest and deepest condolences, and my personal assurance that your family will be taken care of. To those who were injured, please be assured we will provide all the means necessary for you to recover and restart,” he added.

Ang also vowed that the incident will be investigated thoroughly, and that SMC and its contractor EEI will make sure even stricter measures are in place at the project site.

“In a project of this magnitude and scale, there are many redundant safety measures in place.  Unfortunately, we can’t predict every outcome, and I’m sure no one wanted this to happen,” Ang said.

“Regardless, we are working with authorities to determine the root cause of this incident. We will find out where lapses occurred and do whatever is necessary to help make sure they don’t happen again.”

Source: SMC Media Affairs

One of the many vehicles that got damaged badly by the fallen steel girder. (photo source – Muntinlupa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)

For its part, contractor EEI management made assurances that they will take care of all the needs of those who were affected.

At this point of time, motorists who planned to travel north via the Skyway Extension Project will either have to wait until February 2021 or adjust their travel plans.

Come back here for the next update about the Skyway.

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A Look Back at Mantra #4 (1993)

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 Ultraverse fans, geeks and fellow comic book collectors! If you want to discover more of the fantasy elements within the Ultraverse through Mantra – the pretty sorceress whose body is occupied by the soul of a male warrior named Lukasz – then you are in for something rather different.

To put things in perspective, the fantasy-swords-magic concept was made clear in Mantra #1 and that Lukasz and his band of warriors (led by an elder sorcerer) as well as their enemies (led by Boneyard) were definitely from another world. That other world will be explored at last in this look back at Mantra , published in 1993 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Robb Phipps.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the world of Boneyard, at his castle specifically. Down on her knees, Mantra is just in front of the villain Boneyard who says, “So this is Archimage’s last, best hope. Just a woman!!”

Boneyard tells Mantra not to rise nor move. As he does not yet know that Lukasz is inside Mantra’s body, Boneyard welcomes her and states that it is his right to choose any woman in his kingdom as his bride. In reaction to being selected as Boneyard’s newest mate with a purpose to potentially give birth to his children, Mantra strikes him with an energy blast symbolically rejecting him.

Boneyard then says, “Enough. I tolerate this dissent because your body carries much potential for magic, woman. It is only your body that saves you from death. Your bewildering loyalty to my defeated brother, Archimage, would ordinarily be enough to condemn you. Your genes, combined with mine will yield children to whom magic comes as easily as taking breath.”

As the villain talks, Mantra notices the sword pointed at her was the same one used to kill her when she was man (as Lukasz). She then makes moves to get Boneyard off-balanced and try to leave the castle…

Quality

Mantra visits the tavern in the kingdom controlled by Boneyard.

I’ll start with the writing. What Mike W. Barr did here successfully was raising the stakes for Mantra which involves the drastic change of location and setting from the modern society of Earth into the fantasy realm where Boneyard and his army are based in. The mentioned change literally opened new opportunities to develop Mantra’s personality while at the same time offered readers a lot of new things and places for their exploration.

With the all-new setting, lots of fantasy genre tropes are present. There is the ever-present tavern filled with lots of people that include humans and non-human beings that go beyond dwarves and elves. There is also the slave auction of both men and women standing almost nakedly in front of the bidders. There also were people wearing capes, hoods, swords, spears and armor which Mantra smoothly blends in with.

Along the way, there is a lot spectacle here mainly acts of magic alternated with hard action moves. The way the spectacle is presented fits in excellently with the fantasy setting and I should state that Robb Phipps did a very solid job visualizing such elements while succeeding in making Mantra, Boneyard, Archimage and Warstrike look recognizable.

Back to the writing, Mike W. Barr prepared a lot of details in the story that explained Boneyard’s nature and even his status as the husband of multiple wives. This comic book also reveals that Boneyard is likely bisexual since, apart from being married to multiple women, he kissed Mantra and lusts for her even AFTER he learned that Lukasz is occupying the woman’s body. His intention to marry Mantra symbolizes homosexuality as well. To put things in perspective, this makes Boneyard very guilty of sexual immorality on top of his wickedness. Refer to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (sexual immorality and homosexuality), Galatians 5:19-21 (sorcery and sexual immorality) and Deuteronomy 17:17 (polygamy) in the Holy Bible.

Conclusion

Boneyard’s intention to marry Mantra (whose body is occupied by the soul of the male eternal warrior Lukasz) and impregnate her to produce his children is disgusting, even more so when the villain knows Lukasz is in Mantra.

To say the least, Mantra (1993) is entertaining enough mainly due to its fantasy setting and exposing key elements about the rivalry between Archimage and Boneyard. This was a daring and refreshing change of pace for Mantra series since the first three issues already emphasized Lukasz’s struggles on living in the body of Eden Blake (note: reincarnation is false and goes against the Holy Bible, read Hebrews 9:27 and Psalm 78:39 for insight) and living with her family as Eden’s soul was pushed into limbo. More notably, this issue shows more of how evil and wicked Boneyard is not simply because of his leading his army of evildoers but also because of his evil-filled nature. By comparison, Lukasz/Mantra is the lesser evil to Boneyard under the pretense of good-versus-evil in the story (which itself concluded in a predictable and underwhelming fashion).

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Mantra (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of comic book costs $8.

Overall, Mantra (1993) is satisfactory.

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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

Christian Habits (Part 2)

Welcome back, my fellow faithful Christians. We are about to have another series of biblical lessons now. Today, I am about to continue the topic of the Christian habits we need to develop so that each of us can remain strong in faith with the Lord, be guided accordingly and keep on moving in the same path with God. Christian habits are necessary for us because they will keep us strong, protected and victorious under God who is watching us.

Previously, the Christian habits discussed were as follows: Prioritizing God and His Word, building up your faith, and speaking the Word of God. All the details for each of these habits are available for your reading in the past article published October 28, 2020.

With the recap done, we can now proceed on the next Christian habit.

Christian Habit – Control your thought life

Remember when you were told to guard your mind and control what you think about? Such important are lessons are very true for us Christians but the difference is that the stakes are much higher because we are children of God and we have responsibilities to live up to.

The stakes are higher not because there are so many bad elements and distractions all around us. It is because Satan is persistent to ruin us through our thoughts by using deception on us and exploiting our human weaknesses. Although the stakes are higher, it certainly is not impossible for us to get edified with God’s Word and live with totally solid faith in the Lord which includes controlling our thought lives. As Christians, we don’t just control what we think about, we also focus on the Lord, remember the victory of Lord Jesus and live with it. To learn more, let’s look at the holy scripture below…

“This Book of Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

The above scripture emphasizes that meditating on God’s Word is essential and that includes learning all the holy lessons and implementing them on your daily life. That being said, dedication and uncompromised focus on God’s Word will help you guard your thoughts no matter what happens around. Satan can try to bring you down by tempting you with riches or sex, or he can try to spark your anger to spread negativity around, or mess with your dreams with wicked visions, or manipulate you to worship idols which is a very unholy thing to do. The enemy will also try to deceive you into believing that prosperity from God is false, poverty is good and money is inherently evil. Satan will attack you with thoughts to prevent you from realizing the good life from the Lord and prevent you from getting planted in a local church chosen by God for you. Do not be surprised that the enemy will try to make you think about embracing Leftism, Communism, socialism, Marxism, homosexuality, atheism, abortion, religion, idolatry, traditions, rituals, secularism and other forms of evil just to set you apart from God. I should state that Satan loves to use worldly beings like fake news makers, Leftist activists and politicians, anarchists, terrorists, secularists, abusive publishers, irresponsible journalists, idolaters, atheists, religion-led hierarchies and wicked people to bring down Christians and keep misleading the many unsaved and lost souls to cause chaos.

That being said, do not despair because with God, you will be protected, get guided and be built up to be a very strong and uncompromising Christian. With the Lord, nothing is impossible! By having unwavering faith and living with God’s Word, your thoughts can be protected and, more notably, you can resist and reject Satan. Once you are edified, you can defeat Satan and make him walk away the loser he has always been.

Meditating with the words of the Lord can help you strengthen your soul and build up the defense of your mind. Remember always that thoughts really affect the words you speak, your physical and mental health, your joy and peace. Meditation will help you get rid of the negativity in your mind, and it also helps you to always open your heart to the Lord and have fellowship with him wholeheartedly. Now we can go to the next scripture…

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV)

The key word above is obedience as it signifies attentive hearing, to listen with compliant submission, assent and agreement. Obedience is essential for you to obey the commands of God and being obedient to Lord Jesus. With regards to controlling your thought life, healing will happen when you renew your mind with God. His Word is required and you need to believe in it to receive divine healing from Him.

Along the way, you must control your thoughts to strongly focus and believe in God. Declare God’s Word by speaking from your heart. Back to your mind, never let your thoughts be unanswered. If there are any thoughts that bother you because they go against God’s Word, answer them by standing up with Him. This also means avoiding focusing on negativity and anything that Satan attacks you with. Don’t let your guard down, be very strong and vigilant with your faith in God. Always focus on Him.

Christian Habit – Anchor your heart through praise

Praise is to commend, to praise, to adore and to glorify. For us Christians, we praise only God the Heavenly Father, His Son Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. By praising, we as God’s creations and children should also do it by heart (wholeheartedly). There is joy in fellowship with the Lord as seen in the holy scripture below…

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 63:1-4 (NKJV)

As I learned from a local pastor who is totally edified under the Lord, praising is the highest form of prayer. Praise is also a language of faith. Singing is one way of praising our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit. In Hillsong Worship’s song King of Kings, there are notable lyrics emphasizing praise that go as follows: Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, Three in one.

More on praise, learn from the following holy scripture below…

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)

The above scripture is about the singing of praise is to be continual. Praise in the scripture refers to a hymn of praise or the singing spontaneous praise to God (refer to Psalm 40:3). You sing and make melody in your heart to Him. With a heart filled with praise, it will find expression in songs and words being spoken and really overflowing from our mouths.

More on anchoring our hearts through praise, learn from what Lord Jesus said in the holy scripture below…

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you praise, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them.”

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

Through hyperbole, Lord Jesus stressed how essential and truly powerful faith is. This also involves our hearts. No matter how great or how disastrous your situation is right now, keep on being very faithful to Him, keep on praising Him and never back down! Being a strong Christian also means being fluent with praise, and you must remember this permanently. Here’s another holy scripture to learn from…

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-6 (NKJV)

As seen in the above scripture, praising the Lord is essential! God is truly merciful and forgives us. God is loving and caring for us – His children and creations – He saves us and heals us inside out upon submitting to Him and getting born again. After all of these holy teachings, it is clear that you must make a habit of anchoring your heart through praise!

Christian Habit – Praying in the spirit

Praying in the spirit is essential. Let’s start with the holy scripture below…

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 1:20 (NKJV)

Praying in the holy spirit is vital for spiritual growth. Such praying includes praying in tongues (note: for deeper understanding read Chapters 1 to 10 of the Book of Acts, plus 1 Corinthians 14:4 and verse 14) which truly helps in building yourself up spiritually. Praying in tongues, which I included in my faith article about being in the privacy of your room for fellowship with God, is the doorway to the supernatural, and it allows you to go above the natural. Praying in tongues clears up the path ahead of you and help lead you to wisdom, revelation and encouragement. By praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit will move and fulfill God’s will for you. The truth is undeniable as you can see in the following holy scriptures below (note: key phrases in bold for emphasis)…

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophecies edifies the church.

1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV)

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NKJV)

Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:11 (NKJV)

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV)

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.

1 Corinthians 2:7 (NKJV)

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”, Yet they would not hear.

Isaiah 28:11-12 (NKJV)

The above scriptures are all related and connected. Praying in tongues is indeed praying in the spirit and the Holy Bible explains why we use a language (note: praying in tongues is done by using random syllables) others cannot understand but we are assured God hears us and understands us correctly. That being said, we should not ignore the signs of communication to us by the Holy Spirit. We should follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and you can learn from this scripture below…

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

Christian Habit – Get rid of baggage

In this topic, baggage refers not to physical baggage but varied elements that set you back emotionally and spiritually. I’m talking about human factors influenced by this screwed-up world filled by many, many unsaved and lost souls. The types of baggage that set people back include unforgiveness, fear, anxiety, stress, sin, jealousy, unbelief, homosexuality, lust, envy, idolatry, pride, dishonesty and worry. I assure you that NONE of them should be part of your Christianity as all of them are not only human and worldly, but are also tools of Satan to set Christians back and separate them from God.

That being said, always remember that Lord Jesus paid the price to redeem us all so that we live on with His victory. As God’s children who got born again, we must always be very strong, edified, fearless, compassionate, loving, caring and aggressive members of the Body of Christ! You have problems, come to the Lord directly! You can get rid of baggage by learning from Lord Jesus in the holy scriptures below plus the scripture about the armor of God…

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 14:1 (NKJV)

Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.

John 14:1 (TPT)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:26-27 (NKJV)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6: 11-13 (NKJV)

We Christians all have a race of faith to complete. In sports terms, foot-based racing involves generating a lot of speed and maintaining stamina to ensure you finish the race. In the sport of triathlon, you need to have speed, stamina, strength and carrying no heavy weight (baggage) to ensure you complete the swim, bike and run stages that the event is composed of. Going back to Christianity, baggage that set you back with your faith in God should absolutely be removed pronto and without hesitation! Your race in faith is essential! Learn from this final scripture below in the New King James Version and the Passion Translation with key parts in bold for emphasis…

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race[d with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.

We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (TPT)

So there you have it! This completes my current two-part teaching about Christian habits each of us must do as we live by God’s Word (the Holy Bible) and continue to pursue the Lord for holiness, enlightenment and guidance. We are truly the Body of Christ. Right now, the seven Christian habits discussed as a whole set are: Prioritizing God and His Word, building up your faith, speaking the Word of God, control your thought life, anchor your heart through praise, praying in the spirit, and get rid of baggage.

From this point on, I would like to reach out to the lost and the unsaved people reading this. You can save yourselves by submitting to the Lord willingly. No force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. For those who have decided to get born again now, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from our pastor.

Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:

Dear God,

I believe that Jesus is Your Son, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sins. I believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that He is alive! Right now, I call on the name of Jesus. Jesus, come into my heart. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me by the power of Your blood. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life! Help me now to follow Your plan for my life. Amen.

Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. Remember that idolatry is evil, Purgatory is a lie, penance is a deception and Satan always uses religion and unbelief to prevent people from being saved by the Lord.

With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward and the best is yet to come! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).

With your new life realized, make an effort to get yourself copy of the Holy Bible (start with New King James Version), study it and apply its lessons into your life no matter what situation you are in right now. I also recommend you to join a Christian church near you and find your place in the spiritual family.  Be planted when the Lord shows you the way! Worship the Lord together with them and always remember that faith, not religion, is essential in your personal relationship with God.

The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future. His return is what we must always remember and keep living with holiness under the watch of God.

In ending this, here are some videos of Christian worship music for you to enjoy and praise the Lord with. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! 

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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. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there. 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

My Observations: Wonder Woman 1984 is coming to BOTH movie theaters and HBO Max streaming service on Christmas Day

The news has spread like wildfire in such a short time and unsurprisingly hashtags like #WonderWoman and got really active again on social media. It has officially been announced that the much-delayed Wonder Woman 1984 (starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and Kristen Wiig) will indeed open in movie theaters in America on Christmas Day PLUS debut also via Warner Bros. own streaming service HBO Max.

Watch the confirming video below…

Already cinema chain AMC is supportive of the movie’s scheduled theatrical release.

“We hope movie lovers enjoy ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ during the holidays this year at AMC,” AMC Entertainment CEO and President Adam Aron stated.

Personally, I am surprised that Warner Bros. decided to do the simultaneous theater-and-streaming approach because the move is pretty risky in terms of doing business as well as reaching out to the many millions of fans willing to pay to watch the movie. It is a fact that a lot of movie theaters in America remain closed and families are forced to stay at home especially in states where the state governments strictly implemented lockdowns due to the COVID-19 crisis.

It is also a fact that HBO Max is not exactly massively large with its subscribers. According to a Variety report, HBO Max users grew to 8.6 million at the end of the 3rd quarter of 2020. Also reported was 28.7 million customers described to be eligible to avail of the mentioned streaming service. Combined subscribers of standalone HBO and HBO Max in the United States reached 38 million as of the end of September. When it comes to the global scale, 57 million subscribers of both HBO and the streaming service were reported. The numbers look big but there is no guarantee that 100% of standalone HBO subscribers will actually avail of HBO Max for WW84. There is also the issue of generating a lot of funds to help Warner Bros. recover their investment in making and marketing Wonder Woman 1984.

As I stated before, the best way to watch Wonder Woman 1984 is still in the movie theater for it is a fact that it is such a very big production as a whole and it has certain sequences filmed with IMAX cameras (the highest quality visuals of which will not be captured perfectly via streaming). While it is a fact that way below 100% of movie theaters worldwide are open for business, it is now high time for Wonder Woman fans, superhero movie enthusiasts and geeks to contact their local cinema operators and find out once and for all if they will screen Wonder Woman 1984. Don’t just sit down waiting for something to come to you, take action by reaching out to the movie theaters online or by the phone if you really want to watch the movie!

If there is an AMC theater near you operating (or planning to open for the Christmas holiday), you are fortunate because WW84 will be screened. If there is an IMAX cinema near you that will really play the movie, go for the movie there for the best visual experience!

While I noticed online that there are a lot of self-described Wonder Woman fans who arrogantly disregard movie theater operators only because they selfishly want WW84 to be streamed directly to them, I myself will not avail of the movie via streaming because there is a better option for home viewing that has yet to be announced…Wonder Woman 1984 on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. Personally, I don’t have anything against VOD streaming services but when it comes to enjoying movies at home with the HDTV, I prefer Blu-ray over streaming anytime! Blu-ray has undeniable advantages over streaming!

What I intend to do on watching Wonder Woman 1984 is quite simple: movie theater first followed by Blu-ray months later. Really, I’m not rushing to avail HBO Max this Christmas.

Going back to movie theaters, Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins announced via social media a program is in development to allow moviegoers, fans and other people to be able to rent their own theaters out to screen the movie with group safety in mind.

“We will try to help to bring it to as many of you as we can and thank you all for your support,” Jenkins stated via Twitter.

For its part, AMC Entertainment made moves to not only screen Wonder Woman 1984 but also ensure safety and reducing health risks. Check out the full statement of AMC CEO and President Aron below:

Movie fans across the United States, Europe and the Middle East will be excited to learn that the release of Wonder Woman 1984 this holiday season is right around the corner, and that AMC will show this eagerly awaited movie on our big screens all across our global network.

For many months, AMC has been in active and deep dialogue with Warner Brothers to figure out how best this cinematic blockbuster could be seen at AMC Theatres in these unprecedented times. Given that atypical circumstances call for atypical economic relationships between studios and theatres, and atypical windows and releasing strategies, AMC is fully onboard for Warner Brothers’ announcement today.

AMC continues to believe that exclusive theatrical releases benefit consumers, filmmakers, studios and exhibitors. Even so, we also have clearly demonstrated this year that we are flexible and remain open to evolving long-standing business models, provided that we do so in ways that improve the industry ecosystem for all players. We have instituted novel approaches with other movie studios this year. We are doing so again, this time with Warner Brothers to facilitate the specific release of this important movie.  We hope movie lovers enjoy Wonder Woman 1984 during the holidays this year at AMC.

In showcasing Wonder Woman 1984, we especially note AMC’s commitment to the safety and health of our moviegoing guests and associates at our theatres. Our comprehensive and extensive AMC Safe & Clean protocols were unveiled this summer, having been designed in consultation with current and former faculty of Harvard University’s prestigious School of Public Health and in partnership with Clorox. Our commitment to AMC Safe & Clean already has allowed us to responsibly and safely welcome literally millions of moviegoers to enjoy seeing movies at AMC Theatres.

To put things in perspective, AMC has around one thousand movie theaters and over 10,000 screens worldwide. That being said, their support to screen Wonder Woman 1984 is crucial not only for Warner Bros. and the fans but for the movie industry as a whole. Also I am confident that other cinema operators (who are already struggling financially and have been trying to retain their employees) are observing and may decide soon to follow AMC’s move. The more movie screens for Wonder Woman 1984, the better!

In ending this piece, here are some Wonder Woman-related videos for your enjoyment. Also check out my retro reviews of the George Perez-drawn Wonder Woman comic books such as issue #1 and issue #9 (required reading as it includes Cheetah). Check out also my review of the 2017 movie as well as my feature of the No Man’s Land scene.

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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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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 Mantra #8 (1994)

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, Ultraverse fans and superhero comic collectors! Today, we will revisit the Mantra monthly series again and it has been almost two weeks since my last Mantra review. For the newcomers reading this, Mantra’s mortal enemy is Boneyard who got involved in the Mantra-Strangers crossover (refer to The Strangers #13 and Mantra #12).

Before those mentioned stories took place, something else happened involving Boneyard. That is what we will find out in this look back at Mantra , published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by John Statema (who was involved in UltraForce #2).

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in an unknown location with Boneyard who commands Notch to speak as his patience dwindles. Notch states that he has devised a plane to capture the ever elusive Mantra (male warrior Lukasz occupying the body of Eden Blake) involving a betrayal by a friend. Notch requests for a few troops and the custody of the creature in cell 13. Boneyard reacts by saying that if Notch succeeds, he will have Mantra after she has borne an offspring for him )Boneyard). Failure would mean Notch will become occupant of cell 14.

Elsewhere Warstrike (riding with a lady) drives his car fast getting away from the car of armed men chasing him. The chase ends with a crash of two cars freeing Warstrike. Some time later, Warstrike arrives home and to his surprise, Mantra is already there. He gets kissed by Mantra (emphasizing a touch of homosexuality) and asked about a change of her attitude. As it turns out, the Mantra who made sexual advances to him transforms into a grotesque creature with lots of tentacles. Warstrike then realizes it was not really Mantra at all. Eventually, the creature wraps itself all over Warstrike. Notch suddenly appears and blows a substance to him.

The next morning, Eden Blake/Mantra arrives at the office catching everyone’s attention due to her beauty and sexy outfit. Eden suddenly notices that everyone around looks like Warstrike. Suspecting that what is happening is the manifestation of magic, she goes to her office to find answers…

Quality

Even though she has magic, Mantra still is physically weaker which Lukasz has trouble adjusting with.

Getting straight to the point with regards to the story, this one has a nice mix of action, intrigue, suspense and the search for answers. It also pays attention to the very awkward alliance between Mantra and Warstrike. Warstrike was the last person to have killed Lukasz in his male form which led to him getting reincarnated as Eden Blake (displacing Eden’s soul) and in this story, you will see he even has sexual interest with her even though he knows Lukasz is occupying that beautiful body. This comic book also shows how powerful a villain Boneyard is and how his soldiers are willing to do his commands. With regards to the locations, I should state that the use of a fantasy-themed amusement park in the story is an excellent concept to emphasize this comic book’s fantasy elements.

When it comes to the art, it is no surprise that John Statema did a pretty good job in capturing the looks of Mantra and the related characters, and his pacing of the visuals is similar to that of Terry Dodson. Statema worked on several other Ultraverse comic books including The Solution #6 which looked great and his art really brought the script to life. Mantra, Boneyard, Warstrike and other relevant characters look recognizable with Statema’s style. The artist also excelled in drawing fantasy visual elements like magic, swords, armor, monsters, etc.

Conclusion

Eden Blake is the center of attention at the office.

I can clearly say that Mantra (1994) is an entertaining comic book to read. It has a self-contained story that is very well told and John Statema’s art made it a lively read.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Mantra (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $8 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $26.

Overall, Mantra (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

Las Piñas City Police Force at Work – November 18, 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.

November 17, 2020 at Barangay Talon 4, elements of LCPS with personnel of Talon Sub Station Utilizing MC 112 Hilux under the supervision or PMAJ LEO GLENN CALABIO, talon sub stn Commander,and under the leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas City Police Station conducted, UGNAYAN 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 Department)
On November 17, 2020 at Barangay Talon 5, elements of Talon Sub-Station utilizing MC 112 under the supervision of PMAJ LEO GLENN T CALABIO, Sub-Station Commander through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas City Police Station, conducted OPLANSITA at said address. Likewise, strict implementation of protocols and guidelines under general community quarantine. (source – Las Piñas City Police Department)
On November 17, 2020, elements of Swat on board mobile car 4433 under the supervision of PLT JUANITO ACIERTO VERGARA JR. , C,SWAT, through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, COP of Las Piñas CPS, conducted Police Visibility patrol/Visitation of establishment and strict implementation of Social Distancing and Mandatory Wearing of Facemask at Brgy Pamplona Tres Area, Las Piñas City (source – Las Piñas City Police Department)
On November 17, 2020, personnel of Talon Sub-Station personnel together with one Brgy Tanod of Brgy Talon 1, using MC 112 under the supervision of PMAJ LEO GLENN CALABIO, Talon Sub-Station Commander, and through the strong leadership of PCOL RODEL A PASTOR, Chief Of Police, Las Piñas City Police Station, conducted Oplan Galugad and Strict Implementation of City Ordinance. (source – Las Piñas City Police Department)

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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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 plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

A Look Back at Ravage 2099 #3 (1993)

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, Marvel 2099 fans and superhero comic book geeks! Are you ready for another trip into the high-tech future of Marvel’s comic book universe through the storytelling of the late Stan Lee? This is about the 3rd issue of the Ravage 2099 monthly series.

For the newcomers reading this, Ravage is an original character co-created by Stan Lee and artist Paul Ryan for the 2099 universe of Marvel Comics. By comparison, 2099 started in the 1990s with its own versions of Spider-Man, Dr. Doom and the Punisher. As such, Ravage stood out simply because he was different from them and that includes being idiotic and chaotic as a lead character.

Having already reviewed the first two issues (read my recent review), it became clear to me that Ravage started to deteriorate as a person even as he strived hard in doing what he thought was right. There are two established villains in the story and so far, Ravage does not look any different from them since he proved to be so chaotic, he became a danger not only to the thugs but also to law enforcers. As such, he is a danger to the public.

To find out if anything will improve creatively and artistically, here is a look back at Ravage 2099 , published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Stan Lee and drawn by Paul Ryan.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins moments after Alchemax forces abducted Tiana from Ravage and Dack who find themselves busy with armed enemies on the street. The young Dack got hit by a gun blast. Somehow, Dack was brought to the nearest medical facility for treatment and placed in a medi-cell for questioning.

Already alone in the room, Dack is trapped and a bearded man delivering some candy arrives. It turns out it is Ravage in disguise and he wanted to make sure the youth was fine. Dack tells reveals that he was question for hours. Ravage updates Dack that Tiana was probably half-way to Hellrock, and he intends to get her back.

Meanwhile, armed personnel spot Ravage on surveillance video and rush to get him…

Quality

Most likely the portrayal of Tiana being helpless will turn off radical feminists and SJWs reading this.

To put things straight, this particular story has a retro vibe which reminds me of certain sci-fi and adventure comic books of the 1950s to the 1970s. This is not surprising given Stan Lee’s own style of plotting and writing. Like in issue , creative baggage was less of a hindrance and this allowed Lee and Paul Ryan to craft another action-hero tale that is straightforward and easier to follow. Unlike the previous issue, this one has stakes raised near the end of the story which is refreshing and it also involves a nice change of location. Compared to how he acted in issue , Ravage here begins to act more heroic and showed willingness to sacrifice something to help someone. He still is a chaotic person to be with, only this time he is in the company of a different kind of walking characters. To say the least, this story is an improvement over its predecessor.

Conclusion

Ravage in action inside Dak’s medi-cell.

I can say that Ravage 2099 (1993) is surprisingly a satisfying read. It definitely is not great but the traditional elements of sci-fi, action adventure storytelling lifted its quality. It should be noted that the act of heroism on the part of Ravage begins here and the predicted rivalry between him and the villain Dethstryk (who looks generic as the leader of a band of baddies) finally starts.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Ravage 2099 (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $8 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $24.

Overall, Ravage 2099 (1993) is satisfactory. That being said, I don’t recommend spending any more than $1 for it.

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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

A Look Back at The Strangers #17 (1994)

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, Ultraverse fans and superhero comic book collectors! We are about to return to the Ultraverse through The Strangers. Before doing so, I’d like to discuss one of their members named Elena La Brava AKA Lady Killer. Before the big incident that changed her life and those of her eventual teammates riding the cable car in San Francisco, Elena worked professionally as a fashion designer. She is quite resourceful, brave and organized. Apart from proving to be a very valuable member of the team, she has the special ability to track and this results helping her hit what she aims for. As seen in previous issues leading to issue #16, she has been romantically linked with Atom Bob and has struggled also on leading the team.

With those details mentioned, it’s now time to look back at The Strangers , published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Steve Englehart and illustrated by Rick Hoberg.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins at the headquarters of The Strangers. Spectral arrives late and apologizes to his teammates who are already feeling disturbed by the Pilgrim. Lady Killer makes an issue about Spectral’s tardiness and reminds him he has not seen the Pilgrim as he was absent. Spectral replied emotionally stressing that he had to attend to his private life.

When asked about the Pilgrim, Grenade replies that nobody knows who their antagonist is. In recent times, the team faced off with various costumed individuals in two encounters and the Pilgrim appeared each time and took them with him. Each time, the Pilgrim swore he would continue to get back at The Strangers until he builds up a team large enough to oppose them.

Knowing that the Pilgrim will keep coming back at her team, Lady Killer states she has a plan…

Quality

The start of a pretty solid battle between the Pilgrim and Atom Bob.

The writing for this comic book is, as expected, very strong and undoubtedly it is a great follow-up to what happened in issue . Instead of just another encounter between The Strangers and another antagonist which turns into an opportunity for the Pilgrim to come out and do his thing, this one has a lot more compelling stuff backed with surprise and intrigue.

Before the big conflict happened, this comic book showed more of Lady Killer’s intelligence and her ability to organize something that is believable to read. Atom Bob, who missed out on the battle of issue , is more involved in this comic book and his battle with the Pilgrim was not only heavy on the spectacle but also showed more of his capabilities and his willingness to achieve something.

Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of what I would call the usual visual goodness from artist Rick Hoberg here. He continued to show a consistent high level of quality when drawing the characters, their expressions and making the superhero action scenes look spectacular.

Conclusion

The Strangers meeting early.

The Strangers (1994) is a very good read and what I love about it is that it further added to the build-up of the growing opposition against The Strangers while at the same time developing the core characters more. You will see more of Lady Killer’s leadership values here and eventually, you’ll admire her more. I should state that Rafferty, a serial killer in the Ultraverse, had a notable presence in this comic book and added some impact to the plot.

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 comic book costs $8.

Overall, The Strangers (1994) is highly 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

A Look Back at X-Men #2 (1991)

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.

There is so much said about X-Men #1 of 1991 which was launched to major success by Marvel Comics selling at least eight million copies worldwide. That launch issue, written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Jim Lee, had multiple covers and a version with gatefold covers and high-quality paper which made it an instant hit with collectors chasing profit. In 2011, Marvel even released the so-called 20th anniversary edition of X-Men which was digitally recolored.

In terms of substance, X-Men marked the new era of the X-Men. Charles Xavier returned to his mansion to lead the X-Men which was so large as a group, it had to be divided into two team with Cyclops leading the Blue Team and Storm heading the Gold Team. In terms of publishing, Marvel published tales of the Gold Team in the Uncanny X-Men monthly series while the Blue Team’s stories were published in the adjective-less X-Men monthly series.

With all the attention paid to X-Men , I noticed that not too many people cared to talk about what happened after the end of that comic book. Without spoiling plot details, the massive seller of 1991 had its story end in a cliffhanger. To find out what followed and determine the quality of the creative team’s work, here is a look back at X-Men published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee (who illustrated).

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the fictional island nation of Genosha which has a legacy of mutant slavery. Having fought with the Acolytes (led by Fabian Cortez), the X-Men now face Magneto who arrived and tells them that he will not abandon the Acolytes.

“They acted in an excess of zeal. If so…I..and I alone..shall determine their appropriate punishment,” Magneto tells the team of Cyclops, Gambit, Beast, Wolverine, Psylocke and Rogue. Near them are other Acolytes members down on the ground.

After words spoken by Gambit, Rogue and Cyclops, Magneto referred to the devastation of the city hospital as fitting for punishing a state (Genosha) whose prosperity was built on the backs of mutant slaves. Beast answered back saying that the Genoshans have accepted responsibility for what they have done and resolved to make amends.

While Magneto replies to Beast, a military Genoshan helicopter gunship fires missiles at them from above which the X-Men’s archvillain intercepts. Using his magnetic power, Magneto lifts steal beams and destroys the helicopter with them. He then turns against the X-Men restarting the chaos in the city…

Quality

Magneto, Psylocke and Rogue in the middle of the chaos.

Being the middle of a 3-part story, this comic book pushes the entire X-Men group to the edge thanks to strong writing by Chris Claremont. I’m not simply referring to the traditional good-versus-evil formula of superhero storytelling as the story here emphasized themes about sanity, loyalty, legacy, idolatry and even diplomacy. It just so happens that there is a lot of superhero spectacle to enjoy here and there.

The stakes have been raised significantly in this story as Magneto is shown leading the Acolytes who in turn went ahead with their first mission which explains the chaos in Genosha. Magneto’s condition also deteriorates and gets himself healed by Fabian Cortez who is more sinister than what he seems. For his part, Charles Xavier of the X-Men gets to interact with his long-time friend Dr. Moira MacTaggert who is struggling with guilt from something she committed in the past. Through Magneto, Xavier and MacTaggert, there is this solid build-up of tension that led to a very powerful revelation in the 2nd half of the story which, ironically, put the X-Men on the sideline temporarily. There is high drama, deep tension and high intensity involving Magneto and MacTaggert, and their scene together is the highlight of the story.  

Conclusion

The face-off!

To put it straight, as much as I loved X-Men (1991), I find X-Men (1991) more compelling to read. For one thing, it rewards X-Men fans who dedicatedly followed the events of not only the X-Men but also of that of the life of Magneto. It’s really great that Chris Claremont literally dug up the past for details that proved to be useful in this comic book. It also nicely sets up anticipation of the next issue by involving the X-Men’s Gold Team. Unsurprisingly, with the combined talents of Claremont and Jim Lee, this is an excellent read that really looks great.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of X-Men (1991), 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 copies of the Chris Claremont-signed regular edition, the Chris Claremont-signed newsstand edition and the newsstand edition cost $9, $19 and $13 respectively.

Overall, X-Men (1991) is highly 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

Xbox Series consoles launch details revealed

Very recently, Xbox head Phil Spencer announced through Twitter that the twin-launch of the premium Xbox Series X and budget-friendly Xbox Series S that took place on November 10 became the largest launch in the entire history of Xbox. While Spencer did not post any hardware sales numbers, he did confirm that the scope of the launch was wider in terms of having more countries than ever before.

Just days ago on Xbox.com, Gaming Experiences & Platforms CVP Liz Hamren revealed additional details related to the declared largest Xbox launch. Firstly, Hamren stated that the global launch happened across forty countries.

With regards to statistics covering the first 24 hours of the global launch of the Xbox Series consoles, Hamren confirmed the following:

A. More new consoles sold than any prior generation, with Xbox Series S adding the highest percentage of new players for any Xbox console at launch.

B. More games played, 3,594 in total, spanning four generations, setting a record for the most games ever played during an Xbox console launch.

C. Next gen means more ways to discover and play, 70 percent of Series X/S consoles are attached to new and existing Xbox Game Pass members.

Let’s start with item A above. Team Xbox’s declaration of selling more new consoles than any prior generation would translate into exceeding the 1,000,000+ Xbox One consoles sold on its launch day in 2013. How many units exactly of the new consoles got sold in the first 24 hours has yet to be revealed. Regardless, I am not surprised at all that the budget friendly Xbox Series S added the highest percentage of new players. At $299, with a very compact console size and with more gamers preferring to buy games and content digitally, Xbox Series S is really an irresistible next-generation console. It lacks the immense power of the Xbox Series X, but the Xbox Series S it still a beast in terms of performance especially with frame rates of 60FPS and 120FPS. The cheaper console can process graphics in 1080p and 1440p, and it is a fact that there are still many households around the world that don’t have 4K TVs. Remember, Xbox Series S and its premium counterpart are the only next-generation consoles with full hardware support for all the RDNA 2 capabilities.

Item B meanwhile emphasizes that within the first 24 hours of the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the users of the mentioned consoles played 3,594 games collectively thanks to backward compatibility which is a feature that Team Xbox prioritizes while Sony and its PlayStation team don’t care much about even though most PS4 games are playable on PlayStation 5. The launch games are not spectacular and based on my observations, it is Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion that have been standing out among them for playing on the new Xbox Series consoles. It is no surprise that Xbox Series console owners took time to play many of the multi-generation Xbox legacy games on the new machines and enjoy them with the benefits of much shorter loading times, improved frame rates and the like. The old criticism that Xbox has no games or has not many games is not only meaningless but also pathetic.

Item C’s emphasis that 70% of Xbox Series consoles are attached to new and existing Xbox Game Pass members could mean that the paid subscription service have been used a lot more during the first 24 hours of launch. While there are no numbers revealed, I would not be surprised that more new subscribers signed up to take advantage of XGP’s benefits which are more evident on the new consoles.

With those available details, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are riding high on a wave of positivity and high activity. How fast Microsoft can replenish supplies of the new consoles around the world to meet the very high demand remains to be seen but it is safe to say that this new console generation is off to a strong start with what Team Xbox prepared. When it comes to the near future, 2021 will be the year when blockbuster games and Xbox-exclusive games will get released and eventually impact the gaming world.

In closing this article, here are some gaming-related videos for your enjoyment.

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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

For more Xbox-related stuff, check out the Xbox Series Philippines Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/XboxOnePH