Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 President Marcos talks about troublesome Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy – It has been weeks since Russian vlogger and live streamer Vitaly Zdorovetskiy caused trouble and harassed people here in the Philippines which resulted in his arrest. While he is in prison as the local authorities prepare to press charges against him, no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., noticed Vitaly during an official vlog via the Bongbong Marcos YouTube channel. Marcos begins to talk about Vitaly during the 2nd half of his video. The mere fact that the President of the Philippines notices and shares his views about Vitaly should send a strong signal to troublesome live streamers/vloggers overseas that they will be punished here in the Philippines if they cause trouble for the sake of entertaining a live audience.
#2 In-depth analysis of the interrogation scene in 1984’s The Terminator – The Terminator from 1984 is the subject of multiple video reviews, reaction videos, retrospective and film analysis on YouTube. After digging through several analysis videos, I found one that is very focused on the interrogation scene of Kyle Reese and the YouTuber shared some really compelling views about it. Watch the video below.
#3 Why Tron still looks great explained – I saw Tron many times in my life from the first time seeing it on home video in 1983, on cable TV and on DVD. Even until now, the 1982 film – which used computer-generated graphics mixed with other forms of cinematic visualizing – still looks great and has aged like fine wine. The video below explains exactly why and it is a must-see.
#4 VKunia and Ashleigh Burton react to Captain America: Civil War – Back in 2016, there was a local cinema that actually organized an unusual gimmick to accommodate moviegoers…by playing Captain America: Civil War on a 24-hour basis. I saw the movie at a 5:30 AM showing back then. While it definitely was the third Captain America movie (note: I will not count the fake Captain America movie subtitled Brave New World), it was actually more of a mini-Avengers movie which clearly took some of the spotlight away from the titular character. It was fun to watch and I encourage you to see how it impacted VKunia and Ashleigh Burton in their respective reaction videos below.
#5 PatmanQC examines the history of Batman Returns video games – Batman Returns was a big hit in cinemas around the world, although it never came close to matching the global ticket sales of its 1989 predecessor. Regardless, there was a lot of merchandising related with the movie as well as several video game adaptations. I played the Konami-developed Batman Returns game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) but never got to play the movie-based games on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. To know more about the games based on the 1992 movie, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.
#6 Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video about What About Bob? – Back in 1991, the comedy film What About Bob? was released in cinemas and it attracted mostly positive reviews from the critics. Many people were impressed by the performances delivered by Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted a trivia video about the film which you can watch below.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1 The Beastmaster revisited – I find it curious that there are not too many movie reaction videos about the 1982 fantasy film The Beastmaster starring Marc Singer. The film was not a big hit in cinemas but it was viewed by millions of viewers on home video and cable TV which resulted in a dedicated following. When it comes to searching for video reviews of the movie, there are more available for viewing on YouTube. For the Beastmaster fans reading this and for those who enjoy the fantasy genre, I posted below a reaction video by You, Me and the Movies, and a video review by Decker Shado.
#2 Misha Petrov’s inspiring testimony – Being a Leftist is not only a terrible way of living as it includes living with a very distorted view of reality, rebelling against family and order, and being twisted. YouTuber Misha Petrov was once a Leftist and she eventually left the Satanic Left to be liberated. Very clearly, being liberal means being foolish and wokeness is a disease that truly ruins those trapped by it. Learn from Misha Petrov’s inspiring testimony in the PragerU video below.
#3 Do not be fooled by socialist influencers – I like watching the videos of John Stossel as there are often informative and engaging. Recently, Stossel posted a video about what the many socialist influencers get wrong. It is a reminder that no matter how powerful the words spoken and no matter how unique the presentations looked like, socialists do not want you to know the truth that does not back up their claims. That being said, I encourage you to watch Stossel’s explanatory video below.
#4Why the playable hero of Oblivion starts inside a prison – If there is anything consequential about the release of the current Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed, it is the renewed public interest in two well established games that have similarities with the Obsidian-developed game – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. My previous blog post had a comparative video featuring Avowed and Oblivion. More on Bethesda’s 2006 RPG, it is remembered that the hero gamers got to play as started inside a prison whenever they begin the single-player campaign. As to why the playable hero is already behind bars, watch the analytical video below from YouTuber A Bard’s Ballad.
#5 VKunia and Ashleigh Burton’s respective Captain America: The Winter Soldier reaction videos – Back in 2014, I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier on opening day in a local cinema here in the Philippines and it was a very thrilling and engaging experience. Back then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was still expanding its lore during the Phase 2 stage, and the Captain America movie itself was really a superhero tale told in the form of an espionage thriller. It was a bold creative direction that really paid off for Marvel Studios. When it comes to the YouTube reaction videos of it available, I find the ones from VKunia and Ashleigh Burton the most entertaining. If you have not seen the movie yet, I urge you to watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.
#6 PatmanQC examines R-Type – When it comes to sci-fi themed, 2D side-scrolling shooters in video games, Japan a lot of them and arguably the most popular game franchise related to the sub-genre is Konami’s Gradius. There is, however, another sci-fi 2D side-scrolling shooter series that started in Japanese arcades – R-Type. Like Gradius, R-Type went on to have sequels and many of its games were released on many platforms through the decades. To find out how R-Type started and what were the inspirations behind it, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.
#7 Baywatch revisited by Minty Comedic Arts – Back in 1989, Baywatch was launched on television and it went on to become a massive hit with TV viewers around the world. The series about attractive lifeguards working at beaches lasted more than ten seasons and ultimately became a pop culture phenomenon. It was also the sexiest show on TV during its time. Of course, there are lots of interesting details about the series and I urge you to watch the trivia video of Minty Comedic Arts below.
#8 Palestinian clerics openly call for genocide against Jews – As I mentioned before, the Palestinians have stake in the land of Israel and they as a people have destroyed their credibility a long time ago by following the their terrorist leaders and brainwashing children to hate the Jewish people. In recent times, religious leaders of the Palestinians used sermons calling for the extermination of the Jews. That being said, it is not surprising that the mainstream news media (which have not only a liberal bias but also Islamo-Leftist beliefs) does not even bother to cover the recent Palestinian campaign of hate targeting the Jewish people and Israel. While those corrupted news media outlets are staying away, CBN News covered the very issue. Watch their news video below. Keep on standing in support of Israel and push back against evil acts of the Palestinian terrorists and the wicked Palestinian Authority.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Planet of the Apes (1968) – YouTuber Popcorn in Bed finally did it…posting a reaction video featuring the classic science fiction movie Planet of the Apes (1968). The video has both Cassie and Carly reacting to the Charlton Heston-led film. Considering how many Planet of the Apes reaction videos have been posted on YouTube, I can say that Popcorn in Bed’s video is entertaining to watch. Watch it now!
#2 Comparison video of Avowed and Oblivion – In case you missed the news, the long-awaited Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed has been released and it is the latest game from RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment (an Xbox game studio). Recently, someone posted a new video comparing Avowed with the 2006 RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion focused on specific details. It’s clear that Obsidian still has a long way to go to truly make Avowed’s world a living and breathing realm. I encourage you all to watch it now.
#3 Slope Game Room examines the history of Zombies Ate My Neighbors – Recently, I purchased the digital collection of Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol for my Xbox Series X. As of this writing, I’m still playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors – specifically the Super NES version – and I’m enjoying it. First released in 1993, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was developed by LucasArts and published by Konami for the two 16-bit consoles of the time. It turns out, there is a lot of interesting details behind the development of the game, what led to the creation of Ghoul Patrol and more. To know more, watch the video of Slope’s Game Room below.
#4CNN supports Hamas terrorists – I don’t trust the opinions and news publishing of CNN (originally called Cable News Network) which has turned into a propaganda machine for the corrupted Democrats, Islamo-Leftists, and woke mobs. In recent times, CNN had an entire segment defending the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and the two personalities who spoke clearly have no love for Israel. To find out what happened, watch the video below.
#5 You, Me and the Movies react to Air Force One – At last, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video featuring the 1997 blockbuster Air Force One with Harrison Ford playing a tough, fictional US President. It is an entertaining reaction video to watch and the old film itself is relevant once again as Trump-led America today has toughened its stance against terrorists. If you have not seen the film, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the video below.
#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to a 1999 comedy – I never saw the 1999 comedy 10 Things I Hate About You in the cinema but some friends of mind did and they found it funny and memorable. A few years later, I finally saw it on cable TV and home video and it was entertaining. Recently, Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction video and I enjoyed how she responded to it.
#7 RK Outpost explains box-office disappointment of Captain America: Brave New World – Are you aware that the woke Disney company, Marvel Studios and its wicked Hollywood media partners are lying to you and trying to manipulate you into believing that Captain America: Brave New World had a successful launch? YouTuber RK Outpost posted a video explaining in detail why the new movie (starring Anthony Mackie) is actually a box office disappointment upon launching, how the Hollywood players are lying, what facts are being ignored, and why you should not be fooled by Disney and its partners-in-crime. Watch and learn!
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1 Ashleigh Burton and VKunia’s reaction videos featuring Captain America: The First Avenger – Way back in 2011, I saw Captain America: The First Avenger in the local cinema and it was an enjoyable viewing experience. Among all the Marvel Cinema Universe (MCU) movies released to date, it remained the most unique superhero movie as it had a strong World War II aesthetic and really brought much of Captain America’s literary concepts to life. I recently saw the respective reaction videos of YouTubers Ashleigh Burton and VKunia and they were enjoyable to watch. If you have not seen the movie, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.
#2 The wickedness of Qatar and its agenda against Israel and the West explained – When it comes to waging war against Israel and Western civilization as we know it, Qatar is much more subtle when executing its sinister agenda. While terrorist state Iran openly expresses its hatred towards Israel and the West, and arms many Middle East terrorists groups, Qatar uses the terrorist news network Al Jazeera, lies through the diplomatic arena and clearly sided with the Palestinian terrorists. Watch this explanatory and analytical video.
#3 Trump Gaza plan makes sense – Since it was first announced, the ambitious plan of US President Donald Trump for America to take over the Gaza Strip has been making a lot of waves internationally. Of course, the political activists who hate Israel and support Palestinian terrorists just won’t relent with their distorted views and they preferred more people to become misled to support their so-called pro-Palestine movement. That being said, if you want to truly understand the truth and the details carefully, watch the videos below.
#4The significance of Capernaum – It has been two years since I visited Israel on a Holy Land pilgrimage tour with my local church. Capernaum is the ancient site that Lord Jesus Himself chose to base His ministry after leaving Nazareth. In addition to being Jesus’ chosen city, Capernaum is also where many significant events happened as recorded in the Holy Bible. Having visited Capernaum myself, it is indeed a very holy site and you can learn more about it by watching the videos below from Hananya Naftali and HolyLandSite. I pray that these videos will inspire you to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Lord Jesus. Grab the Bible as well.
#5 There was a superhero-themed restaurant by Marvel – Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) rocked the world with many blockbuster movies, Marvel Entertainment Group (in partnership with Planet Hollywood and Universal Studios Hollywood) actually launched a superhero-themed restaurant that eventually failed. Launched in the late 1990s, the restaurant Marvel Mania was located near Universal Hollywood Studios. The failed business has long been forgotten. Fortunately, someone managed to record videos inside Marvel Mania long ago and uploaded footage on YouTube. The video below by Panels to Pixel is a must-see!
#6 PatmanQC examines classic game Xevious – During the golden age of arcades, the 2D sci-fi shooter Xevious was released and became very successful both commercially and critically. The only version of Xevious I played was on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) and it turned out many other local gamers played it in their respective homes. There is a lot more to the history and conception of Xevious and you can find out more from PatmanQC’s videos below.
#7 Rob Liefeld’s Captain America artwork explained – Going back to Captain America, it’s time to take a closer look at a certain artwork of the icon done by Rob Liefeld (Youngblood, X-Force, The New Mutants) a long time ago. A lot of people hated it and called it exaggerated and totally unbelievable. There is an explanation for Liefeld’s Captain America artwork and you can watch and learn from the video of YouTuber Panels to Pixels below. Trust me, it is worth your time.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.
By now, you readers should be aware that I reviewed a lot of comic books about Spider-Man and his deadliest enemy Venom. It is already established through comic book history that the iconic webslinger is responsible for the establishment of Venom as he brought into the world the alien costume (the symbiote) coming from deep space (as told in the Secret Wars limited series), and he also became responsible for the destruction of Eddie Brock’s career in journalism. Of course, Venom did not debut immediately after Spider-Man’s return from Secret Wars and there was a lot more about the symbiote when it was with Peter Parker.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #252, published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco, and drawn by Ron Frenz. This comic book marked the first appearance of the alien costume.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside the New York headquarters of the Daily Bugle. It has been observed that several superheroes such as Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Avengers have been missing this resulted in a rise of crime. Publisher J. Jonah Jameson and editor-in-chief Joe Robertson discuss the newest edition of their newspaper.
Meanwhile over at Central Park where police officers and others stand by an area that was closed off, a physical structure suddenly appears spreading bright light to onlookers. Suddenly Spider-Man (wearing a new dominant black costume) leaps out of the structure carrying Dr. Connor (the Lizard) surprising the people.
After realizing they have returned home at last after spending lots of time and struggle in deep space (Secret Wars), Spider-Man could not help but feel jubilant to be home. As the police officers don’t realize that they are talking with the same webslinger due to the new costume, one of them was about to draw his gun which prompted the superhero to use his web on him.
Suddenly, the Avengers, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man emerge from the physical structure which provided Spider-Man relief as he thought that only he and Dr. Connors made it home. With the people focusing on the other superheroes, Spider-Man and Dr. Connors slowly exited. Connors asked him what are they going to tell the world about all they have seen and experienced in deep space…
Quality
Spider-Man’s first night in New York wearing the alien costume .
I really like this story. I first read this a long time ago and I re-read it all over again for this retro review, and still this story engaged me a lot. There is a lot of richness in the script and you will get to see Peter Parker transitioning into a series of major changes that await him. Without spoiling the plot, there is no hero-versus-villain element here at all. It is all about Spider-Man who just arrived home from a major conflict (and also one of the most significant comic events ever published by Marvel Comics) and the alien costume saga truly began right here. The Venom debut did not happen until a few years later in reality.
In accordance to what was established in Secret Wars (not to be confused with the 2015 series of the same name) and the standards of then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the creative came up with a tale that not only showed a different Spider-Man but also portrayed him in ways that defied the tropes and creative ideas the preceded this comic book.
For one thing, Peter Parker is literally like a fish out of water here. As far as the whole world is concerned, only days passed when the superheroes went to deep space. But for the webslinger, a lot more time passed as so many battles, discoveries and intriguing events took place for him along with the others. That being said, Peter Parker’s perception of reality and track of time really got messed up and the weight of Secret War’s events really turned out overwhelming on him. This was well dramatized in the scene wherein Peter – who realized that so much time had passed – he had to call his aunt May fearing that she must be worried sick over him. There was also the moment when by walking down the street, he realized how much he missed not only his home but also the local surroundings.
It was also in this comic book when Peter started getting more oriented with the alien costume he first got in Secret Wars #8 (which was actually published after this comic book) and started to enjoy the benefits with the way it responds to his thinking. Of course, at this stage, he has yet to realize the unfortunate truth about the living costume he brought home and this story really kicked off a new and profound stage in the comic book history of Spider-Man
Conclusion
When Spider-Man finally arrived home after spending so much time during Secret Wars.
Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) is still a great comic book to read all over again. This was released during the time when Secret Wars (1984) was still being published and years before Venom’s big debut in the series’ 300th issue. In my view, the alien costume saga was a big turning point in the literary history of Spider-Man and the creators who got involved in this comic book really sowed the seeds of compelling and intriguing events that followed. What is intriguing is that all of these significant developments started when a Marvel Comics reader from Illinois came up with the idea of a new costume for Spider-Man, wrote to them and the publisher responded to acquire his idea for over $200 (click here).
This comic book is also a reminder of how significant Jim Shooter’s rule at Marvel Comics really was and I can say that the Marvel’s literary universe of the 1980s should not be ignored.
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Konami’s 3-in-1 sports games print ad
Long before the advent of major league sports video games, Konami was prolific with sports video games.
Back in the 1980s, Konami was a prominent gaming company as they released a lot of games that became hits in the arcades, on home computers and gaming consoles. Considering the limited amount of games publishers were allowed to release on the Nintendo Entertainment System in America, what Konami released were really fun games to play and their contributions of sports-based video games on the NES were significant. Possibly due to a lack of marketing budget at the time, they promoted Blades of Steel, Double Dribble and Track & Field II with this single-page ad showing the game box covers and screenshots. Ultimately, this print ad was sufficient in giving gamers a clear idea of what to expect with the three games.
2. The Adventures of Bayou Billy print ad
Bayou Billy looks inspired by the cinematic hero Crocodile Dundee. This video game even had a comic book adaptation published by Archie Comics.
Still with Konami, the Japanese publisher released in America the non-military adventure game The Adventures of Bayou Billy for the NES which was a revised version of their 1988 Family Computer game titled Mad City (see the differences by clicking here). This game really looked like it was influenced by Hollywood action/adventure movies of the era and it provided gamers gameplay styles of light gun shooting, beat-them-up action and racing. The titular hero looks very inspired by the cinematic hero Crocodile Dundee. This print ad is very stylish and also eye-catching. I think it has done a good job to make viewers interested in the video game.
3. Krull Atari video game print ad
I never got to play this Krull video game on Atari 2600, nor its arcade game.
Way back in 1983, I was fortunate to see the science fantasy movie Krull inside the movie theater here in the Philippines. When I saw this print ad, I easily got excited for the Atari 2600 video game adaptation but never got to play it. This print ad does its job showing what Krull’s game looked like and the ad makers cleverly used painted art reflecting the movie’s characters and the armored enemies from space. I should add that between the time I saw the movie and the time I first saw this print ad, I became aware of the existence of the Krull arcade game by watching an episode of Starcade on TV.
4. Rocket Ranger NES print ad
Really great and detailed painted artwork in this print ad.
When Rocket Ranger on the Amiga in 1988, it had fancy visuals and a strong cinematic vibe that worked smoothly with the game design. This game was developed by Cinemaware which developed a reputation of releasing games based on classic film genres. In 1990, a version of Rocket Ranger for the NES was published by Kemco/Seika and print ads using painted art were made to promote the game. This particular print ad made heavy use of painted art which was captivating to look at while conveniently keeping people’s minds off the downgraded visuals of the NES version.
5. Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City print ad with contest entry
Some gamers thought this was a basketball video game.
Yes, it was all true. There definitely was a video game that NBA legend Michael Jordan endorsed. First released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America in 1994, Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City was a side-scrolling action game in which gamers play a digital version of Jordan who has to save his friends, fight enemies and move from one location to the next in order to progress. The fact that an image of Michael Jordan holding two balls was used in this print ad (as well as on the game cover) in a dominating fashion made some gamers think this was a basketball game. The display of screenshots was so small, it did not help the situation. Lastly, the available of a contest entry form in this print ad was meant to promote not only the game but also GamePro magazine.
6. Gun.Smoke print ad
Gun.Smoke was indeed a fun game to play on NES. Therefore, the promotion is justified.
This print ad of the NES port of Gun.Smoke has strong imagery and literary descriptions the strongly emphasize the Old West concept and setting. The screenshots displayed are too small but the descriptions more than made up for it. Ultimately, what this print ad emphasized was realized as the NES version of Gun.Smoke itself captured the continuous action and excitement of the arcade version and the graphical limitations of the console did not matter much. I myself played this game and it was a lot of fun.
7. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage print ad
This add appeared in my comic books and magazines I read in 1994.
Back in 1993, Marvel Comics published the huge Maximum Carnage crossover storyline which covered many issues of the four monthly Spider-Man comic books and two issues of the quarterly Spider-Man Unlimited series. Considering the high popularities of Venom and Carnage at the time, it was not surprising that Marvel took advantage by having Maximum Carnage licensed to Acclaim to create a video game adaptation in the form of a beat-them-up.
Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage was released for SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994, and game developer Software Creations really adapted story to fit with their side-scrolling game design. Between playable stages are cutscenes that actually were digitized versions of actual comic book panels. This red-colored print ad had a dominating image of Carnage and screenshots with text descriptions. The ad makers even went the extra mile by inserting screenshot cut-outs showing individual characters such as Firestar, Venom, Spider-Man, Carnage, Cloak and Dagger, Iron Fist, Captain America and more. Whatever your opinion is about the Maximum Carnage storyline or the video game adaptation, there is no denying that this was a very eye-catching print ad.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the wild 1990s and examine an alternate universe portrayal of one of Spider-Man’s many events told through the What If monthly series!
If you are looking for a portrayal of Spider-Man going over the edge and into the extremes emotionally, you are about to experience something in this retro review of mine. Some time ago, I reviewed a What If comic book about Spider-Man becoming a murderer which was compelling but ended on a whimper.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #61 published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Kirk Jarvinen, Andrew Wildman, Derek Yaniger and Jim Amash.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Richard and Mary Parker (Peter Parker’s parents) arriving in the presence of Aunt May who happens to be visited by their son Peter (Spider-Man). Having learned something from a while back, Aunt May tells Richard and Mary that they are not genuine persons. Suddenly, Peter Parker’s spider sense intensifies and in an attempt to defuse the situation, he leads his aunt to walk out of the house with him. Richard and Mary watch them walk away.
It turns out, Richard and Mary are impostors and they have been working all the time for a secretive boss. Richard calls his employer under an emergency and reports that they have completed phase one of their assignment, that Aunt May knows the truth about them and is about to inform Spider-Man. Richard is then told that under no circumstances is the plan to be jeopardized and anyone who suspects must die. He is also told to flush Mary’s programming and reset her as she showed signs of acting odd to the situation.
A short time later, Richard and Mary – now in morphed forms with vastly different bodies and half their heads resembling their human selves – suddenly break into an apartment surprising Peter, his wife Mary Jane and Aunt May. Violent action by one of them accidentally ripped open Peter’s shirt, revealing his Spider-Man suit to Aunt May. Just as Peter’s aunt figures out the secret, he tells Mary Jane to grab her and get out.
However, the sight of the morphed Mary Parker shocked Aunt May and Mary Jane so much, they failed to move. Mary Parker then morphs her two hands into large, makeshift hammers, and swiftly killed Aunt May and Mary Jane. Peter is instantly shocked by their sudden deaths but deep inside, rage begins to burn…
Quality
Spider-Man already over the edge and reacting violently to the abusive Daily Bugle.
I can start by confirming that Kurt Busiek’s writing is very strong and his alternate take on the events of Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) is indeed very solid. In one way, I find the emotional stakes for Spider-Man has been raised a lot higher than what was portrayed in the canon story. The concept of losing his beloved family members to enemies who were impostors that looked like his long lost parents is indeed disturbing as well as emotionally charged. In relation to this, Busiek and the illustrators brought to life a Spider-Man who really went over the edge by taking matters into his own hands as the loss of beloved ones led to the blurring of the boundary between good and evil. Even the boundary between innocence and guilt gets blurred which adds more depth to the emotions of the story. As I read the story, there were moments when I felt that Spider-Man became as bad as the evil ones even though he is clearly the victim and his family was targeted.
Apart from showing Spider-Man getting outraged and pushed to the limits, Busiek inserted elements about how people perceive incidents without knowing all the facts and how easily they get manipulated by a news outlet – the Daily Bugle where Peter Parker worked as a freelance photographer – whose leader does not care about ethical journalism nor the pursuit of the truth. In this age of widespread fake news and liberal news media outlets in America doing propaganda for American Communists (read: Democrats, abortionists, LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter, Antifa, the terrorists, the climate change extremists and the socialist hordes), this particular aspect of the story makes this comic book strongly relevant to read today.
The story also sheds light on Spider-Man’s connections with other Marvel superheroes who happen to be in New York City. You will see Captain America and Johnny Storm express their concern about Spider-Man’s state of mind as they themselves still tried to figure out what really happened. In short, the superheroes here showed restraint even as Spider-Man goes to the extreme being a victim as well as a fugitive.
If there are any weak points in this comic book, it would be the art which has this cartoon-like aesthetic for much of the story. Considering the serious subject matter, the visuals are quite contradicting as they make this look like it was made for much younger readers. In fairness, the quality of the art improved during the 2nd half of the story.
Conclusion
Spider-Man takes on the impostors who looked like his parents.
As far as storytelling and characterization goes, What If #61 (1994) succeeded a lot on portraying the iconic Spider-Man as the superhero who went over the limits of his emotions and his reasoning which is the result of the tragic deaths of two beloved family members caused by individuals who pretended to be his parents. This is a very solid story which also has a powerful ending. Where What If #72 failed, this comic book succeeded and even exceeded it with Spider-Man truly becoming unheroic. I should state that this comic book should convince readers to go to the Amazing Spider-Man series and follow the Lifetheft storyline in issues #386 to #388 (which were released months before this comic book). Kurt Busiek’s script is indeed great and it is easily the driving force of the comic book.
Overall, What If #61 (1994) is highly recommended.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.
Several years ago, I bought myself a trade paperback collection of the 1987 Spider-Man storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt written by J. M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck. That particular storyline was very notable not just for its dark approach to storytelling and visualization, but it also explores what would happen had Spider-Man been defeated and someone very obsessed took his place and go on a rampage disguised as Spider-Man. The storyline also explored how Kraven perceived Spider-Man without ever knowing the defining traits of the man behind the mask – Peter Parker. Eventually, Marvel Comic went on to revisit Kraven’s Last Hunt and explored what would happen had Kraven actually killed Spider-Man through their What If? monthly comic book series.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #17, published in 1990 by Marvel Comics with a story written and drawn by Richard Howell.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with the Watcher revisiting key moments from the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline. History then takes a turn towards the unexplored when Kraven, armed with a gun, shoots and kills Spider-Man. As the dead webslinger lies in a coffin, Kraven celebrates his victory with a lot of passion believing that he struck back at what he perceives to be the meaninglessness of the world. Kraven is quite mad as he equates spiders with Spider-Man as well as the decline of civilization.
After fearlessly and grotesquely eating spiders, Kraven wears a black body tight costume that looks almost the same as that of Spider-Man’s. While he is victorious, Kraven is not satisfied and he becomes obsessed by becoming Spider-Man and prove himself superior to him. He then moves into the city whose people are familiar with Spider-Man and also are unprepared with who is coming to them.
In an apartment, Spider-Man’s wife Mary Jane Parker is alone and worried. As she does not know that her beloved Peter Parker has been killed, she cannot help but agonize over the strain of his double-life as a civilian and as a superhero. Determined to find Peter, she walks out during the rainy night and is spotted by two men focused on her.
Suddenly the new Spider-Man (Kraven) appears and in an apparent effort to help Mary Jane, he grabs one of the men and brutally pushes the man’s head on to a nearby wall. As Kraven does not recognize Mary Jane, the wife realizes that the Spider-Man she just saw is definitely not her husband. This only makes her wonder again where he is and what happened to him. She then starts calling others for help…
Quality
In addition to being ruthless, Kraven disguised as Spider-Man resembles Venom.
I’ll start with the visuals. This comic book took a serious effort to come close to capturing the look and visual tone of the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline which I enjoyed. Richard Howell visualized the characters, the situations and details properly and there was not a single moment when the visuals overwhelmed the narrative. Howell’s artistic take on the characters is simplistic but they remain recognizable which is a plus. The superhero spectacle was presented with a clear and clean approach, and there were a few key moments of action that got highlighted with some dynamism.
As for the story itself, what I found surprising and also pleasant here was the presentation of Mary Jane Parker as the main character instead of Kraven. This makes sense as Kraven himself was the major attraction of the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline while Spider-Man was out of commission. In the context of this What If story, it only made sense to have Mary Jane as the central figure. Going back to Kraven, Howell captured the essence of the character well when compared to his version in Kraven’s Last Hunt.
In terms of plotting, telling the story through the viewpoint and actions of the superhero’s concerned wife really works well. Without spoiling the plot, you will see Mary Jane get involved with three notable superheroes – including the iconic Captain America – and even with other notable Spider-Man supporting characters such as Flash Thompson and the irresponsible print media figure J. Jonah Jameson. Interactions aside, the plot works sufficiently as a couple of series of events take place before the big confrontation with Kraven (as the new Spider-Man). By the end of it all, I can say that the story is entertaining, engaging and intriguing to read.
Conclusion
Mary Jane Parker goes out in pursuit of her husband Peter Parker/Spider-Man who happens to be dead already at this particular point of the story.
I can say that What If #17 (1990) is pretty captivating read and it is a worthy literary companion to Kraven’s Last Hunt. Of course, to really enjoy this alternative tale cleverly told by Howell, you must read Kraven’s Last Hunt first. Otherwise, you would not feel the impact of this comic book very much. I also liked how the death of Spider-Man (note: Spider-Man got killed in another What If tale that itself is worth reading) impacts Mary Jane, how it impacts the superheroes who know him, and most notably how it impacts the fragile relationship between society and superheroes. Lastly, this comic book has one of the more significant portrayals of Spider-Man’s most beloved woman. This is indeed a great story.
Overall, What If #17 (1990) is highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.
Back in 2021, I reviewed What If #46 (1993) which told a compelling story about division between the mutants, the clash of beliefs between Professor X and Cable, and how terrorism affects everyone. The comic book was also a mesmerizing portrayal of how the X-Men would have organized themselves without Charles Xavier, Jean Grey and Cyclops.
Considering all the chaos that happened in What If #46 (1993), the time was just right for Magneto – the X-Men’s most dangerous enemy of all time – to come in and make an impact not only on mutants but on the world.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #47, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Tod Smith.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Magneto leading a huge legion of mutants to take overwhelm the remaining resistance – including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, the Avengers and the dedicated American soldiers – in Washington, D.C.
A fierce battle then took place with both sides hitting each other hard. After noticing Magneto’s lack of presence during the battle, Captain America then realizes that the long-time enemy of the X-Men took advantage of the fighting to penetrate the U.S. Capitol’s bomb shelters and got the nation’s leaders hostage. After easing some of his fellow heroes, Captain America decides not to escalate the fight against Magneto in consideration of the lives of America’s top officials…
To begin with, I can say that this story is a well-planned follow-up to the events of issue #46. While Magneto’s presence has been magnified a lot here, there are still strong story connections to the previous issue.
With regards to what was emphasized on the front cover of the comic book, this story explores what would happen if Magneto took power to control the entire United States while leading a group of mutants with a platform focused on crushing anti-mutant racism even though it includes pushing the non-mutant people (which is the great majority of America’s people) as well as the dissenting mutants out of the way.
For one thing, this superhero fantasy concept is actually socially relevant with today’s geopolitics and the way America has turned out under the fake leadership of Joe Biden (who is NOT leading as US President but only following the modern-day American Communists and reckless SJWs dictating him to do their evil bidding. Biden also arrogantly denies reality when it goes against the desires of his administration and his Satanic Democrats) It should be noted that the US President visualized in this comic book eerily looks like Joe Biden complete with that absent-minded facial expression.
Next, a clear theme in this What If story is absolute power and why groups who crave for it would sacrifice so much and hurt others just to acquire it. Magneto, who carries deep hatred towards people he perceives to be obstacles or opposition for his quest of uplifting mutants, takes advantage of mutants who have lost hope and are depending on someone to lead them. Indeed, the long-time X-Men nemesis gains power to control America but finds himself facing a new force of opposition which leads the nation into a drastic series of change that clearly do not alight with his vision of a better future for mutants.
Still on the theme of absolute power, the US government in this story was portrayed to have developed technologies designed to overwhelm its citizens, as well as the means to establish infrastructure and protocols to transform America into an automated dictatorial state that enslaves its citizens and violate their rights without restraint. Once again, this aspect of the story makes it socially relevant.
Considering the epic concept and the dark turn of events the creative team prepared, this comic book does not have a clear good-versus-evil approach but rather it emphasizes chaos that comes with the pursuit and abuse of absolute power over the nation. You will see key elements from the classic X-Men storyline Days of Future Past here in relation to America’s deformation.
Conclusion
Wow! The US President in this comic book eerily looks so much like Joe Biden whose leadership led America into a lot of problems and hardship. Sky high inflation is just one of the problems that happened under Biden.
What If #47 (1993) is truly a very captivating read mainly because of its core concept which goes way beyond the scenario of Magneto taking control of America. Considering its portrayal of America and the exploration of dark themes about people getting overwhelmed by power abusers, the story is a warning about the fall of America told in superhero fantasy form. Considering the intense social degradation that rocked America the past few years (note: riots by the Black Lives Matter terrorists, SJWs disturbing the peace, Democrats allowing more illegal immigrants into the country, socialists in colleges continuing to brainwash students and more), this story is very socially relevant. It will keep you thinking and reflecting deeply, even if you strongly desire whatever superhero entertainment you seek in this comic book.
Overall, What If #47 (1993) is highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we will take a look back at a certain crossover comic book that involved both Marvel Comics and DC Comics published in the mid-1990s. On my part, it’s been some time since I last reviewed a Marvel-DC crossover comic book. That being said, you can read about my retro comic book reviews of Batman versus The Incredible Hulk and Superman and Spider-Man on this website.
For this new retro review, we will focus on the 1995 crossover that brought two of Marvel and DC’s icons together for the first time – Spider-Man and Batman! To put things in perspective, the 1990s still remembered as the decade when Bane broke Batman’s back while the publishing of Spider-Man comic books became highly controversial with the Spider-Clone Saga. In the 1995 crossover produced the two comic book giants, Spider-Man and Batman are presented in their classic identities as Peter Parker and Bruce Wayne.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds published in 1995 by Marvel Comics and DC Comics with a story written by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mark Bagley.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with a nightmare in which Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben got shot by an armed man in the presence of Aunt May inside their home. Immediately Spider-Man arrives and grabs the man by the neck. The armed man creepily laughs and his face suddenly turns into the Joker. Peter Parker wakes up in bed with Mary Jane on his side. After a short talk with his wife, Peter decides to leave their apartment and swing around the city as Spider-Man.
In another nightmare, a very young Bruce Wayne witnesses the death of his parents caused by a man with a gun. He suddenly turns into Batman and grabs the gunman by the neck. The gunman suddenly turns into the horrific Carnage. Bruce wakes up and decides to reflect. As soon as his butler Alfred opens the door to check on him, Bruce immediately leaves as Batman in the middle of the night.
Somewhere that same night inside a secret facility of the Ravencroft Institute, Cletus Kasady/Carnage is restrained in a secured chamber surrounded by armed security personnel with Spider-Man and psychotherapist Ashley Kafka watching him…
Quality
The two superhero icons together.
I’ll start first with the visual quality of this crossover comic book. Mark Bagley, who was the lead artist on Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man comic book series, delivered an unsurprisingly stylized look at the two superhero icons, super villains and characters, as well as on DC’s Gotham City (which was the most prominent location in the story).
While Bagley’s work on Spider-Man and the characters associated with him were typical of his Amazing Spider-Man of the decade, I can say that his take on Batman, Joker, Alfred, the Bat Cave and others on the DC Comics side resulted a unique look. Bagley drew Joker looking sinister, maniacal, clueless and even tamed as the plot progressed. Bagley’s Batman has a larger yet familiar style of muscular body compared to Spider-Man, and the visual presentation of his cape ranged from dynamic to looking authoritarian. There were however a few moments wherein Bagley went over the limit on emphasizing the length of Batman’s cape which resulted a few inaccuracies. Remember how there were times that Bagley drew Marvel characters’ thighs to look excessive with muscle? You will see that too on Batman here.
When it comes to artistic dynamism, it is clear that Bagley pushed himself hard creating some mixed results. Some scenes (action scenes and talk scenes included) had the appropriate amount of flash and style, while other scenes had an excessive amount. When it came to spectacle, Bagley succeeded in making the action, hard-hitting moments and explosions look very lively. To be clear, this comic book is entertaining to look at but ultimately it will resonate best with readers who are best familiar to the way Bagley draws.
For the storytelling, J.M. DeMatteis crafted a script that did not reach its full potential as there were obvious limits imposed to ensure equality on presenting the characters and the situations. This explains why in the beginning Spider-Man and Batman each had nightmares related to their respective past and end up seeing their respective super villains interchanged (Spider-Man sees Joker, Batman sees Carnage). The characters of Ashley Kafka and Cassandra Briar are not only looking too similar to each other (just imagine their characters having no colors), they both feel like cardboard cut-outs of a single character who specializes on analyzing people with dangerous minds and coming up with solutions to help them. The more known supporting characters from the respective sides of the two icons – Mary Jane and butler Alfred – made short appearances but did not really contribute much to the plot.
The limitations are also felt on the way Spider-Man and Batman – plus Carnage and Joker – were presented, right down to their interactions with each other. While it was expected that Batman and Spider-Man would be brought together by an unfortunate development, the complete absence of a fight between the two superhero icons was itself the biggest surprise here effectively defying crossover superhero tradition. Even without a fight, you will see Batman and Spider-Man do things separately in accordance to their respective traditions or character traits before getting back together leading to the big conflict with the super villains.
As for Joker and Carnage being together, the spotlight on them in this comic book is pretty limited. There simply is not enough space in this comic book to bring out the full potential of the two super villains who each are known to be murderers and psychologically dangerous. What is interesting in their limited time together is that the story emphasized the differences between them when it comes harming people. The Joker has his own sadistic style of leading people to their deaths in time-consuming ways which is opposite of the quick deaths Carnage enjoys. Considering their respective reputations, it is just a shame that this comic book not only failed to bring out the full potential of Carnage-Joker, it also failed to establish them as clear and present dangers to the public.
More on the plot itself in relation to the comic book sub-title “Disordered Minds”, the elements of mental instability, psycho-therapy, psychology and rehabilitation are present but they are all thrown out by the time the second half of the story begins, clearly making space for the crossover dynamics of Batman, Spider-Man, Joker and Carnage.
Conclusion
Joker and Carnage.
Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds (1995) is a flawed crossover event comic book that just so happens to have more positive stuff than negative ones. It is enjoyable but not great and certainly not memorable. The imposed limits on the presentation made this comic book’s story feel very staged and predictable. With what little creative space was left, it is quite an achievement for the creative team to tell a cohesive and stuffed story (note: there is a lot of filler and some psychology related stuff may not interest some readers) while featuring Batman and Spider-Man the best way they could. It has enough superhero spectacle to be enjoyed although the interactions between Batman and Spider-Man and between Joker and Carnage could have been better.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds (1995) be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that a near-mint copy costs $120 while the near-mint copy of the signed-and-numbered edition is at $120.
Overall, Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds (1995)is satisfactory.
+++++
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