comics – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #384 (1993)

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023carlocarrasco

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 go back to the year 1993 and explore a part of the Marvel Comics universe through one of the many tales of the Amazing Spider-Man comic book series.

In my previous retro review, Spider-Man became the new target of The Jury, a team of armored mercenaries founded and led by the father (note: a prominent and powerful man) of one of Venom’s murder victims. Spider-Man was perceived to be responsible for bringing the living alien costume into the world which eventually resulted in the creation of Venom (note: Eddie Brock bonded with the same symbiote) who went on to cause havoc and killed a lot of people.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #384, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins inside a certain government building in New York City scheduled for renovation. A heavily restrained and drugged Spider-Man was about to have mask taken off by one of The Jury members when their founder General Taylor intervened and insisted that they keep their honor. Spider-Man is up for questioning and scrutinization in a makeshift trial by The Jury. As the webslinger is not in the proper condition to stand trial, Taylor (in his capacity as the judge) declares a 30-minute recess.

Elsewhere, Peter Parker’s wife Mary Jane received bad news from her boss that her role in the TV show Secret Hospital will be reduced to a recurring role. This troubles her deeply as it means reduced income for her at a time when her marriage with Peter continues to go down. Spider-Man’s lack of quality time with her keeps taking its toll on her…

Quality

Firstly, I should say that the Michelinie-Bagley team’s concept of having The Jury as the force of opposition against Spider-Man continues to do wonders creatively in this particular comic book series. In the previous issue, the webslinger was hunted and General Taylor really invested a lot of technologies to get to him in the middle of a very bustling city. In this particular issue, Spider-Man is completely vulnerable being weakened and disoriented as he is about to be tried in a makeshift court.

Along the way, Taylor and his team were portrayed to work within their own system of justice. As no court of law in New York would recognize Spider-Man’s trial, The Jury set up their own court in a very private and unusual manner.

While the planned trial is the major event of this comic book’s concept, Michelinie pulled off a rather unusual move with the narrative. Just as the first witness points to Spider-Man for being responsible for Venom, the iconic webslinger then starts to wonder what the trial is truly all about and then the creative team unleashed a slew of flashbacks that looked back a key events published in certain comic books of Secret Wars, The Amazing Spider-Man and Web of Spider-Man through the years. I’m talking about Spider-Man’s first-ever encounter with the symbiote, how he got rid of it, how the symbiote bonded with Eddie Brock to form Venom, how Venom’s costume left a living seed that Cletus Kassady touched and became Carnage, etc. These flashbacks, all nicely drawn by Mark Bagley, conveniently served as an instant reference for readers to catch up with the current events but this was done at the expense of this comic book’s narrative.

More on the trial, this comic book raises layered questions about the concept of responsibility on Spider-Man. Could the iconic webslinger really be held accountable for whatever murders Venom committed along with the trauma he caused on bystanders given the fact that he really brought the alien costume into their world? Should Spider-Man also be held responsible for any murders committed by Carnage? This is one really loaded script Michelinie came up with and he really had Spider-Man vulnerable not only to The Jury but also to the questions thrown at him during the makeshift trial. To put it short, this is one very unusual Spider-Man tale ever told that carries strong relevance from the past.

As with the previous issues, this comic book sheds a limited amount of the spotlight on Mary Jane and Spider-Man’s Aunt May who at this stage has gotten paranoid with her suspicions about Peter’s parents. The dramatization turned out pretty good.

Conclusion

*Spider-Man in a vulnerable state with The Jury.*

While the flashbacks were excessive and made the narrative feel bloated, Amazing Spider-Man #384 (1993) still has lots of good stuff fans can enjoy. It has a pretty bold concept of having Spider-Man really trapped and left vulnerable for the makeshift trial. More notably, the narrative pounded heavily on the concept of responsibility in relation to Spider-Man’s past actions that led to the creation of Venom and even Carnage.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #384 (1993) is recommended!

+++++

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A Look Back at Superman #5 (1987)

May 24, 2023May 20, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through a Superman tale.

To put things in perspective, John Byrne became in charge of redefining the iconic Superman during the post-Crisis age and he sure had a lot of creative freedom to not only modernize the character but also make him relevant to the public while also pleasing long-time fans. To say the least, the post-Crisis era was a time of daring concepts with the established superheroes of DC Comics. For more insight on Byrne’s handling of the Man of Steel, read my other retro comic book review by clicking here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #5, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins with Clark Kent having an outrageous dream in which he and Wonder Woman fight powerful enemies together. Shortly after arriving at the Daily Planet for duty, Clark learns from his boss Perry White that his office rival Lois Lane is already in South America literally digging on a significant discovery there. After being sent there by his boss, Clark flies to the south as Superman.

Upon arrival, Superman does a super speed reconnoiter at the dig site in the middle of a forest before changing back into Clark Kent. He eventually finds Lois Lane who is very surprised to see him. Even though he explained things to her, Lois remains doubtful of Clark as she still sees him as a journalistic rival who could potentially ruin her hot scoop…

Quality

*In his civilian form as Clark Kent, Superman fights the huge mummy figure.*

I can say that John Byrne’s brilliance is very evident in this comic book. Firstly, this is a story that sheds light on the journalistic rivalry between Lois and Clark that brings back memories about what happened with the Superman hot scoop in The Man of Steel limited series. Here, Lois remains doubtful about Clark and even shows some bitterness as she is on the verge of a major discovery in South America.

Secondly, this story is also an accidental adventure that creatively has a mix of Indiana Jones, UFOs and ancient horror all throughout. The build-up here is pretty strong as the tale focused strongly on the discovery aspect of the dig site which eventually led to a series of action-packed unfortunate events that really pushed Clark Kent both as civilian and as a superhero. Here, Clark has the tough task to fight an over-sized enemy (note: Byrne’s own take on the mummy) to keep Lois and the others safe while also making certain that he keeps his identity secret.

Along the way, Byrne inserted lots of in-depth details backed with observations (by the characters) which made this action-packed tale a cerebral read. This is a fine example of being creative with handling Superman while catering to readers who love spectacle as well as satisfying those who enjoy a smart presentation of the icon. In other words, there is nothing brainless or dumb to find here.

Conclusion

*The journalistic rivalry between Clark and Lois Lane is really engaging to read.*

Superman #5 (1987) is a very good read and this is fine showcase of the brilliant handling of the Man of Steel done by John Byrne. Aesthetics aside, this comic book is a relic that highlights the time when Lois and Clark were rival writers and the idea of them getting romantically involved seemed very unlikely at the time of its publishing during the early stage of the post-Crisis era. It was in many ways a defiance of the status quo of the original DC multiverse that had Lois and Superman as lovers. As an adventure, this comic book is very entertaining and engaging and the thing here is that it is only the first part of its arc.

Overall, Superman #5 (1993) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #383 (1993)

May 23, 2023May 18, 2023carlocarrasco

To put things in perspective, the creative team behind the Amazing Spider-Man title decided to shake things up a bit by having the high-tech team called The Jury (the same team that went against Venom led by a powerful man whose son was murdered by Eddie Brock in Amazing Spider-Man #315) as the force of opposition for the webslinger.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #383, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins in New York with the super-powered being Nova flying around which triggers an alert. It turns out, members of The Jury and their leader General Orwell Taylor have been monitoring and scanning areas of the city with several motion detectors to find Spider-Man. As far as Taylor is concerned, Spider-Man is highly responsible for the existence of Venom in their world and is therefore connected to the murder of his son (committed by Venom while escaping from prison in Amazing Spider-Man #315). Taylor is convinced that the if Spider-Man’s freedom is the price for stopping a monster like Venom, then that would be good.

Suddenly, the team notices that one of their motion detectors went offline. Moments later, a technician reaches the rooftop of the building and finds a motion detector severely damaged. Out of nowhere, Spider-Man grabs the technician and puts his life in danger by moving him off the edge using his fist and strength to carry him. Spider-Man pressures him for details…

Quality

*The Jury’s hunt for Spider-Man is really entertaining to read!*

This is definitely one of the more engaging Amazing Spider-Man stories I read not only from 1993 but from the 1990s in general. In my view, putting Spider-Man up against The Jury is a stroke of genius on the part of the Michelinie-Bagley team and at the same time it was a sound relief after reading so much about the presence of Carnage and Venom on this particular monthly series (note: the Maximum Carnage crossover chapters and Amazing Spider-Man #375 being linked with the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series).

When it comes to The Jury, Michelinie crafted a script that justifies Taylor’s team to pursue Spider-Man after they failure on getting Venom. This shows that Taylor has acquired information about Venom’s origin being the result of Spider-Man bringing home with him the symbiote (alien costume) from his time on a far-away planet (as seen in the Secret Wars series). Creatively, this results in a very convincing portrayal of Taylor not only as a grieving father but also as a very tactical leader who uses vast intelligence and resources to achieve what he believes is justice and the means for achieving the greater good. As for The Jury’s armored members – Sentry, Ramshot, Screech, Firearm and Bomblast – Michelinie did not simply portray them as straight-forward, mission-focused people here. One of them shows hesitancy which added a nice layer of division and human weakness within the team which is felt in action-packed encounter with Spider-Man.

Being the target of The Jury, Spider-Man at this stage is deeply troubled even though the Maximum Carnage disasters are over. He is portrayed to be very disturbed by the alarm signals of his Spider Sense whenever he gets near one of the sensors of The Jury which is a unique display of his special ability.

Those of you who love superhero spectacle will find a lot to enjoy here! Mark Bagley’s art on emphasizing action and stunts is fantastic to look at as The Jury pursues Spider-Man within New York. There are lots of dynamic shots, flashy high-tech images and really intense superhero action complete with collateral damage!

To be clear, this comic book is not simply all about the webslinger and Taylor’s team. There are some scenes here building up on Aunt May’s suspicion about Peter Parker’s parents which added suspense to the narrative.

Conclusion

*As usual, Peter Parker does not have enough quality time for his wife.*

Amazing Spider-Man #383 (1993) remains a very solid and highly entertaining comic book to read from start to finish. The Michelinie-Bagley team really delivered the great stuff as they launched a new concept having The Jury hunting Spider-Man in successful fashion. The Jury is clearly a very formidable team that gave Venom and Spider-Man a lot of trouble. The notable thing here is that this is only the first chapter of a new storyline with focus on Spider-Man’s responsibility with the murderous Venom (and all the victims he made).

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #383 (1993) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #381 (1993)

May 18, 2023May 15, 2023carlocarrasco

To put things in perspective, 1993 was another busy year for the iconic Spider-Man who not only had four monthly series of his own but also appeared in the Venom: Lethal Protector mini-series, the 14-part Maximum Carnage crossover and in Marvel’s major crossover The Infinity Crusade. As expected, Spider-Man survived through those storylines.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #381, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins inside the airport in New York where the incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner himself had just arrived from Scotland. Due to his tremendous size, his physical presence easily distract the people around him. Dr. Leonard Samson surprises Banner and informs him of an upcoming scientific demonstration and the scientists behind it have developed something that could have ramifications for people who got exposed to gamma radiation. Samson explains that there is a radiation virus that releases repressed emotions. The Hulk rejects Samson and leaps to the air above towards an unknow destination.

At a school yard in lower Manhattan, two kids bully another kid into giving them his lunch money. Spider-Man suddenly arrives to stop trouble and immediately the two bullies ran away…

Quality

I can say that is one of the more interesting crossovers between Spider-Man and the Hulk who at this stage in Marvel’s comic book history retained his intelligence and personality while in his huge, green-skinned form. Adding variety to the crossover was the presence of Doc Samson who was already an established and notable supporting character in comic books featuring the Hulk.

Set after the events of Maximum Carnage, the Infinity Crusade and Hulk’s time in Scotland (as told in Incredible Hulk #407), this story shows life in New York gradually normalizing. The peace, as it turns out, was only temporary as the big-time scientific demonstration in this story leads to a series of unfortunate events that compels Peter Parker to take action as Spider-Man.

The tale was nicely structured and the creative team took its time to build-up the story concept, the character motivations and execute the superhero spectacle at an overall medium pace. There is simply no boring scene nor any wasted moments. The appearances of Samson and the Hulk in this Spider-Man tale were nicely integrated and they each had their own impact on the plot. There is a lot of stuff here that fans of both Spidey and the green giant can enjoy.

When it comes to the art, I found Mark Bagley’s take on the Hulk distinctive and intriguing to look at. The final shot of this comic book is a must-see.

Conclusion

While there clearly is no villain, Amazing Spider-Man #381 (1993) still turned out to be a fun read complete with a fine crossover between Spider-Man, Doc Samson and the Hulk. Apart from the lack of space for character development, nothing here felt half-baked with the executions of the storytelling and the spectacle. This is a fun read and it was also a modern take on the personal encounter between Hulk and Spidey during the 1990s. This comic book has something enjoyable that fans of the two Marvel icons won’t find in any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies and shows.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #381 (1993) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #78 (1993)

May 17, 2023May 14, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a chapter of the Reign of the Supermen storyline through one of the issues of the Superman monthly series.

To put things in perspective, DC Comics fulfilled its promise to kill the iconic Man of Steel in Superman #75 (1993) which sold a whole lot of copies and the daring death concept made Superman a hot news item. After a brief period showing what the world is like without Superman, DC resurrected him in Adventures of Superman #500 which spawned the different Supermen and a new storyline (the Reign of the Supermen) which took effect on the four Superman monthly series of the time.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #78, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens.

Early story

The story begins with Lois Lane still thinking about Superman as she drives her car on a rainy night. At the moment, she still has not learned to live without him. As she is granted access into a facility of Lexcorp, she carefully thinks about the sudden number of many people around the country who claimed to have seen Superman.

Inside the facility, Dr. Meyer meets her and tells her that had met the Man of Steel sometime prior and he believes that the certain person who saved him and others was definitely the same person. Being skeptical, Lois Lane asked him if some other superhero saved them from certain death. In response, he shows to her an image of the heroic figure captured by security cameras. Lois recognizes the face and head even though some parts were shadowed…

Quality

Starting with the storytelling, I can say that this is one solid tale that really pokes the curiosity regarding Cyborg Superman…is he the real Superman or some very clever and capable impostor? Dan Jurgens really knows his Superman stuff and he used a clever approach on arousing the readers’ curiosity while still managing to move the story forward. As one of the early chapters of the Reign of the Supermen storyline, it was very obvious that things were set in motion to set up future post-death Superman stories.

The most engaging parts of this tale were the scenes between Lois Lane and Cyborg Superman (note: he sure looks like a Terminator-inspired take on the Man of Steel which itself was a daring concept back in 1993). Lois Lane here is clearly intelligent and for personal and professional reasons, she would not settle for words as definitive answers but have evidence scientifically analyzed right in front of her. Once again, this is a lively reminder that in the post-Crisis universe of DC Comics, Lois Lane is persistent on verifying facts to realize the truth (which is something clearly missing in today’s world of social media and news media outlets serving as loudspeakers for political forces).

While the storytelling remains good all these decades, what really aged badly in this comic book was the bastardization of Superman’s iconic imagery with some robotic influences of the Terminator mixed in that made him look science fictional in appearance. Of course, Cyborg Superman was just one of the Supermen in this storyline and the Reign of the Supermen concept was clearly an extension of DC Comics’ dishonesty behind the death and return of the Man of Steel. This also shows DC’s irresponsible handling of one of America’s icons. Let’s be honest with ourselves here…how many of you really want to see Cyborg Superman in live-action form in a future DC superhero movie from Warner Bros. and James Gunn?

Conclusion

*How many of you have this poster of a very bastardized image of Superman in your homes right now?*

While Superman #78 (1993) has a good story told and added to the mystery about the resurrection of Superman, it ultimately served as a build-up platform to set up further stories not only about the Man of Steel but also that of Doomsday (note: a big rematch happened a few years later). The image of Cyborg Superman is clearly a defamation of the iconic look of the Man of Steel and that alone really brought the overall entertainment value of this comic book way down in my view. I find it baffling that there was no major backlash nor an outrage from Superman fans back in 1993 over this.

Overall, Superman #78 (1993) is serviceable.

+++++

A Look Back at Web of Spider-Man #90 (1992)

May 10, 2023May 10, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1992 and explore a part of what was back then the 30^th anniversary celebration of Spider-Man

In what was back then a unique approaching to celebrating the anniversary of an American icon, Marvel Comics published not one but four specific Spider-Man comic books that had holographic covers and more pages than the usual. Each of those special comic books were from a different Spider-Man monthly series. Back in 2020, I published a retro review of one of those gimmick cover comic books from the Spider-Man monthly series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Web of Spider-Man #90, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story by Howard Mackie and drawn by Alex Saviuk.

Early story

The story begins inside an office in Los Angeles. A hat-wearing businessman has several varied figures of Spider-Man near him and recalls the time when the iconic hero participated in one of his events as the Masked Marvel. Moments later, the businessman’s wife arrives and together they departed in a limousine.

At the South Bronx in New York, Spider-Man chases a speeding car with one of its passengers firing a gun at him. Suddenly, his spider sense bothers him a lot and when he looks around, he suddenly sees Galactus standing with members of the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four lying down helpless on the ground…

Quality

*Spider-Man on the set of an entertainment project. It’s a lively reminder about how sickening Hollywood (AKA Commiewood) can get.*

To make things clear and without spoiling the plot, this story deals with illusions and the distortion of reality. Quite ironically, the said distortion made it a challenge to follow the narrative and I can say that a good amount of the spotlight was on the businessman. Spider-Man is clearly the protagonist here but it made sense for the creative team to focus a bit on the businessman (who has been doing entertainment showcases for a long time) to justify the core concept about the conflicts between what is real and what is imaginary.

In relation to the illusion aspect of the story, you will get to see established Spider-Man arch-villains such as the Green Goblin, the Hobgoblin and Venom taking on the superhero himself. As the creative team focused more on providing a great amount of spectacle, there clearly was no room left for character development on Spider-Man. Don’t expect to see Peter Parker in dramatic moments nor see him interact with the established supporting characters.

If there is any moral lesson to learn from this comic book, it would be this – living with a powerful delusion (the result of personal obsession mixed with the personal failure to separate illusion from reality) can lead you to the wrong directions in life.

Conclusion

*To justify the 30th anniversary celebration, distorted flashbacks into Peter Parker’s past were presented here.*

Web of Spider-Man #90 (1992) does not have much depth for those who seek engaging storytelling. That being said, the story itself is not memorable nor would it leave a long lasting impact on you. This comic book was made to entertain readers with lots of action and wild fantasy images that eerily justify its concept about illusion and reality conflicting each other. In fairness to the creative team, the said conflict was consistently visualized and there were some dialogue that related to it in a somewhat philosophical manner. The comic book’s entertainment value is satisfying enough although it does not justify the holographic cover that was part of the gimmick with celebrating Spider-Man’s 30th anniversary. As for who was the main antagonist of the comic book, I simply encourage you all to read and find out for yourselves.

Overall, Web of Spider-Man #90 (1992) is satisfactory.

+++++

A Look Back at Armorines #4 (1994)

April 19, 2023April 15, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Armorines monthly series.

In my previous retro review, the armored Marines and their US Navy SEALs managed to survive from the destruction of the submarine deep under the sea as they managed to complete their goal. One of the Armorines – Sirot – got separated from them and found himself in the presence of aliens who have been organizing secret operations on Earth, including the recent destruction of X-O Manowar’s armor. Knowing that their teammate is missing, the Armorines went back to the water on a search-and-rescue mission.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Armorines #4, published in 1994 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jorge Gonzalez and drawn by Jim Calafiore.

Early story

The story begins inside one of the training domes located just outside Camp Pendleton in California (note: now a Commie-filled state). Teammates Gunny and Sirot engage in a close combat training session using the specialized technology provided to them by Dr. Zhan who carefully watches the statistics. As the session goes on, Sirot sarcastically tells the older Gunny that Senator Ackerman wants him off the Armorines as soon as their superior General Kendall feels the other recruits are properly trained. Sirot mocks him over his age (38-years-old).

Behind closed doors, Senator Ackerman tells General Kendall that even though the Armorines were successful with the mission in Australia and even managed to uncover a nest of aliens, the team were all more than capable without Gunny in their unit. Kendall defends Gunny and stressed that the man is their team’s most experienced member. Ackerman states that once the alien problem is over, he will force Gunny to retire…

Quality

*Scenes like this will help readers get to know the Armorines members better.*

To be clear, this story is more focused on the characters and is also a suitable build-up for the next turn of events ahead of the Armorines. As with issue #1, Gunny is the closest thing this series has to a lead character and he gets a good amount of character development scenes even though the story showed the other characters. Quite conveniently, the creative team used the military base setting to shift focus on the other Armorine team members similar to what was shown in Hollywood movies or TV shows about military personnel. There is the military club setting where the officers are relaxing and socializing with each other. There were also scenes showing specific soldiers at their respective residences where their true personalities (note: private life moments) are emphasized. All of these were done with solid writing and good artwork.

Without spoiling the details, I can say that the final page of this comic book was surprising and added to my anticipation of the next issue.

Conclusion

*Alien vessels leaving Earth for space.*

Armorines #4 (1994) is another solid entry in this particular monthly series which served as a good build-up for the next story that happens to be part of a big event that Valiant Comics published (read: The Chaos Effect). It is also within this comic book that you get to know the Armorines, their superiors and other characters better.

Overall, Armorines #4 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Harbinger #24 (1993)

April 17, 2023April 13, 2023carlocarrasco

In my previous review, the conflict between the Harbinger Foundation and Sting’s team got renewed violently. This resulted in an attack on the team of teenagers which led to one of them getting killed. With his other companions missing, Sting finds himself alone, desperate and outraged.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Harbinger #23, published in 1993 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Maurice Fontenot and illustrated by Howard Simpson.

Early story

The story begins on a very early morning. Desperate and very stressed out, Sting causes a disturbance inside a hospital in New Jersey by lifting one of their workers above the floor while pressing them for answers about the whereabouts of his surviving friends Flamingo, Faith and Kris. Already he has visited three other hospitals since the tragedy struck his team and took the life of Shatiqua. Sting remembers that an ambulance took his friends away after their rented house got burned down.

After calming down and getting told by one of the hospital workers that they have notified the police of his presence, Sting walks out and quickly got caught by a police officer. Also present were a few other police officers with their guns aimed at Sting.

As the tension of the arrest rises, Sting gets enraged and starts using his power to free himself…

Quality

*This is Sting at his most violent yet.*

I can that this Harbinger tale is not only a very solid follow-up to the previous issue, it also showed that the stakes and the suspense have been raised significantly. It also shows that the Fontenot-Simpson team had prepared something for the anticipated conflict between Sting and his former mentor Toyo Harada.

As the other team members were completely absent (note: the nightmare sequence does not count as presence for Faith, Flamingo and Kris), the story strongly focuses on Sting. Yes, as before, he remains reckless and impulsive, he lacks morals (note: he has a bad relationship with his father) and it is no surprise that he becomes suicidal in his desperate search for his companions. Along the way, you will see Sting at his most violent yet which not only blurs the line separating good and evil but also highlights him as a destructive force in human form. Simply put, this series’ so-called hero became as bad as the bad guys and this only added to the anticipation of the one-on-one battle with Harada. While Sting is relatable when it comes to caring and seeking his lost companions, he is also unlikable and very clearly his redemption has yet to happen.

Of course, Sting is not the lone character to follow here as a former Eggbreakers member gets involved. This is significant as the two had some things in common – both were under Harada as Harbinger Foundation’s pupils and left after they realized the wickedness within the organization. The difference here is that the other character spent much more time than Sting under Harada and he went on to get extensive training with the Eggbreakers which is the special team of powered youth under the Harbinger Foundation.

Conclusion

*Even though the police officer was doing his duty in accordance to law, Sting does not care.*

Harbinger #24 (1993) is a great comic book to read and it also served as a powerful build-up for the anticipated showdown between Sting and Harada (which itself was declared in the final page). The creative team delivered high-quality work here and this Harbinger tale highlights not only the conflict between Sting’s team and the Harbinger Foundation, but also what this monthly series was all about. This comic book has a powerful final page and even before reaching it, you will realize that the stakes have been raised a lot while the line between good and evil got blurred away.

Overall, Harbinger #24 (1993) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Harbinger #23 (1993)

April 13, 2023April 12, 2023carlocarrasco

In my previous review, Faith, Flamingo and Kris – with her uncle as a companion – accidentally got reunited with Archer and Armstrong at Coney Island. It turns out Kris’ uncle had a negative encounter with Armstrong decades prior which compels him to approach a local crime boss for assistance. This led to a wild chase.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Harbinger #23, published in 1993 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Maurice Fontenot and illustrated by Howard Simpson.

Early story

The story begins with Sting, Flamingo and Faith surrounded by armed personnel at the Harbinger Foundation’s private hangar at La Guardia Airport in New York. Faith does something drastic causing a heavy object from above to start falling down on the armed men. One of the men fires his gun at a barrel of fuel which causes a big explosion.

In a room nearby, Shatiqua and Kris hacked a computer to acquire lots of confidential information from the Harbinger Foundation. After realizing the explosion that happened, they decide to work fast getting the information they need.

On the airport’s tarmac, a private jet is on standby waiting for clearance to take off. Inside is Walter Sakai, who is one of the most trusted men under Toyo Harada…

Quality

*Sting, his teammates and their major enemy Toyo Harada.*

Without spoiling the crucial details of the plot, the Fontenot-Simpson clearly made the moves to raise the stakes between Sting’s team and the Harbinger Foundation, complete with the build-up of a pending high-stakes conflict between their respective leaders.

Of course, this is the latest conflict between the two sides – one side has super-powered teens who want to live freely while the other is a powerful organization that has been developing its of super-powered youth members using vast resources as well as political connections. This time around, the creative team not only raised the stakes but also came up with some really dark and bizarre scenarios within Sting’s own team. The good news is that Fontenot came up with something new and surprising to keep this series going with a clear direction ahead. The mentioned dark scenarios visually have a horror film vibe.

As for Sting himself, he continues to take action recklessly and without any backup, he impulsively goes after one of Harada’s top executives without considering the consequences. At this stage, Sting has turned unlikable and it really looks like the boundary separating good and evil got blurred away. That being said, there will be moments in which you will feel like wanting to tell Sting he is doing things the wrong way.

Conclusion

*Very recklessly, Sting goes after one of Toyo Harada’s most trusted men.*

Harbinger #23 (1993) revives the rivalry between Sting’s team and the Harbinger Foundation, only this time there are some very solid twists that resulted in both surprise and intrigue when I read this tale. It seems to me that something tremendous between Harada and Sting was being built up. Considering the really good quality of this comic book and how the story ended, I can say I am looking forward to the next issue.

Overall, Harbinger #23 (1993) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Armorines #3 (1994)

April 12, 2023April 10, 2023carlocarrasco

In my previous retro review, the armored Marines and their US Navy SEALs counterparts encountered mutated sharks as they struggled to accomplish their mission. Along the way, one of the Armorines literally got swallowed by a huge, organic object that went directly to him during the struggle.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Armorines #3, published in 1994 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jorge Gonzalez and drawn by Jim Calafiore.

Early story

The story begins deep under the sea as the Benchley explodes and falls down further as a result of the mission. Gunny finds himself falling down as well as he no longer has his ballast and propulsion unit. Fortunately, an armored teammate of his saves him and pulls him up to the surface.

Several kilometers away from the site of the ill-fated Benchley, a huge organic-looking object enters the large hole on the side of a derelict ship. Strangely enough, the interiors have an alien design and the organic-looking object turns out to be a ship of its own. Two human figures with unnatural physical features come out of it and told their alien-looking troops to enter the refrigeration unit to “bring the ‘meat’” to Chantilla.

Inside the refrigeration unit filled with lots of dead human bodies, the armed aliens approach the Armorines suit only to find it empty. As they did not bother to search around to find answers, the Armorines pilot cleverly concealed himself among the other dead bodies pretending to be dead. He gets up after the aliens leave…

Quality

*The first display of the Armorines in action without the aquatic environment.*

After a good amount of build-up executed by the creative team in the first two issues, this particular comic book served as a big pay-off as well as a creative build-up of its own with the future events in mind. In fact, the sci-concepts introduced here along with new figures of opposition (specifically the humans with physical aquatic features) really lifted the storytelling to a whole new level of imagination laced with intrigue. Instead of seeing armed terrorists or an opposing force with military hardware to counter the high-tech Armorines, we see people who have a sinister plan, have been organizing violent operations on Earth and are of alien origin. These aliens, who are even studying human characteristics, were involved in conflicts with X-O Manowar and Turok elsewhere within the Valiant Comics shared universe. In fact, the two individuals who arrived early in the story came from their act of destroying X-O Manowar’s armor (read X-O Manowar #28). I should also state that the duo of Gonzalez-Calafiore cleverly emphasized the aliens’ plan to weaken the coordination and security of Earth’s forces so that they can escape undetected. What is even more intriguing within this comic book is the visualization of the aliens’ secret scientific developments and experiments on Earth.

Going back to the Armorines, you will see them in action without the aquatic environment. The way the creative team showed the Armorines in action against their alien counterparts turned out to be entertaining to read.

Conclusion

Given the fact that Democrats in America today love illegal immigrants so much, can you imagine them and their hordes of woke/socialist/Communist/Marxist/liberal/LGBTQ/transgendered voters welcoming aliens from outer space and allowing them to do bad things against humanity here on Earth? Imagine Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton making secret deals with these aliens.

I can say that Armorines #3 (1994) is a well-executed story that successfully paid off what was built in the first two issues and raised the stakes further with sci-fi concepts and a force of opposition that made impact elsewhere in the Valiant Comics shared universe. As I enjoyed this old comic book, I am looking forward to the next issue.

Overall, Armorines #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

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