entertainment blog – Page 46 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle coming out for your enjoyment!

January 10, 2023January 10, 2023carlocarrasco

If you still have not yet acquired an Xbox Series X console but you already have the means to buy it, then you should seriously consider buying the Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle once it becomes available for $559, Team Xbox announced recently. Having played Forza Horizon 5 a lot on my Xbox Series X since late 2021, I can say that the bundle is great value for you gamers as well as others struggling with inflation.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Xbox.com announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Introducing the Xbox Series X – Forza Horizon 5 Bundle, including an Xbox Series X and wireless controller, and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition with Hot Wheels Expansion, VIP Pass, Car Pass, Welcome Pack and a second expansion when available. This Xbox Series X bundle will be available worldwide and will start shipping to retailers in the US, Canada and select markets in Asia this week. Bundles will start shipping to Europe, Latin America, and more regions around the world later this month.

*The Xbox Series X bundled with Forza Horizon 5 and additional content offered for $559.*

Xbox Series X: 12 teraflops of raw graphic processing power, DirectX ray tracing, a custom 1TB SSD, and 4K gaming – Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox ever. There are thousands of playable titles from four generations of consoles, and all games look and play best on the Xbox Series X. Load times are virtually eliminated and framerates are increased with a custom-built NVMe SSD, which enables larger, more robust games to operate at their full capacity.

Forza Horizon 5 runs at 4K and 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X in performance mode and provides the most technologically advanced Forza Horizon experience yet. You’ll get to explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico in the world’s greatest cars with 12 teraflops of raw graphic processing power, DirectX ray tracing, a custom SSD, and 4K gaming. The power of the Xbox Series X console delivers incredible realism and immersion with a world rendered in higher detail and with extreme draw distances.

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes Forza Horizon 5 plus the Premium Edition add-ons -Forza Horizon 5: The latest entry in the open world racing series showcases powerful, all-new graphical features. Experience sweeping vistas and scan the distance to see the adventure that lies ahead. Encounter the smallest of details throughout the world, which is rendered with striking realism, down to the smallest details like the light that glows through each needle on a Cholla cactus. Our Mexican HDR sky captures illuminate the world to the point that you will feel as if you are right there. And thanks to Xbox Series X|S, ray tracing is utilized in ForzaVista to make the cars look even more true to real life.

Hot Wheels Expansion: Race 10 amazing new cars on the fastest, most extreme tracks ever devised. You can even design, build, and share your own Hot Wheels adventure! What’s not to love about that? You can blast off to the visually stunning, exhilarating Horizon Hot Wheels Park in the clouds above Mexico today.

VIP Pass: The VIP Pass features 3 exclusive Forza Edition cars, Crown Flair, Vanity Items, Emote and Car Horn, Player House, Double Credit race rewards, weekly bonus Super Wheelspins, and more to give your game a boost and make you stand out at the Horizon Festival.

Car Pass: Expand your garage with 42 new cars, including 8 Formula Drift Cars to get you started in style. Plus, you’ll receive a one-time grant of each car to your in-game garage.

Welcome Pack: 5 special pre-tuned cars, a Player House, a one-time grant to own any car from the game’s Autoshow, and 3 one-time grants for any Common or Rare clothing item.

Second Expansion: The next Forza Horizon 5 expansion will be included when it launches.

Wow! That’s a ton of gaming value for those who will buy the Xbox Series X bundled with the blockbuster game! Indeed, Team Xbox is offering big value for $559 to those who want the premium, fun console gaming experience. I myself am still having fun replaying Forza Horizon 5.

Personally, I see this premium bundle announcement as a form of warm-up on the part of Team Xbox to deliver not just more game-related features and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) content but also the big-budget Xbox-exclusive games that are expected to be released this year such as Starfield (note: first half of 2023), Forza Motorsport (2023), Redfall (note: potentially May 2023) and others. 2022 is over and ended without big budget exclusive games and this is the year that Team Xbox should deliver the great stuff that cannot be found on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. If you want tremendous gaming value and content at a small price per month, I encourage you to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (XGP).

Watch out for the Xbox Series X – Forza Horizon 5 premium bundle online and at the local retailers.

In concluding this article, posted below for your enjoyment are Xbox-related videos.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #9 (1993)

January 9, 2023January 3, 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, Marvel 2099 fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel 2099 franchise within Marvel Comics’ shared universe during the 1990s. Specifically speaking, we take a look back at one of the early tales of Spider-Man 2099.

In this retro comic book review, the futuristic Spider-Man finally made his way back uptown after spending time in the old city of New York down below where he saw people living in poverty, violent gangs and Vulture 2099.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #9, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Kelley Jones.

Early story

The story begins at the Wellvale where Conchata O’Hara (mother of Miguel and Gabriel) suddenly suffers an attack from inside her body. The medics were called for emergency.

Elsewhere, Spider-Man jumps with excitement and relief after finally making it back from deep down the modern city. He almost gets hit by a hover car and decides to stop for a while at an isolated spot to calm down and reflect about what happened recently. He just defeated Vulture in battle below prior to climbing back up.

Suddenly, an armed Public Eye flyboy tries to apprehend him. After making getting near the flyboy and making himself look like he was about to submit himself, the flyboy communicates with his team. During that short moment, Spider-Man fires his organic web at the flyboy’s mouth which causes him to fire his weapon and miss. Spider-Man then knocks the flyboy out cold, leaving the communication line hanging…

Quality

*The idolaters of Spider-Man 2099 spotted.*

Considering everything that happened to Spider-Man in the previous few issues set deep underneath the modern city, this tale was crafted to develop the webslinger’s personality some more while showing for the first time ever the group of Spider-Man 2099 idolaters who are so obsessed, they go around wearing their idol’s costume and even take risks imitating his physical abilities (example: crawling on the wall). There is no good-versus-evil conflict here but more exploration of the modern society Miguel O’Hara has long been part of.

For one thing, at this point of the monthly series, Spider-Man 2099’s misadventures and acts in uptown New York not only caused disturbance with the modern society watched over by Alchemax, he also sparked a new group of people who perceive him to be their holy savior. This kinda reminds me of DC Comics’ very own Sons of Batman which is a youth group inspired by Batman, and to see the Marvel 2099 have its own version of the concept is a pretty neat move by the creators.

Speaking of characterization, the complexities of the relationships between Miguel O’Hara with his brother Gabriel, his mother Conchata, his romantic interest Dana and the relationships the others have with each other begin to really grow in this issue. The good news is that Peter David not only provided solid dialogue for each character but also clearly defined their respective personality traits and thoughts about others. To see Gabriel personally reacting to Kasey’s reaction towards Spider-Man’s body was amusing and even a bit hilarious.

On the artistic side, Kelley Jones work here as guest illustrator was nice to see and certain visual elements of his work on Batman comic books also made it here. The result is a nice change of style and a new approach of showing visual details. I should state that even though his art style is radically different from that of Rick Leonardi, Jones managed to make the established characters look recognizable to me.

Conclusion

*Kelley Jones’ visuals on Spider-Man 2099 is nice to see.*

Spider-Man 2099 #9 (1993) is clearly a more characterization-oriented story which is a nice change of pace and approach considering the chaotic story developments of the previous few issues. This comic book also shows that Spider-Man 2099 continues to encounter challenges in both local society and personally. The revelation of idolatry and idolaters connected to Spider-Man added a new layer of foolishness and evil to the local society (for insight, click here and here). At this stage of the monthly series, something new was clearly brewing for the futuristic webslinger and this showed that Peter David laid out his plans for the direction of the series’ narrative. Lastly, Kelley Jones’ work here really stands out.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #9 (1993) is recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #11 (1993)

January 3, 2023December 31, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men Adventures monthly series which was the literary adaptation of the popular X-Men animated series of the 1990s.

In this retro review, we take a look at the adaptation of the animated series’ own portrayal of the Muir Island saga from the comic books. Also there is Rogue who desired to have her genetic mutation cured, even though it means removing her super strength, flying ability and her dangerous touch.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #11, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with Rogue emerging from the rubble of a facility on Muir Island. She remembers that just moments earlier, Pyro and Avalanche ruined the facility just as she was about to get cured by a man she knows as Dr. Adler. She leaves the place searching for those responsible for the ruined facility. She fails to noticed that she is being observed from a distance.

Elsewhere on the island, Pyro and Avalanche open a bag believing Dr. Adler is in it. To their shock, Mystique is the one who emerged and she reveals to them that she was just posing as Dr. Adler as part of her mission to lure mutants into taking the treatment not without realizing the truth that it will turn them into slaves of the one entity she serves…Apocalypse. Pyro explained that he and Avalanche hoped to hold Dr. Adler for ransom.

At a nearby cliff, Cable quietly watches using his rifle’s scope…

Quality

To put things clearly, this one is pay-off to what was built up in issue #10 while also serving as the continuation of a multi-part story regarding Muir Island. In the previous issue, Rogue desired to become a normal individual which is why she went to Dr. Adler on the said island. In this comic book, the direction for Rogue took a drastic change fighting Pyro and Avalanche not knowing that Mystique is involved and secretly working to help her master Apocalypse execute his ambitious plan of gaining capable and controllable slaves from the mutant population.

The good news here is that the script is very well written and the narrative is really strong. Very notably, the superhero spectacle got clearly ramped up by several notches resulting in lots of action scenes as well as opportunities for Andrew Wildman to flex his artistic muscles making some dynamic action-packed images for readers to enjoy. Along the way, there is some suspense built-up related to the sub-plot within (note: Cable’s limited appearance here as well as the Jean Grey and Cyclops reuniting with their mentor Charles Xavier) as well as the Muir Island saga itself.

Indeed, this comic book has lots of spectacle that superhero enthusiasts will enjoy but still the Macchio-Wildman team managed to maintain the core themes of the story for readers to absorb and think about.

Conclusion

*Dynamic action of Rogue taking on Pyro.*

X-Men Adventures #11 (1993) is a very solid read from start to finish. Even as the narrative has lots of action scenes presented, the story still managed to maintain focus on the themes of sacrificing mutation to be normal humans, the temptations brought in by advanced scientific wonders, and the exploitation of people seeking hope and reform a lot. There are indeed moral lessons within this comic book reflect about. This is strong creative work by Macchio-Wildman that X-Men fans and newcomers should read and I can say there is more to come storywise beyond this comic book.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #11 (1993) is recommended!

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A Look Back at Superman #77 (1993)

December 30, 2022December 28, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the post-death period of post-Crisis era Superman comic books as published in the early 1990s by DC Comics. Specifically, this is about a tale that took placed between Superman #75 (1993) and the hyped return of the American icon in Adventures of Superman #500 (1993).

What you are about to see is a mix of drama and intrigue that took place sometime after Superman’s death as envisioned by Dan Jurgens. As with other post-death comics of the time, the supporting characters connected to Superman as well as his arch enemy Lex Luthor got their fair share of the spotlight.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #77, published by DC Comics in 1993 with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens. This is part 8 of the Funeral for a Friend storyline.

Early story

The story begins with the red-headed Lex Luthor (note: in a new physical body totally different from his previous one) in the middle of a combat session. Even though his hatred towards Superman drives him, he could not help but allow his recall of the past to distract him enough to allow one of combatants to strike him down. As Luthor recovers, the session gets interrupted when Supergirl (a clone) appears with Lois Lane beside her.

Lane shares to him a hard copy of a column that she made before it got trimmed down by the editorial team of the Daily Planet. With so much hate in him, Luthor reacts madly to the article which reveals that Superman’s dead body has been taken away by Project Cadmus. Lois tells him that they intend to cut the Man of Steel’s body for cloning.

Luthor then says he will work to get Superman back where he belongs and put Cadmus in its place for good. Moments after, as she walks away from Luthor’s building, Lois Lane expresses concern about how Martha and Jonathan Kent would react had they learned that their adopted son’s body was taken away…

Quality

*Several photographs of Superman taken by Jimmy Olsen.*

I am happy to say that Dan Jurgens crafted a really solid story in this comic book. Character development is easily the biggest feature here which is very notable on how Jurgens highlighted Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen. Each of them had their own moments – Luthor’s obsession and hatred of Superman here will encourage you to revisit the early post-Crisis encounters between them; Lois Lane meanwhile struggles to move on as she misses Clark a lot (note: they were engaged to get married) while also trying to hard to find his missing body; Jimmy Olsen gets the big opportunity to play a major role on deciding the cover image for a printed media tribute of Superman while feeling really down as a result of the sudden death. Jurgens not only crafted the plot structure carefully, he also wrote down very rich dialogue all throughout and he cleverly used dreams and day dream sequences as exposition to give readers notable visions of the past. This is a very compelling read.

Conclusion

*Visions of Lex Luthor’s past accompanying his modern day self shows cleverness and efficiency on the part of Dan Jurgens.*

Superman #77 (1993) really is a great read thanks to Dan Jurgens delivering high-quality work. At this particular stage of DC Comics’ publishing history, Jurgens not only really knew Superman but he knew how to emphasize the supporting characters (all of which were impacted by the death in Superman #75) and what direction to take the Funeral for a Friend storyline to. If there is anything that negatively affects the impact of this comic book, it is the dishonesty and betrayal (towards the fans) that came within Adventures of Superman #500 (1993).

Overall, Superman #77 (1993) is recommended.

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A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994)

December 29, 2022January 2, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the will 1990s and explore the far future of 2099 within the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the tales of Spider-Man 2099.

In my retro review of Spider-Man 2099 #25 (1994), I stated that Peter David crafted a story that connects and related well with the events of issue #1. Issue #25 had a really shocking revelation and by the time I reached the end, I was compelled to revisit issue #1. I can say that, literally, the dots between the two comic books really connected strongly.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #26, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Joe St. Pierre.

Early story

The story begins inside one of the towers of Alchemax where an armored person lies down on a platform closely examined by the local staff. Tyler Stone arrives and immediately wants a report on Kasey Nash. After getting a reply from one of his personnel, he orders the removal of the armor and get her out of the facility.

Meanwhile. Spider-Man wakes up from his nightmare. He finds himself resting on an elevate tree and land surrounded by skyscrapers. He still has not recovered from learning the shocking truth that Tyler Stone – his very powerful boss at Alchemax – is his biological father. Equally disturbing to him is the fact that he never had Rapture in his system and his attempt to alter himself genetically was truly pointless and unnecessary. Miguel O’Hara then says to himself that his whole life is a lie.

As it begins to rain, Spider-Man then starts moving and swinging away…

Quality

I want to make it clear that this particular story written by Peter David was clearly about developing Miguel O’Hara and exploring new depths within his personality. There is no good-versus-evil conflict here, nor were there any superhero spectacles or action scenes to find here. That being said, this comic book is not a bore at all and anyone who strongly follows Spider-Man 2099 as a serious character will have something to enjoy in terms of characterization mixed with intrigue.

As it is already clear that the tycoon Tyler Stone is the biological father of the protagonist, this particular story shows new dimensions as to where Miguel’s life could go to. In terms of characterization, you will get to see a very in-depth development of Spider-Man’s personality as well as his inner struggle with the way his life turns out. The dialogue is very well written, you will feel Miguel’s pain and you may even sympathize with him.

Considering the lack of superhero spectacle, it is great to see Peter David put strong emphasis on Spider-Man’s personality while also leaving some room for other developing sub-plots. It is intriguing to see Spider-Man having intense visual communication with a certain person whose organization empowered Kasey Nash (a lady the protagonist cares about). Speaking of relationships, you will see threads from Miguel’s past romance with a certain lady.

When it comes to the visuals, Joe St. Pierre delivered a fresh new look while still making the established characters look recognizable. At times, the characters were drawn with a cartoony aesthetic and yet there were times that the images looked dynamic even without superhero spectacle. St. Pierre’s work here is a nice temporary change from the usual stuff of Rick Leonardi as many of his art pieces looked more detailed in comparison.

Conclusion

Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994) is clearly a worthy follow-up to the very shocking issue #25. You will see a new age of darkness and uncertainty within Mguel O’Hara’s personal life as well as his emotional struggles. The lack of superhero spectacle is not a problem at all as the characterization here is very compelling to read. This coming book even has a short story that explores Spider-Man’s connection with Tyler Stone long before the incident that took place in issue #1.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994) is recommended.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 6

December 26, 2022December 21, 2022carlocarrasco

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 watch the following videos below…

#1 Worship music videos of Shifting – New Life Music is an anointed music team of New Life Philippines. Through my Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) series, I already reviewed their original worship songs Now I’m Alive, God of the Breakthrough, Touch From Heaven and The Coming King, and each of those songs have music videos on YouTube. There is another original worship song by New Life Music titled Shifting (composed by Nash Soliven, Camille Cuna, Daniel Grospe, Daryl Pinon, MJ Malubay) and there are these YouTube videos of it for your viewing and enlightenment.

#2 Christmas in Israel – Yes, it is true. The Christmas season is also present in Israel, the land that God designated for the Jewish people (refer to Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 35:10-12 in the Holy Bible). Posted below are recent videos about what the Christmas season in Haifa, Jerusalem and Nazareth look like, complete with exploration of varied places and scenes of people enjoying the season. No matter what your faith or culture is, Christmas is truly all about our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Rejoice with Lord Jesus every Christmas.

#3 The common links between Atari and Chuck E. Cheese

In my life, I never ever got to visit any branch of Chuck E. Cheese which is best known for serving meals to customers as well as providing in-door entertainment with arcade games, stage shows and more. As a kid, I got to play lots of video games in the comfort of our home with the Atari 2600 video game console. As a young adult, I learned that Chuck E. Cheese and Atari were historically linked with each other. If you are wondering how or why were they connected, you should watch the two videos below. Watch and pay close attention to the details.

#4 A look back at The Fly (1986)

In the history of cinema, The Fly movie franchise spawned a total of five films from 1958 to 1989. The most notable and most popular of those movies was the 1986 cinematic remake simply titled The Fly (directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis). That being said, it is not surprising at all that YouTube has lots of retro movie reviews, movie trivia videos and movie reaction videos about it. Posted below are a mix of The Fly (1986) reaction videos, an explanatory retrospective video, a retro movie review and a trivia video.

#5 Videos and info about the upcoming Xbox-exclusive video game Forza Motorsport (2023)

The Xbox-exclusive simulation racing game Forza Motorsport (2023) is easily one my most anticipated video games of twenty twenty-three. I really am very eager to play the upcoming game (developed by Turn 10) on my Xbox Series X console and the last FM game I played was Forza Motorsport 6 on my Xbox One. Ever since the June 2022 Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, Team Xbox and Turn 10 only released a few videos of gameplay footage about Forza Motorsport (2023) and they have yet to release new pre-release videos or trailers about it. A lot has already been promised as to what the upcoming game will have (examples: overhauled physics, fully dynamic time of day system, track temperature changes, advanced car damage, tire and fuel management, multiple tire compounds, and real-time ray tracing). While a 2023 release has been confirmed, Team Xbox has yet to announce a final release date. Regardless, Forza Motorsport (2023) is the racing game to watch out for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass (XGP). XGP subscribers will only have to download the game on launch day and play it without paying anything extra. If you are an Xbox gamer who has not yet subscribed, I encourage you to do it.

#6 Worship music video of All

Here is another worship song from Planetshakers that you must listen to, especially when you want to reach out to our Lord…the song is titled All (part of Planetshakers’ 2020 worship songs album Glory Pt. 2). I previously reviewed and analyzed the song in my Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) article back in April 2020 and I can say that All was written to lead people to Lord Jesus, God the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit by powerful faith. Posted below is the official music video of All for your viewing and your faith in Him. By the way, Planetshakers will have its faith conferences in Australia this coming January and you can learn how to join them by clicking here.

#7 Filipino stores in Israel

If you are a fellow Filipino who is already in Israel and also struggling to find Filipino-made products as well as other goods imported from Asia. You should watch the videos below. Pay close attention to the details.

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A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #15 (1993)

December 23, 2022December 21, 2022carlocarrasco

Today is my review about the 15^th and final issue of the X-Men Adventures adaptation of episodes of the 1^st season of the popular animated series. The comic book at hand was the literary translation of the 13^th episode and final episode of season one which was broadcast in March 1993.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #15, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins somewhere in Manhattan where a riot is happening. It turns out that multiple riots have occurred as a result of the of the recent kidnapping of United States Senator Robert Kelly who established himself as the nation’s most prominent anti-mutant public figure.

Deep inside their headquarters, the X-Men watch live news footage of the riot. Even though they were not involved in the kidnapping of Senator Kelly, Charles Xavier and his team are concerned that mutants like them will still be held responsible. The leader tells his team that they must find the missing senator quickly before the wave of intolerance affects all of them mutants. Xavier then starts using Cerebro which he programmed to search for any distortions in the magnetic field of planet Earth.

Elsewhere, inside a vessel that got shipwrecked along the Atlantic seaboard, Magneto has Senator Kelly as his captive. He tells the politician that he holds the key to the future and that they are in agreement that man and mutant cannot co-exist peacefully. For Magneto, the war for dominance must begin as humans remain weak and divided. Suddenly, a huge Sentinel breaks into the place…

Quality

Being the conclusion of the monthly series based on season one of the X-Men animated series, this comic book’s story packs a lot of stuff, intrigue and some memorable character moments. Thematically, the story emphasizes absolute power, intolerance and instability which got dramatized carefully as the narrative progressed.

For the X-Men, the pressure is tremendous as the stakes have gotten so high not just for them but for all mutants as a population. To fail to save the kidnapped Senator Kelly would cause society to become even more hostile to mutants which could compel the federal government to declare a state of emergency. Complicating matters here is Magneto’s obsession with power in connection with his biggest obsession that mutants are essentially superior over humans and that societies will be reformed – even with violence involved – accordingly. Adding even more the complexity of the situation are the presence of government, technology handlers backed by private financiers, and the one gigantic machine (that produces new Sentinels) that becomes self-aware.

The good news here is that the story is very well written, the narrative does not lose focus and the creative duo of Macchio-Wildman managed to craft a tale that consistently remained engaging complete with ensuring sufficient superhero spectacle for entertainment. As expected, the pay-offs executed for all the build-ups proved to be highly satisfying.

When it comes to characterization, everyone here acts and talks as expected. The team dynamics of the X-Men here make for a cerebral reading experience especially when they have these intense private meetings trying to solve their problems and anticipate what would happen next. The dialogue, filled with varied details, are richly written and yet easy to follow. I should state that having the Sentinels as a force of opposition under the control of a rogue AI added a lot to the stakes involved in the plot. The portrayal of machines acting superior over humans proved to be a unique parallel to the humans-mutants conflict.

Conclusion

*The fictional US Senator Robert Kelly in trouble in the presence of Magneto and a Sentinel.*

X-Men Adventures #15 (1993) is not only a worthy conclusion to the monthly series based on animated series’ season one episodes. It is indeed the best comic book of the said series that I have read thanks to the great adaptive works of the Macchio-Wildman team. The story had these very high stakes raised and ultimately the pay-off to all the build-up were great resulting in great satisfaction on my part as a reader. At the same time, there are certain key plot elements and character elements here that eventually made their way into the first X-Men live-action movie of 2000. The core story is the clear feature while the bonus pin-up section was the fun additive. This comic book is a must-have!

Overall, X-Men Adventures #15 (1993) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Venom: Lethal Protector #2 (1993)

December 21, 2022December 19, 2022carlocarrasco

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 first-ever limited comic book series featuring one of Marvel’s most iconic villains – Venom.

In my previous retro review, Eddie Brock returned to his hometown of San Francisco following the events of Amazing Spider-Man #375 (1993). Living with his very distorted belief of protecting the innocent by doing unrelenting acts of violence on others, he begins to get involved with helpless people who happened to be hounded by agents of a certain private organization that wields power. Along the way, Spider-Man arrives in the city find Venom.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Venom: Lethal Protector #2, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins deep underneath the city of San Francisco. Venom, who is caught by the large mechanical fist of a walking mech (piloted by a man working for Roland Treece’s organization), finds himself on the deeply buried section of the city and around them are vagrant people who settled and became residents of a local society that the rest of America does not even know exists.

As the local residents caught the attention of the pilot, Venom breaks free by smashing the mechanical fist into pieces. Another mech suddenly jumps into place near the first one. In response to the first mech’s sudden killing of a local resident (who was armed with a shotgun), Venom jumps to it and kills the pilot inside by punching into the cockpit. Venom then grabs a long sharp object and kills the pilot of the other mech with it.

While the locals were hostile and afraid of Venom, the other people (who were assisted on the surface by Venom) come to support him and tell their fellow underground residents that he is not their enemy. One of the local council members stated that a meeting at the council hall will be held and Venom will attend it…

Quality

*With exposition in mind, Spider-Man here does most of the detective work. Understandably, he is not involved with the superhero spectacle.*

Compared to issue #1, this story has a more interesting setting which is the buried and forgotten section of San Francisco which was the result of the 1906 earthquake. Showing that the lost section has a local population composed of homeless people and those who reject the modern society above was a bright idea nicely executed by the Michelinie-Bagley team as it added some depth into Marvel Comics’ own version of San Francisco.

It was also in the underground city and with the residents where we get to see Venom do his own distorted acts of heroism backed by killing, and see how he fared when trying to win the trust of the locals whose members include those who read about him in the news and those who completely know nothing about him.

Through his interactions with the underground people, Eddie Brock is portrayed to be a bit more human compared to what happened in issue #1. For a man who has gotten very used to using extreme forms of violence and committing multiple acts of murder, it is surprising to see Brock looking and acting more civil in the presence of Americans (and perhaps illegal immigrants) who settled deep underground and established their own rules (note: Eddie Brock does not care about rules while having the alien costume). Still, you will see Venom engage in violent superhero action and even do a bit of detective work.

As with the previous issue, the iconic Spider-Man got a good share of the spotlight in the story as he searches for details about Venom which leads him to finding his rival’s estranged father. Spider-Man’s presence here is noticeably lessened compared to issue #1 and his own search for answers creatively served as exposition. Don’t expect to see any superhero spectacle from Spider-Man.

Without spoiling details and names, I should state that this comic book marks the debut of a ream of armed mercenaries led by a powerful man who lost a son because of what Venom did in Amazing Spider-Man #315 (1989).

Conclusion

*The violent nature of Venom displayed.*

Venom: Lethal Protector #2 (1993) is a marginal improvement over the first issue in terms of storytelling and setting. Part of the big build-up that happened in issue #1 started to get paid-off in this comic book which allowed for the plot to move forward at a more satisfying pace. Venom and Spider-Man share the spotlight again, but this time the edge goes to the black-wearing murderer who also has the benefit of being part of the superhero spectacle here. At this point of the mini-series, Venom is not only facing elements of the Treece organization (which has been organizing something that could impact San Francisco and its people) but also a new force of opposition that is related to something he did a few years prior. That being said, Venom is first and foremost a murderer that Marvel wanted to make big money out of.

Overall, Venom: Lethal Protector #2 (1993) is satisfactory.

+++++

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #7 (1993)

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel 2099 franchise within Marvel Comics’ shared universe during the 1990s. Specifically speaking, we take a look back at one of the early tales of Spider-Man 2099.

In this retro comic book review, the Spider-Man 2099 comic has an eye-catching cover that shows the protagonist in conflict with the 2099 version of the classic Spider-Man the Vulture. At the end of the sixth issue of Spider-Man 2099, Vulture 2099 appeared for the first time ever. This particular issue, which I bought and read in the summer of 1993, marked the conflict between Spidey and Vulture of the future.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #7, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Rick Leonardi.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man 2099 feeling very disoriented, wondering if he is falling as he feels the wind. It turns out, Vulture 2099 is flying while holding him. Close behind them is Spider-Man’s friend flying a hover vehicle. As the flying lady gets close to them, the Vulture quickly makes a move be behind her and starts using his 3-blade mechanical claw on her. As Vulture is about to strike her, Spider-Man disrupts him in defense of her but her vehicle still got damaged.

As the lady’s vehicle releases smoke as a result of the damage, Vulture berates Spider-Man and knocks him out cold. Spidey’s friend crashes down but miraculously survived.

Elsewhere, Miguel O’Hara’s mother visits his apartment and starts talking with the artificial intelligence Lyla…

Quality

*Spider-Man 2099’s first strike against Vulture 2099.*

I’ll start first with Vulture 2099 here. I can say this futuristic version of the classic Spider-Man supervillain was made by the creative team of be really intriguing as he is not only an intimidating flying force, but he is also the leader of a gang called the Freakers. Vulture 2099 also operates while strongly hanging on to his socialist-inspired views truly believing that his Freakers are meant to rise not only against New York’s corporate forces but also against the Thorites and other factions of New York’s underclass. Vulture 2099 also is intelligent and he is clearly aware about what has been going on around them, and no matter how large and powerful Alchemax really is, he is very obsessed about bring them down. Believing he is living with principles, Vulture 2099 goes as far as informing Spidey about their existence and tries to get him as a partner.

On the aspect of evil, Vulture of 2099 was defined by Peter David to be a human monster in the true sense of the words. To find out about that, you must read this comic book.

For his part, Spider-Man’s struggle to survive and get out of danger continues here and the lower-city environment turned out to be a rather intriguing setting for readers to follow him in. His encounters with Vulture 2099 are entertaining to see complete with really inspired dialogue.

Compared to the previous issues, this particular story highlights the lower parts of New York City which was prime real estate back in the 20^th century but got left behind neglected as city development physically went upward. This shows the poor and neglected people living below the modern city in darkness and with lots of crime and negativity around them. The Vulture and his gang stand out in the local lower population due to their violence and so-called principles.

Conclusion

Spider-Man 2099 #7 (1993) has a very engaging story and showcased what was back then the most captivating supervillain of the futuristic Spider-Man. Through David’s writing, it was clear that Vulture 2099 was meant to be a recurring supervillain in this series and he represents the violence and obsessions of the lower-city underclass who will stop at nothing to bring down the corporate giants as well as their rival factions among the impoverished. The portrayal of New York City’s criminal environment and poverty here was cleverly done by David. The new rivalry between the protagonist and 2099’s own Vulture must be seen! Lastly, I should say that Vulture 2099 would mix well with real-life violent forces like Black Lives Matter (BLM), Antifa and terror-oriented groups had he been real. Make no mistake, Vulture 2099 is evil and let this retro review remind you to never embrace evil and never let the said supervillain be your role model. The real world today has way too many radical forces who use violence and anarchy to change societies in accordance to their foolish, unholy worldly beliefs.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #7 (1993) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at What If #10 (1990)

December 15, 2022December 14, 2022carlocarrasco

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.

For those of you who have gotten very familiar with Marvel Comics’ vast lineup of superheroes, anti-heroes, super villains and supporting characters, the Punisher is one of the most notable characters as he is the most definitive vigilante the publisher ever has in its shared superhero universe. As a comic book protagonist, the Punisher does “good” in fighting crime but he sure is as bad as the bad guys as he commits torture, issued threats of violence, kidnapping, extortion, coercion and even murder towards them. A major factor in the Punisher’s origin (as Frank Castle) was the killing of his family (wife and two kids) committed by a mob as they witnessed acts of killing in Central Park in New York City. The tragic deaths led Castle to become the Punisher who not only relentlessly waged a personal war against criminals but also often wore dark clothes with a large white skull design on the front of his body. The skull symbolized punishment and death to his enemies.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #10, published in 1990 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Murray and drawn by Rik Levins.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher recalling the time Frank Castle spent with his wife and the two kids at New York City’s Central Park. There, they have fun with their picnic. At this point in time, Frank Castle had previously served his country in the Vietnam War and he carries within him bravery, the experience of violence and vast skills to use weapons.

The weather suddenly worsens as rain starts to fall down causing some inconvenience on the Castle family. Frank’s son struggles as his kite got caught by the large plant nearby. On the other side of the said plant, four armed men and their captive (hanging upside down by the tree) are startled and prepare themselves to shoot anyone who appears.

Frank, who does not realize the mob on the other side of the plant, helps his son get the kite back. The Castle family then decide to go back home not realizing that they came close to discovering and witnessing the illegal activity of the armed men. As the family kept on moving, Frank hears gunfire from a distance…

Quality

To get straight to the point about this comic book, it’s story is really engaging and it has noticeable amounts of darkness and grittiness without going overboard. While exploring what would happen had Frank Castle’s family not been killed, the comic book shows the Punisher getting involved in public safety as a New York patrolman which puts him in a unique position facing crime in radically different ways from what we comic book readers have been used to seeing. The story also explores corruption within the police and the justice system as well.

The way the events and action turned out showed the creative team focused on realism while also establishing the Punisher’s own place within the comic book’s alternate portrayal of the shared superhero universe. More on the subject matter of this comic book, there is a twist that surprised me a lot and it is something that you readers should see for yourselves.

Going back to Frank Castle, it is indeed very captivating to see him portrayed a lot more as a family man who really strives to support his wife and kids no matter how dangerous his occupation really is. The aspect of family in this comic book is very significant as it will make you realize that the definition of family in America in the 21^st century has been distorted as a result of laws or court decisions that reflected wokeness, homosexuality and unrestrained feminism. In short, woke America’s believers reject the concept of the traditional family and the concept of a father leading the family is considered taboo because it goes against LGBT’s so-called values and principles.

Conclusion

When you think about the legacy of the Punisher not only on comics but also in movies and other forms of entertainment media, you will often remember a one-man-army against criminals. What If #10 (1990) has is a really unique take on the Punisher and I can say it has a very captivating script brought to life with really good artwork. Not only does this alternate version of the Punisher shows how he affects criminals, but also how he impacts other parts of the fictional New York society within the shared universe of Marvel Comics (note: characters connected to Spider-Man and Daredevil are here). From start to finish, this Punisher tale by the Murray-Levins team turned out to be very engaging to read.

Overall, What If #10 (1990) is highly recommended!

+++++

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