fun – Page 14 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025carlocarrasco

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 pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the iconic Superman.

To put things in perspective, DC Comics rebooted its entire shared universe in 1986 after the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths. They published the 6-part The Man of Steel mini-series to reboot the iconic Superman and modernize him with the creative leadership of John Byrne. By the time the mini-series ended, the new background stories, the supporting characters and creative foundation of the post-Crisis Superman were established. That being said, a brand new Superman monthly series led by Byrne was inevitable.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #1, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins with Superman smashing his way through into a secretive, high-tech facility. Noticing so much technology, he begins to wonder why would anyone abandon such a facility. As he slowly makes his way inside, he finds several images of him displayed confirming that someone has been devoting a great deal of time and effort to research him. This makes him concerned that someone in his old home town of Smallville could recognize a picture of Superman as their fellow resident Clark Kent.

As he keeps searching, he finds the body of a dead scientist whose neck was broken. He also notices the corpse’s fingerprints are the same as those found on the truck outside of the facility. The truck itself was involved in the theft of his Kryptonian rocket. After finding more nasty evidence, Superman digs deep down underneath the facility then lifts a huge part of the ground with the said structure on top. He lifts up everything and brought them all into space free from the reach of people below.

Superman then flies off to Metropolis to change into Clark Kent to meet with Lois Lane at the city park…

Quality

*I like the way John Byrne told parallel narratives with Superman in the present on the left, and flashbacks of Metallo on the right.*

To begin with, this tale written by John Byrne is another inspire piece of work published at a time when the post-Crisis shared universe of DC Comics was still new and expanding. Byrne really defined Superman’s place in the shared universe by modernizing it with the 1980s in mind and he came up with a story introducing the post-Crisis version of Metallo while coming up with a sub-plot of a mad scientist who was not only obsessed with Superman but also was involved with the said super villain.

The plot is clearly well-structured which starts with Superman doing believable detective work of his own which led to the discovery of the mad scientist whose intense research pose a danger to the Man of Steel. Having dual identities and social responsibilities to live up to, Superman also takes the time to adjust to his normal life as Clark Kent at a time when he has to socialize with his Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that you will see the iconic superhero ranging from being mighty to becoming vulnerable, weakened and suffering tremendous pain. How Byrne handled the transition of Superman is excellent.

The sub-plot of the mad scientist obsessing over discoveries about Superman is short and yet highly significant. For one thing, Superman himself has been very careful on keeping his dual identities secret and yet someone managed to secretly photograph him and come up with a lot of information – including the destroyed world of Krypton and the Kryptonian legacy of the hero – that could expose his deepest secrets and ruin his life entirely. The mad scientist’s obsession has strong sci-fi elements related to UFOs and aliens from deep space.

For the Man of Steel, this is too dangerous and also too personal to be left behind untouched. This aspect of the story makes this old tale more relevant in today’s world of drones with cameras, CCTV systems, hacking and the potential of users (or artificial intelligence) who could collect information on people without their consent.

The post-Crisis Metallo looks inspired by the Terminator and appears in human form. He goes by the name John Corben who previously got fatally injured in a car crash and subsequently was taken by the mad scientist (who transplanted the man’s brain into a robotic body). It should be noted that the said scientist also has an obsession about Kryptonians which led to his plan to send a chosen warrior to go against Superman supposedly to prevent Earth from getting conquered. How Metallo and his physical fight with the Man of Steel is a must-read.

Conclusion

Imagine yourself discovering a secret room filled with information and pieces of evidence and visual references about you. This should resonate with people whose privacy got violated. Also try imagining people inside the offices of tech giants with collected information and images about you.

Superman #1 (1987) is still a great read. It has a complex approach on portraying the battle between good and evil without losing focus on the storytelling and the expansion of Superman’s post-Crisis lore. Its sub-plot of the mad scientist and his obsession on Superman will resonate with people who feel vulnerable over the loss of their private information in today’s world of social media, abusive technology giants and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems. There is also a lot of superhero action for readers to enjoy, and the spectacle is never silly nor outlandish to look at. Oh yes, seeing Superman in a vulnerable state and getting actually hurt is believable to see.

Overall, Superman #1 (1987) is highly recommended!

+++++

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 54

January 29, 2025January 22, 2025carlocarrasco

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 return of US President Donald Trump – Donald Trump is officially back as President of the United States. Officially speaking, he has been counted as the 45^th and now the 47^th US President. Within the first day of his new administration, President Trump proceeded with the reforms by signing them with his approval. Indeed, America is back with Trump and this means removing the woke trash left behind by the failed Biden-Harris administration. The following videos were selected for your interest and enlightenment.

#2 TBR Schmitt reacts to 1997’s Air Force One – I don’t know with you readers but I enjoy watching the movie reaction videos of YouTuber TBR Schmitt (a couple who enjoy movies together). In light of Donald Trump’s return as US President, I posted below TBR Schmitt’s reaction video of 1997’s Air Force One (note: for other YouTube reaction videos of the said movie, click here) which is entertaining to watch. If you have not seen Air Force One, watch the movie first before seeing the reaction video.

#3 The rise of Vietnam – It cannot be denied that Vietnam truly progressed economically over the decades. Previously ravaged by war, Vietnam is now in a position to replace China as the manufacturing hub of Asia and they already have tech giants like Samsung and Apple on their side. This video by ColdFusion explains in details the historical background and the astronomic rise of Vietnam. It’s a must-watch.

#4 VKunia reacts to Rocky – Have you been watching the movie reaction videos of YouTuber VKunia? She has lots of reaction videos and most of them are enjoyable to watch. For this post, I am sharing with you her reaction video of the one movie that made Sylvester Stallone a movie star – Rocky. Not only that, VKunia herself used to live in Philadelphia (Rocky’s city). Watch VKunia’s Rocky reaction and observe how Stallone’s film draws her reactions.

#5 PatmanQC examines the Atari Jaguar – Back in the early to the mid-1990s, console gaming was already dominated by the Japanese, particularly by Sega (with the Genesis) and Nintendo (with the SNES). Along the way, while reading a video game magazine, I was very surprised to see the announcement of the Atari Jaguar console. Back in those days, a lot of people thought Atari faded away in the console business. The Jaguar eventually failed commercially but it still made its mark in video gaming history, and already a lot of YouTubers posted retrospective videos about the said Atari console. If you want an in-depth look at the history of Atari Jaguar and what its games were, watch PatmanQC’s video below.

#6 You, Me and the Movies react to Mac and Me – Have you ever been interested in a movie geared towards children with a creative mix of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and a story that has similarities with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial? Such a movie exists and it is called Mac and Me. You, Me and the Movies recently posted their reaction video about it and you have to see it.

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #350 (1980)

January 27, 2025March 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

Before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, the DC Comics multiverse had a lot of superhero stories that had outlandish fantasy elements. For example, Action Comics #454 showed Superman eating tons of food in order to survive. In Action Comics #456, the battles between Superman and The Shark had lots of outlandish looking forms of action. In short, the old multiverse and its tropes are looking fun to revisit.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #350, published in 1980 by DC Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins when Superman makes his move to prevent a punctured hot air balloon transport from crashing. It turns out the balloon was part of the promotion of a reunion event at Metropolis University and Superman really went there to attend it in his civilian identity as Clark Kent. Also attending the event is his long-time friend and colleague Lana Lang.

As the old professor Lemuel B. Tolkein – former superior of Clark and his classmates – speaks during the reunion, several attendees – including people Clark personally knew – begin to disappear into thin air. The remaining attendees and guests begin to panic…

Quality

*Superman uses his special abilities to solve problems here.*

I really like this story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this tale written by Conway is actually a mystery that happens to take place during Clark Kent’s reunion with many people from his past. As there is no good-versus-evil concept, the story is solidly focused on mysterious happenings that challenge Superman’s ability to solve problems. Even though he already has many super powers, the Man of Steel still got challenged a lot by the disappearances of people and things.

Apart from the story, I also enjoyed Conway’s approach on developing Clark Kent/Superman, Lana Lang and Lois Lane. Seeing Clark reconnecting with people from his past at Metropolis University was a refreshing portrayal and it also sheds light on how he handled himself during his collegiate years. As for Lois Lane, she was portrayed to be hostile towards Clark with regards to journalistic competition between them, and yet she still has tenderness towards Superman deep inside.

Conclusion

*Superman quickly changes into his Clark Kent identity to attend the reunion.*

Superman #350 (1980) is enjoyable and the elements of the pre-Crisis multiverse of DC Comics added depth to it. The story is relaxing to follow and it managed to surprise me and keep me engaged until the very end. I am convinced to follow the next issue.

Overall, Superman #350 (1980) is recommended.

+++++

Change we can believe in

January 23, 2025January 22, 2025carlocarrasco

Last November, Donald Trump pulled off the greatest American comeback ever by winning the US Presidential Election again. A few days ago, the inauguration in Washington, DC, took place indoors and Trump formally returned as US President (starting his non-consecutive 2^nd term). Indeed, the craziness and wickedness of the Biden-Harris administration has ended much to the relief of the many Americans who suffered over the previous four years (the lost years).

For insight, watch the selected YouTube videos below…

To read the content of President Trump’s 2025 inaugural address, click here.

Trump did not just return to the Oval Office. He really accelerated the start of his 2^nd term by signing so many executive orders (EOs), proclamations, memoranda and executive actions to initiate serious reforms with improvements, prosperity and common sense in mind. Think very carefully about all the woke garbage, all the blunders and all the nonsense left behind by Joe Biden and the demonic Democrats. President Trump is reversing the Biden standards to make America great again while also fulfilling the promises he made to the people with regards to policy.

Already, President Trump signed the following EOs: the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, the designation of cartels and other organizations as foreign terrorist organizations, putting an end to radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing, the defense of women from gender ideology extremism, withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization and more. To see more presidential actions or EOs signed by Trump, click here. For additional insight, watch the CBN News video below.

The early presidential actions done by Trump is all about making America better in many ways. This is about change that people can really believe in. American citizens are meant to be prioritized, the national sovereignty is meant to be protected, while the illegal immigrants are meant to be deported. Common sense, not the wicked DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and not the disease called wokeness, should be the standard when it comes to education, corporate ethics and the labor force.

Democrats and woke mob can shout and cry all they want, but President Trump’s mission is to make America great again and that means restoring sanity, common sense and meritocracy around the nation.

Overseas, America’s enemies are already feeling intimidated by Trump’s return. The terrorist state of Iran knows that a reinvigorated Israel-America alliance will cripple them severely. The renewed Israel-America alliance involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collaborating with President Trump could potentially change the Middle East in the near future.

Thank the Lord for the return of President Trump.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you delighted to see the return of Donald Trump as the President of the United States? Do you believe that the many executive orders Trump signed on his first day will result in reforms? Are you convinced that the woke influence on America will significantly fade away as Trump restores sanity and common sense around the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 53

January 22, 2025January 15, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Popcorn in Bed reacts to An Officer and a Gentleman – Released in 1982, An Officer and a Gentleman is a romantic drama film with a militaristic flavor showing a young Richard Gere and Louise Gosset, Jr., in a very memorable role. Some parts of the movie were filmed on location here in my native Philippines. While I am not exactly a fan of the movie, I can say that it still has some shining moments as well as some memorable dramatic scenes. Recently, YouTuber Popcorn in Bed posted its reaction video of the movie, and I can say it is worth watching.

#2 When hackers made ATMs release so much money – Recently, YouTuber fern published a new video explaining a certain financial crime that resulted in physical activities that was hard to imagine – automatic teller machines (ATMs) shooting out multiple bills of cash for thieves to collect. What happened, what can financial institutions do to prevent their system from getting hacked, and how the events turned out are explained in detail by fern.

#3 Criterion Collection shows how to restore and remaster very old films – The Criterion Collection (AKA Criterion) is a company that specializes on licensing, restoring and releasing selected films that movie buffs, fans and new film enthusiasts could enjoy. I myself own the Criterion Blu-ray discs of The Blob (1958) and Gojira, and I can say that the company did a great job restoring the said films while adding stuff for collectors and fans to enjoy. When it comes to restoring decades-old films and making them presentable with quality in mind, Criterion really works hard and you can learn a lot from them by watching the videos below.

#4 VKunia reacts to Man of Steel – Do you movie fans enjoy watching Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel? The 2013 Superman movie remains divisive among fans and superhero movie enthusiasts to this day. I’ve seen the movie many times from the local cinemas to my Blu-ray copy, and I can say it truly is a mixed bag when it comes to providing viewers fun and defining Superman in the 21^st century. Still, there is a chance that the Man of Steel reaction video by YouTuber VKunia could spark your interest in the film as well as in Zack Snyder’s visceral vision of DC Comics superheroes. I encourage you to watch her reaction video below.

#5 Commie Kamala Harris proves herself pathetic yet again during California wildfire briefing – By the time you are reading this, Donald Trump has officially returned as United States President. That being said, even during times of disaster, the defeated Commie Kamala Harris proved to be pathetic and worthless during the recent briefing about the wildfire in California. She is so pathetic and worthless, Harris proved she is not trustworthy. Imagine all the amounts of American taxpayers’ money that got wasted by Harris during her 4 years as US Vice President.

#6 Battlezone revisited – Released by Atari in 1980, Battlezone was a groundbreaking game both visually and with game design. It gave gamers an immersive experience of driving a tank with 3D graphics, fun gameplay and a first-person view. If you wish to learn about the history of Battlezone, who the creators were and how were they able to produce the game, watch the video of gaming history expert PatmanQC.

#7 Minty Comedic Arts and the 1980s – I really enjoy watching the videos of Minty Comedic Arts. His series of “10 things you didn’t know about…” videos on pop culture (mostly movies) is fun to watch and he often entertains with his delivery of trivia information. In recent times, he posted trivia videos about certain films from the 1980s – each one being memorable in their own ways – namely Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Breakfast Club, The Blue Brothers, Beverly Hills Cop and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Watch Minty’s videos now!

#8 The failure of Segway remembered – Remember decades ago when the Segway was first launched and heavily featured through the media? Invented by Dean Kamen, the Segway was a 2-wheeled personal transporter which was released looking fantastic but ended up as a failure. The Segway also ended up looking very bad in media reports about accidents with it. To find out what led to the Segway’s debut and how it failed, watch the video below.

#9 GoodBadFlicks examines five major flops – When it comes to movies that failed miserably, were those really terrible to watch or were they actually decent productions that failed to attract enough moviegoers? There are factors as to why movies fail. There are films that generated so much negative press, the moviegoers were convinced to avoid them. There are movies that were really badly made and there are others that got promoted or distributed very poorly. GoodBadFlicks recently post a video examining five major flops and it might convince you to watch The 13^th Warrior, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Titan A.E., The Chronicles of Riddick and Cutthroat Island.

+++++

A Look Back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994)

January 20, 2025January 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to take a close look at the launch issue of the comic book series that was an adaptation of the WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams animated series.

To put things into perspective, Jim Lee and several creators left Marvel Comics to establish Image Comics. In 1992, Lee launched his creator-owned project WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #1 which also was a part of the creative foundation of the WildStorm universe. Just a little over two years later, an animated series of WildC.A.T.S. was launched on TV. Similar to what Marvel Comics did in relation to adapting stories of the X-Men animated series, Image Comics launched a comic book series based on the WildC.A.T.S. animated series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Jeff Mariotte (adapting the animated story by David Wise) and drawn by Ty Templeton.

Early story

The story begins one night inside an office where Reno Bryce (Warblade) works obsessively on a circuit board. He is surrounded by the technology he knows and loves. As he works, three armed men wearing coats and hats enter his office and ask him for his identity. One of the men grabs a circuit board and destroys it, which triggers Reno to react with violence.

Knowing he is outnumbered, he quickly runs out of the office for safety. He heard one of the men referred to him as a crossbreed whelp. As soon as he finally leaves the building, Reno sees the WildCATS team composed of Grifter, Spartan, Zealot, Voodoo and Maul. Thinking that the WildCATS are out to kill him like the armed men, Reno keeps on running away.

Suddenly, a group of people are rushing towards the WildCATs. Powered with the Sight, Voodoo realizes that the mob is composed of Daemonites disguised as humans. The WildCATs and the mob engage in battle.

From high above, Reno see the battle happening. Suddenly, the three armed men appeared behind him telling him that he has no escape from them…

Quality

*Reno Bryce still adjusting to his new form as Warblade.*

Having seen the first episode myself, I can say that this comic book is actually a faithful adaptation and the creative team did their jobs well.

As an alternate introductory story of the WildCATs, this one obviously has the violence and visceral essence of the comic book series toned down due to the fact that the animated series was made with a younger audience in mind. There is still plenty of action here and the creative team’s focus on telling the story was consistently strong.

Within one story, the creative teams of both the animated episode and this comic book succeeded in gradually emphasizing the lore of WildCATS which had strong sci-fi elements (example: the long conflict between the Kherubim and the Daemonites), introducing the characters and the super villain, showcase the capabilities of the characters, emphasizing the purposes of each side, and having Reno Bryce as the newcomer who is about to discover his real role in the conflict (which reminds me of Jubilee in the opening episode of the X-Men animated series).

Conclusion

*Ty Templeton’s art is nice to look at and he captured the essence of the animated episode. The WildCATS themselves are easily recognizable.*

Like its animated source, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is enjoyable and the creators did a very good job translating the story and essence from animation into literary format. Having read the Jim Lee-drawn issue #1 of 1992, this one worked well as an alternate introduction of the WildCATS and their conflict with the Daemonites. Like the animated TV episode, the presentation was done in a wholesome manner without ever becoming childish. I can say that there is still enough good stuff of WildCATS to enjoy here, and the characters are recognizable (both in looks and portrayals). Right now, I’m looking forward to reading the next issue.

Overall, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #484 (1978)

January 17, 2025January 6, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1978 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Action Comics monthly series (launched in 1938).

Long before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, DC Comics had its convoluted multiverse. For the newcomers reading this, this meant that there were actually different versions of Superman and other DC superheroes, plus different universes or parallel worlds existing with each other. This particular Action Comics issue features a certain version of Superman and what happened to him and the related characters.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #484, published in 1978 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins in Metropolis of Earth-Two when four mechanical marauders fly through the city carrying bags of money taken from a bank. Superman (of Earth-Two) quickly flew after the mechanical marauders and uses his powers to beat them all. From a distance, Colonel Future (leader of the C-F Gang) observes Superman and analyzes his moves. It turns out, the gang is responsible for the mechanical marauders and Colonel Future believes that he can wipe out the Man of Steel.

Superman returns quietly into the Daily Star Building and changes into civilian clothing as Clark Kent. His office mate Jimmy Olsen approaches him and together they walk and talk about what has been going on.

Behind them, Lois Lane silently enters the store room where Clark came out of. It turns out, she prepared a hidden camera inside hoping to capture evidence about Clark using the room. She has been suspecting that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same person…

Quality

*While it is clear that Superman – in his civilian form as Clark Kent – married Lois Lane, there is still a lot more to discover from the in-depth story written by Cary Bates.*

I really like this pre-Crisis Superman story which is specifically set in Earth-Two of the DC multiverse. To make things clear, this is a tale showing Superman getting married to Lois Lane without impacting the mainstream version of DC’s icon at the time. Confused? That’s the consequence of having different versions of Superman complete with detailed parallel universes for each.

More on the core concept of this comic book, there is a lot more at stake – storywise and creatively – than meets the eye. Without spoiling the plot details, I can clearly say that the concept of Superman and Lois Lane getting married involves a daring plot which was executed nicely by the Bates-Swan duo resulting in a really intriguing reading experience for me. In other words, there is nothing simple with the presentation as the fantasy elements are really strong and the creative team took creative risks to emphasize the story while developing the key characters in new ways.

Still on the storytelling, the conflict between good and evil is emphasized not by struggle but rather the consequences which ultimately affect Superman and Lois Lane. The main opposition used by the Bate-Swan duo involves magic as a creative way to impact the Man of Steel and the narrative in general. There are some really intriguing moments about Superman (including his civilian identity as Clark Kent) and Lois Lane that await readers.

Conclusion

*Lois Lane has an in-depth portrayal in this comic book, going beyond what the page shows you.*

Action Comics #484 (1978) is undoubtedly a very intriguing and surprising read. The creative team came up with ideas that subverted expectations and the execution was well done which made this a powerful and twisting read. Having read lots of Superman comic books through the decades, this comic book is one of the more surprising ones I have read. Finally, this one has a believable presentation about what married life between Superman and Lois Lane would be like reflecting the social norms at the time of publication.

Overall, Action Comics #484 (1978) is highly recommended.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 52

January 15, 2025January 12, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Akira revisited – The 1988 anime feature film Akira has often been cited as a masterpiece and some pointed it for making anime more popular in the West. For the newcomers reading this, Akira actually started in Japan as a manga/comic book series before getting adapted into anime. Strangely enough, the literary Akira was still publishing when the 1988 feature film was released. As of this writing, there are two English-dubbed versions of it in existence and the Blu-ray copy I own has them both.

It is not surprising that the animated Akira got featured by many YouTubers in the form of retro reviews, reaction videos, documentaries and video analysis. If you have not seen Akira, I encourage you to watch it on Blu-ray first. Otherwise, enjoy the selected videos below.

#2 Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (the Donkey Kong case) – Have you ever played Donkey Kong back in the 1980s? That is a classic game from Nintendo. It was a hit in the arcades and made its way to multiple platforms in the years that followed. Believe it or not, Univeral Studios sued Nintendo alleging that Donkey Kong was a trademark infringement of King Kong. The video below will explain the details as to what happened and I can say it is also amusing to watch.

#3 PatmanQC examines Q*bert – Released in the arcades in 1982, Q*bert became a hit in America and went on to become one of the highest grossing arcade games in 1983. A very fun game, it is remembered for cleverly blending puzzle play with 3D-like movement and avoidance of both obstacles and enemies. You might be wondering who came up with Q*bert, what led to its production and what inspired the game creators to design it. To find out, watch PatmanQC’s detailed examination of Q*bert below…

#4 The Terminator’s connection with The Outer Limits explored – Remember watching 1984’s The Terminator? That was the memorable sci-fi action movie from director James Cameron which went on to become a multimedia franchise of movies, a TV series, comic books, video games and more. If you truly believe that the story is a purely original work written by Cameron (and by those who were involved behind the scenes), you will have to think twice because The Terminator’s sci-fi concept shares some notable similarities with a certain episode of The Outer Limits written by Harlan Ellison. To find out more, watch the video below…

#5 Al Jazeera is the terrorist news network and Qatar’s tool of deception – I will say it out loud right here: Al Jazeera is absolutely not a professional news outlet. Al Jazeera is, in fact, the Islamic terrorist news network and also the tool of Qatar which itself has sinister plans. Qatar may be a small nation but its ambitions for greater influence on the Middle East are very big and they have sinister intentions to grow big. Be aware that Qatar funded anti-Israel movements through American universities. That being said, I urge you all to boycott Al Jazeera. To take a close look at the evil of Al Jazeera and why Qatar should be held accountable, watch the video below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Back in 2014, I saw The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the local cinema which was fully crowded. Even though I had modest expectations, I still left the cinema feeling disappointed. I was convinced that Sony Pictures, Andrew Garfield and director Marc Webb really had nowhere else to go with the way they were handling the Spider-Man film franchise. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 remains a divisive film and yet I had more fun with it by watching Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video. Watch it now.

#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Million Dollar Baby – When was the last time you saw YouTuber Popcorn in Bed get emotional and cry during a movie reaction video? If you have already seen Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, then you should be aware of its very heartbreaking moments directly related to its very tragic concept. Popcorn in Bed recently reacted to the film and how it impacted her on an emotional level is a must-watch.

#8 SHIFT’s 2024 King of Thong video (Miami Swim Week) – A thong is “an article of swimwear or underwear with the back portion consisting of a narrow strip of cloth that passes between the buttocks and connects with a waistband.” Several months ago, the swimsuit fashion YouTube channel SHIFT posted a video of its coverage of the 2024 Miami Swim Week focusing on a show of King of Thong. For almost nine minutes, you’ll see lots of women appear in thongs showing lots of skin with carefully selected tunes playing. It’s a must-watch for those who enjoy women’s swimwear fashion and thongs. Also, there might be some fashion models you could recognize.

+++++

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 26

January 13, 2025March 16, 2025carlocarrasco

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 – including arcade flyers – 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, posters 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. Asteroids Deluxe arcade flyer

Given the fact that Asteroids was a massive hit for Atari in the arcades, it was not surprising that a sequel was made called Asteroids Deluxe. In preparation for its 1981 release, Atari made this Asteroids Deluxe arcade flyer showing three machine that arcade operators can choose from complete with technical details displayed. They even emphasized the QuadraScan video graphics as a technological advancement with regards to graphics. By today’s standards, this arcade flyer is still sensible with regards to promoting the game to both arcade operators and players.

2. Missile Command arcade flyer

*Engaging art work on display at the front of the arcade flyer.*

Released in the arcades in 1980, Missile Command is a classic game from Atari and its concept of defending cities from incoming enemy missiles proved to be relevant with people living with the fear of a nuclear missile attack during the days of the Cold War. In my experience, I mainly played the Atari 2600 version and it was only recently I finally started playing the arcade classic on my Xbox Series X using the Atari 50 Collection software. As for the arcade flyer itself, Atari simply used highly detailed painted art for the front which clearly emphasized the science fiction portrayal of a military officer using a console inside a base to come up with defensive response to incoming ballistic missiles. The game was a massive hit in the arcades and in my view, Atari’s simply yet direct way of promoting the concept of Missile Command with the arcade flyer remains compelling to look at.

3. Gun.Smoke European arcade flyer

*Nice art on the front of this arcade flyer for the European market.*

Long before they struck gold with Street Fighter II, Japanese company Capcom scored a hit with gamers in the arcades with 1985’s Gun.Smoke. It was a vertically scrolling run-and-gun game with an Old West setting and it was designed by Yoshiko Okamoto (Final Fight and Street Fighter II). To promote the game for European arcades, Capcom simply used hand-drawn artwork for the arcade flyer’s front which emphasized the Wild West setting, and an American Cowboy and bounty hunter named Billie Bob who is the playable character gamers got to play. In my view, the artwork gave the game a strong Wild West image that is also memorable.

4. Sei Senshi Amatelass arcade flyer

Released in Japanese arcades in 1986 by Nichibutsu, Sei Senshi Amatelass is a vertical scrolling run-and-gun game with a science fantasy concept. To promote the game and really sell its concept, Nichibutsu hired a model posing with a sword and a shield in fantasy inspired costume. Using the remaining spaces of the flyer, some screenshots and an image of the arcade machine were displayed. This flyer showed the company exerting effort to sell Sei Senshi Amatelass with a touch of beauty and subtle sexiness.

5. Sweet Gal arcade flyer

*Seriously, are you interested in playing mahjong in digital form?*

Here is another digital mahjong arcade game from Nichibutsu…Sweet Gal. As typical of the company, a model was hired to add subtle sexiness into the promotion of the game and they even added a digital image of a sexy girl. Sweet Gal clearly was promoted to attract men who enjoy playing mahjong in electronic format and there were some arcade spots in Japan that catered to such mahjong enthusiasts.

6. Moon Patrol print ad

*This is a fun-looking, comic book style way of promoting a video game.*

Here is one of those video game print ads I saw while reading comic books back in the early 1980s. Moon Patrol is a sci-fi, side-scrolling game by Atari known for introducing full parallax scrolling in side-scrolling games. Instead of showing screenshots of the console versions of the game, this print ad used nice looking hand-drawn artworks presented with a comic book-inspired style to emphasize the concept. I still remember how captivating this ad and its super short story was the first time I saw it. It was enough to make me interested in the game.

7. Tron Atari 2600 games print ad

*Calling all Tron fans to look at this.*

I was very captivated by the 1982 sci-fi movie Tron which I saw on home video. It had very flashy computer-generated visuals, a very memorable story and the fine performance by Jeff Bridges. Tron was also very reflective about the video game culture of its time. When I first saw this print ad while reading a comic book, I was really excited. If you look closely, it had nice artwork dominating the space and screenshots that each promoted the games Tron: Deadly Discs and Adventures of Tron. Even though the graphics were primitive, I still recognized the Tron-related images which added to my excitement.

8. Q*bert print ad

*This print ad by Parker Brothers really captured the essence of the game.*

The puzzle-oriented 2D action game Q*bert became an arcade hit in America shortly after its 1982 release and even went on to become one of the highest grossing arcade games in 1983. Q*bert is one of those 2D games that cleverly blended puzzle play with 3D-like movement and avoidance of both obstacles and enemies. As expected, the game made its way into gaming console and this particular print ad had artwork that strongly captured the very essence of the game complete with the very catchy line “It’s not easy being Q*bert, but it’s fun.”

9. Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man print ad

I saw this print ad of Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man (for Atari 2600 and Intellivision) while reading a comic book long ago. Like the Tron games ad, this made me excited as I was fond of watching the He-Man cartoon series of the 1980s. While the selected screenshots caught my attention, it was the hand-drawn art of He-Man facing off with Skeletor and his minions that captivated me simply because it reminded me of the animated series. This is a fine example of promoting a video game that would instantly resonate with fans of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise.

10. UFO Robo Dangar North American arcade flyer

*The giant robot concept of this game gave some viewers the impression that it was based on some giant robot anime series from Japan even though the art work used does not suggest it.*

Here is another arcade game from Nichibutsu but for the North American market and without the use of a model and without the subtle sexiness. UFO Robo Dangar is a 2D vertically scrolling science fiction shooting game and players get to control a giant robot (composed of flying vehicles that merged into one mechanical body) that has to go through countless waves of enemies in order to advance from one level to another. The arcade flyer used nice looking sci-fi art of ships with the game’s title having a robot and several screenshots of the game. The flyer even made a hard pitch towards arcade operators that UFO Robo Danger will transform their games into profits with proven longevity.

11. Aliens Japanese arcade flyer

*The other side of the flyer of the 1990 arcade hit Aliens.*

Quite arguably, Konami’s 1990 arcade hit Aliens is the best video game of any game design to be based on the 1986 film directed by James Cameron. Not only was Aliens a big hit in the arcades, it also won an award from the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA). Aliens was released in Japanese arcades in February of 1990 and Konami released an arcade flyer that was much more visually striking than its North American arcade flyer. The front had detailed artwork of the Xenomorph while the rear had the instructions and screenshots presented in an orderly manner. The photograph of the Xenomorph alien was added intensity on selling the game. This is still a great looking arcade flyer.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 51

January 8, 2025January 7, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 The dirty business behind Caffeine – Have you been drinking coffee, or sodas or energy drinks a lot over the past twelve months? Chances are, you are dependent on caffeine for your livelihood and your own lifestyle. Sadly, a lot of people out there are not even aware about the subject of caffeine in American history, in business and health studies. YouTuber fern has this in-depth look at caffeine and why there dirty business behind it. Watch and learn.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Despite being negatively received by movie critics in 1994, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective still went on to become a surprise hit in the cinemas grossing over $107 million worldwide and establishing Jim Carrey as an effective cinematic comedian. The film has an effective formula on making viewers laugh with Carrey’s performance, the jokes, the unfortunate turn of events, the funny one-liners and the like. I saw the film on home video in 1995 and I revisited it by watching the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies. If you have not seen Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, go watch it first. Otherwise, the reaction video below is entertaining to watch.

#3 The hunt for Ted Bundy explained by fern – Way back in 1989, I saw The Deliberate Stranger on local TV here in the Philippines. It was an engaging portrayal of the very notorious serial killer Ted Bundy (executed in 1989) who was responsible for the kidnapping, rape and murders of several young women and girls. While a lot of documentaries about Bundy have been released, fern’s visual presentation and explanatory observation of the killer’s story is a must-see.

#4 A look at the history of the Ikari Warriors trilogy – Back in the mid-1980s, I played Ikari Warriors (Japanese title: Ikari) on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) and it was a fun game and even relatable. Why relatable? Because at the time of its release, the fictional character Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone) and the Cold War were still present in our minds. As it turned out, Ikari Warriors was originally intended to be an official video game adaptation of Rambo: First Blood Part II but no agreement was made. Regardless, the game still had Rambo-inspired designs for the playable characters, an obvious Vietnam-inspired environment and lots of shooting-oriented action. It became so successful commercially, it eventually spawned two sequels. To know more about the history of the Ikari Warriors trilogy, watch PatmanQC’s video below.

#5 A look at 50 underrated arcade games from the 1990s – The 1990s was a wild time for people who love playing games in the arcades. While the decade was often perceived to be all about fighting games defining the arcade experience, there still was a greater variety of arcade games of different genres or game designs. This retro gaming video from Marvelous Gamers is a fun look back at the 1990s arcade games that got overlooked.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to National Lampoon’s Vacation – If you are looking for a 1980s comedic viewing experience with a theme about going on holiday, then you should focus on National Lampoon’s Vacation directed by the late Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase. Released in cinemas in 1983, the movie became a box office hit grossing over $60 million in the American box office and it won a lot of rave reviews from the critics. If you have seen the movie and want to revisit it without the need to spend time watching it all over again, you should watch the reaction video by the jolly YouTuber Ashleigh Burton.

#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Quantum of Solace – I will say it clearly – Quantum of Solace was a very disappointing follow-up to Casino Royale (2006) as it was so negatively impacted by the strike of the Writers Guild of America as well as the lack of focus within the production. By the time I left the cinema, Quantum of Solace left me feeling numb and unsatisfied. That being said, I encourage you to see the reaction video of Popcorn in Bed (who also reacted to Casino Royale) and witness how the 2008 James Bond movie affected their viewing experience.

#8 Justin Trudeau officially resigns from office – I really do not like Justin Trudeau. As Prime Minister of Canada, he has been very out of touch with his people and does not seem concerned with them. Under the super woke and feminist Trudeau, the costs of living in Canada has gone way up, housing is too expensive and crime has gone up. There is also division and infighting within his Liberal Party which is not helping Canadians at all. Trudeau’s failed leadership should be a lesson to everyone that woke nuts, Satanic Leftists and outrageous liberals should not be voted to lead the government. Liberals do not care about common sense at all. Watch and learn from the videos below.

+++++

	Instapundit »… on I Love Israel: Israel And Japa…
	Instapundit »… on Venezuela To Turn Over 30 Mill…
	Instapundit »… on Venezuela’s Dictator Maduro Ca…
	Instapundit »… on Japanese Prime Minister Takaic…
	Luke on Japanese Language Proficiency…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: