fun – Page 25 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #273 (1991)

April 17, 2024April 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore a chapter of the Uncanny X-Men series that took place between X-Tinction Agenda and Mutant Genesis (the modernization point of Marvel’s mutants for the 1990s).

For the newcomers reading this, X-Tinction Agenda was a very notable part of the history of the X-Men comic book franchise as it marked the first time that the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants were combined and also reunited several X-Men members who were scattered around the world. That being said, the state of mutants within Marvel Comics’ shared universe created a sense of uncertainty towards Charles Xavier’s grand dream of establishing a peaceful co-existence between humans and mutants.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #273, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Whilce Portacio, Klaus Janson, Jim Lee, John Byrne, Rick Leonardi, Marc Silvestri, Michael Golden and Larry Stroman.

Early story

The story begins in the control center within the complex located deep under the ruins of Charles Xavier’s mansion. Storm (X-Men), Jean Grey (X-Factor), Cyclops (X-Factor) and Cable (New Mutants) carefully examine the worldly forces that oppose them. After Storm asked about what they could do about the opposing forces located in different parts of the world, Cable says that they should hit them hard and fast as they have the power to do so.

Storm asked Cable if violence is his only solution. Even though violence got things done for Cable, Cyclops rejects it and states that his fellow mutants (pertaining to the X-Men and X-Factor) are not like him.

As the conversation intensifies, Jean Grey tells Cable that they are not warriors and the school was not founded by Professor X to have mutants to fight wars. Cable replied that war is what they got and reminded them of the two mutants they lost and another one who ended up as a genetically engineered slave. Cable asked them if they want to see more of their fellow mutants end up badly…

Quality

*In the absence of Professor X, Jean Grey (then a member of X-Factor) revisits Cerebro and recalls what she learned long ago.*

In relation to the mentioned fact that this particular story took place between X-Tinction Agenda and Mutant Genesis, this is a tale that reflects a period of transition leading to the latter. That being said, Chris Claremont took the opportunity to emphasize the current state of the X-Men and the other mutants, as well as the uncertainty ahead of them all. To be clear, this story does not have Marvel’s mutants going up against another super villain nor a group that opposes them.

The story opened very strongly with the leading figures of the X-Men (Storm), X-Factor (Cyclops and Jean Grey) and the New Mutants (Cable) being together analyzing the global situation and the forces that oppose them.

For Cable, violence is necessary for their survival and progress because he sees war against mutants already happening and there is simply no room left for error nor compromise. Very symbolically, Storm, Cyclops and Jean Grey – who all were nurtured by Professor X with his pacifist dream of bridging the gap between mutants and humans – reject Cable’s beliefs as they don’t see themselves as warriors and they do not dream of conquering their enemies at all. All the dialogue that took place in the argument are very richly written and there are layers of meanings which long-time X-Men fans will able to relate with.

Along the way, Claremont and the other creators made good use of available comic book space to develop the other characters which resulted in the gradual developments within each team of mutants. Gambit here is a brand new member of the X-Men and his talk with Storm is very sensible to read. There was also this notable Danger Room training session between Archangel and Cannonball in which the former (who is already very experienced as one of the original X-Men and a current member of X-Factor) shares wisdom to the very young mutant (who later went on to lead X-Force some time later). The creative team also inserted a few moments of humor on the other character development scenes.

Conclusion

*Truly this is one of the most symbolic and most engaging arguments between the leading figures of the X-Men, X-Factor and New Mutants (which later became X-Force).*

Even though it was mainly focused on character development and has no battle with any enemy, Uncanny X-Men #273 (1991) remained a very engaging read as it tackles not only the current state of the three mutant teams of the time but also realigned their direction creatively and the results were fully realized through the eventual Muir Island saga as well as Mutant Genesis and even in further tales (including Fatal Attractions). In many ways, this comic book served as a solid foundation of things to come and this partially explains the eventual reform of the X-Men into a much larger group that had to be composed of two teams shortly after the return of Professor X (as seen in X-Men #1 and Uncanny X-Men #281 in 1991).

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #273 (1991) 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

Have you been playing Grandia HD Collection on Xbox?

April 15, 2024April 12, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers who love Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs)! In case you missed the news, Grandia HD Collection is now available for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the aging Xbox One console and you can order the digital copy by clicking here.

For the newcomers reading this, Grandia HD Collection on Xbox consoles was officially released on March 26, 2024. It is a collection of two very solid role-playing games (RPGs) from the previous console generations, namely Grandia (originally released on Sega Saturn in Japan in 1997) and Grandia II (originally released on Sega Dreamcast in Japan in 2000). Although the said HD collection has been available for weeks, it was only very recently that an official Xbox trailer of it was published on the ID@Xbox YouTube channel and you can watch it right below…

Personally, I find it very strange why the trailer was released on the ID@Xbox YouTube channel instead of the official Xbox YouTube channel (as of this writing). Perhaps someone at Team Xbox confused the Grandia RPGs to be productions by small and independent studios which is wrong because both games were developed by Game Arts (the same team responsible for the Lunar RPGs and also a publisher of games). Right now, it seems that internal woke problems over at Team Xbox (for reference, click here, here and here) are preventing them from realizing the significance of Grandia and Grandia II.

Apart from the rather late Xbox trailer, a late Grandia HD Collection announcement was published on Xbox.com. To put things in perspective, posted below are selected excerpt from the Xbox announcement written by Gung Ho Online Community Coordinator Allyson Nicholas. Some parts in boldface…

I am excited to announce that the remaster of the classic role-playing series, Grandia HD Collection, has launched on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! Whether you are returning to these iconic games or entering these worlds for the first time, the series’ dynamic attack system, rewarding magic and skill progression, and immersive storylines offer dozens of hours of heroic adventures.

Getting You up to Speed on All Things Grandia – The Grandia HD Collection brings two role-playing games that have defined the genre for decades to come to contemporary audiences.

*Screenshot from **Grandia.** The game has fully polygonal environments and the characters and creatures are presented as detailed 2D sprites.*

Grandia follows Justin, a young adventurer who fatefully inherits a magic stone and thus sets out to uncover the mysteries of a lost civilization. In his search, he attracts all types of attention. Some good, in that he meets other adventurers who aid him along on his quest. However, some are bad, like the Garlyle Forces who work to keep him from unraveling the truth of the past.

Meet the Crew

Justin – Driven by his curious and fearless nature, Justin often dives headfirst into situations without thinking. He possesses the mysterious Spirit Stone—an artifact passed down through his family—which plays a pivotal role in his adventures.

Sue – Justin’s childhood friend from the town of Parm. She often joins him on his misadventures, bringing to them her courageous optimism and unexpected maturity that balances out Justin’s impulsiveness. She is almost always accompanied by her flying ball of fluff Puffy, who is as mysterious as he is adorable!

Feena – The most well-traveled of the bunch, Feena has an independent spirit and impressive skillset that garners the respect of those around her, especially Justin. As the journey unfolds, players delve deeper into her multifaceted character and mysterious past.

*Screenshot of **Grandia II** showing Ryudo and his companions fighting a large monster. The characters and monsters are polygonal.*

Grandia II acquaints us with Ryudo, a Geohound who does odd jobs to get money alongside his loyal eagle companion, Skye. One fateful day, he receives a request from the Church of Granas to serve as a bodyguard to one Elena, Songstress of Granas. Together, they bring out pieces of each other that neither of them knew existed amidst their journey to rid the world of Evil in the form of Valmar, God of Darkness.

Meet The Crew

Ryudo – A mercenary with a tough exterior and noble heart. He takes on various jobs for money—despite the moral implications—and is accompanied by his trusted bird companion, Skye.

Elena – The epitome of innocence and purity, Elena’s world is opened wide when she begins to journey alongside Ryudo.

Millenia – Uninhibited, playful, and mischievous, Millenia is a force to be reckoned with. Her origins and the nature of her existence cause her relationship with the party to take many interesting and unexpected turns.

To read the rest of the Xbox.com announcement, click https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/10/time-for-an-adventure-grandia-hd-collection-remastered-for-xbox-one-and-xbox-series-xs-out-now/

*Two fun Japanese RPGs now available for Xbox gamers to enjoy in a single collection.*

For the Xbox fans who want to have a good amount of fun, there is a lot to be excited for this month and next month as Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23) and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) weeks apart. The good news is that Grandia HD Collection on Xbox is already available for anyone willing to purchase it. The Grandia RPGs are undeniably retro gaming highlights that RPG fans should play, especially now that both games have been remastered and enhanced with high-definition in mind.

To buy a copy of Grandia HD Collection, Xbox fans and gamers should click https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/grandia-hd-collection/9n4nlqhx6j18

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A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994)

April 12, 2024March 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that decades ago, the use of future timelines was implemented on the X-Men comics. I’m talking about the possible future where Cable and Stryfe came from, another possible future where Phoenix/Rachel Summers came from, and the more established future of the classic Days of Future Past storyline. Time travel and possible future timelines are the themes in the next X-Men Adventures comic book I reviewed recently.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #7, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Scott Rosema.

Early story

The story begins on Earth in the far future of 3999 AD. Cable, who is fighting for the rebels, battles the deadly forces of the powers that be. It turns out, he and his teammates have been struggling a lot and their team suffered several deaths already. Even though they are very tired and heavily outnumbered, Cable refuses to give up and bravely calls for a frontal assault against their enemies.

Suddenly, Apocalypse appears on the battlefield and commands his robotic troops to destroy Cable and his fellow rebels. To Apocalypse’s surprise, a temporal storm appears and Cable notices it appearing so close to them. One of his teammates got caught by the storm which pushes Cable away. After receiving computer updates, Cable decides to get away from the robotic troops.

Meanwhile in another time period and place, Bishop returns from his mission (his interactions with the X-Men of the 20^th century – click here and here) only to discover from Forge that nothing has changed and the plague still rages on…

Quality

*The X-Men have a new problem to deal with.*

Having read X-Men Adventures #13 and #14 of season 1, I found this particular tale (clearly a sequel to Bishop’s interaction with the X-Men after traveling through time) relatable and enjoyable. There is a strong science fiction vibe here and the time travel aspect added a lot to the build-up of tension.

Bishop here is almost the protagonist as the story showed an altered future in which Forge has no memory of the X-Men and only made a reference to a plague that has lasted for a long time. This compels Bishop to go back to the 20^th century again hoping to meet the X-Men and somehow prevent the plague from bringing down society.

The impact of the mysterious virus is tremendous as so many people got infected and authorities suspect mutants to be the carriers. At this stage, the social aspects inserted by the creators really started to grow stronger within the narrative and you will see the X-Men struggling with not only the increased scrutiny on mutants but also with the manipulative tactics of anti-mutant activists who can’t help but see golden opportunities to wipe out mutants in a more clever fashion.

The dialogue here is noticeably gripping to read and the dramatization worked accordingly. There is also a good amount of superhero spectacle to enjoy here even though the X-Men have no super villains to fight with.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994) looks like a repeat or even a remake of what happened in X-Men Adventures #13 (Season I) but its concept turned out to be not only unique with strong social commentary and sci-fi elements, but also became really engaging thanks to the fine execution by the creative team. On the aspect of social relevance, this comic book will remind you about the internment of Japanese Americans in America (1942-1946) and the COVID-19 restrictions and the quarantine on communities imposed by governments that disrupted people’s lives. As this comic book marks the first part of the Time Fugitives, I can say that I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994)

April 10, 2024March 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that I visited Canada only once. Even before my one and only visit there, I knew through the comic books that famous character Wolverine is a native of Canada and a former member of Alpha Flight (Canadian government-sponsored team of mutant operatives). Somewhere in his past, he was live test subject of Weapon X. I have to mention this because the X-Men Adventures about to be reviewed here is focused on Wolverine.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story somewhere in the wilderness in Canada where Wolverine helps free an animal that was stuck. Suddenly, Alpha Flight’s Vindicator appears and reminds Wolverine of the fact that he deserted them to work of Charles Xavier. It turns out, Wolverine is back in Canada to visit Heather.

Moments later, he finds himself surrounded by Vindicator’s teammates Puck, Shaman and Sasquatch, and tells them that he is never coming back to Alpha Flight. Even though two more members of the Canadian team joined in, Wolverine manages to avoid defeat in battle and hides away.

As he listens to Alpha Flight from a distance, he hears Vindicator mentioning that a certain lab is expecting their team. This causes Wolverine to remember the traumatic time he had as a live test subject of Weapon X…

Quality

A look back at the time Wolverine joined the Canadian government-sponsored superhero team Alpha Flight. Would you want to join a unit serving the woke Canadian government of Justin Trudeau in real life?

I should mention first that the teleplay by the late Len Wein contains a very solid and sensible interpretation of Wolverine’s Weapon X origin (with a modern touch for the 1990s) which turned out to be a detailed reference for Ralph Macchio to adapt into this comic book.

That being said, this comic book’s plot of Wolverine going to Canada for a solid purpose and encountering challenges – both from his past with Alpha Flight and others – while bringing back his painful Weapon X past turned out to be a really engaging read. The Weapon X flashback scenes added a depth to the story as well as Wolverine’s portrayal in this adaptation. You will see the clawed X-Men member being tough and gritty as usual, and yet you will witness his fragile side as he becomes personally troubled about the past.

The appearance of Alpha Flight here was put to good use. Apart from the revelation of Wolverine’s past membership with them, you will see the team truly operate with a clear goal as mandated by their government (note: this is clearly not the ultra-woke, Islamo-Leftist government of Justin Trudeau). In fact, this tale gives readers a glimpse of how the Canadian government analyzes and decides what to do with Canadians who are very exceptional and are more valuable than many other citizens. Alpha Flight is the government’s tool which is strongly emphasized here.

Apart from the plot focused on Wolverine, this comic book managed to move the sub-plot of Magneto and Charles Xavier forward a bit.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) has a very engaging and fun tale focused on Wolverine who encounters his fellow Canadians. Anyone who loves the clawed X-Men member will have a lot to enjoy here. The appearance of Alpha Flight here (as well as in the X-Men TAS episode) added a good layer of depth to the plot while also emphasizing the shared Marvel universe in a controlled manner. Lastly, artist John Hebert’s artwork on Wolverine is really good and his high level of visual detail on other characters and locations should be seen.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 6

April 5, 2024March 29, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will examine print ads from the 1980s and the 1990s that caught my attention and I will explain why they are worth look back at.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Operation Wolf print ad

*Even though there were screenshots from the game, this was still an eye-catching print promoting Operation Wolf for the Nintendo Entertainment System.*

Looking back at the history of pop culture, the 1980s saw the surge of Hollywood action movies that emphasized or even glorified militarism. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise were just a few Hollywood stars who found success playing military figures. It was not surprising that there were game developers in Japan who noticed the Hollywood military trend and were inspired to make games that had similar themes. The Japan-based company Taito developed and released the light gun shooter arcade game Operation Wolf which became a huge commercial success worldwide. Unsurprisingly, versions of Operation Wolf were eventually made for the existing home computers and game consoles of the time.

The above print ad of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of Operation Wolf only showed the official artwork, descriptive text and noticeably no gameplay screenshots. While the ad made the NES version of the game look exciting to look forward to, the actual game looked and felt nothing like the arcade version as the console’s limitations resulted in really small 2D sprites (which made shooting tough) and the 2D art used were rather ugly to see. I can only speculate that the people at Taito knew their product for the NES had sub-par quality and only hoped for the best trying to fool gamers to buy it.

2. Foreman For Real print ad

*Apart from boxing and endorsing grills, are you aware that George Foreman is also a worship leader and preacher of God’s Word?*

In late-1994, George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight boxing title and the last time he had it was way back in 1974. For the newcomers reading this, Foreman halted his professional boxing in 1977, established his connection with God, preached His Word, opened a youth center and became a major product endorser. Foreman came back into fighting in 1987 and stunned everyone when he became heavyweight champion seven years later.

That being said, it was no surprise that game publisher Acclaim (which already released a video game with the boxer in 1992) quickly returned to Foreman to get him as the titular endorser in the 1995 video game Foreman For Real which was released on multiple gaming platforms less than a year after his championship victory. Apart from showing Foreman’s dominating image and screenshots from the game, the ad even had a promo of a free 2-week membership with Gold’s Gym. This ad was a lively reminder of the significance of Foreman’s presence in professional sports and it was instantly eye-catching.

3. BurgerTime print ad

*Arcade hits like BurgerTime also made it into personal computers.*

Previously, I showed an eye-catching print ad of the arcade classic BurgerTime. This time, the BurgerTime print ad shown here focused more on the IBM and Apple computer versions. This print ad had a photograph of an actor playing chef Peter Pepper carrying a huge burger bun running away two eggs and a hotdog, and near them were the respective boxes of BurgerTime for IBM and Apple. This is a sharp change of visual style away from the comic book-style art used in the other BurgerTime print ad. I can only imagine how excited IBM and Apple computer users became after seeing this ad back in the 1980s.

4. Shining Wisdom print ad

*Even though this was a very eye-catching ad that appeared in several publications, Shining Wisdom went on to become a forgotten game after receiving mixed reviews from game review writers.*

Here is another print ad of Working Designs from the 1990s. Released only on the Sega Saturn in 1996, Shining Wisdom was a fantasy action-adventure game from Japan that publisher Working Designs localized with North Americans in mind. This meant taking lots of creative liberties with the story, name changes, insertions of pop culture jokes and even altered the personalities of the characters. Developed by Sonic Software Planning and Camelot Software Planning, Shining Wisdom started as a project for the 16-bit console Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in America) that was revised for the more powerful Saturn console. While this print ad caught the attention of gamers and readers, Shining Wisdom received mixed reviews from critics upon release. Sadly, not too many gamers talk about this game anymore.

5. Cabal print ad

*Military action and shooting strongly emphasized in this print ad for the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the arcade smash Cabal.*

Like many games released in the 1980s, Cabal had a strong military theme and allowed players to engage in bouts of shooting playing soldiers who have to fight entire armies of bad guys. This print ad about the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of the game had really nice art dominating the page, the packaging of the game plus three screenshots showing what gamers could expect. This was a very eye-catching print ad that made Cabal look both exciting and enticing.

6. Metal Gear print ad

*Wow! So many weapons and pieces of equipment displayed in this Metal Gear (NES version) ad.*

Back in the late 1980s, the NES port of Metal Gear had a notable promotion in America thanks to this cleverly designed print ad. When it comes to emphasizing “gear” from the title, the marketing team emphasized the words “Gear up” and literally filled the ad spaces with lots of pieces of equipment that was not only eye-catching but also gave readers the idea that a huge adventure awaits them in Metal Gear. As for the game box on the lower left corner of the print, the cover art highlighting the character Snake was an artistic copy of a still image of actor Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984). This print ad was both entertaining and intriguing to look at.

7. Dino Crisis print ad

*For many gamers, Dino Crisis was like a combination of Resident Evil and Jurassic Park and this visceral looking print ad really got lots of people interested in the game.*

In 1999, Capcom released Dino Crisis for PlayStation in America and the timing was almost perfect as millions of gamers who owned the console enjoyed the releases of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 (both games from Capcom) firmly establishing the survival horror genre as a popular one. That being said, a lot of RE fans anticipated the release of Dino Crisis due to the fact that the game shared several elements with Resident Evil games in terms of exploration, survival, control and shooting. Not only that, Resident Evil creator and original game director Shinji Mikami was in charge of the making of Dino Crisis. Mikami pointed to the films The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Aliens (1986) as influences on making the game which for most gamers was perceived as “Resident Evil filled with dinosaurs.”

The print ad above had a very engaging visual design that symbolized action, horror and tension well. Mikami clearly wanted gamers to experience the intense violence of encountering dinosaurs and this ad gave viewers a small sample of that. It’s safe to say that this print ad was effective as Dino Crisis went on to sell millions of copies and established Regina (the red-haired lady in the ad) as another memorable character from Capcom.

8. Airwolf/Knight Rider games print ad

*Very clearly, the advertiser focused on the cool look to sell the games of Airwolf and Knight Rider.*

Back in the 1980s, Airwolf and Knight Rider were wildly popular TV series that each had winning formulas to entertain millions of viewers with action, suspense and storytelling. It was not surprising that video game adaptations of them were produced on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This particular print ad was an efficient way of promoting the Airwolf and Knight Rider games which featured two players looking cool with jackets and sunglasses. Acclaim clearly aimed for the TV series’ fans and slightly older players among the NES owners/users.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994)

April 3, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that even though streaming is the norm for millions of people who love entertainment, it would be nice if the classic X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men TAS) would someday get released on Blu-ray disc format. Even though many X-Men fans are streaming, there are still those who prefer collecting physical releases of what they enjoy. Really, watching entertainment with Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray format is much better than streaming.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #3, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story begins at the border of Kenya and Tanganyika where Mount Kilimanjaro rests. Something destructive emerges at the top of the mountain causing great disturbance on the people below. At a village, two black persons could not help but notice a demonic figure coming down at them. One of them gets possessed by it.

Meanwhile at their headquarters in Westchester County, New York, Jean Grey uses Cerebro to comprehensively scan the world to find Professor X’s location. What Jean detected was a psychic plane which catches Beast’s attention.

Shortly after, Rogue arrives with Storm who just returned from a hospital. As Jean updates them both, Storm realizes that the location of the psychic plane is in Africa…

Quality

The first thing I should confirm here is that there is a nice jump in the visual quality – in terms of style and detail specifically – thanks to illustrator John Hebert. Hebert’s work here is a nice relief compared to the rushed works of Andrew Wildman in the previous two issues, and he knows when to use the dynamic moments of spectacle and how to balance it with the calm moments. Hebert’s take on Wolverine is really good.

Regarding the story, I like the way the search for Charles Xavier – which was a sub-plot in the previous issues – unfolded while also opening the opportunity to develop Storm as she returns to Africa. In fact, this tale reveals some really engaging details from Storm’s past as well as her personal connection with a certain tribe of black people. These mentioned elements added nicely to the tension of a particular conflict that followed.

In fact, the Storm-centered story was nicely executed by the creative team and there were revelations that were gripping. Along the way, Rogue got a nice share of the spotlight and was a suitable supporting character even though the comic book had new characters.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994) is a good read and it also has a nice change of geographic setting as it mainly focused on Africa and Storm’s reconnection with her people. Storm is clearly the main character here and this is a solid pay-off as she only had a tiny part in the previous issue. This is a tale – with themes of family, culture and the responsibility that comes with having special talents or power – that should interest dedicated fans of Storm.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994)

March 27, 2024March 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Before getting to the retro comic book review, I want to ask you all: have you heard about the recent controversy about the firing of the showrunner of X-Men ’97? You can learn about it by clicking here and here. In case you are wondering, I have no intention to watch X-Men ’97 knowing that Marvel under woke Disney are only using established entertainment properties to spread their sinister propaganda. Hollywood has so many Commies, it should really be called Commiewood.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #2, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with the newly married couple Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey enjoying their honeymoon on a boat somewhere in the South Pacific. Jean is enjoying their privacy together free from all the pressure they experienced as X-Men members. For her, the world feels really different.

Suddenly, Jean senses something as their boat approaches an island that was supposed to be uninhabited. A man with long pink hair has been anticipating their arrival and surprises them. He uses his power to manipulate the sea water to form waves to capsize their boat and push them further to the beach.

Soon enough, Cyclops and Jean find themselves facing Mister Sinister and his henchmen…

Quality

*The Summers couple helpless in the presence of Mister Sinister who has an ambitious plan for all mutants.*

To put things clearly, this comic book is a nice pay-off to what was built up in the previous issue. Without spoiling the plot, I like the way the struggles of the X-Men were dramatized, specifically with regards to Wolverine (who was portrayed as an aggressor by the anti-mutant activists through the media) encountering the anti-mutant mob plus his interaction with Morph who got a lot more of the spotlight this time around. Morph’s return here has a bigger impact and the way things were told here will compel you to revisit the early issues of the first volume of X-Men Adventures and re-examine how he interacted with his teammates when he was still an X-Men member.

And then there is the sub-plot in which Cyclops and his wife Jean are captured by Mister Sinister and his henchmen. What I enjoyed the most in this part of the story was the efficient exposition done by the creative team to emphasize Sinister’s knowledge of Cyclops’ past and the X-Men which is connected with his master plan for the future that involves the genetic material of both Scott Summers and his wife. Sinister’s master plan for mutants is radically different from Magneto’s vision but remains essentially wicked as it involves overwhelming non-mutant people.

Conclusion

*Wolverine faces the anti-mutant activists again not for revenge but to help his teammate.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994) is an action-packed read that is also intriguing and has few plot twists that added to the engagement. It is a better read than the previous issue and any X-Men fan who enjoys Mister Sinister antagonizing Marvel’s mutants will have stuff to enjoy and that includes the promise of future conflicts. If there’s anything that bogged down this comic book’s quality, it’s the somewhat rushed look of Andrew Wildman’s art.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 15

March 25, 2024April 17, 2024carlocarrasco

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 Movie reaction videos by You, Me and the Movies – When it comes to watching movie reaction videos, I enjoy what the YouTube channel You, Me and the Movies posted. Go watch the five videos of theirs that I selected for your enjoyment. I also encourage you to visit You, Me and the Movies’ YouTube channel.

#2 Minty Comedic Arts’ superhero trivia videos – In recent times, superhero movies from Hollywood became irrelevant and unexciting not because of the so-called superhero movie fatigue but because they are no longer made to be fun. That being said, now is a good time to look back at the enjoyable superhero movies from the past through Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia videos below. You will learn something new and do not forget to visit Minty Comedic Arts’ YouTube channel.

#3 Looking back at the Sega Dreamcast’s American launch and legacy – It has been almost 25 years since the Sega Dreamcast console launched in the United States. The American launch turned out highly successful with almost $100 million in sales revenue achieved during the first 24 hours. For the newcomers reading this, there was a time when Sega had consoles and the Dreamcast was the last one they had before going all-in with multiplatform publishing of games. That being said, watch these videos of the Dreamcast.

#4 Assorted videos of violations and reckless driving incidents of electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) in the Philippines – For the international readers and newcomers reading this, the amount of electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) here in the Philippines grew dramatically over the past ten years. Because of the many incidents as well as cases of careless or reckless driving of e-bikes and e-trikes that took place, authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila took action to have such electric vehicles regulated as well as banned from traveling along major roads and highways. Hopefully in the future, e-bike and e-trike riders will be required to have their electric vehicles registered and get themselves licensed to drive. To see the incidents, watch the videos below…

#5 Rita Panahi and the Leftists who embarrassed themselves – We now move on to the more serious and real-world stuff. I can say that Rita Panahi and her segment titled “Lefties losing it” is easily the most engaging one to watch on Sky News Australia. Here you will see varied videos showing the recklessness, the shamelessness and craziness of the Leftists as captured on social media and news media. Watch and listen to the videos below…

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 5

March 22, 2024March 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will examine print ads from the 1980s and the 1990s that caught my attention and I will explain why they are worth look back at.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Star Wars: Rebel Assault print ad

*This print ad was strong enough to capture Star Wars fans’ attention and make them interested with the Sega CD.*

If there is anything notable about the Sega CD (Mega CD in other parts of the world) platform, it is the fact that the machine was an add-on to be connected with the Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive elsewhere) console. That being said, LucasArts included the Sega CD as one of several platforms for the multiplatform release of their 1993 game Star Wars: Rebel Assault. The above print ad caught my attention with its use of 9 screenshots (emphasizing a wide look at the game’s Star Wars concept) and text description (emphasizing multi-media features connected with gameplay), and for a time it made me interested in the Sega CD. Looking back at the game’s marketing, Star Wars: Rebel Assault was designed to not only give gamers sessions of play to enjoy but also opportunities to immerse themselves deeper into the realm of Star Wars. The game even had selected video clips from the original Star Wars trilogy movies.

2. Cloak & Dagger print ad

*This print ad could have used at least two screenshots from the arcade game…*

In 1984, there was a movie titled Cloak & Dagger (read my retro movie review by clicking here) which was not only the 4th cinematic adaptation of the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” (written by Cornell Woolrich) but also had the real-life electronic game Cloak & Dagger as a crucial plot element. To make things clear, there was a Cloak & Dagger game released in the arcades (as emphasized in the above print ad) from Atari. Behind the scenes, the filmmakers and Atari worked together which explains the video game tie-in with the movie. While the above arcade conversion kit print ad does not show screenshots of gameplay, the four images of the playable protagonist Agent X shown were from the game’s short transition sequences (moving from one level to another) which were also displayed in the 1984 movie. Those images were enough to remind me about the movie I enjoyed.

More on the Atari connection, the movie had a cleverly presented short scene showing the young protagonist Davey (played by Henry Thomas) playing Cloak & Dagger on his Atari 5200 console with spliced gameplay footage of the arcade version shown within cuts. In real life, however, Atari never released a version of Cloak & Dagger for any console nor computer in the 1980s. Today, you can play the game on the Atari 50 collection on consoles.

3. BurgerTime print ad

*This BurgerTime print ad was entertaining to look at and easily reminded viewers about food and the popular game coming home.*

Back in 1982, BurgerTime (Japanese title: Hamburger) was released in the video arcades and turned out to be a big hit in both Japan and America. Seeking to capitalize on the game’s success, Mattel Electronics acquired the rights of the game from Data East and went on to release versions of it for the Intellivision, Atari 2600, Apple II and the IBM personal computer. Mattel went on to market the game for consoles and computers by coming up with a print ad (the one above) that had comic book-style hand drawn art of the playable protagonist chef Peter Pepper running away from walking versions (anthropomorphic figures) a hotdog, an egg, and a pickle. The ad showed a single screenshot which was sufficient enough to show readers the concept of the game clearly. In my experience, I never got to play BurgerTime in the arcades but I first learned about its existence thanks to the eye-catching print ad above which appeared in comic books I read. In addition, the print ad also does an effective job to remind readers about food.

4. SOS print ad

*This print ad made me interested in the game as I was already aware of the historical sinking of the Titanic, and I already saw the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure.*

Moving back to the 1990s, I saw the above print ad of the video game SOS for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) while reading a comic book. The nice artwork caught my attention as it easily reminded me of the disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure (1972) as well as the real-life tragedy of the Titanic. Then I saw the screenshots on the print ad and they made me interested on the game which I later played on a rent-by-the-hour game joint. Looking back at the text description of the print ad, it did not describe what the technical and graphical features of SOS were. That being said, I was surprised to experience the game’s use of the SNES Mode 7 effects which enabled the scaling and rotating of the in-game environment which affected gameplay in many ways. Read my retro review of SOS by clicking here.

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past print ad

This 2-page print ad was strong enough to invite readers to literally join the Star Trek: TNG crew and go where no man has gone before. By the way, when was the last time you saw Marina Sirtis or Gates McFadden on a video game ad?

Long before wokeness ruined Star Trek in this modern age, the sci-fi franchise reached a tremendous high in popularity and projects in the 1990s as that decade had Star Trek: The Next Generation (most of its TV seasons and three movies were released within the decade), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager that kept fans entertained.

Considering its high popularity, it was not surprising that a video game adaptation of Star Trek: TNG was released in 1994 titled Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past (the version for Super Nintendo Entertainment System) and I saw the above print ad while reading a gaming magazine. Using a slightly altered version of the TNG group photo, the print ad emphasized its concept that the player will be able to lead the crew of the Starship Enterprise and take part in a series of missions in different parts of space with the likes of Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Data, Worf, Dr. Crusher, Deanna Troi and La Forge. While I was never a Star Trek fan, the above print ad caught my attention with its concept, the group photo and the screenshots gave me an idea of what the game has to offer. It should be noted that Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past was released between the end of Star Trek: TNG’s final season and the theatrical release of Star Trek: Generations.

6. Super Castlevania IV print ad

*This was one of the most eye-catching print ads I’ve seen about a Konami video game.*

The jump in technology from one console generation to the next can be beneficial for gamers if game developers harnessed the advantages of new technologies to make new games that turned out to be more engaging and more enjoyable. Such was the case with Super Castlevania IV for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1991. The above print showed Konami highlighting the positive feedback their game received from different gaming media outlets and used screenshots to give gamers and long-time Castlevania fans exciting stuff to see. I got to play the game on the mini SNES console and I can say that in terms of visuals, controls and gameplay, Super Castlevania IV truly lived up to its title and it remains fun to play to this day.

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A Look Back at Tomb Raider #2 (2000)

March 20, 2024March 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, Tomb Raider fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to year 2000 to revisit the 2^nd issue of the Tomb Raider comic book series which was published through Image Comics.

In my previous retro review, the creative team smoothly and firmly established the iconic Lara Croft as an experienced treasure hunter and explorer who also knows how to negotiate with clients when it comes to high-risk tasks. In short, her debut in comics turned out very inspired by the video games and that made the Tomb Raider herself a fitting protagonist in the realm of comic books.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Tomb Raider #2, published in 2000 by Image Comics (production work by Top Cow) with a story written by Dan Jurgens and drawn by Andy Park.

Early story

The story begins with Lara Croft in trouble deep underwater as her oxygen line had been cut off while her yacht got badly damaged by a time bomb placed on it by unidentified operators. The wounded Lara is approached by two scuba divers responsible for the attack. As they search her for valuable items, Lara fights back against them strategically. After the two got attacked by the sharks separately, she avoids the sharks near her only to witness her yacht sink from above and on to the surface below.

Lara then begins to worry about her butler Compton…

Quality

*The interactions between Lara Croft and Compton remind me a lot about Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Alfred working together.*

This tale shows Lara aided by Compton (who turned out to be more than just dedicated butler) on a search not only for artifacts but also for answers and people. This is the result of the disruption caused by a gang led by Chase Carver as Lara conducted the dangerous underwater search in relation to her agreement with a dangerous client. If there is any symbolism here, it would be the unfortunate events confirming that the so-called industry on the search for artifacts is truly dangerous not only because of difficult locations to visit but also because there are powerful stakeholders who resort to violence to get ahead of other searchers. In short, the very rich Lara is destined to encounter danger as she personally engages in the searching.

Using flashbacks, Dan Jurgens inserted scenes showing readers what Lara was like when she was a young girl, who her parents are, and how involved Compton became as the family’s defender and butler. As a result, Compton here ended up looking and acting very much like Batman’s Alfred Pennyworth (butler and operator). This is not exactly problematic as having Compton allows the creators to have Lara someone to talk with and place her trust on. That being said, I can say that Lara-Compton is pretty much like Batman-Alfred.

More on the story, there is a focus on the violent competition within the world of the search for artifacts. The attack by Carver’s gang drastically altered the direction of Lara’s search which leads her and Compton to Nepal.

When it comes to spectacle, I noticed that the Jurgens-Park duo ramped up the action a lot and the violence was intensified making this tale look like an R-rated action movie. This opened a lot of opportunities for Park to draw more dynamic action shots complete with explosions. In my view, the ramped-up spectacle did not overwhelm the narrative and turned out a very generous pay-off to the build-up.

Conclusion

*There is plenty of action to enjoy in this comic book.*

Tomb Raider #1 (2000) is a fun read that moved the story forward while saving enough space for character exposition (the flashbacks) and spectacle. As Lara’s search for answers goes on, the suspense got built-up nicely and there were details that caught my curiosity. As of now, I am looking forward to finding out more and what would happen next.

Overall, Tomb Raider #2 (2000) is recommended.

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