fun – Page 32 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (1982)

November 8, 2023November 4, 2023carlocarrasco

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

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ launch of a comic book series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

For the newcomers reading this, Hasbro launched the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline in 1982 which was actually a revival of the original G.I. Joe series of toys (sized 12 inches) in the 1960s and 1970s. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys had a new format for its action figures influenced by the success of the Micronauts and Star Wars toys. Veteran writer Larry Hama (the same guy behind the memorable Wolverine #75 of 1993) was already working for Marvel and was developing the concept of a new comic book about elite commandos fighting terrorists. Such development happened before the 1982 relaunch of G.I. Joe, and eventually Marvel’s editor-in-chief Jim Shooter approached Hama for a new comic book project based on Hasbro’s military toyline. Eventually a series of developments followed that saw the creation of the evil organization Cobra, the core villain Cobra Commander and more.

The impact of G.I. Joe as a licensed comic book series turned out positively as it helped attract new readers at the newsstands and it developed a strong following with young readers who were not highly interested with superheroes.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Herb Trimpe.

Early story

The story begins with an Amtrak train traveling between New York City and Washington, D.C. Inside the nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart who previously served as one of the brains behind the Doomsday Project. It turns out, Burkhart was declared a traitor for denouncing the military claiming that she was misled by them to work on the said project. Inside the train, she has several security personnel guarding her as she is on her way to testify in front of a certain congressional committee.

As she speaks during a press conference inside one of the train’s cars, several flying soldiers of Cobra attacked the exterior of the train. In front of Burkhart, a few of the journalists turned out to be elements of Cobra led by the Baroness. The Baroness and her companions succeed in defeating the bodyguards and kidnapped Burkhart by means of flight.

At the Pentagon, the kidnapping of Burkhart compels the military to call in their special counter-terrorist group called G.I. Joe for a rescue operation. The stakes are high as they know that they cannot let Cobra keep Burkhart long enough to use her and they cannot let her die as the whole world is aware that they considered her an embarrassment. They ordered Colonel Clayton Abernathy (code name: Hawk) to assemble the Joe Team composed of Clutch, Flash, Breaker, Rock ‘n Roll, Scarlett, Stalker, Short-Fuse and Snake-Eyes…

Quality

*Dr. Burkhart held hostage by Cobra and in the presence of Cobra Commander, the Baroness and many terrorists.*

To get straight to the point, the main story (Operation: Lady Doomsday) was carefully structured by Hama to tell a story engagingly while also functioning to introduce readers to the characters and immersing them into the illustrated literary universe of G.I. Joe that is noticeably separated from the popular cartoon series. It is a classic portrayal of good versus evil laced with militarism and espionage.

The story moved at a medium pace and the approach on build-up and pay-off was executed carefully. There were scenes that had a sufficient amount of details regarding the plot or character moments (as opposed to development) that made the reading experience immersive. In short, there was no rush in the narrative while the pace never slowed down to a halt (no boring moments).

That being said, you will get to see lots of scenes that focus on the side of G.I. Joe as well as on the side of Cobra which is led by Cobra Commander (who is obsessed and scheming) followed by the Baroness (who is more focused on achieving goals but cannot do so without authority). You will see a certain gap between Cobra Commander and the Baroness which shows something seems off within their terrorist organization. This served as a creative contrast with G.I. Joe being more straightforward with the way they organize themselves.

The only weakness this comic book has is the fact that with so many characters from both the good and the bad sides, identifying them was pretty challenging especially when their military uniforms obscured their looks. Characters like Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Rock ‘n Roll, Stalker and the Baroness are instantly recognizable.

As the main story remains a really good read, the 2^nd story (Hot Potato) also written by Hama but drawn by Perlin served as a nice additive to this comic book.

Conclusion

*G.I. Joe starts getting ready for the high-stakes rescue mission.*

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (1982) is indeed a very solid reading experience. This is a strong introduction of the literary version of G.I. Joe and its portrayal of good versus evil remains believable and compelling. I also enjoyed the way the creators balanced the build-up of tension, plot and character moments with spectacle or twists utilized as pay-off. Lastly, I should say that this comic book has lots of action for you to enjoy and the execution of the action scenes made sense within the context of the stories. Remember that this marked the beginning of a memorable long run of G.I. Joe comics that reached into the 1990s. This one is a true classic and it should remind you that there was a time when political correctness and wokeness did not get in America’s way of fighting terrorists.

Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (1982) 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

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982)

November 6, 2023November 3, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.

In my previous retro review, the X-Men got involved in a high-stakes mission to find and rescue the kidnapped Shi’ar empress Lilandra. Things are not easy on the X-Men’s side as Cyclops is still uneasy over the truth he learned about his father Corsair while the leader Charles Xavier had to deal with the Shi’ar officials who have their agenda that could cause trouble on Earth. What the X-Men faced was a few of the Brood and Deathbird.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #156 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.

Early story

The story begins in New York City. The X-Men just fought with the Brood and Deathbird, and Charles Xavier has gone missing. Wolverine, Storm, Corsair, Cyclops and the Avengers member Tigra attend to a mortally wounded Colossus who was hit with acid.

Just as the local police arrived, Tigra tries her best to talk with them. Suddenly a gigantic space ship arrived floating above New York shocking everyone. The ship unleashes a beam of light down to pick up Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Corsair and the ailing Colossus. The giant ship then flies away leaving a lot of people stunned.

It turns out the ship belongs to the Starjammers, a group of space pirates that Corsair leads. Colossus then gets treated with alien technology…

Quality

*The spectacle and the new encounter with the Brood were nicely done.*

Similar to issue #155, the story here is very in-depth and has so much details and plot-related connections, it will require a great amount of attention from you in order to understand what is going and what is happening within. In this issue, you will get to see the Starjammers gang that Corsair spent a long time with, further development between Corsair and son Cyclops, the reunion between Charles Xavier and Empress Lilandra, and more of the Brood.

To put things clearly, Chris Claremont invested a lot of details when it comes to dramatizing the characters, insert revelations from the past, emphasized the many reactions of the X-Men members and carefully implemented stronger science fiction elements that really added depth to the plot. In many ways, this story is a huge pay-off to the build-up of the previous comic book and there is a lot more to the connection between Deathbird (a very capable villainess) and the Brood.

Having read lots of Claremont-authored X-Men stories, I found this 1982 story enjoyable and compelling to read. The big difference is that there is a stronger element of spectacle in this story which is related to the stronger sci-fi elements as well as Claremont’s strategic handling of the X-Men. At this point, it is clear that something new was being built up with the Brood, space travel and new frontiers. This is a strong sci-fi X-Men tale.

Conclusion

*Professor X with his beloved Lilandra.*

Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is indeed an enjoyable read provided that you pay close attention to the details, the characters and you have read the previous issue. This is the X-Men literally going deeper with science fiction and the Brood here was just about to rise further as a major force of opposition that would impact Marvel’s mutants. I should also state that Professor X and Empress Lilandra being together is a pretty compelling scene to read. As of this writing, I am convinced to keep on exploring further tales from this era of the X-Men.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982)

October 31, 2023November 2, 2023carlocarrasco

This review will examine not only the first-ever appearance of the X-Men foes the Brood but also the effects of other developments that made their impact on key members of Marvel’s team of mutants.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #155 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.

Early story

The story begins as a jet carrying Cyclops, Storm and Corsair flies. Tensions are already intense as Cyclops is struggling with the shocking truth that his father – Corsair the leader of the Starjammers – is still living and recently returned to Earth seeking help.

Storm tries to emotionally reconnect with her teammate but Cyclops pushes back as he just found out that she knew Corsair was his father for several months already and never bothered to tell him. Tension grew worse as Corsair tried explaining himself to his son only to get a harsh response in return. Cyclops questioned his father if he even tried to learn what happened to him and his brother Alex (Havok) over the previous twenty years.

Suddenly the jet begins to glow. It turns out that a transporter beam hit them. In an instant, jet got transported forty thousand kilometers above the Earth and into the deck of the Shi’ar Dreadnought. Cyclops, Storm and Corsair find themselves surrounded by armed personnel and an audience of several alien beings.

Suddenly, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine and Professor X appeared out of nowhere and right next to the jet…

Quality

*Wolverine takes on one of the Brood. As this marked the Brood’s first appearance in comics, Wolverine’s encounter with one of them here is a prelude of more intense things to come.*

Upon close inspection of the storytelling, this comic book is pretty loaded with details related to developments that took place in previous issues. Apart from Cyclops’ personal struggle on accepting the truth about his father’s existence, there are references to what happened recently on the parts of Xavier, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. Not only that, this story also reveals details about Professor X’s past interaction with Empress Lilandra and the Shi’ar race.

As it turns out, the Empress was abducted by terrorists and many of her ministers got killed. This previous event incidentally sets the stage for the new tasks for the X-Men to handle in this particular story which also comes with strong science fiction elements.

Adding further to the X-Men’s new mission to follow the trail to Earth and liberate Empress Lilandra if she is still living, Cyclops’ father Corsair was found to be a conspirator (to be punished) and the Shi’ar’s high officials will only follow Xavier’s lawful command (as the imperial consort) to a certain limit. This new conflict is literally loaded with lots of details that became part of the build-up, and to really grasp it all, you should pay close attention to the details here and in the previous comic books. In other words, this is not an easy read.

Apart from the general concept and plot structuring, Chris Claremont pulled off some clever moves with the way he portrayed Charles Xavier’s leadership and cunning. The X-Men leader knows that a lot is at stake in the new mission and he is certain that further Shi’ar presence on Earth would result in catastrophe.

As for the mission itself, the X-Men got someone from the Avengers to aid them. With Storm and Corsair moving and operating apart from the rest of the team. This leads to another series of developments plus twists that you should read for yourselves.

Conclusion

*An intense scene that really puts the X-Men into a predicament and a potential conflict between worlds.*

Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is not an easy read but if you have a strong understanding of the many plot details and related character developments, then you will eventually enjoy this story. The literary debut of the Brood here is not too significant as it preceded the further emphasis of the alien monster race in the succeeding issues. A highlight here is the intriguing portrayal of Professor X as X-Men leader, as Lilandra’s lover and as the bridge between humanity, mutants and the aliens of the Shi’ar empire. There is also a good amount of spectacle to keep you entertained, particularly during the 2^nd half of the story. Considering all the build-up and exposition that took place in this comic book, don’t expect the mission to be concluded within.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is highly recommended!

+++++

Better than Streaming: The Blob (1988) Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray now available

October 27, 2023October 26, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! Back in the late 1980s, I saw the 1988 version of The Blob – let’s refer to it as The Blob (1988) – on home video and it turned out to be a fine mix of thrills, scares and science fiction concepts that ultimately became fun to watch. Being young at a time when Internet connection and online research were not yet available, I was not even aware that The Blob (1988) was a remake of the 1958 original Blob movie that starred Steve McQueen.

If you who love the late 1980s Blob movie and if you have been looking to add something to your home entertainment collection of Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray movies, be aware that the Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray of The Blob (1988) is now available in the market and you can order it online right now and have it delivered to your home. The new release by Shout Factory! is loaded with features and it has native 4K visuals.

To put things in perspective, posted below are the technical specs from The Blob (1988) 4K Blu-ray page at Blu-ray.com. The said website highly recommended it in its review.

Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265 (84.99 Mbps)
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)

Subtitles – English SDH

Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)

Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing, Reversible cover

Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A

Having seen both the 1958 and 1988 versions of The Blob, I can say to the newcomers and movie buffs reading this that you can’t go wrong with either version. I enjoyed both movies and I can say that each film has distinctive attractions for viewing. The Blob of 1958 is more sci-fi and has very little horror elements.

However, if you want thrills, the 1980s culture, stronger horror elements, stronger sci-fi elements, the creative approach done by director Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont on reimagining The Blob‘s concept, and the great-looking practical effects (note: the blob effects were made with physical stuff and a lot of man-made work without computers), then The Blob (1988) is the definitive choice. Take note I mentioned thrills as the movie has some fast-paced scenes that happen from time to time as you watch it. Considering its use of sci-fi concepts mixed with action, The Blob (1988) really stood out among the many horror movies released by Hollywood throughout the 1980s. I should also state that the remake has Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Jeffrey DeMunn, Joe Seneca, Candy Clark and Donovan Leitch Jr. in its cast.

As a 4K Blu-ray collector, I plan to acquire a copy of The Blob (1988) 4K Blu-ray in due time. I was already aware of the Blu-ray release from 2019 but I waited for the 4K version to be made.

In case you are interested or if you have made up your mind, you can order a copy of The Blob (1988) Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray right now by clicking https://www.amazon.com/Blob-Collectors-4K-UHD/dp/B0CC4N168B/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1IT5E0CSG6JIF&keywords=the+blob+4k&qid=1698124727&sprefix=%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-2 and at https://shoutfactory.com/products/the-blob-collector-s-edition?variant=40206057111686

If you want the best enjoyment possible from watching The Blob (1988) Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray, I highly recommend you avoid watching movie reaction videos and the spoileriffic retro movie reviews posted by YouTubers.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King is now a reality

October 19, 2023October 18, 2023carlocarrasco

Ever since it was first announced, the stakeholders behind the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal worth almost $70 billion went through lots of hurdles that include opposition by Sony’s PlayStation division, a trial with America’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a rejection by the United Kingdom’s regulator Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The obstacles are over as the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal recently closed and already the Activision side of the business has officially started integrating into Microsoft. This deal is many times larger than the Xbox-Bethesda acquisition of a few years ago. Watch the related video by Team Xbox below…

Xbox chief Phil Spencer issued a statement related to the newly closed deal. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from his statement published through Xbox.com. Some parts in boldface…

We love gaming. We play games, create games, and know first-hand how much gaming means to all of us as individuals and collectively, as a community. And today, we officially welcome Activision Blizzard and their teams to Xbox. They are the publishers of some of the most played and most beloved franchises in gaming history across console, PC and mobile. From Pitfall to Call of Duty, World of Warcraft to Overwatch, Candy Crush Saga to Farm Heroes Saga, their studios have pushed the boundaries of gaming for players around the world.

I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture. Whether it was late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign with friends from start to finish, gathering the entire family in the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero night, or going on an epic streak in Candy Crush, some of my most memorable gaming moments came from experiences their studios have created. It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox.

As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.

Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play including mobile, cloud streaming and more.

Players have always been at the center of everything we do. And as we grow, we’ll continue to keep players at the heart of it all. We’ll continue to listen to your feedback, build a community where you can be yourself, where developers can do their best work, and continue to make really fun games. As promised, we will also continue to make more games available in more places – and that begins now by enabling cloud streaming providers and players to stream Activision Blizzard games in the European Economic Area, a commitment made to the European Commission. Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too.

For the millions of fans who love Activision, Blizzard, and King games, we want you to know that today is a good day to play. You are the heart and soul of these franchises, and we are honored to have you as part of our community. Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favorite franchise. Because when everyone plays, we all win.

For their part, Activision Blizzard issued its own statement related to the biggest deal in video gaming with Microsoft. They are looking forward to the future of gaming with Team Xbox. Posted below is an excerpt from their statement with some parts in boldface…

It’s a big day for us at Activision Blizzard. For more than four decades, our players have inspired us to push the boundaries of imagination with iconic universes including Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft.

Today we begin a new chapter as we officially become a part of the Microsoft family, uniting with the amazing Xbox team and co-creating the future of gaming together.

In our earliest days we were a modest collective of designers who raided rivers, commanded choppers, and avoided pitfalls. Now as part of Xbox, we will continue our mission to deliver the world’s most epic interactive entertainment experiences to more people, more platforms, and across more worlds than ever before.

All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you, our incredible gaming community.

Unsurprisingly, the approved Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal made tremendous waves through social media and through YouTube. Watch and learn from the videos below starting with an interview with Activision Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick (note: pay close attention to his words)…

The Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal is not just another multi-billion Dollar business breakthrough…it is a tremendous boost for the credibility of Xbox as a video gaming, PC gaming, cloud gaming and mobile gaming entity.

Not only will Team Xbox have access and control of Activision Blizzard’s multiple game franchises and properties, they will also inherit the many talents and game makers of ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King), inherit the proprietary technologies for making the games, and most notably inherit and do business with the hundreds of millions of Activision Blizzard King customers worldwide!

While it is made clear that Microsoft-controlled ABK will still release games on multiple platforms, the new owners can make the new and upcoming games Xbox-exclusive (meaning released only on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus cloud and mobile devices which collectively are more numerous than Nintendo and PlayStation consoles). For insights about potential Xbox-exclusive Activision Blizzard games, watch Colteastwood’s video below…

More on exclusivity that include games, DLC releases and other matters, it is clear that the pre-existing contracts between PlayStation and Activision will never be renewed (read: PlayStation is no longer the home of Call of Duty). PlayStation, whose leader Jim Ryan has been so arrogant and dishonest when opposing the Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal, will have a lot to worry about on the gaming subscription side of business once Activision Blizzard games get added into the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service some time in 2024. As much as Team Xbox and Microsoft are benefiting from this mega deal, gamers across different platforms will eventually benefit as well in various ways. Expect new customer-oriented choices to be made through the games under Xbox’s banner.

As of this writing, Xbox fans are rejoicing over the closed Xbox-Activision-Blizzard-King deal while PlayStation fanboys cannot help but agonize with anger and jealousy. All you have to do to see the PS fanboys’ anguish is search for them on social media over their collective negative reactions. The “Xbox has no games” zealots are looking and feeling bad nowadays. Indeed, things are working in Team Xbox’s favor and I personally cannot wait to see the benefits of the ABK deal get realized in my gaming experience. Also there is nothing like seeing ABK’s established franchises like Call of Duty, StarCraft, Warcraft and many others listed with Xbox’s own franchises such as Halo, Forza Motorsport, The Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout and others.

Personally, I look forward to playing Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot (a game property that started on PlayStation) other Activision titles on my Xbox Series X console through my Xbox Game Pass subscription in the near future.

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)

October 17, 2023October 12, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1974 to examine a highly significant tale from Marvel Comics’ shared universe – the first appearance of the Punisher and his first-ever encounter with Spider-Man.

To put things in perspective, Punisher’s literary debut was told within the Amazing Spider-Man comic book series and it happened not too long after the legendary tragedy of Gwen Stacey. During the 1970s, Hollywood made and released several action movies and crime thrillers that were violent, gritty and highlighted vigilantes and assassins. Some of that influence somehow made it into Marvel’s shared universe which was symbolized creatively through the Punisher who debuted as an assassin.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #129, published in 1974 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Ross Andru (the same creative duo behind Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man crossover).

Early story

The story begins inside a private facility an assassin wearing black with a huge skull on his upper body heavily damages a solid statue of Spider-Man using a powerful rifle. This impresses the hideous villain called the Jackal who tells him that if he does well with the real Spider-Man, he would have performed a great service for the world. Knowing he impressed the Jackal, the Punisher states that he will only kill those who deserve killing and he expresses his belief that the webslinger deserves to die.

Elsewhere, Spider-Man swings into action and successfully stops an armed robbery from happening. Along the way he managed to capture photographs, changes into his civilian clothes and enters the Daily Bugle’s office ready to submit the roll of film as Peter Parker. Unfortunately, his superior J. Jonah Jameson disregards Parker’s submission and points out that the Punisher made waves with New York’s readers via the Bugle’s competitor The New York Star. For Jameson, the Punisher is only the most newsworthy thing to happen to New York and tells Parker he wants photos of the assassin…

Quality

*This is a scene from the first of two encounters between Spider-Man and the Punisher who was introduced as an assassin.*

To make things very clear about storytelling without spoiling plot details, this is a tale about intrigue and the darker side of society that involves vigilantes and murdering. The Punisher here did not debut as a crime-busting vigilante but rather an assassin who accepts assignments from clients as long as the jobs fall in line with his personal philosophy that focuses on taking the lives of those who deserved to be killed. That being said, it is clear that Hollywood’s vigilante flicks of the 1970s influenced the presentation and I can say that whenever the story focuses on the Punisher, there definitely is a grim tone which contradicts the tone of Spider-Man’s scenes.

Spider-Man here continues to struggle somewhat with his personal life having recently lost Gwen Stacey while remaining disturbed about the identity of the Green Goblin. The webslinger also has to live with the heavy situation in which a lot of people in New York were convinced that he killed Norman Osborne which was the result of his own boss’ handling of the Daily Bugle. These elements along with his civilian involvement with his newspaper creatively added to the build-up of Spider-Man’s eventual encounters with the Punisher. The build-up was structured nicely and the pay-off was worth it.

There was also the introduction of Jackal. While he has a hideous appearance, his participation was more about scheming than action which contrasted him with the Punisher. For the newcomers reading this, Jackal is actually Miles Warren in a more monstrous form. From this comic book, it was clear that Jackal was created to be a recurring for of Spider-Man and this was strongly executed in the controversial Clone Saga of the 1990s.

Going back to the Punisher, he symbolically uses guns with designs that were more grounded in reality (inspired by real-life guns in looks) instead of taking influence from science fiction. As an assassin living with a strong code, the Punisher is truly determined to eliminate Spider-Man whom he even referred to as a murderer. The perception of Spider-Man as a criminal on the part of the Punisher clearly reflected the defamation caused by the Daily Bugle on the webslinger. Gerry Conway established the assassin to be a strong believer in fighting evil by using violence and killing.

The build-up of the Punisher is very solid and the pay-off in the form of battles with Spider-Man is tremendous and very satisfying to read. There is a lot of action to enjoy here and most notably Gerry Conway maintained a strong narrative throughout.

Conclusion

*Have you ever worked in a newspaper before?*

I can say out loud that Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) is truly a great read and a true illustrated literary classic of Marvel Comics. This tale alone added a touch of darkness and grit (in the form of vigilante and assassins cultures) into the Spider-Man legacy. Apart from its status as a comic book classic, this one paved the way for the rise of the Punisher in terms of more comic book appearances and the publishing of new comic book series featuring him. While the Punisher’s legacy as a killer is obviously not something worth believing in, Marvel Comics took the risk of having him as one of their primary characters in the decades that followed. This particular story is so significant, Marvel Comics revisited it with What If #58 (1994). Check out my other Punisher-related retro reviews by clicking here, here, here, here and here.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) is highly recommended!

+++++

Remember how lively Festival Mall’s original cinemas used to be?

October 13, 2023October 10, 2023carlocarrasco

For decades now, I have been living in Alabang and I witnessed how much Muntinlupa City modernized along the way. Bordering Barangay Ayala Alabang is Filinvest City (formerly called Filinvest Corporate City) which itself is home to several business or facilities such as the Filinvest Tent, Commercenter, Acacia Hotel Manila, Crimson Hotel, Westgate and, of course, the wildly popular place to be in – Festival Mall.

For the newcomers reading this, Festival Mall opened in May 1998 with its initial name Festival Supermall. Way back then, out of pure curiosity, I entered the mall for the first-time ever during its soft opening on May 1, 1998 (Labor Day here in the Philippines) as I was already looking for a new place and new discoveries at a time when I got tired of Alabang Town Center (ATC).

Being very new back then, Festival Mall’s presence of retailers or tenants was not yet dynamic as there were still businesses inside that could not open in time for the mall’s opening. I do remember walking down seeing lots of vacant retail spots covered with signs such as “opening soon”, “coming soon” and the like. Back in those days, the Philippine economy and society itself were dampened by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

As the months passed by, more businesses opened and Festival Mall’s early attractions include the X-Site Amusement Center (which already had the indoor roller coaster) and, of course, the brand new cinemas which had several screens operating at a very spacious area on the top floor. I still remember seeing lots of people lining up for tickets and seats to watch Armageddon which ended up as the highest grossing movie of the world in 1998.

While I could no longer remember what was the first movie I saw at Festival Mall’s original cinemas (note: this is to differentiate it from the more modern cinemas of the mall located at the expanded area) back in the old days, I do remember watching several movies there through the years such as Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999), X-Men (2000), Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), The Mummy Returns (2001), The Matrix (1999), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Mission: Impossible II (2000), X-Men: First Class (2011), and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) to name some. I also saw some Tagalog films at Festival Mall’s old cinemas.

Indeed, for more than a decade, Festival Mall’s original cinemas became a favorite destination of mine to watch movies in Alabang and I definitely was not alone. I also remember the times when the said cinemas attracted a whole lot of moviegoers when the annual Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF) opening day (every December 25) happened resulting in long lines. Watch the YouTube videos below…

As you can see in the above videos, Festival Mall’s original cinemas was a hot spot for moviegoers. It should be noted that the mall is strategically located in close proximity to the Alabang Viaduct and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) which ensures visibility to motorists and accessibility to commuters on a daily basis. The old cinemas were also a hot spot for a variety of small businesses selling different kinds of food and drinks to moviegoers and others who just passed by.

Festival Mall at 25

This past May, Festival Mall turned 25 and its anniversary was highlighted with special events as well and publicity through the media. There were these Festival Mall 25th anniversary feature articles that got published in different newspapers almost simultaneously. In the commemorative article that got published in the Manila Bulletin, President and CEO of Filinvest Development Corporation Josephine Gotianun Yap was quoted which goes as follows in the excerpt below. Some parts in boldface…

“We would not be where we are today without the unwavering support of our customers, merchants, suppliers, and employees who have journeyed with us through the years. It is humbling to think that when we first opened the mall, we only had 30 stores and no anchor supermarket. But thousands of visitors came on our first day, attracted by our amusement centers, cinemas, and food court. And now the mall has 800 tenants and eight leading anchor stores. We value our collaboration with major retailers, which has enabled us to bring together SaveMore, Ace Hardware, Robinson’s Department Store, Handyman, Shopwise, H&M, Decathlon, and Landmark all under one roof. As we build on its strong foundations for the future, we see Festival Mall continuing to serve as a place where time stops for making memories with family and friends,”

As seen above, the Filinvest Development Corporation executive clearly referred to the original cinemas which was one of the early attractions of Festival Mall way back in 1998. As mentioned earlier, Festival Mall today has more modern cinemas located at the expanded area on the same floor but several meters away from the original cinemas. So how does Festival Mall’s original cinemas look like nowadays? Watch the video below…

Yes, indeed the mall’s original cinemas have turned depressing. There are much less customers who pass by the area and many of the businesses that operated within have closed down! As I personally found out, Festival Mall is still using a few screens at the old cinemas for moviegoers while leaving the many others closed and left in the dark. If you think about it carefully, what does the mall management have in mind with regards to all of those cinema seats, sound systems, projectors, screens and other pieces of equipment inside each and every closed screen of the original cinemas?

*A closed screen at one end of the original cinemas of Festival Mall. Just imagine what is left of all the hardware (examples: projectors and speakers) and seats inside.*

This was a premium place to watch movies at. It had more comfortable seats and better equipment that made the cinematic experience more immersive. It was here where I saw 2001’s Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

*This is where I used to buy movie tickets for many years. For some time now, the selling of movie tickets here ha*s stopped. To buy tickets, you have to go to the modern cinemas of the mall several meters away by foot at the same floor.

Apart from seeing more of the screens of the original cinemas closed down, the number of small-time businesses that sold different kinds of food and drinks are also gone which is depressing. Those businesses offered moviegoers different choices of what to eat or drink apart from the usual popcorn and drinks sold by the cinema’s concessionaires. I do remember a certain business joint that sold really good coffee (both hot and cold) that is also affordable.

There used to be different kinds of small business joints that sold a variety of food and drinks located on the floor spots at the original cinemas area. Those businesses have since closed down and left.

*I remember the times I bought popcorn and drinks at this place before watching a movie. Now there are no food, no drinks and no people selling to customers anymore.*

With the way things are right now, walking through the original cinemas area of Festival Mall is lonely and depressing to do. The area is almost lifeless and it easily is the saddest place inside the mall which itself has become a major attraction for shoppers and families. I can only wonder if Festival Mall’s management has any plan to revive the original cinemas area. Will they someday renovate at least a few of the screens and install brand new seats and other equipment to accommodate more moviegoers? Do they plan to attract new businesses to occupy the vacant commercial spaces and floor spaces near the old cinemas?

*It would be nice to know if Festival Mall’s management or Filinvest itself has any plan to revive commerce at the original cinemas area which is now the saddest and loneliest part of the mall*.

To be very clear with you all reading this, I never worked for a shopping mall nor have I ever worked in the movie theater business. I am a long-time resident of Alabang who often visits Festival Mall for purchasing needed items, dining and availing of services. Watching movies at Festival Mall used to be a big reason for me to spend time at the mall. I know for a fact that operating movie theaters is difficult and attracting people to watch movies on the big screen is tougher because of streaming. It does not help that the COVID-19 pandemic convinced people that watching new movies at home via streaming is the new standard which also made them think that movie theaters are unnecessary.

As a movie enthusiast, I can say out loud that watching a movie inside the cinema is still the best and most definitive way to enjoy watching. The movie theater experience can never be matched by streaming nor could the biggest HDTV at home could ever come close to the size and visual impact of a cinema screen. That being said, I can only hope that Festival Mall could someday revive the movie experience and commerce at their original cinemas area. They already have the modern cinemas at the expanded area but those are only 4 screens.

If you are living here in South Metro Manila and you have been to Festival Mall several times before, what do you think the mall management should do about their old cinemas? Is Festival Mall your favorite place to watch movies in? Do you think that hosting multiple film festivals – both foreign and domestic – each year would justify renovating the old cinemas of the mall?

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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A Look Back at Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1 (1977)

October 13, 2023October 10, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1977 when Marvel Comics had the license to publish comic books about Japan’s iconic monster Godzilla (Gojira in Japanese) and even integrated him into their shared comic books universe.

The mid-1970s saw a decline of Godzilla’s popularity in Japan as reflected in the commercial disappointment of the movie Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). The company Toho decided to put on-hold the production of its monster movies without permanently ending the Godzilla film franchise. The next Godzilla movie released was The Return of Godzilla (1984) which proved to be a solid rebound of the Japanese film franchise.

Sometime between the mentioned movies, there was interaction between Toho officials and Marvel Comics – including the late Stan Lee – when the Japanese company screened the movie Godzilla vs. Gigan (titled in America as Monster Island) to the comic guys in relation to the film’s American theatrical release. It turns out Stan Lee enjoyed the movie a lot and seated next to him was writer Doug Moench (the eventual writer for the Godzilla comic book series).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1, published in 1977 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Moench and drawn by Herb Trimpe.

Early story

The story begins in Alaska when a huge iceberg suddenly deteriorates unleashing a gigantic monster with sharp teeth, dorsal fins and immense strength – Godzilla. After instantly crushing a supply ship, the monster moves onto the land destroying structures and disrupting the lives of every person nearby.

In response to Godzilla’s rampage in Alaska, S.H.I.E.L.D. dispatches its agents to the site of destruction to take on the monster. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Col. Nick Fury is transporting with him three Japanese individuals deemed important (with clearances from the Pentagon and the White House)…

Quality

*Dum Dum Dugan, Col. Nick Fury and the Japanese characters.*

To get straight to the point, this comic book not only marked the literary debut of Japan’s iconic monster under Marvel Comics’ banner but also his integration into the shared universe of the time. That being said, the story written by Doug Mench was pretty much a functional build-up of Godzilla’s presence within the realm of Marvel which includes a strategic choice of having S.H.I.E.L.D. and its characters encountering the monster. In short, the creative team decided not to literally pull out Marvel’s biggest guns (the more popular superheroes and teams) as such a move would have lessened the impact of Godzilla’s debut.

For the most part, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan had lively portrayals and the way they reacted to the rampage of Godzilla was believable. The introductions of the Japanese characters (who could provide breakthroughs on dealing with the giant monster) were clearly inspired by the Japanese scientists who were crucial in the plot of the original 1954 movie Gojira.

Going further, Doug Mench went on to efficiently establish Godzilla’s origin which creatively is a sensible reinterpretation of what was established in the 1954 movie. The giant monster’s rise as a result of humanity’s testing of powerful weapons on Earth is definitely here.

As expected, Godzilla is the unrestrained force of destruction but as this comic book was released in the 1970s, the destruction scenes lacked impact as they were creatively sanitized with deliberate moves of showing no casualties no matter what happened. This limitation on the part of Marvel Comics showed they were not willing to emulate the approach on destruction and death that was clearly emphasized in the first Godzilla movie of 1954.

As for Godzilla himself, Herb Trimpe’s visual approach is not really good. While Trimpe implemented the guy-in-a-suit shape on the giant monster’s form, he made Godzilla his own (took no inspiration from Godzilla’s cinematic designs) which resulted in making the icon look unrecognizable. There were inconsistencies on Godzilla’s head as well. In certain shots, Godzilla looked terrifying but in other shots, he looked weird or cartoony. The use of the color green did not make Godzilla look reptilian but rather comical.

Conclusion

*I can only imagine the SJWs and the climate change extremists enjoying these images of an unrecognizable Godzilla wreaking havoc to the oil supply.* *Are there lots of people in your local community who were brainwashed to hate oil and gas?*

Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1 (1977) is a serviceable approach on debuting the iconic monster within the fantasy realm of Marvel Comics and sparking a new wave of crossovers. There were uneven levels of quality here and there, and Herb Trimpe’s visual approach on Godzilla was alienating to say the least. Honestly, I did not really see Godzilla in this comic book but rather a green-colored dinosaur-like creature that was mislabeled as Godzilla. What works here is the writing by Doug Mench which proved to be entertaining enough.

Overall, Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1 (1977) is satisfactory.

For my other Godzilla-related posts, click here, here, here, here and here.

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Formal groundbreaking of Muntinlupa City Skate Park done

October 5, 2023October 2, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, several local officials took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Muntinlupa City Skate Park in Barangay Tunasan, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This is the latest sports-related project of the city.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

City officials led by Mayor Ruffy Biazon and Rep. Jaime Fresnedi held the groundbreaking for the Muntinlupa City Skate Park.

The skate park, located in Barangay Tunasan, is part of the Muntinlupa City government’s vision to develop the next generation of Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal.

“This facility will provide an engaging space for local skaters to connect with each other and develop their skills as individuals. It also gives us the unique opportunity to harness these skaters to help us develop athletes for medal events,” said Biazon.

He said the skate park was a result of Muntinlupa bagging the Seal of Good Local Governance, which had an incentive of P7 million. The fund will be used for the project.

The skate park will feature facilities primarily for skateboarding, such as quarter pipes and practice rails. It can also serve as a venue for various events and competitions, with an audience area and view deck for spectators to enjoy the action.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, what do you think about the city skate park? Are there lots of skaters in your local community who could use such a facility?

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

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

A Look Back at What If #7 (1989)

October 4, 2023October 2, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late 1980s to examine an alternate universe portrayal of Wolverine and S.H.I.E.L.D. told through an issue of the 2^nd What If comic book series.

While Wolverine has always been identified with the X-Men, the famous mutant spent time with the Canadian team Alpha Flight and his early encounter with the Hulk remains a highly significant chapter of Marvel Comics’ superhero universe.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #7 published in 1989 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Joe Valentino and drawn by Rob Liefeld.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher looking back at Wolverine’s encounter with not only the Hulk but also the Wendigo (as recorded in Incredible Hulk #180 and #181). A short time later, Wolverine is alone in the forest and gets visited by Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Hudson (Alpha Flight) who arrived by helicopter.

Hudson tells Logan that an agreement has been made to loan him to the United States which prompts a response – Wolverine claims he is nobody’s property and tells Fury to reveal the details.

As it turns out, Wolverine joined Fury at the helicarrier of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a briefing. Fury reveals to him that the internal security of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been breached by an advanced model of Hydra LMDs (life model decoys) and their sensors cannot even detect them. An agent with top security clearance was recently caught trying to transmit classified data. The said agent blew up…

Quality

*Wolverine, Nick Fury, Black Widow and some S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel take on Hydra!*

I can say that I am very impressed and entertained with what Valentino and Liefeld came up with in this comic book. The story has a pretty strong structure designed to engage readers, pull off some surprises here and there, while also emphasizing the legacy of conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra with efficiency.

With regards to this comic book’s subject matter, Valentino succeeded in exploring the concept of Wolverine becoming an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. complete with great interactions between the characters. While Wolverine has his ideological differences with Nick Fury, the story went on to show great chemistry between them when S.H.I.E.L.D. operates (with the clawed mutant involved). Wolverine and Black Widow make a solid duo in action and the writer managed to dramatize the conflict between Fury and Baron Strucker (Hydra). For the newcomers reading this, Baron Strucker is Marvel’s super villain with a Nazi heritage and he first appeared in the 1964 comic book Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5. Strucker here is very intimidating and powerful and Hydra’s use of LMDs symbolically reflect his ruthlessness.

When it comes to the visuals, Rob Liefeld’s art here is really great to look at and it truly is one of the best looking Marvel comics I have read with his artwork as well as the most distinctive looking What If story. Great not only because of his stylized take on the established characters (note: the Hulk and Wendigo looked very visceral) but also because Liefeld truly brought Valentino’s solid script into life from start to finish. The action scenes drawn were excellent, the facial expressions were lively and detailed to look at (note: Wolverine’s got some very visceral faces here) and most of all, Liefeld managed to make the established characters look recognizable.

Conclusion

*Really nice action of Wolverine and Black Widow against many drawn by Rob Liefeld.*

Thanks to Jim Valentino and Rob Liefeld’s combined works, What If #7 (1989) is a great comic book and easily one of the best tales of the 2^nd volume of What If that I have ever read. The way it emphasized Wolverine as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was highly imaginative, compelling and fun to read from start to finish. There is so much enjoyable stuff here that should appeal strongly to fans Wolverine, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. In retrospect, this comic book was published just a few years before Valentino and Liefeld left Marvel Comics to establish Image Comics and right here you will see the great creativity from their younger days. Lastly, I can say that this What If tale has a strong conclusion which should compel you to read specific Marvel comic books to realize the connections

Overall, What If #7 (1989) is highly recommended!

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