Jim Shooter – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 108

November 5, 2025October 30, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Jim Shooter Remembered – I am a long-time comic book reader and I can say out loud that modern day superhero comics are NOT worth pursuing anymore. So many woke activists, LGBTQ activists and rabid feminists have entered the comic book industry and they made superhero comics worse. That being said, what happened in recent years in superhero comics only made me revisit not only the comics of previous decades but also focus on the late Jim Shooter (1951-2025) who has a legacy of great creativity as well as big involvement on the business side of comic book publishing. He was the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics for almost a decade. I recently saw this particular YouTube video about Shooter’s prediction of the industry collapsing and I can say it is very compelling to watch. Go watch the video below.

#2 The Matrix Resurrections Revisited – When The Matrix Resurrections was released in 2021, I never bothered to watch it at all. To be clear, I saw the first three Matrix movies a long time ago and when it was announced that a sequel would actually be made, I was never interested nor intrigued. As such, I checked the movie through varied videos on YouTube and posted below are references that should interest you even if you are not a Matrix fan. By the way, when was the last time you saw Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss together?

#3 Where To Have Burger Steak In Japan – When you think about Japan as your next destination as a traveler, do you think about having very meaty meals there? Recently, Japanese Food Noodles posted a video about five Japanese food joints that serve burger steaks and side dishes to customers. In the video below, you can find out what those food joints are and you can enjoy watching how the food is prepared.

#4 Greta Thunberg Hilariously Mocked – Greta Thunberg, the climate change zealot and active partner-in-crime of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, was hilariously mocked in an Israeli satire program. As it is a fact that Thunberg and her woke activist pals attempted (for a 2^nd time) to reach Gaza WITHOUT ANY HUMANITARIAN AID at all, it is clear that they did it to generate buzz on social media and on the corrupt mainstream news media while serving Hamas. As such, the satire of Thunberg and her woke pals is a smart move and well-timed. Watch the Sky News Australia video below.

#5 Police Academy Revisited – What could be said about the 1984 comedy Police Academy? Apart from being a hilarious film, it was one of those very low-budget movies that struck gold with moviegoers grossing almost $150 million worldwide. To this day, Police Academy continues to entertain YouTubers and film buffs who were born after the movie was released. There are also some notable details about how the film was made, who made it in the cast and why it still is significant. Watch the selected videos below…

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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 86

June 30, 2025June 24, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Retrospective look back at Superman (1978) – I don’t know with you readers but I am not excited about the new Superman movie directed by James Gunn. Nowadays I am more nostalgic about DC Comics’ most famous superhero and I have been reading decades-old Superman comic books. As for movies about Superman, the 1978 movie that starred Christopher Reeve remains a classic for long-time fans of the Man of Steel. If you are wondering how much impact does Superman of 1978 have on YouTubers, watch the videos posted below. If you have not seen Superman of 1978 yet, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the assorted videos below.

#2 Trump-led America obliterates nuclear sites in Iran – As Israel and terrorist state Iran continued their war, the United States led by President Donald Trump pulled off a significant move by heavily bombing the enemy’s nuclear sites. With the wicked regime of Iran (in power since 1979) substantially weakened, the bombings were very helpful not only to Israel but also to the Iranian people (who did not join their evil government’s terrorism) who had been wanting freedom for a long time. Watch and learn from the related videos below.

#3 PatmanQC examines Tapper – With my digital Xbox copy of Midway Arcade Origins, I was able to play the classic arcade game Root Beer Tapper (AKA Tapper) on my Xbox Series X. I’ve been having a lot of fun playing it and I admire the game’s design and responsive controls. For the newcomers reading this, Tapper was first released in arcades by Midway in the 1980s and made it to many computers and consoles. Not only that, the game has intriguing details behinds its history and there was more than one version of Tapper released. To learn more about the history of Tapper, watch the in-depth video of PatmanQC below.

#4 Unsolved Mysteries Season 5 Episode 8 – As I was doing a round of replaying past episodes of Unsolved Mysteries (hosted by the late Robert Stack), I replayed the 8^th episode of the show’s 5^th season. The said episode has an intriguing story about a man’s close encounter with a UFO in North America, a scandal within Frontera prison, a shocking crime story and updates to previous stories shown. Take time out to watch the entire episode below.

#5 Defiant Comics revisited – If you are into comic books, have you ever heard of Defiant Comics? I would not be surprised if you have not heard of the publisher or if never ready any of its comic books. Founded in 1993 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, Defiant Comics published some comic books that had new and unique concepts (read my reviews of Warriors of Plasm #1 and Charlemagne #1) that went against type. Unfortunately the company went out of business in 1995 as a result of having to spend a lot of money on a legal battle with Marvel Comics. On YouTube, there are not too many retrospective videos about Defiant Comics and I posted below a video that can help you discover comics, cards and details about the said publisher.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 67

April 2, 2025March 27, 2025carlocarrasco

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

#1 The next Xbox will include Steam and PlayStation? – The vibe of the next-generation of console gaming is only intensifying by the day. When it comes to Xbox itself, there is speculation that the next-generation Xbox will not only be a hybrid PC console but also include access to Steam games and even those of PlayStation. I know it sound crazy but if it is clear that Microsoft is doing its own approach on the next-generation Xbox in radically different way compared with PlayStation and Nintendo. If you want to know more details, watch Colteastwood’s video below.

#2 PatmanQC examines NBA Jam – Were you able to play basketball videos in the arcades way back in the 1990s? Back then, NBA Jam was a massive excess attracting so many players and generating lots of income for arcade operators. The game also sold a lot on many game consoles as well. NBA Jam is a 2-on-2 arcade-style basketball game with emphasis on fast-paced scoring without the hindrance of normal basketball rules. To discover more about the history of NBA Jam and who were the people behind its production, watch the video of PatmanQC.

#3 Slope’s Game Room examines the Strike games franchise – Remember back long ago when Electronic Arts (EA) released a series of military themed shooter games on game consoles? I’m referring to the Strike series of games that include Desert Strike, Jungle Strike, Urban Strike, Soviet Strike and Nuclear Strike. Those games were released across two console generations in the 1990s and the series has not been revived until now. To look back at EA’s Strike games, watch the video by Slope’s Game Room.

#4 VKunia reacts to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice – I recently browsed through the many videos of YouTuber VKunia and took time to watch her reaction video of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film directed by Zack Snyder is significant not in a positive way but because of its very dark approach on storytelling and spectacle involving DC Comics’ icons Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The way it was presented, not even the combined talents of Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck and others could spare the film from negative reception. I think by today’s standards, this is a superhero film that can only entertain a limited type of people. Still, I find VKunia’s reactions to it a must-watch.

#5 Woke garbage in comic books exposed and explained – As a geek, I really hate it when these modern day Leftists – Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberals, diversity zealots, inclusion zealots, LGBTQ activists and Islamo-Leftists – ruin movies and video games by emphasizing their radical agenda through them. The same has happened in comic books and it is clear that the Leftists working for the publishers made established superhero icons look terrible. These unfortunate developments will remind you that comic books are meant for escapism and not political agenda which comic book legends Jim Shooter and Stan Lee confirmed long ago. Watch and learn from the video of YouTuber Ranting for Vengeance right now.

#6 The free speech solution against DEI poison – In this John Stossel video I recently saw, the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) was discussed and it turns out there is a free speech solution against the woke virus. This is about the ongoing information war between the Satanic Left and the ones who believe in common sense and reality.

#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Breakfast Club – Were you able to watch any movies written or directed by the late John Hughes? A lot of people considered Hughes’ works collectively defined the cinematic American teenagers of the 1980s. One of the more popular works of Hughes was The Breakfast Club and Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video is a must-see.

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985)

July 19, 2024July 5, 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, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

For this particular review, the Amazing Spider-Man comic book does not involve Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz. Instead, we will see the creative contribution of Bob Layton who already established himself within Marvel Comics on the Iron Man monthly series. Layton is the same guy who co-founded Valiant Comics with former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #262, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written and illustrated by Bob Layton.

Early story

The story begins as Spider-Man arrives at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey distracting a few air traffic control operators. As he makes his way into a deserted baggage room, Peter Parker intends to change clothes as he has a journalistic assignment from the Daily Bugle to photograph President Ronald Reagan who is set to arrive soon. For Peter Parker, the assignment is crucial as he needs to earn money.

Elsewhere within the airport, the sleazy tabloid news photographer D.J. Jones makes his way through and he intends to photograph something unusual or embarrassing about Reagan. He accidentally bumps into a lady whose items fall down. Jones pretends to be kind to her as he secretly takes her wallet while helping her collect her belongings.

As Jones decides to take the lady’s money, he goes into one of the baggage rooms to get rid of the wallet. Inside, he accidentally spots Peter Parker (still wearing the upper half of his Spider-Man costume) changing clothes and quickly photographs him. Jones starts to run away compelling Parker to chase him knowing that his secret identity will get exposed if he fails…

Quality

*This is what happens when you carry very valuable information with you which the mob wants.*

I really like this Spider-Man tale crafted by Bob Layton. For one thing, it tackles the concept of having your secret identity being discovered by someone who has a record of unethical behavior as well as the opportunity of using the acquired confidential information (the secret identity) for financial gain (at the expense of the affected person). Layton’s story also reconnected Spider-Man to a significant part of his legacy (the death of his Uncle Ben and the identity of the man who killed him) which opens up moral and ethical challenges on his part.

Character development of Spider-Man in this story is short yet substantial to read. As he recalls the painful lesson he learned about his uncle’s death, he remembers how guilt (by previously allowing a crook to get away who later turns out to be the same person responsible for the death of Uncle Ben) overwhelmed his early desire for revenge and this compels him to re-evaluate the responsibility he carries with his superhuman abilities.

Instead of utilizing a super villain, Layton presented D.J. Jones as the antagonist that Spider-Man has to overcome somehow. Jones is not exactly evil, he’s just unethical and sleazy. As a human being, Jones is a turn-off but he is not murderer nor a bank robber. The sleazy photographer is an ordinary man who, like Peter Parker, is trying to survive with his occupation which in turn makes him determined to get the big scoop to rise high.

Conclusion

*Spider-Man ended up having to save the lives of many innocent people resulting in losing track of the man he was chasing.*

Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985) is a very inspired work by Bob Layton who clearly researched the history of Spider-Man and tackled the crucial themes (note: power, responsibility, morality and ethics) through the story. The plot is simple yet engaging to follow and the character development is really solid. This is great writing by Layton and his approach on superhero spectacle (the action scenes) works well within the narrative.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985) is highly recommended.

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984)

May 29, 2024July 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

By now, you readers should be aware that I reviewed a lot of comic books about Spider-Man and his deadliest enemy Venom. It is already established through comic book history that the iconic webslinger is responsible for the establishment of Venom as he brought into the world the alien costume (the symbiote) coming from deep space (as told in the Secret Wars limited series), and he also became responsible for the destruction of Eddie Brock’s career in journalism. Of course, Venom did not debut immediately after Spider-Man’s return from Secret Wars and there was a lot more about the symbiote when it was with Peter Parker.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #252, published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco, and drawn by Ron Frenz. This comic book marked the first appearance of the alien costume.

Early story

The story begins inside the New York headquarters of the Daily Bugle. It has been observed that several superheroes such as Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Avengers have been missing this resulted in a rise of crime. Publisher J. Jonah Jameson and editor-in-chief Joe Robertson discuss the newest edition of their newspaper.

Meanwhile over at Central Park where police officers and others stand by an area that was closed off, a physical structure suddenly appears spreading bright light to onlookers. Suddenly Spider-Man (wearing a new dominant black costume) leaps out of the structure carrying Dr. Connor (the Lizard) surprising the people.

After realizing they have returned home at last after spending lots of time and struggle in deep space (Secret Wars), Spider-Man could not help but feel jubilant to be home. As the police officers don’t realize that they are talking with the same webslinger due to the new costume, one of them was about to draw his gun which prompted the superhero to use his web on him.

Suddenly, the Avengers, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man emerge from the physical structure which provided Spider-Man relief as he thought that only he and Dr. Connors made it home. With the people focusing on the other superheroes, Spider-Man and Dr. Connors slowly exited. Connors asked him what are they going to tell the world about all they have seen and experienced in deep space…

Quality

*Spider-Man’s first night in New York wearing the alien costume .*

I really like this story. I first read this a long time ago and I re-read it all over again for this retro review, and still this story engaged me a lot. There is a lot of richness in the script and you will get to see Peter Parker transitioning into a series of major changes that await him. Without spoiling the plot, there is no hero-versus-villain element here at all. It is all about Spider-Man who just arrived home from a major conflict (and also one of the most significant comic events ever published by Marvel Comics) and the alien costume saga truly began right here. The Venom debut did not happen until a few years later in reality.

In accordance to what was established in Secret Wars (not to be confused with the 2015 series of the same name) and the standards of then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the creative came up with a tale that not only showed a different Spider-Man but also portrayed him in ways that defied the tropes and creative ideas the preceded this comic book.

For one thing, Peter Parker is literally like a fish out of water here. As far as the whole world is concerned, only days passed when the superheroes went to deep space. But for the webslinger, a lot more time passed as so many battles, discoveries and intriguing events took place for him along with the others. That being said, Peter Parker’s perception of reality and track of time really got messed up and the weight of Secret War’s events really turned out overwhelming on him. This was well dramatized in the scene wherein Peter – who realized that so much time had passed – he had to call his aunt May fearing that she must be worried sick over him. There was also the moment when by walking down the street, he realized how much he missed not only his home but also the local surroundings.

It was also in this comic book when Peter started getting more oriented with the alien costume he first got in Secret Wars #8 (which was actually published after this comic book) and started to enjoy the benefits with the way it responds to his thinking. Of course, at this stage, he has yet to realize the unfortunate truth about the living costume he brought home and this story really kicked off a new and profound stage in the comic book history of Spider-Man

Conclusion

*When Spider-Man finally arrived home after spending so much time during Secret Wars.*

Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) is still a great comic book to read all over again. This was released during the time when Secret Wars (1984) was still being published and years before Venom’s big debut in the series’ 300^th issue. In my view, the alien costume saga was a big turning point in the literary history of Spider-Man and the creators who got involved in this comic book really sowed the seeds of compelling and intriguing events that followed. What is intriguing is that all of these significant developments started when a Marvel Comics reader from Illinois came up with the idea of a new costume for Spider-Man, wrote to them and the publisher responded to acquire his idea for over $200 (click here).

This comic book is also a reminder of how significant Jim Shooter’s rule at Marvel Comics really was and I can say that the Marvel’s literary universe of the 1980s should not be ignored.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) is highly recommended!

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A Look Back at Charlemagne #1 (1994)

March 15, 2024March 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore a part of Defiant Comics through the Charlemagne series.

For the newcomers reading this, Defiant Comics was a comic book publisher founded by former Marvel Comics and Valiant editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. Defiant was established as a result of Shooter’s departure from Valiant and there were even some creators from the previous company who joined him as staffers in the new company. Defiant’s initial titles were Warriors of Plasm, The Good Guys and Dark Dominion. Charlemagne was part of the second wave of titles launched.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Charlemagne #1, published in 1994 by Defiant Comics with a story plotted by Jim Shooter, Philip Nutman, Adam Pollina, Deborah Purcell and D.G. Chester, written by Chester and drawn by Pollina.

Early story

The story begins in 1973 in the state of Kentucky. 12-year-old boy Charles has been feeling uneasy since it was reported that his older brother Pete serving in Vietnam has been missing-in-action. The father tries to comfort Charles who responds by asking him if he read Pete’s letters. By reading the letters, Charles paid attention to the details that described Vietnam and he even felt like was he was there. The young boy feels like he could find his missing brother.

A short time later as he and his father play baseball pitching outside, an important telephone call was received by the mother. It was Major Forney from the Pentagon searching for the father to give him updates about his missing son in Vietnam. It turns out the reports from Hanoi did not list Pete among the prisoners held there and chances on finding him are very slim. The father refused to accept his son’s status.

After hearing his father’s phone talk with the major, Charles refuses to believe his brother’s dead and immediately goes up to his room and starts preparing for a daring, solo travel to Vietnam…

Quality

*Incredibly, Charles travels from America to the Philippines by air, then to Vietnam by ship. How he got past security is beyond me.*

If there is anything that would best describe the story of this comic book, it is a pretty enduring tale that moved with a slow-to-medium pace. That’s not to say it is not worth following. In fact, the narrative the writers came up with is quite gripping and as it flows on, you will really get to know the protagonist Charles and witness how his personality develops as he pushes through with his very daring pursuit of his missing brother in the middle of Vietnam.

Indeed, there is a superhero element in this story and the way it was emphasized by the creative team is actually unusual and experimental. The most defining element of Charles’ character is his uncompromising determination to find his older brother no matter what the odds. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the superhero elements of Charles develop late in the story and the way they were presented is truly intriguing.

Of course, there are some questionable things about the story. Charles’ solo journey (note: he ran away from his parents at home leaving a letter) from America going into Vietnam as a young boy undetected is already unbelievable. His unrelenting search in Vietnam that lasted not days but actually a few years is even more unbelievable. These raises questions as to how much money did the young boy have to support himself with, and where did he stay to rest during the few years he spent in the Southeast Asian nation ravaged by war. If anything, this tale comes with a strong element of fantasy made to look like it happened during the Vietnam War.

Apart from Charles, there are a few supporting characters who happen to be interesting to focus on. Through the one Vietnamese support character – the doctor – you will get to see certain aspects of local society as well as the American and Communist Vietnam sides.

Conclusion

*Charles experiences a taste of luxury in Vietnam.*

Charlemagne #1 (1994) is ultimately an engaging and pretty intriguing read. This comic book’s superhero elements and spectacle are pretty light but the build-up of Charles (and his development into Charlemagne) is quite powerful to read. This tale turns out to be an origin story of Charlemagne and you will realize that when you read it from start to finish. Considering how this comic book turned out, I’m convinced to find out more in the next issue.

Overall, Charlemagne #1 (1994) is recommended.

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A Look Back at Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (1993)

January 4, 2024December 30, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through a tale of a very notable illustrated literature character named Turok.

I say very notable because Turok, an Indian (North American native), started in comics in the 1950s published by Western Publishing through its licensee Dell Comics. The comic book series Turok: Son of Stone started from 1956 until the early 1980s. In 1989, Valiant Comics was established by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and business partner Steven Massarsky which was the result of a failed 1988 attempt to purchase Marvel Entertainment. In 1991, Valiant published Magnus: Robot Fighter and Solar: Man of the Atom as its early titles which is notable because both characters were licensed properties from Gold Key Comics (which itself was involved in the original Turok series).

Then in 1992, a newer version of Turok was introduced by Valiant Comics in the 12^th issue of Magnus: Robot Fighter and subsequently the character (along with established side-kick Andar) became involved in the Unity storyline which was Valiant’s first major crossover comics event. By the time Unity ended, the road was cleared for Valiant to further emphasize Turok for the modern comic book readers of the time.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1, published in 1993 by Valiant Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Bart Sears.

Early story

The story begins in Colombia (note: written as Columbia in the comic book) in South America in the year 1987. Deep in the forest, Turok performs a ritual believing that his spirit is getting cleansed and purified. He remembers the times when he and Andar discovered a land – filled with dinosaurs and other animals they never encountered previously – where time no longer held much meaning.

He and Andar got involved in an armed conflict with invaders who arrived with advanced technologies. The robot fighter Magnus then got involved and helped Turok and their side turn the tide of battle. Eventually a stunning phenomenon happened as a woman who called herself Mothergod appeared. Turok and Andar foolishly submitted themselves to her and soon, they started operating in her service with violence against those who opposed her.

After encountering Archer and Armstrong, Turok realized the error of his devotion to Mothergod and eventually joined forces with Rai, X-O Manowar and others who waged battle against her.

Back in the present, an intelligent, cybernetically enhance dinosaur attacks Turok…

Quality

*Very intense violence drawn by Bart Sears which reflected the high intensity of Turok’s fight with the dinosaurs.*

To get straight to the point here, when it comes to emphasizing a new version of Turok for comic book readers in the early 1990s, the creative team was quite successful in achieving that goal. By the time I reached the end of this comic book, Turok’s place within the huge shared universe of Valiant got established solidly and the Michelinie-Sears duo dramatized the Indian’s struggle (being lost in time and far away from where he belongs) in South America in the late 1980s.

Being lost in time and having to deal with deadly, intelligent dinosaurs brought not only the warrior within Turok but also the determine survivor in him as well. There is a good amount of character emphasis of Turok which served as an effective balance to all the spectacle (read: uncompromised bloody violence) the creative duo prepared. Instead of using thought balloons, you will read Turok’s thoughts through narration boxes all throughout which made an effective and interesting reading experience.

Considering his great skills in hunting and fighting, Turok is not really a super protagonist. He is as vulnerable as any other person and you will get to see him suffer and become so helpless, he has no choice but to avail of assistance from South American villagers who lived by the land but are themselves very vulnerable to the savagery of the intelligent dinosaurs. The symbolism regarding vulnerability as well as the ramifications of the Unity crossover on this tale is very strong. This is indeed very solid writing by Michelinie.

As for the art, Sears’ work here is very unique and his style on drawing people, monsters and locations made this comic book a visual standout among 1993 comic books. When it comes to the graphic violence, it is clear to me that Sears enjoyed the creative freedom he got and he really emphasized his imagination as to how gruesome violence caused by dinosaurs on human beings would be. That being said, there are lots of violent action scenes and images of physical damage (damage on the flesh specifically) that remain visually disturbing to this day.

Conclusion

*Very foolishly, Turok and Andar submitted themselves to a walking, evil idol. This should remind you that idolatry is both foolish and unholy.*

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (1993) works nice as modern portrayal of Turok and it succeeds in establishing his place within Valiant’s comic book universe thanks primarily to the Michelinie-Sears duo. Turok himself is not exactly an interesting protagonist to me but I can say it is the creators’ way of portraying him that makes the plot and the comic book work as an entertainment piece. I also liked the way Turok was emphasized as a character who got lost not only in time but also dimensionally lost as he has to live within a whole new world while focusing on survival as well as his desire to kill his rival Mon-Ark (the intelligent dinosaur). If you know your American pop culture history, you will realize that this comic book incidentally paved the way for the Turok video games (starting with 1997’s Turok: Dinosaur Hunter of Nintendo 64) that happened years later.

Overall, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (1993) is recommended.

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

November 8, 2023November 4, 2023carlocarrasco

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!

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985)

February 17, 2023January 21, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 1980s and examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Back in the year 1985, Marvel Comics published their big-time limited series Secret Wars II, which saw the arrival of the powerful yet ignorant deity Beyonder on Earth. As a major publishing event spearheaded by then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, Secret Wars II had events that impacted a certain number of regular monthly comic book series whenever an issue was released. In one of the early issues of Secret Wars II, the Beyonder converted an entire tall building within New York City into pure solid gold. As the golden building could not support its own weight, it collapsed and the authorities scrambled to secure the perimeter. Spider-Man himself gets involved by rescuing the victims and he learned something along the way (as seen in Web of Spider-Man #6).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #268, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man swinging high and noticing that the perimeter of the collapsed building of pure gold has been covered (with a large tarpaulin) and secured by armed personnel. People were not allowed to pass which makes them speculate about what happened. Having witnessed government operative Anderson compensating the Kingpin with typewriters made of pure gold secretly, Spider-Man is deeply troubled and decides to go home to take a rest.

At the site of disaster, several personnel equipped with laser weapons worked hard to cut down every part of the collapsed building and transport as much gold as possible onto trucks which are tasked to deliver them to a huge cargo ship at the city’s port. The authorities are concerned that the excessive amount of gold from the collapsed golden building will cause tremendous shockwaves in the world’s markets and they strive hard to keep everything secret…

Quality

*Spider-Man sneaking on to the ship as he pursues answers to hot questions about what has been going on.*

Being a tie-in story to Secret Wars II, this is indeed a really unique Spider-Man story that does not put the iconic hero in direct conflict with a powered villain at all which can disappoint certain readers and fans who craved for action-packed conflicts. Instead, this story was designed to be a mystery which strongly reflects the consequences of the Beyonder’s action during his presence in New York. You will get to see Spider-Man work on finding out the answers to all the questions in his head and his knowledge about the involvement of the Kingpin and the United States government were more than enough to motivate him to figure things out even though it means putting himself at risk with powerful authorities.

In terms of story structuring and presentation, the tale moved at a moderate pace and the creators took their time with the revelation of key details (clearly designed to cause intrigue with the readers) as the narrative moved forward. This is indeed an engaging read and it has aged well.

Conclusion

Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985) is an intriguing and entertaining read even though it does not have Spider-Man in direct physical conflict with a bad guy. The Kingpin, an established supervillain, is present in the story mainly as a background character who still has strong influence with the sinister forces present. The biggest feature of the comic book is the situation itself (local efforts on dealing with the collapsed building of pure gold while preventing the public from knowing all about it) which got triggered by the Beyonder’s reckless act of trying to help humanity by turning a building into pure gold believing that it would help all people financially and socially. As for Spider-Man himself, it is refreshing to see him work his way through in a mystery tale and this comic book has a very solid approach on mystery.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #268 (1985) is recommended.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 3

November 22, 2022November 24, 2022carlocarrasco

Have you been searching for something fun, enlightening or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you watch the following videos below…

#1 Worship videos of “O Praise The Name (Anástasis)” – I love the worship song O Praise The Name (Anástasis) written by Marty Sampson, Benjamin Hastings and Dean Ussher, and published by Hillsong Music. Its lyrics were clearly written to lead people to the Lord and to encourage them to worship Him. One of these days, I will do a Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) piece of the worship song. For those who are reading this, watch the worship videos below from Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United and Bethel Music. This could also be the worship song your local church could play on Sunday worship services.

#2 The history of Secret Wars – In the history of American superhero comics, the Secret Wars (full title: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars) series of 1984-1985 remains highly significant not just because it featured a unique gathering of selected superheroes and super villains of Marvel (then led by Jim Shooter as editor-in-chief) but also because of the creative impact it left behind especially with regards to Spider-Man stories and the eventual debut of his deadliest villain – Venom. Secret Wars also marked the debut of the Beyonder, a god-like entity who would impact the Marvel Comics universe later. Apart from its enduring legacy, there were also some notable things that happened behind the scenes leading to the publishing. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Ashleigh Burton’s reaction videos of Schwarzenegger movies – For this segment, we take a look at how Ashleigh Burton reacts to movies of the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger. She reacted to two Terminator flicks and Predator which are Schwarzenegger classic but she still has yet to do a Total Recall (1990) video. I urge you to visit her YouTube channel.

#4 Fashion versus videos – If you have not been following the videos published by SHIFT online, there are these versus-type of videos they released on their YouTube channel. Months ago, they published videos pitting popular models in key match-ups and they are posted below for your viewing pleasure.

#5 Looking back at Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park – Are you one of the many moviegoers out there who have gotten upset or tired with the way that Jurassic Park movies turned out, especially with the Jurassic World movies released since 2015? I noticed a lot of movie fans pointed to Jurassic World movies as dumb and bloated even as the filmmakers did what they could to sell dinosaurs and action sequences to entertain people. In times like these, it is refreshing to return to the original Jurassic Park movie of 1993 directed by Steven Spielberg. Watch the following movie reaction/review videos below plus a trivia video and an in-depth retrospective video.

#6 The FTX financial disaster – You heard the recent news about the major disaster of FTX that rocked the financial systems? Are you one of the many people who idolized Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF)? Did you pour your hard-earned money into the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and lost it all? Watch this video by Coldfusion to understand the details.

#7 The struggle of Starbucks Coffee in Vietnam and South Africa – Previously I posted a video about Starbucks’ own struggle in Australia whose coffee market has been highly developed long before the American coffee giant entered. There are also two notable markets where Starbucks also struggled in – Vietnam and South Africa. Watch the videos below to find out why. This is not only interesting but also educational.

+++++

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