sci-fi – Author Carlo Carrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 145

July 8, 2026July 6, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Street Fighter III: New Generation Revisited – Way back in 1994, I had a blast of fun playing Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) plus other Street Fighter II games in the arcades. Naturally, I had a personal anticipation for Street Fighter III. However, Capcom released Street Fighter Alpha (Street Fighter Zero) and follow-up games over the next few years. In the 1^st quarter of 1997, I saw Street Fighter III: New Generation in the local arcade and quickly inserted tokens to play it. I was very impressed with its super-smooth animation and enjoyed it. Still, something about the game felt hollow and weird as well which is related to the fact that Ryu and Ken were the only established Street Fighter characters who returned. Indeed, there was something odd that happened behind the scenes at Capcom when Street Fighter III: New Generation was made. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#2 EOM Reacts’ Saving Private Ryan Video – Twenty-eight years ago, Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan was released in cinemas and eventually achieved both critical and commercial success. While its story was not true to life nor a solid record of World War II history, its presentation of the extreme violence of the era and American brotherhood captivated a lot of moviegoers. To find out how much impact the movie has on anyone who views it, watch EOM React’s reaction video below.

#3 Farm-Raised Eels Launched In Japan – In Japanese cuisine, eels are a popular delicacy and they make a great choice of meat to consume with rice. Due to the sharp decline of eels at sea, farms that spent a lot of time and resources of breeding eels provided the alternative for Japanese demand. That said, farm-raised eels were commercially launched recently for public consumption and you can learn so much more about them in the Nippon TV video below.

#4 Shenmue Retrospective – Shenmue, the most defining game ever released on the short-lived Sega Dreamcast, has long been featured in countless articles and retrospective videos over the past twenty-six years. Under the leadership and design of the legendary Yu Suzuki, Shenmue turned out to be a very groundbreaking video game when it comes to exploration, adventuring and interactions with characters (including non-playable characters or NPCs) and items. Now is a good time to look back at Shenmue with the in-depth retrospective video below. Viewing it felt like an adventure.

#5 You, Me And The Movies React To The Philadelphia Story – When was the last time you saw a romantic comedy film released in the 1940s? The 1940 movie The Philadelphia Story is notable not only because it was nominated for several Academy Awards (it won two) but also because it was the successful comeback of actress Katharine Hepburn who had several failures. To find out if The Philadelphia Story is truly impactful and worthy of preservation in the United States National Film Registry, go watch You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Lethal Weapon 4 – What is there to say about 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4? It is the one film that has Asian superstar Jet Li as the action-packed villain. In addition, it marked significant changes in the respective lives of Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) when it comes to family matters and getting old as law enforcers. I can hardly believe it has been twenty-eight years since I first saw this movie in the local cinema and it was indeed a thrilling viewing experience. To see if it still has any entertainment value and impact, watch and learn from Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

#7 The 2003 California Recall Election Revisited – Decades after former actor Ronald Reagan led the state of California as its governor, another actor got elected to the same position via a recall election…Arnold Schwarzenegger! Back in 2003, the incumbent governor Gray Davis was very unpopular and a lot of Californians got fed up with the many problems that affected them. When the move to recall Davis grew tremendously, several people filed their candidacies for Governor of California but it was Schwarzenegger who outmaneuvered them. Given the fact that he starred in three Terminator movies – all of which were filmed in California – he would later be called as “the Governator” after taking office. To find out what really happened and what the factors were behind his recall election victory, watch the in-depth video below.

#8 The Remake Trend Of Video Games – Like Hollywood, the video game industry has an obsession with remaking video games. The difference is this…the obsession on remaking video games is pretty strong as video game publishers need something “new” to sell to gamers while their other game projects could not be completed fast enough. Still, there is something twisted or intriguing behind the game companies’ focus on remaking games and you can find out more by watching the video below.

+++++

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992)

July 6, 2026July 2, 2026carlocarrasco

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

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Following his first-ever encounter and battle with Carnage, Spider-Man realized that he alone cannot stop the sadistic, symbiote-wearing murderer. Worse, Carnage is on the loose in New York City and as time passes, civilians can easily get killed by him. As such, Peter Parker got very desperate and has decided to let his deadliest enemy get loose.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #362, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man and Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four are riding a highly advanced team vehicle heading to the deserted Caribbean island where Eddie Brock/Venom is located. Spider-Man knows he is taking a lot of risk to meet Venom knowing that the murderer stalked him and came close to killing him before. Knowing that Carnage can easily kill civilians in New York City anytime, Spider-Man made it clear to Johnny that he needs to get Venom back to stop Carnage.

Sometime after arriving on the island, Johnny and Spider-Man (armed with the Fantastic Four’s sonic rifle) meet with Eddie Brock on the beach. Peter Parker quickly reveals his face to him and attempts to start a conversation. After overcoming the surprise of seeing Spider-Man alive, Eddie quickly turns into Venom and leaps towards Spider-Man for an attack. The webslinger quickly used the sonic rifle at him while Johnny turns into his fiery form. Venom overcomes the pain of the sonic blast, smashes the sonic rifle, and starts hitting Spider-Man hard…

Quality

*Carnage is unrelenting with his acts of violence.*

This comic book tells parallel tales focused on Spider-Man and Venom, and Carnage. The meat of the story is about the desperate webslinger reaching out to his deadliest foe even though it means putting himself in great danger once again. David Michelinie is excellent in the dramatic portrayal of Spider-Man who has literally been pushed to the edge by Carnage and having no choice but to make a decision his own wife (who had a traumatizing first encounter with Venom sometime prior) disapproves of.

In issue #361, Peter Parker was technically a detective who worked on the trail of violence left behind by Carnage. Everything changed for the worse for Spider-Man during his violent first encounter with Carnage and he witnessed how unrelenting the murderer really is. The bloody “Carnage rules” message left behind had impact on his conscience.

That said, Spider-Man’s transformation into a desperate hero is very believable here thanks to David Michelinie’s strong writing.

Along the way, the rivalry between Spider-Man and Venom turned intense very quickly. It was during this encounter where you will feel the pressure intensify on Peter as he has to somehow convince Venom to stop being violent and join him to go after Carnage (note: Eddie Brock and Cletus Kasady shared a prison cell previously). Of course, Venom has the undying obsession of killing Spider-Man and he has no reason to believe him. Venom also has his own distorted belief about innocence. The rematch between the two – with Johnny Storm on the side – is the very meat of the story and it is engaging to read.

Carnage is here as well and the creators showed exactly what Spider-Man feared would happen.

Conclusion

*The encounter between Spider-Man and Venom with Johnny Storm on the side.*

There is a lot to like in Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992). It has a lot of action drawn by Mark Bagley, has suspense in the right moments and the story itself is very engaging to read. The very heart of the story is the encounter between Spider-Man and Venom on the deserted island due to the high stakes involved plus the tension from the past returned in lively fashion. Spider-Man is desperate and he really pays a huge price for making a decision that his own wife disapproves of. Ultimately, New York City has Carnage as its newest crisis and what happened here blurred away the boundary that separates good from evil.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992) is 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 144

July 3, 2026June 29, 2026carlocarrasco

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 CinePals React To Scary Movie (2000) – In my honest opinion, Scary Movie (2000) is still the best film parody Hollywood has released in the 21^st century. The film is loaded with jokes, pop culture references and fine acts by Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans and Shannon Elizabeth to name a few. In relation to the 2026 movie Scary Movie, the original film was featured in new reaction videos from YouTubers and I enjoyed watching CinePals’ reaction video of it. I encourage you to watch it now.

#2 Xbox Sports Network (XSN) Revisited – When Microsoft entered the competitive video game console industry with the original Xbox in 2001, they really invested a lot of money to make first-party games as they could not yet form strong business relationships with game companies that had been doing business with PlayStation and Nintendo. Along the way, Team Xbox established its very own lineup of exclusive, first-party sports video games with licenses of professional sports leagues or associations. That was the Xbox Sports Network (XSN or XSN Sports) and it had Xbox-exclusive games of the NBA, NFL, NHL and alternative sports. Sadly, XSN lasted only a few years and you can learn much more by watching the retrospective videos below.

#3 Ranting For Vengeance Exposes Racist And Woke Agenda Behind Matt Reeves’ Batman – If you actually enjoyed Matt Reeves’ The Batman in 2022, did you even notice the wickedness of wokeness behind it all? Matt Reeves is still pushing with the woke agenda on the cinematic Batman which is very unfortunate. To learn more, I urge you to watch the video of Ranting For Vengeance who explains a lot of things in great details. At the same time, be aware that there are lots of woke nuts, modern-day Commies, socialists and reckless social justice warriors (SJWs) who are operating as fake fans obsessed with hijacking established entertainment to turn it all into their own. Ranting For Vengeance has a huge wake-up call for Batman fans, comic readers and superhero fans in general.

#4 Retro Alleyway In Tokyo – I have been to Tokyo in Japan a long time ago. Sadly, I was unable to visit the retro alleyway district where there are lots of small shops and food joints to visit. Such a place keeps on attracting both locals and foreign tourists as there is so much to discover and experience there. Watch and learn from the in-depth video of Nippon TV below.

#5 Einhänder Revisited – Released on PlayStation in the late 1990s, Einhänder was an ambitious 3D polygonal side-scrolling shooter game that created a lot buzz and won the admiration of many as a lot of gamers enjoyed it. Einhänder was arguably a serious attempt by SquareSoft – already famous for role-playing games (RPGs) – to offer gamers something new, engaging and cinematic in the genre of 2D side-scrolling shooters. Behind the scenes, SquareSoft had Tatsuo Fujii as the game director and his experience working on Gradius II and Xexex with Konami was evident in Einhänder’s design. To learn more about the history of the game, watch the video below.

#6 CineBinge And You, Me And The Movies React To Child’s Play 2 – In 1991, my friends and I saw Child’s Play 2 and Child’s Play 3 on home video. Having seen both films, most of us enjoyed Child’s Play 2 over its follow-up. A classmate of mine who saw all three Child’s Play movies pointed to Child’s Play 2 as the very best and the most replayable one. Still, one has to wonder if Child’s Play 2 aged well after more than three decades. To see if the old movie has any impact on YouTubers, watch the reaction videos of CineBinge and You, Me and the Movies below.

#7 Jodi Huisentruit Still Missing – Since late-June of 1995, American television news anchor Jodi Huisentruit has been missing. No matter how much time and effort were invested to solve the case, her disappearance was never solved. In 2001, she was declared legally dead. There were theories about how she disappeared but no breakthroughs happened. The website FindJodi.com is dedicated to solving the mystery and remains active. As such, now is the ideal time to revisit Jodi Huisentruit’s disappearance and learn the crucial details by watching the videos below. Do you personally know someone who went missing without a trace?

#8 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Steven Spielberg’s Hook – Way back in 1991, Steven Spielberg’s movie Hook was heavily promoted here in the Philippines complete with trailers and print ads. While the film was released in North American theaters during the Christmas season, it opened in Philippine cinemas on February 8, 1992. Hook is a cinematic take on the classic Peter Pan story but with the concept of Peter being a grown man and a father of two children. The film was not universally admired by the movie critics but it still made over $300 million worldwide. Behind it all, Spielberg described himself being a victim of the Peter Pan syndrome and he worked on making Hook with a lot of heart. To find out if Hook has any real emotional impact, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

+++++

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 44

July 1, 2026June 28, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

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

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

1. Berzerk Arcade Flyer

Could you imagine being trapped deep within a maze surrounded by dangerous robots (plus one other unstoppable enemy) capable firing laser blasts at you? This was the concept behind the design of Berzerk, an arcade game released by Stern Electronics in 1980. Released at a time when science fiction became wildly popular in American entertainment, Berzerk was immersive for gamers and the multidirectional gameplay feature was captivating for many. To promote the game, Stern Electronics came up with a customized visual design that blended 2D sprite elements with a photograph of two people and some hand-drawn art pieces. The front of the flyer emphasized accurate the core concept of the game while the rear explained the technical details. They even played with their company name with the line “Stern goes berzerk!”

2. Rush’n Attack North American Arcade Flyer

During the late stages of the Cold War, Konami made a lot of military-themed video games which resonated not only with those who were already aware about the global conflict but also with gamers who craved for action and excitement. One of those games was Rush’n Attack (alternative title: Green Beret) which was released in American arcades in late-1985. Konami came up with an arcade flyer showing four people (looking like an American family) having a good time in front of an arcade cabinet, and three screenshots of the game were displayed on the lower half. Rush’n Attack – which was deliberately titled to resemble the phrase “Russian attack” due to its obvious Cold War setting – went on to succeed commercially and critically. One notable game review compared Rush’n Attack favorably with the movie Rambo: First Blood Part II.

3. Turbo Out Run North American Arcade Flyer

Following the massive success Sega achieved with Out Run in 1986, the company went on to release the follow-up Turbo OutRun three years later. As seen in their North American flyer, Sega emphasized the in-game locations, the look of the machine with the driver’s seat and steering wheel, and the excitement they can expect. Turbo OutRun went on to become successful in the arcades worldwide and it got ported to a variety of consoles and computer systems in the years that followed. On its own, the arcade flyer sparked excitement for gamers.

4. Air Duel Japanese Arcade Flyer

*The artwork here is captivating to look at.*

Released in Japanese arcades in 1990, Air Duel from Irem is an intense and fast-paced 2D sprite vertically scrolling shooter that attracted a lot of players. It had a war theme and its aesthetic has a mix of military and somewhat futuristic science fiction elements. The game’s arcade flyer featured a very intriguing artwork by Takashi Yamasaki showing two aircrafts flying over a city heading towards a massively large enemy in the distance. In my opinion, the artwork alone is pretty engaging to see and it’s more than enough to make me think about playing the game.

5. Spellbound Adaptor Print Ad

*The Spellbound Adaptor print ad in Europe. UK design and manufacturing emphasized.*

Remember back in the old days when there were hardware lockouts on game consoles that prevented users from playing games imported from different regions? In Europe, a special cheat and regional bypass cartridge called the Spellbound Adaptor was released and it allowed Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) users to bypass the lockouts and play games from overseas. The Spellbound Adaptor was notably advertised in European print media showing two sexy ladies posing with the adaptor itself (on the SNES), the television and many SNES games. The ad even includes a promo of buying the adaptor with a game of choice for only £69.95. The ad is still impactful to look at.

6. Contra III: The Alien Wars North American Print Ad

*Konami’s made a huge impression visually with this 2-page print ad promoting Contra III: The Alien Wars.*

By the time the SNES was launched in America in 1991, a lot of gamers who enjoyed Contra games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) have been craving for a sequel on the newer console. Their dreams finally came through in early 1992 when Konami released Contra III: The Alien Wars on the SNES, and it was a lot more than visual upgrade as it had groundbreaking features connected with the game developers’ clever use of the console’s technology. Konami was already aware of Contra’s huge following in America, so they came up with an aggressive looking print ad promoting Contra III: The Alien Wars. With a red-and-black background, the ad had a variety of screenshots that were tilted to look 3D (showing what the game offered) and used a minor space for the descriptive text and image of the game box. This old print ad is one of the finest ways to promote a sequel while also emphasizing the next-generation experience fans can enjoy. This ad is a classic!

7. Apocalypse Print Ads

*With Bruce Willis’ face, this 2-page Apocalypse print ad captured the attention of readers.*

*The more action-oriented 2-page print ad of Apocalypse. Bruce Willis is more visible here.*

Believe it or not, Hollywood legend Bruce Willis actually starred in the ambitious video game titled Apocalypse. Before its 1998 released on PlayStation, Apocalypse started with the player character having an AI-controlled partner named Trey Kincaid to be played by Willis. Publisher Activision signed a multi-million Dollar deal with Bruce Willis to use his likeness and voice for the Trey character. Eventually the Trey Kincaid role was modified to be the playable character. Given the huge deal signed with the super star and the additional costs that came with game design revisions, Activision launched an aggressive marketing campaign for Apocalypse and they heavily used Bruce Willis’s name and imagery. Ultimately the game sold less than one million copies and yet Activision was satisfied with the sales which convinced them to go back to Apocalypse developer Neversoft for a new project.

8. R-Type Delta North American Print Ad

*R-Type Delta was the 4th game of the R-Type series and also the first to be made with 3D polygons.*

R-Type, the long-running series of 2D side-scrolling shooters by Irem, fully embraced 3D polygons with R-Type Delta on PlayStation in 1998. To promote the game in North America, Irem and their partner Agetec went all-in emphasizing their series shift into 3D polygonal graphics while promising new in-game weapons. Very smartly, they included positive quotes from Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), PlayStation Magazine (PSM) and Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM) to show credibility. In recent times, an enhanced version of R-Type Delta (R-Type Delta: HD Boosted) was released on modern game console and PC.

9. Racing Lagoon Japanese Print Ad

*Have you ever played this game from SquareSoft?*

Released in 1999 for PlayStation only in Japan, Racing Lagoon was one of many games SquareSoft made for a genre other than role-playing games (RPGs). Released at a time when the PlayStation already had lots of racing games available from around the world, Racing Lagoon was a racing game that had role-playing elements mixed in. To promote it, SquareSoft made a print ad that had a night-time city vibe and they showed some screenshots with a unique visual style. The in-game story was influenced by the illegal street racing trend that happened in Japan during the 1980s.

10. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica North America Print Ads

*Truly a next-generation Resident Evil experience first launched on the Sega Dreamcast! I know some people who bought the console just to play Resident Evil – Code: Veronica.*

*The 2-page print ad of RE – Code: Veronica.*

When Resident Evil – Code: Veronica was released on the Sega Dreamcast in Japan in February 2000, it delivered a next-generation survival horror experience to die-hard RE fans and it was easily one of the must-have games for Dreamcast owners of the time. Along the way, RE fans and Dreamcast owners in America were already anticipating the game. Capcom had an aggressive ad campaign for the game with US gamers in mind and this particular single-page print ad showed the fan-favorite characters Claire and Chris Redfield on one corner, six selected screenshots and quotes from the published game reviews of Game Informer, Next Generation and the Official Dreamcast Magazine. The 2-page print ad had the same elements but had the Redfield siblings on the 2nd page. I remember seeing these ads on a few gaming magazines and they made me think about buying a Dreamcast just to play RE – Code: Veronica. These old ads emphasized the strong business trust between Capcom and Sega (which itself lost a lot of money and credibility with the Sega Saturn consoles and many add-on devices released years prior).

+++++

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 143

June 24, 2026June 17, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Minority Report – If ever the science fiction concept of pre-crime becomes a reality, would you support it if ever it gets implemented by the national government to fight crime? Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report tackled that concept very well and Tom Cruise was almost perfect as the cinematic law enforcer who became a fugitive. Minority Report remains cerebral and entertaining by today’s standards and it is not surprising that it got featured in many YouTube reaction videos. As such, I urge you all to watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video of the 2002 movie.

#2 Close Encounter Of The Third Kind Retrospective Videos – If you are disappointed with Steven Spielberg’s latest science fiction film Disclosure Day, now is a good time to revisit his much older works with similar concepts. His 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind continues to impact viewers and YouTubers which only proves there is something very unique about it. In addition, the movie shows what kind of visionary and storyteller Spielberg was when he was much younger. That said, now is a good time to watch the following retrospective videos – including movie reactions – of the sci-fi film.

#3 Sega Dreamcast – PlayStation 2 “Rivalry” Revisited – When Sega launched the Dreamcast console in the late 1990s, the company went through years of financial losses as well as tarnished reputation with both gamers and their business partners. To be fair, Sega learned from their mistakes with the Saturn console and simplified their business model to avoid the confusion they caused by releasing many add-on devices. The Dreamcast was indeed a high-quality game console and had features that were ahead of its time, although the technologies used were nowhere as advanced as what Sony came up with in the PlayStation 2. To see the so-called rivalry between the two consoles, watch the video below.

#4 Japanese Businesses Growing Their Own Food – Economic challenges in Japan are compelling businesses their to grow their own food supplies. For some time now, Japan’s rice supply has been in a crisis and that alone affects a whole lot of food joints, stores and other enterprises involved. The supply chain of vegetables, fresh meat and fish and key ingredients is also getting strained. As such, many Japanese companies have gotten involved in agriculture and fisheries. Ultimately, the video of Nippon TV below will show you what has been happening and what is Japan doing to ensure food security.

#5 Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage Comics Revisited – What is there to say about the Maximum Carnage comic book storyline Marvel Comics published in 1993? It was a 14-part storyline that was published temporarily in the four monthly Spider-Man series and in two issues of the quarterly Spider-Man Unlimited series. It was released at a time when Venom and Carnage were wildly popular and it was also an opportunity for Marvel to get the Spider-Man fans and collectors engaged when Image Comics and Valiant Comics was challenging them. For a comedic look back at Maximum Carnage, watch the video below.

#6 Ranting For Vengeance Talks About Resident Evil Veronica And Slams Woke Nuts Online – There definitely is something wrong with people who have turned woke. For some reason, they want to claim the Resident Evil game franchise as their own and they have been posting their distorted opinions about it for some time now. As Capcom formally announced Resident Evil Veronica (the remake of 2000’s Resident Evil – Code Veronica), the woke (including the gay pride zealots) are once again attaching themselves to anything Resident Evil. In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance shared his impression about Resident Evil Veronica before slamming the woke. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details.

#7 Obscure JRPGs Revisited – Have you ever enjoyed a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) that many gamers other there did not play? As seen over the past few decades, there are lots of JRPGs released on consoles and computers that did not sell massively and had been forgotten. Many of them were only released in Japan. Those are the obscure JRPGs and in recent times, retro gamers and RPG enthusiasts had to literally search hard and dig deep to play them. Last December, Gaming Broductions posted a video focused on obscure JRPGs, and there are a lot featured and explained in detail. That said, go watch their video below.

#9 You, Me And The Movies React To Resident Evil: Damnation – Can’t get enough of Resident Evil? While live-action Resident Evil movies featured Milla Jovovich and had stories that were not faithful to the games, Capcom in Japan proceeded to produce their very own computer-generated RE movies to delight the fans while conveniently expanding the lore. Following the release of Resident Evil: Degeneration, the Japanese came up with Resident Evil: Damnation which featured again Leon Kennedy and had the popular Ada Wong included in the cast. That said, you have to see You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video of RE: Damnation and see how it impacted them.

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994)

June 22, 2026June 16, 2026carlocarrasco

During the height of the 30^th anniversary celebration of Spider-Man in 1992, Peter Parker’s long-lost parents Richard and Mary Parker suddenly returned and their presence really altered the hero’s view of life, his marriage with Mary Jane and their family as a whole. As time passed, Peter’s aunt May became suspicious about Richard and Mary (note: scenes related to this were included in Amazing Spider-Man #386 and #387) and she went as far as hiring someone to investigate them from a distance.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #388, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins with the Vulture being upset that the youth-restoration effects he had using the juvenator machine were only temporary. As the Vulture makes a move to threaten the lady doctor who help him, the Chameleon suddenly emerged from her in front of him.

Elsewhere, Peter Parker shared with Mary Jane that he recently revealed to his parents that he is Spider-Man. After a brief chat with her, Parker leaves their home as Spider-Man to visit his aunt who has been suspicious about Richard and Mary Parker…

Quality

*The moment of truth that turned out very painful personally for Spider-Man.*

This particular tale is a tragedy which the cover art by Mark Bagley clearly showed. Beyond the cover, there is a lot more weight on the plot (which was nicely structured by Michelinie), the characters and tragedy itself.

Without spoiling plot details, I can say that the first half of the comic book has Spider-Man doing detective work and also doing the civilized approach of keeping the family together. Peter Parker’s care and concern for his aunt were naturally dramatize resulting in a human touch that should be seen. Along the way, the conspiracy was built-up gradually and the big revelation for Spider-Man (note: the truth about Richard and Mary Parker was revealed to readers long before Spider-Man learned about it) at the mid-point of the story really turned out powerful.

Even the Chameleon’s presence here is rather light, his acts of evil and diabolical agenda were powerfully portrayed. In fact, the Chameleon used his immense power of disguise that set off the disturbing events that happened in issues #386 and #387, and such revelations were integrated convincingly in this very comic book. What I found impressive was Chameleon’s ability on connecting details linking Peter Parker with Spider-Man. The Chameleon is clearly very intelligent and cunning, and this makes him a more formidable enemy for Spider-Man.

The 2^nd half of the main story is where the action really got ramped up by many notches. The action is violent and intense, and yet the Michelinie-Bagley duo managed to insert twists and notable character moments that really added power to the tragedy. This is indeed a very compelling read and it will make you think deeply about how much emotional pain Spider-Man could absorb.

This comic book also has two short stories. The first one (drawn by Ron Lim) was set in the past showing Eddie Brock who just bonded with the alien costume. While the Venom-focused short story was designed to add depth to past events in Amazing Spider-Man comic books, it ultimately felt more like a filler than a substantial piece. Only die-hard Venom fans will enjoy it.

The second short story featuring Cardiac and Chance is completely forgettable and unnecessary.

Conclusion

*Peter Parker sharing very confidential information with his wife Mary Jane before going out again.*

Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) tells a really tragic tale with a purpose behind it. Historically speaking, this comic book made some Spider-Man fans angry and feeling very betrayed as they believed that the 1992 return of Peter Parker’s parents marked the new age in Spider-Man storytelling. On the iconic superhero himself, this tale marked the start of a so-called dark age in which Peter Parker got emotionally broken and his life got turned upside-down. To be clear, this comic book is not a tragedy done merely for the sake of doing a tragedy…it was a creative execution to alter the status quo of Spider-Man storytelling of the era. As such, what David Michelinie and Mark Bagley did here was not only daring but also a huge risk that turned out really powerful. This tale is so significant, Marvel Comics went ahead doing an alternate version with What If #61.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) is 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 142

June 17, 2026June 10, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Retrospective Videos Of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Back in 2000, I was fortunate enough to have seen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in the local cinema here in the Philippines. Directed by Ang Lee, the film was a dramatic martial arts film set in ancient China. Apart from having established Asian actors Michelle Yeoh, Pei-Pei Cheng and Chow-Yun Fat, the movie’s huge success made Zhang Zhiyi an instant star as she carried a very important role. Its importance in the history of global movies was realized when it earned ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. To this day, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a highly admired film and it is not surprising to see it being featured in many YouTube videos. What I posted below are for your enjoyment and enlightenment. Observe how the film impacts YouTubers in their reaction videos.

#2 EOM Reacts’ Minority Report Video – If you love Tom Cruise and if you want his best collaboration with Steven Spielberg, you cannot go wrong with Minority Report. By today’s standards, Minority Report is still very engaging to watch and it also has Spielberg’s clever approach on storytelling as elements of science fiction, suspense and film noir were blended nicely on-screen. That said, you must see how the movie impacts EOM Reacts’ in his reaction video posted below. Go watch it!

#3 The Resident Evil Trilogy On PlayStation Revisited – When I was very young, I was fortunate enough to play Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis on the PlayStation. The survival horror genre Capcom started with the first RE game really grew not only in popularity and commercial sales, but also in clever game design that included cinema-like storytelling strongly focused on the zombie apocalypse. By the end of 1999, the RE trilogy on PlayStation positively impacted video gaming as a whole and the characters Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield became wildly popular with gamers. Considering how old the first three Resident Evil games are, do you think they have aged well and are they playable enough for gamers who born after those games were released? Watch and learn from the retrospective video below.

#4 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Insomniac’s Wolverine Video Game – Anyone who closely followed the life and times of the iconic Wolverine in comics should be concerned about how he is presented in the upcoming Insomniac-developed Marvel’s Wolverine video game. This early, there are clearly signs of wokeness in the said video game and those are signs that show that Insomniac does not give a damn about the literary legacy of Wolverine. You can learn more by watching Ranting for Vengeance’s video and each time he slammed Marvel’s Wolverine, he backs it up with facts and details. Watch his video now!

#5 You, Me and the Movies React To Showdown In Little Tokyo – I was a teenager when Showdown In Little Tokyo was released in local cinemas here in the Philippines way back in 1991. I never saw it on the big screen back then but I do remember the aggressive pre-release promotions that include previews and an in-depth behind-the-scenes making on TV. The local buzz in 1991 was this…the film was entertaining and the team-up between Dolph Lundgren and the late Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee) was well-received. Considering how old the action movie is, one has to wonder if it has aged well. You can find out by watching the reaction video by You, Me and the Movies now.

#6 Tokyo-style Pizza Attracts Many – Have you ever heard of the Tokyo-style pizza? One food joint in Japan started it and already it has attracted a lot of foreigners as customers. Pizza has its Italian origins but in Tokyo, the ways to customize it, cook it and make it truly distinct from the rest of the world have been realized. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#7 Japan’s Military – Under the leadership of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, Japan has emerged as a military powerhouse and it will soon export military hardware to nations that need them. Japan is still operating with its pacifist constitution but that will not stop it from becoming a valuable partner to nations that need their military expertise and technologies. The Self-Defense Force (SDF) of Japan is highly trained and very efficient with military operations as seen in the Nippon TV video below. Watch and learn.

+++++

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975)

June 15, 2026June 6, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1970s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

You heard about the notorious Clone Saga of the 1990s that dominated Spider-Man comic books for a few years? That was actually the 2^nd saga about Spider-Man and cloning. The first one started in the mid-1970s and it was the result of a move by Marvel’s creative team to let Gwen Stacy return from the dead somehow. A new villain called the Jackal was eventually introduced and in his civilian form as Miles Warren (a character introduced much earlier), he had a personal obsession with Gwen Stacy whose death in Amazing Spider-Man #121 was too overwhelming for him to handle. Warren turned out to be an expert on cloning.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #149, published in 1975 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Gerry Conway and drawn by the late Ross Andru.

Early story

The story begins on top of a building just moments after the Jackal revealed his secret identity to a weakened Spider-Man in the presence of the Gwen Stacy clone and Ned Leeds. For Spider-Man, the revelation is shocking because in his private life as Peter Parker, Warren has been his biology and biochemistry professor at Empire State University (ESU) where he and Gwen Stacy studied. Recently, Parker and Leeds visited Warren to check on certain cell samples from which Gwen Stacy’s clone had been created. Warren claimed those samples had been stolen by a man named Anthony Serba. Spider-Man eventually loses consciousness.

Some time later, Spider-Man awakens inside an abandoned tenement in lower Manhattan. He finds himself restrained on a wooden table and the Jackal starts talking to him. For the Jackal, what is going on is his moment of triumph.

As the Jackal keeps talking, Spider-Man suddenly frees himself from the table to get back on his feet to fight him…

Quality

*Can you tell who is the real Spider-Man here?*

Apart from historical significance of this original clone saga and the other one from the 1990s, this particular tale is finely written by Conway and the stakes were really raised high from the start (preceded by build-up of key events in prior issues). Clearly, what was presented here was a huge pay-off to the build-up of recent issues and the dialogue has lots of details that are thought-provoking.

At the center of the story is Miles Warren who has gone to the extremes as the Jackal and he already knows that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same person. He has a burning hatred towards Parker because he is young, he was loved by Gwen Stacy, and was responsible for her death (which happened in Amazing Spider-Man #121). There is a lot of drama Conway wrote into Miles Warren’s transformation into the Jackal (first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #129 along with the Punisher) as a result of Gwen’s death and there are established connections with his ability to perform cloning. Conway’s presentation of the origin of the Jackal here is indeed a must-see!

When it comes to the known feature of this comic book – Spider-Man’s physical encounter with his clone – this one was presented as a spectacle laced with suspense and intrigue for the readers. It was done to test the readers’ ability to determine who is truly Spider-Man as the fight with the clone (Ben Reilly without the name) went on. The fight itself is an extension of the madness, hatred and the lust for revenge of the Jackal. That being said, there is clearly a lack of impact behind the clone’s introduction as Conway created him only to bring closure to the cloning concept mandated by Stan Lee. The clone was never meant to return and replace Peter Parker as Spider-Man.

Conclusion

*Some of the events that dramatized Miles Warren’s transformation into the Jackal.*

Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) is a very intense tale that has the engaging origin story of the Jackal who went on to become a very dangerous foe of Spider-Man. That said, Miles Warren here transformed into a freak sparked by the sudden death of the real Gwen Stacy, and the actions he committed really brought danger to Spider-Man.

There is a lot of intrigue and compelling stuff in this comic book, especially when you ignore the Clone Saga of the 1990s (which itself should be treated as a convoluted follow-up reflecting the chaos behind closed doors at Marvel Comics during the time). In my opinion, this original Clone Saga stood the test of time and the creative stuff that Gerry Conway and Ross Andru came up with is pretty believable and dramatic to read again.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 141

June 10, 2026June 5, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Reaction Videos Of Scary Movie 3 – After enjoying the original Scary Movie of 2000, I saw its 2001 sequel and left the cinema disappointed. Two years later, I saw Scary Movie 3 and it was an indeed an improvement over Scary Movie 2. What is very notable about Scary Movie 3 is the fact that the Wayans Brothers were no longer involved and it was directed by David Zucker of ZAZ (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker). Scary Movie 3 is popular with YouTubers and already there are several reaction videos about it posted online. For your enjoyment, I posted below the reaction videos I found entertaining.

#2 Ranting For Vengeance Debunks Zealots Who Believe Anime Is Leftist – If you were fortunate enough to watch multiple anime productions dating back to the 1960s, you would be aware about the collective mindset of the creators, what the anime trends were and what the messages came with what was shown through the decades. Still, there are some zealots on social media who have this foolish belief that all anime is woke and leftist in nature. That said, Ranting for Vengeance recently posted another video debunking those zealots and his explanations have strong details. Watch his video now.

#3 The Enduring Story Behind Super Mario Bros. 2 – Back in the mid-1980s, Super Mario Bros. became a massive commercial success for Nintendo and it went on to make an impact not only on gamers but also on pop culture. Shigeru Miyamoto and his team worked hard to make Super Mario Bros. 2 which was released on the Family Disk System in Japan. Strangely, the Super Mario Bros. 2 released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in America was not the same game the Japanese gamers enjoyed. Confused? There is a lot of details in GTV Japan’s video below and they are all worth discovering. Go watch it and pay attention to the details closely.

#4 Wagyu For Breakfast In Japan – When was the last time you had Wagyu for a meal? Was there ever a time you experienced a luxurious breakfast while traveling overseas? Japan is where you can find them and you can discover where exactly they are and what other types of food is offered to customers in the Nippon TV video below. Watch, learn and enjoy!

#5 The Worst NBA Arenas – Considering how many teams there are in the National Basketball Association (NBA) representing different cities, America clearly has a lot of venues where the basketball games can be held at. Some stadiums have modern designs that can accommodate not only lots of people but also the high-spending spectators (those who can afford luxuries) while providing everyone convenience and comfort for game viewing. Meanwhile, there are places that are sub-par or even undesirable for watching basketball games. The video below explores and explains what the worst NBA arenas are.

#6 No Chances For A Remake Of Xenogears? – When it comes to Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) that were released on the PlayStation console in 1998, the one game I want to play again is Square Enix’s Xenogears. I played it on the PlayStation but I never got to finish it. While Square Enix managed to remaster Chrono Cross and released it on different platforms in recent years, the company has been very quiet about any remake or remastering of Xenogears. Apart from the fact that many of the people who worked on Xenogears under Square’s umbrella have left the company, there are other possible factors as to why remaking Xenogears is complicated in ways that have yet to be revealed to the public. To find out why, watch the in-depth video below.

#7 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To What Lies Beneath – In late-2000, I saw What Lies Beneath on a Friday night inside a packed cinema at Festival Mall. The film, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford as a couple, really made moviegoers around me stressed and scared. There were even some bouts of screaming as the movie unleashed its scary moments. Recently, I watched Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video of the movie and it is a must-see!

#8 Rhetorical Thrill Reacts To Dragonslayer – When it was released in the early 1980s, Dragonslayer was one of many fantasy movies that got released. On its own, Dragonslayer was dark, gritty, violent and even gruesome to see. The Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures banded together to co-produce the film and eventually it ended up as a commercial failure. Even though it failed, Dragonslayer managed to gain a following and people who want to watch dark and violent fantasy movies are attracted to it. To see how it impacts Rhetorical Thrill, go watch her reaction video below. It’s a must-see.

+++++

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 140

June 3, 2026May 25, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Retro Videos Of Scary Movie (2000) – Some of you might be aware that a brand new Scary Movie (2026) is coming out very soon. Although it’s nice to see Anna Faris and the Wayans brothers in the trailer of the new movie, I am not very motivated to see it. That said, I am more nostalgic about the original Scary Movie of 2000 and that film is significant as there are many retrospective videos about it in YouTube. As such, I posted below the selected videos of Scary Movie (2000) for your enjoyment.

#2 How Tekken 3 Was Made Possible On PlayStation – When I first played Tekken 3 in the arcades in 1997, I was already an avid fan of Tekken 2 which I played a lot on the PlayStation console. Back then, I wondered how Namco would be able to port Tekken 3 on PlayStation are the arcade version had much more powerful hardware. A year later, Tekken 3 was released on PlayStation and I played it a lot. The more I played it, the more impressed I was with how the game looked and felt on PlayStation. Not only that, Tekken 3 on PlayStation had features that the original arcade version did not offer. To find out how Namco made the “impossible port” of Tekken 3 using the PlayStation’s aging hardware, watch the video below.

#3 1990s NBA Plays That Are Still Great To Watch – Remember how exciting NBA basketball action was back in the 1990s? It was during the 1990s when the NBA became a global phenomenon, when the NBA had such super stars like Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and others who made great basketball plays. Back in those days, the Internet was slowly emerging and there obviously was no social media to amplify the great NBA moments. Posted below is a video that looks back at sixty great NBA plays that would have rocked the world had social media existed much earlier.

#4 Lunch At Ginza – Have you ever been to Ginza when you visited Japan? For the newcomers reading this, Ginza is the premier upscale district in Tokyo famous for shopping, fine dining and entertainment. Believe it or not, there are places in Ginza where visitors can have lunch at affordable rates and be satisfied. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#5 You, Me And The Movies React To Resident Evil: Degeneration – When the computer-generated movie Resident Evil: Degeneration was released in 2008, it created a lot of buzz for the dedicated fans of the Resident Evil video games, particularly those who followed the iconic characters Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield (the Resident Evil 2 characters). The limited theatrical releases did not stop the movie from achieving good box office numbers and it went on to sell a lot on DVD and Blu-ray later. But has the movie aged well and does anyone here enjoy it more than the live-action Resident Evil movies of Milla Jovovich? Watch the reaction video below and observe how it impacts You, Me and the Movies.

#6 Shoplifting Rampage By Hijabi Muslim Goes Very Wrong – Did you notice any woman wearing a hijab who engaged in theft lately? Overseas, someone committed shoplifting and things went very wrong. If you manage a store or if you care much about preventing the crime of theft from happening, you better watch the video below and pay close attention to the details. Do not let the Islamists manipulate you and never let them terrorize you.

#7 Origin of The Jackal – You ever heard of The Jackal in comic books? The Jackal is one of Spider-Man’s super villains and he is involved in one of the most tragic events of the icon’s life and also in the sagas about clones. Veteran creator J.M. DeMatteis called the Jackal as “a terrific villain.” To get to know more about the Jackal, watch the video below.

#8 Rhetorical Thrill Reacts To Toy Soldiers – Remember back in the 1990s when there was a slew of action or adventure films with terrorists as the antagonists? This was the so-called “Die Hard effect” in reference to the 1988 classic action film that starred Bruce Willis. In 1991, the movie Toy Soldiers was released and it was about an all-male boarding school that got occupied by terrorists, and only a group of rebellious students can achieve a breakthrough. Recently, Rhetorical Thrill posted her reaction video about Toy Soldiers and it is entertaining to watch.

+++++

	RICK YARNELL on Japan To Raise Foreigners’ Res…
	Instapundit »… on Japan To Raise Foreigners’ Res…
	Instapundit »… on Illegal Alien In America Sente…
	Crimson Hotel Manila… on Crimson Hotel In Filinvest Cit…
	Instapundit »… on High-Profile Fraudster Kimble…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: