superhero – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at The Kindred #2 (1994)

March 16, 2026March 10, 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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the WildStorm universe through The Kindred mini-series.

The Kindred #1 was an entertaining piece of work by Jim Lee’s team. It was a build-up comic book that smoothly sets the stage for the inevitable reuniting of Grifter and Backlash – two former teammates of Team 7 who are also among the most defining heroes of the WildStorm universe – and the dangerous mission to find and rescue IO director John Lynch (who was also part of Team 7) and his assistant in South America. As the story of issue #1 went on, it was clear that elements from the past are creeping up on the characters and IO itself.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Kindred #2, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and Brett Booth. Booth illustrated the comic book.

Early story

The story begins with a high-tech aircraft speeding off the coast of South America. Inside, the temporary leader Backlash (supported by deputy Colby) talks with members of the Black Razor team about what the mission is about and what their objectives are. Their goal is to find IO superior John Lynch and his assistant Alica Turner who have been held captive by a mysterious and dangerous bunch called the Kindred.

Upon arrival at their destination, Backlash, Colby and the Black Razors land to start their operation. Moments later, the stowaway Grifter emerges from inside the aircraft and gets spotted by a corporal. Grifter fires at an ugly, human-like monster of the Kindred saving the corporal’s life. Grifter then descends to follow Backlash and the Black Razors…

Quality

*Backlash and Grifter (Marc Slayton and Cole Cash) together after so many years apart. They are former teammates of Team 7.*

This early, I can say that the entertainment value of this comic book went up really high. It is clearly a nice pay-off to the build-up that happened in issue #1 and it has some notable moments as the storytelling went on.

Without spoiling the plot, the core concept of this series became clearer to me as the story progressed. Apart from the creative idea of having the former Team 7 teammates reunited, there are believable reasons as to why Backlash is leading a team of IO’s armed operative and why Grifter tagged along. Both of them are searching for answers while having different agendas or personal goals. There is also animosity between them which strongly implies something bad happened during their time together with Team 7. John Lynch, who often has been a background or supporting character in previous WildStorm tales (but eventually got a stronger role in Team 7 comics), finds himself cornered by the Kindred whose leader is very aware of what IO has been doing all along. At the same time, IO’s legacy of indiscriminate genetic testing on animal fetuses created a force of not only evil but vengeance. What the Kindred leader mentions effectively blurred the boundary that separates good and evil, and even that of abusers and victims.

By the time I reached the end of the comic book, the stakes and the suspense were raised. The same can be said about the overall fun factor.

Conclusion

*The leader of the Kindred is not only evil. He is driven by vengeance and he knows a lot about IO.*

Thanks to strong creative writing, The Kindred #2 (1994) is indeed a more engaging and more intriguing comic book. It consistently paid off the build-up that happened in the previous issue, and the creative team managed to keep on building up the suspense and tension as the story went on. Those who love spectacle will enjoy the high amount of action here and artist Brett Booth proved himself to be capable of showing dynamic visuals. Booth has an inspired take on showing Backlash and Grifter in action. I am looking forward to the next issue.

Overall, The Kindred #2 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

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A Look Back at The Kindred #1 (1994)

March 13, 2026March 9, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the WildStorm universe as published by Image Comics.

To put things in perspective, Jim Lee’s WildStorm universe quickly expanded after launching WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams in 1992. Other WildStorm properties followed such as StormWatch, Gen13, Team 7 and Wetworks. By 1994, things went rolling with the WildStorm projects and the production team of Jim Lee decided to expand the lore by having key characters Grifter (WildCATs) and Backlash involved in a story told in a mini-series. The said characters are actually former teammates of Team 7.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Kindred #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and Brett Booth. Booth illustrated the comic book.

Early story

The story begins in New York City. Even as darkness envelopes the city that never sleeps, thousands of its denizens walk the streets in relentless pursuit of their hopes and dreams. One man walks alone and his thoughts are not filled with dreams of the future. Instead, he has nightmares from the past.

The man is Marc Slayton and he knocks the door communicating with Jack. He converts himself into vapor and easily enters the building moving towards Jack. He emerges as Backlash and tells Jack that he needs classified information on an alien race known as the Daemonites. It turns out, Backlash needs Jack’s hacking abilities to bypass the government’s bureaucracy and secrecy.

Suddenly, the armored members of Black Razor emerge behind Backlash…

Quality

*Grifter appears in a violent way of helping someone.*

I like this comic book. This is a tale that has strong elements of the 1990s WildStorm universe all over it, specifically paramilitary influence and intrigue. As this was released before Team 7 #1 (a tale set in the past), it was the WildStorm creators’ way of getting former teammates Grifter and Backlash together after being separated for a long time. The result is a dangerous mission launched while bringing key elements from the past back for the two heroes to encounter. Conveniently, this comic book added to the pre-release anticipation of the Team 7 mini-series.

More on the plot itself, Backlash wants crucial information about the Daemonites (monsters from space that are ugly, dangerous and capable of possessing people) and it so happens he has been targeted by IO (International Operations) for the mentioned mission. The way Backlash was portrayed involved his past coming back at him, dealing with IO and having to decide to participate or not. Clearly, Backlash here is cornered more than once and it is a sign that something intriguing and dangerous awaits him.

Grifter’s presence here is directly linked with his exit from WildCATs #8. Similar with Backlash, Grifter is in search for answers and he shows no intention of having a friendly reunion with his former teammate. Along the way, you will see the masked gunslinger being more analytical as the plot went on and his determination to find answers is really strong. Grifter here is also a huge risk-taker which is a nice touch.

Speaking of elements of the past, this comic book has some notable connections with other developments and parts of the WildStorm universe. A certain scene here could convince WildStorm fans to revisit the WildCATs mini-series.

Conclusion

*Backlash hit hard by Black Razor members.*

Considering the way the story was told and the high amount of expository dialogue executed, The Kindred #1 (1994) is clearly a build-up comic book that will eventually lead to the true essence of this mini-series. What I enjoyed the most here was how the creative team portrayed Backlash and Grifter. They are former teammates of Team 7 who each have grudges, personal problems and secrets that could potentially widen the gap between them. At the same time, the creative team succeeded in setting up the threat by showing the violent kidnap of John Lynch (the former leader of Team 7) and the rise of a new enemy who is very driven by revenge. Ultimately, this comic book succeeded in convincing me to read the next issue.

Overall, The Kindred #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Elven #3 (1995)

February 16, 2026February 12, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the Ultraverse through the Elven mini-series.

Having read the first two issues (click here and here), I can say that there is indeed progressive development of the personality of Elvia and her fantasy inspired identity as Elven. At the same time, the fantasy elements of the Ultraverse itself were portrayed in lively fashion. Clearly, Elven’s own corner of the Ultraverse has been established and there is some excitement to find out what would happen next and how it could affect others within the UV.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Elven #3, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and illustrated by Aaron Lopresti (Sludge).

Early story

The story begins on top of the building with Elven and Prime meeting again. Tensions are high as Elven accuses him of lying. By this time, she learned a lot of details about her origin from the demon she fought with which convinced her that Prime lied to her about their genetic connections with each other (note: Doctor Vincent Gross was involved as he wanted to create ultras).

Elven rejects the science as she is strong convinced she is of magical origin from a mystical world and happens to be trapped on Earth. As Prime tries to put sense into her, Elven strikes him with a blast of energy to push him back. The blast turned to be of biological energy instead of magic.

As Elven reveals that she learned crucial information from the demon she fought with, Prime realizes it is none other than the one enemy he fought with some time ago…

Quality

*Once again, Elven impulsively uses violence on individuals to help Bruno.*

Following the events of issue #2, Elven here remains confused and even lost as she has a lot of trouble figuring out the facts. Of course, being a fanatic of fantasy and Elfquest, Elven clings on to the belief that the fantasy realm is real and that she is of magical origin (which conflicts with the biology and science of her abilities and physical transformation). This is evident in the early part of the comic book when she has a tense reunion with Prime who did his best to explain details and help her understand.

When it comes to the very conflict of the story itself, the stakes were raised when Strazewski has Prime-Evil and elements of unethical science present during the later stage. Apart from abducting Elven, Prime-Evil has his own agenda pursuing Mantra (who in turn has an evil version called Necro Mantra) and a lot of arrogance within. Literally, Prime-Evil’s presence added intrigue to the plot and only made Elven’s struggle to realize the truth of her origin – both the scientific and fantasy aspects – even more complicated.

Bruno, who was a significant and surprising factor behind the conflict in issue #2, gets his nice share of the spotlight. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that he is a lot more than what he seems and has more to add to the conflict.

Considering the intensity of the conflict in issue #2, I find it very weird that Bruno and Elvia were not even reported to the local authorities for questioning and accountability. Perhaps the psychiatrist did not bother to do what is right since he was so fascinated with the fantastic conflict and unexplained moments that happened in his office (note: his own office assistant even became naked suddenly), and he has ambitions to become America’s next big name with his knowledge.

Conclusion

*Elvia with Bruno and their psychiatrist.*

At this particular stage of the mini-series, Elven #3 (1995) had an even more intriguing story to tell while gradually moving forward with Elven’s quest for the truth of her origin and her own purpose. The Strazewski-Lopresti duo did fine work in this comic book for the most part and ultimately the story convinced me to look forward to the next issue. I can say that the ending of this comic book is more suspenseful than that of issue #2.

Overall, Elven #3 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Elven #2 (1995)

February 6, 2026January 30, 2026carlocarrasco

When I grabbed a copy of Elven #1, I did not expect much entertainment and surprise. But as I started reading it and witnessed Elven’s interactions with Prime, the narrative became even more engaging to read. In addition, Len Strazewski’s writing clearly defined the personality of fantasy fanatic and confused girl Elvia Swanson and established Elven as a twisted female parallel to Prime. Along the way, Aaron Lopresti’s art showed a lot of details, emotions and dynamism (on the action).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Elven #2, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and illustrated by Aaron Lopresti (Sludge).

Early story

The story begins inside the office of a psychiatrist where Elven encounters a demon which just came out of the teenage boy Bruno. As the two fight each other violently, the psychiatrist watches them obsessively and writes down the notable details for a potential advancement in his career. Bruno, who carried the demon in him some time prior, watches the fight from a distance marveling at Elven while also observing how chaotic the demon is.

Elven fights the demon hard while maintaining a mindset of pride and even being superior. The demon reveals his link with Boneyard (for reference, click here) confirming he came from a distant world.

After getting hit by Elven’s elf-fire, the demon begins to laugh at her. Elven gets triggered and starts hitting the demon more…

Quality

*By giving in to her impulses, Elven commits a very violent move on a man. This also shows her inability to restrain herself.*

While issue #1 established Elvia Swenson personality and her super-powered, fantasy inspired Elven identity who has a genetic connection with Prime, this comic book emphasizes the deeper fantasy aspects of the Ultraverse while expanding the lore within Elven’s part of the shared comic book universe.

Similar to Prime (Kevin Green in disguise), Elven gets triggered emotionally which is the result of the youth and obvious lack of maturity of Elvia. That being said, the moments of Elven getting more violent and shedding a few tears after getting laughed at by the demon deserve any reader’s attention.

Len Strazewski’s writing is pretty rich here and he pulled of some clever moves with the narrative. As the battle between Elven and the demon intensified, there were signs that the conflict would turn into an even bigger and more destructive battle. Instead, there were these deep revelations that happened (note: for relevance, you will have to read Prime #5 which I reviewed some time ago) and even the arrogant boy Bruno has his own share of what has been going on. Even the psychiatrist turned out to be a pretty significant bystander during the battle which suggests a build-up for a sub-plot.

As such, Strazewski wrote the story to be very intriguing and the plot threads are not limited to Elven and the demon. The way I see it, something is being built up and to grasp the relevance, you will have to read some issues of the Prime and Mantra comic book series.

If there is any weakness in the storytelling, it is the fact that the psychiatrist and his office assistant very easily forgot the moments of Bruno turning evil during the late part of issue #1. The way they reacted in this comic book after the end of the battle between Elven and the demon, they did not make any moves to hold Bruno accountable nor did they question Elven’s way of handling matters (which includes the eventual ruining of the office).

Conclusion

*After getting triggered (being laughed at by the demon), Elven acted move violently and impulsively.*

While there were a few weak spots in certain parts of the story, Elven #2 (1995) is another solid read from the Strazewski-Lopresti duo. Elven got developed even more through conflict with the demon, and her own search for the truth about her origin. Aside from that, the fantasy elements implemented in the story expanded the lore of the Ultraverse in a very unique way. Ultimately, I am looking forward to reading the next chapter of this mini-series.

Overall, Elven #2 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Elven #1 (1995)

January 23, 2026January 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the Ultraverse.

For the newcomers to the Ultraverse, Prime is one of its most definitive heroes and his true identity is the teenager Kevin Green who can transform into an overly muscular caped adult superhero. The Prime monthly series of comic books ran for two years and the title character appeared in many other Ultraverse comic books.

Considering the prominence of Prime, it is not surprising that Malibu Comics proceeded to create comic books featuring a female counterpart to Prime. That counterpart is called Elven who appeared in a few early issues of the Ultraverse Premiere series and eventually Prime interacted with her.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Elven #1, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and illustrated by Aaron Lopresti (Sludge).

Early story

The story begins deep within a city when a beautiful blonde woman got hurt by a very angry man named Billy. With the lady down on the floor, the man raises his metallic weapon intending to strike her not realizing that someone is emerging from behind. He turns and sees a scantily clad caped woman who immediately hits him hard. The caped woman is Elven who believes she is helping the blonde woman.

To Elven’s surprise, the blonde woman tells her to stop and not hurt the man who was violent towards her. The man hits Elven on the face with his weapon but ended up getting hit hard again in retaliation. Elven then uses an optic blast at the wall as she tells the blonde woman to leave.

With the violent man down and hurt, Elven decides to kill him but is prevented by Prime from behind. After telling Prime that she told him not to interfere with her, she hits him with an energy blast…

Quality

*Elvia with her hard-working mother. The lack of a loving father affected Elvia deeply.*

Being written by Prime co-creator and series co-author Len Strazewski, this Ultraverse tale about Elven is very good and there is a lot of depth in the plot. You will meet Elven and the true human behind her named Elvia Swenson, a teenage girl who has a painful past, has an obsession with fantasy tales, and was created through the very same secret government fertility research program as Kevin Green/Prime. Elven’s disturbing look (with elvish features) reflects Elvia’s fantasy obsession and personally belief of using violence against men. She and Prime are genetically related due to the top secret project.

This comic book examines Elvia whose life lacks direction and her abusive father really impacted her negatively. With her mother’s love and guidance remaining in her life, Elvia is literally in a quest to find purpose, happiness and friendship. Unfortunately, the young guy Bruno is in the neighborhood and he is actually a demon. Bruno’s presence literally raised the stakes of the story which justifies Elvia’s transformation into Elven for the eventually good-versus-evil conflict. All throughout, there is tension and drama which got balanced with superhero spectacle. The way Elven is portrayed here makes her comparable with the arrogant, man-bashing, rabid feminists of modern society.

When it comes to Prime himself, this comic book features a really mature portrayal of him. I am talking about the early part of the story when Prime did his best to calm Elven down, restrain her and convince her to think first as a way to prevent her recklessness. Long-time Ultraverse readers should now that Prime is actually teenager Kevin Green inside all that muscle and he often has an awkward or a tense way of communicating with others (note: imagine the teenager pretending to think and act like an adult). That said, Prime here really interacts maturely and his attempt to put a lot of sense into the impulsive Elven is very believable. This is clever writing by Strazewski and it is one of the more notable portrayals of Prime.

When it comes to the visual side, artist Aaron Lopresti’s style worked smoothly in this comic book. I have seen his works in the Sludge series and he really excels with facial expressions, spectacle and the monsters looking very creepy. Strangely enough, Lopresti’s take on Elven is noticeable smaller and less muscular when compared to how the character appeared in Elven #0 and Ultraverse Premiere drawn by Greg Luzniak.

Conclusion

*Prime struggles to calm the impulsive and reckless Elven down. Without Prime’s intervention, Elven definitely would have committed murder against a man who harmed a woman moments earlier.*

Elven #1 (1995) is clearly a very solid read and easily one of the best spin-off comic books of the Ultraverse. Strazewski and Lopresti crafted a tale that was intense and dramatic while successfully defining Elven and her true identity as the teenage Elvia. Considering her painful background and current situation, Elvia is sympathetic although things got twisted when she becomes Elven which brings out her violent side, her recklessness and distorted view about helping women by using violence. That being said, Elven at this stage in the Ultraverse is not really a likable lead character and that only makes her more unique when compared to Prime. Will Elven become as terrible as the evil ones? There is more to discover as this comic book is part of the limited series.

The specific portrayals of Elvia and Elven is very tricky to write down and Strazewski succeeded in making it work. Ultimately, this comic book added strong fantasy elements within the Ultraverse.

Overall, Elven #1 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Prime #20 (1995)

January 19, 2026January 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Ultraverse to take a look at one of the many tales of Prime from the monthly series that first launched in 1993.

In recent times, I’ve been reading and reviewing Prime comic books I missed out before. For my most recent Prime retro reviews, click here, here and here. For the newcomers reading this, Prime is one of the most definitive heroes of the entire Ultraverse and his true identity is the teenager Kevin Green. Prime is also one of three major Ultraverse figures in the team UltraForce.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #20, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by Greg Luzniak.

Early story

The story begins with a man and a woman on bed. They just made love with each other. As the woman goes to the bathroom to fix herself, the man tells her she will be perfect in a new project and they will be together all the time even though he is already married. He tells her that will be a real ultra-heroine and already a lot of things are being prepared for her such. She will also have a new partner and already they found a way to get him to Washington.

Feeling terrible, the woman lowers herself on the bathroom floor, pulls a piece of hardware very hard, and an explosion suddenly happens.

In New York City, Kevin and his mother attend an opera. Kevin still has trouble adjusting to life in New York and misses his friends and the community of Canoga Park. He still has feelings for Kelly but remains confused as he still struggles with managing his personal life being himself and being Prime…

Quality

*Kevin and Kelly talking to each other via a long distance call.*

I really enjoyed this issue of Prime mainly because the writing done by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones is really rich with depth. To make things clear, this is another Prime tale made to emphasize the title hero’s personality particularly with his personal life as Kevin Green who at this stage has turned into a really confused teenager. Not only is Kevin so far away from Kelly, he has not seen his father for a long time already, his mother has been working and is about to move to Washington for a new job, and public perception towards Prime has been tense.

As the cover already confirmed, the deadly villain Rafferty is indeed here although the traditional good-versus-evil conflict is not a major part of the story. Rafferty previously encountered Freex and The Strangers (click here, here and here) and it was only right to set him up for conflict with Prime.

When it comes to the art, I enjoyed Greg Luzniak’s style on Prime and the other characters. Luzniak is really good with the dynamic approach on visualizing superhero spectacle and acts. The way he shows facial expressions resulted in a wide range of looks and emotions.

Conclusion

*Kevin in New York with his mother. His father has been away for a long time at this point in the series.*

The character-driven approach done by the Strazewski-Jones duo made Prime #20 (1995) a very solid read. The story has a firm structure designed to open opportunities to emphasize Kevin Green’s development which in turn reflects his struggle with the changes of his life. This comic book also explores Kelly’s speculation that Prime and Kevin are one and the same, and the creators pulled off the right moves to add weight to that. By the time I reached the ending, I am convinced to go on to the next issue.

Overall, Prime #14 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Prime #14 (1994)

January 16, 2026January 13, 2026carlocarrasco

In recent times, I’ve been reading and reviewing Prime comic books I missed out before. For my most recent Prime retro reviews, click here and here. For the newcomers reading this, Prime is one of the most definitive heroes of the entire Ultraverse and his true identity is the teenager Kevin Green.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #14, published by Malibu Comics in 1994 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by the Darick Robertson with ink work done by Barbara Kaalberg.

Early story

The story begins with Prime flying and deeply thinking about the group of powered social outcasts…Freex. Prime, who recently spent time with Freex and helped them fight monsters (click here and here). He wished to help them more but does not want to be like them. He wants to show the whole world that it cannot push him around only because of his youth.

Moments later, Prime arrives at Venice Beach in California to meet members and agents of the media…

Quality

*This should remind you to always behave yourself in front of any family member of your friend. Prime ends up being disrespectful to Kelly’s mother due to Kevin’s lack of maturity.*

As a long-time Ultraverse comic book reader, there is a lot to like in this tale of Prime. For one thing, it is a pure character-driven story with a strong emphasis on how Kevin Green’s personal views develop, why he keeps on struggling to understand society and why his way (in the form of Prime) of interacting with ordinary people remains awkward.

There is so much stuff here, it can be challenging to realize the main themes of the story written by Jones and Strazewski. To make things clear, at this point in the Ultraverse, worldly authorities are very aware of the Ultras who seem to want to help people with problems but they are compelled to use force to confront them as those super powered beings are capable of making their own rules, violate laws with impunity and cause trouble in societies.

Prime is already in the middle of a troubled American society and the government as well as secret societies have other Ultras to deal with. Being a teenager himself, Kevin Green is able to relate with members of Freex who have no families to return to and are always on the run being chased by the authorities and being hated by the world. Along the way, Prime is acting impulsively with the adults and members of the media since Kevin himself lacks maturity and has yet to fully understand society and its norms. Kevin also forgets how to behave properly as he fails to control his emotional impulse.

When it comes to the art, Darick Robertson did a really fine job visualizing Prime and in most pages of the comic book, he uses dynamism to make the reading experience look very lively. He also did a good job with the facial expressions.

Conclusion

*Prime recalls the time he spent with Freex.*

It is very clear that the writing in Prime #14 (1994) done by the Jones-Strazewski duo is rich and deeply layered. Being a self-declared fighter and supporter of young people in this issue puts Prime into deeper trouble as he does not realize yet the consequence of the moves he made. The creative team really excelled in dramatizing Kevin Green – in the physical form of Prime – being impulsive and immature to adults while acting as a helpful adult to teenagers he meets. This story also sheds light on broken families which will instantly remind readers about poverty, vices and long-lasting negativity in unchecked parts of American society. That being said, this Prime story is a great read and its social commentary remains very relevant. This is also a great development of Prime’s personality.

Overall, Prime #14 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men #7 (1992)

January 14, 2026January 10, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men monthly series.

Since issue #5, Omega Red was introduced and the creative team of the series inserted flashbacks showing Wolverine, Sabretooth and Maverick as paramilitary teammates from several years prior. It was also revealed that Wolverine and Omega Red encountered each other before, and their present day encounter resulted in the capture of the Canadian mutant. Wolverine managed to escape only to be recaptured by Sabretooth. Logan’s teammates were also captured by the same sinister group that has Omega Red.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men #7, published by Marvel Comics in 1992 with a story plotted and drawn by Jim Lee, scripted by Scott Lobdell and inked by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins with Wolverine heavily restrained and his healing factor has been pushed to its limits. In the presence of Matsu’o Tsurayaba, Psylocke and others, Omega Red presses Wolverine for information about the carbonadium synthesizer. Matsu’o advises the Russian to not let the Canadian mutant bait him, and he shares the realization that it is impossible to mass produce his healing factor.

Matsu’o tells Omega Red that his only chance for survival rests in completing the process that was started thirty years prior. The Russian replied saying that he realizes he is dependent upon synthesizing the only metal capable of negating his death factor.

Not wanting to top, Omega Red says that he would rather pry the information from Wolverine’s brain by hand…

Quality

*Psylocke in action versus Matsu’o and Omega Red.*

To begin with, this is the conclusion to the storyline that started with issue #5. It is a cleverly paced story that had a good amount of build-up followed by big pay-offs with Jim Lee’s dynamic touch with the visuals.

Wolverine is once again vulnerable and Matsu’o’s gang already has the advantage. Matsu’o is determined to discover information about the C-Synthesizer no matter the cost (note: at the expense of Wolverine’s life). Omega Red’s death factor is much more emphasized in this issue and the goals behind the operations of the gang is made clearer here. As the story moved on, there were these clever twists that were entertaining to see leading to the chain of action-packed sequences. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the creative team came up with a very solid conclusion in this short storyline and Maverick’s own presence has been justified as well.

As with the previous issue, scenes of Mojoworld were inserted giving readers updates about Dazzler and Longshot. Very clearly, this was the build-up leading into the 10^th issue of the comic book series.

For those who enjoy visual spectacle, there is a lot to enjoy from Jim Lee here. As always, Lee draws action dynamically and made sure they are exciting to look at. Particularly, I found Lee’s carefully chosen action moments – particularly Sabretooth’s strike on Maverick and Wolverine’s strike against Omega Red – really impactful to look at.

Conclusion

*Wolverine in a very vulnerable and painful state.*

X-Men #7 (1992) is a very enjoyable read. It is a great conclusion to its 3-part storyline that started in issue #5 and by the time I read the end, Omega Red was clearly established as a very formidable foe of the X-Men even though he was a new addition to the lore. The writing of this comic book is very solid and the same thing can be said about the structure of the plot. Considering the time of its release, this comic book was clearly part of Jim Lee’s way of modernizing the X-Men.

Overall, X-Men #7 (1992) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #6 (1994)

January 9, 2026January 8, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the 2^nd series of X-Men Adventures which was the literary adaptation of the popular X-Men animated series of the 1990s.

First introduced in 1990s comics published by Marvel, Gambit (Remy LeBeau) quickly emerged as one of the most popular members of the X-Men. He always looked cool, his power to charge cards (and other objects) into dangerous weapons, and his combat styling were really fascinating to see. He also has a personality that is very unique and mysterious at the same time. Eventually Gambit got his own spotlight in one of the episodes of the animated series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #6, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story begins with Gambit flying away from X-Men headquarters using a mini-aircraft. He is clearly on the pursuit for something. Rogue tells Wolverine and Jean Grey that their teammate received a message from New Orleans and he has to help a certain sibling who is in trouble. While speeding through the air, Gambit remembers what happened several years prior when he was part of the thieves guild. He remembered the moment Bobby became the chosen one among the thieves…

Quality

*Wolverine, Rogue and Jean Grey fall down and encounter the thieves.*

Anyone who followed the stories of Gambit in the X-Men comic books should be aware that there is a lot more to the past of the character than meets the eye. This comic book is a dramatization – which the animated series did – of Gambit’s involvement with a guild of thieves in Louisiana and what happens when the threads and personalities from his past return.

Upon returning to Louisiana, Gambit learns that the feud between the thieves and assassins has turned violent. Complicating matters further is an exchange the assassins want involving Bobby, the sacred tithe the thieves have and Gambit himself.

As expected, Gambit’s personality develops deeply as the story went on. The changes in him manifest when he encounters key characters from his past (example: Bella Donna) and how unfortunate events from the prior years impact him in the present. In short, this is a portrayal of Gambit that is clearly the most intriguing yet in the animated series.

Visually, John Hebert performed a good job visualizing the characters. While the X-Men are recognizable as before, Hebert’s art style gave the other characters a unique look that is gritty and sometimes creepy to see. I should mention that Hebert’s visual interpretation of Rogue reaction’s about Bella Donna described as Gambit’s woman is a great touch.

Conclusion

*Young Gambit/Remy as a thief in Louisiana.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #6 (1994) is a good read and it will delight X-Men fans who are avid followers of Gambit. This one has a nice mix of twists, action, suspense and the theme about the so-called ghosts from the past coming back to haunt some. To see more of Gambit and his Louisiana legacy, you have to read the official X-Men comic books (example: the X-Men/Ghost Rider crossover tale during the time of Jim Lee) plus the Gambit mini-series of the early 1990s. Consider this X-Men Adventures comic book a creative appetizer that happens to be fun to read.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #6 (1994) is recommended.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 117

January 7, 2026January 8, 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 Supergirl 1984 Revisited – As some of you might know by now, there is a new standalone Supergirl movie from James Gunn’s DCU coming out this year. The first trailer attracted many millions of views on YouTube and yet people are divided over it as they noticed many elements of James Gunn’s cinematic style (note: Gunn is NOT the director of the upcoming movie) in it. Some long-time Supergirl fans and comic readers don’t like the modern portrayal of the character since she appeared in James Gunn’s Superman. Times like these, it is nice to revisit the 1984 Supergirl movie that starred Helen Slater. Watch the retrospective video below.

#2 The Katsu Phenomenon – When was the last time you had a fried pork cutlet for a meal? In Japanese cuisine, katsu is a popular dish of crispy, deep fried cutlets typically made with pork (tonkatsu) or chicken (chicken katsu) served with rice, cabbage and a tangy sauce. Tonkatsu itself is very common in Japan and Japanese restaurants here in my native Philippines offer it to customers. When it comes to pork-related meals I ate in my life, the tonkatsu is a standout meal. Katsu itself gained popularity around the world and it has become a food phenomenon influencing how deep fried cutlets are prepared and served to customers in different forms. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV feature video below.

#3 Ulysses 31 Revisited – Have you ever seen the early 1980s Japanese-French anime series Ulysses 31? I saw some episodes of it on local TV here in the Philippines in the early 1990s and it was a very unique type of anime with science fiction concepts and spectacle. Anyone who is familiar with The Odyssey will be able to related with it. Apart from being a joint production between Japanese and French entities, Ulysses 31 was ahead of its time and it never made an impact with American viewers not because of its quality but because of a costly mistake with the music and wrongful distribution in America. To learn more about Ulysses 31, watch the retrospective videos below.

#4 Rhetorical Thrill Replays The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Did you ever watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the cinema and somehow never replayed it? If you did, how much of the 2002 film do you still remember? YouTuber Rhetorical Thrill confirmed she saw it in the cinema once and has not seen the film in a very long time. That said, watch her reaction video below.

#5 American Woman Who Was Trapped In Iran – Iran is in the news lately. Many Iranians are protesting on the streets and they are strong defying the Islamic terrorist regime. Iran turned evil and twisted since 1979 and their loss to Israel during the 12-Day War of 2025 left their regime crippled. Speaking of Iran, have you learned about the true story of an American woman who was trapped in Iran (because of her abusive Iranian husband’s deception) and could not leave the country without her daughter? The true story that led to the production of the 1991 movie Not Without My Daughter (starring Sally Field) is revealed in detail in the video below. I encourage you to watch it.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Avengers Movies – There was a time when Marvel Studios released great superhero movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had really entertaining flicks released from 2008 to 2019. After the release of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU went downhill as Marvel Studios and Disney proceeded with a very woke direction which turned away a lot of the fans who enjoyed the superhero movies of 2008-2019. That being said, now is a good time to look back at The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame through the reaction videos of Ashleigh Burton posted below. These are from the days of glory of the MCU.

#7 You, Me and The Movies React To Rocky III – Starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky III was a crucial turning point of its film franchise. The first two movies were dramas with boxing matches as the payoffs and conclusion. In Rocky III, the tone shifted more towards action with a strong focus on changing Rocky himself as he faces his toughest opponent yet. YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video of the 1982 movie and you can see for yourselves how it impacts them.

#8 Wild Arms Retrospective – In 1997, I played Wild Arms on the PlayStation. It was Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony which turned out to be fun and adventurous while maintaining strong focus on three main characters (note: they are the only characters you get to play). Two years later, I played Wild Arms 2 but never managed to finish it. The Wild Arms game franchise is turning thirty this year although it has been many years since the last game was released. To discover more about the PlayStation-exclusive JRPG series, watch the retrospective video below.

#9 Trump In 2025 – A lot has happened since Donald Trump returned as President of the United States on January 20, 2025. Apart from implementing changes to reshape America in ways that the Democrats and the Satanic Left do not like, Trump made his nation’s presence felt strongly in the international community. Not only did Trump’s tariffs compel nations to negotiate, America helped Israel with the 12-Day War by dropping massive bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s nuclear sites. This was followed by Trump’s military operations against Islamic terrorists and narco-terrorists. To find out more, watch and learn from the in-depth video 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

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