superhero – Page 9 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Action Comics #484 (1978)

January 17, 2025January 6, 2025carlocarrasco

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, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1978 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Action Comics monthly series (launched in 1938).

Long before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, DC Comics had its convoluted multiverse. For the newcomers reading this, this meant that there were actually different versions of Superman and other DC superheroes, plus different universes or parallel worlds existing with each other. This particular Action Comics issue features a certain version of Superman and what happened to him and the related characters.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #484, published in 1978 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins in Metropolis of Earth-Two when four mechanical marauders fly through the city carrying bags of money taken from a bank. Superman (of Earth-Two) quickly flew after the mechanical marauders and uses his powers to beat them all. From a distance, Colonel Future (leader of the C-F Gang) observes Superman and analyzes his moves. It turns out, the gang is responsible for the mechanical marauders and Colonel Future believes that he can wipe out the Man of Steel.

Superman returns quietly into the Daily Star Building and changes into civilian clothing as Clark Kent. His office mate Jimmy Olsen approaches him and together they walk and talk about what has been going on.

Behind them, Lois Lane silently enters the store room where Clark came out of. It turns out, she prepared a hidden camera inside hoping to capture evidence about Clark using the room. She has been suspecting that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same person…

Quality

*While it is clear that Superman – in his civilian form as Clark Kent – married Lois Lane, there is still a lot more to discover from the in-depth story written by Cary Bates.*

I really like this pre-Crisis Superman story which is specifically set in Earth-Two of the DC multiverse. To make things clear, this is a tale showing Superman getting married to Lois Lane without impacting the mainstream version of DC’s icon at the time. Confused? That’s the consequence of having different versions of Superman complete with detailed parallel universes for each.

More on the core concept of this comic book, there is a lot more at stake – storywise and creatively – than meets the eye. Without spoiling the plot details, I can clearly say that the concept of Superman and Lois Lane getting married involves a daring plot which was executed nicely by the Bates-Swan duo resulting in a really intriguing reading experience for me. In other words, there is nothing simple with the presentation as the fantasy elements are really strong and the creative team took creative risks to emphasize the story while developing the key characters in new ways.

Still on the storytelling, the conflict between good and evil is emphasized not by struggle but rather the consequences which ultimately affect Superman and Lois Lane. The main opposition used by the Bate-Swan duo involves magic as a creative way to impact the Man of Steel and the narrative in general. There are some really intriguing moments about Superman (including his civilian identity as Clark Kent) and Lois Lane that await readers.

Conclusion

*Lois Lane has an in-depth portrayal in this comic book, going beyond what the page shows you.*

Action Comics #484 (1978) is undoubtedly a very intriguing and surprising read. The creative team came up with ideas that subverted expectations and the execution was well done which made this a powerful and twisting read. Having read lots of Superman comic books through the decades, this comic book is one of the more surprising ones I have read. Finally, this one has a believable presentation about what married life between Superman and Lois Lane would be like reflecting the social norms at the time of publication.

Overall, Action Comics #484 (1978) is highly recommended.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 52

January 15, 2025January 12, 2025carlocarrasco

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

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

#1 Akira revisited – The 1988 anime feature film Akira has often been cited as a masterpiece and some pointed it for making anime more popular in the West. For the newcomers reading this, Akira actually started in Japan as a manga/comic book series before getting adapted into anime. Strangely enough, the literary Akira was still publishing when the 1988 feature film was released. As of this writing, there are two English-dubbed versions of it in existence and the Blu-ray copy I own has them both.

It is not surprising that the animated Akira got featured by many YouTubers in the form of retro reviews, reaction videos, documentaries and video analysis. If you have not seen Akira, I encourage you to watch it on Blu-ray first. Otherwise, enjoy the selected videos below.

#2 Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (the Donkey Kong case) – Have you ever played Donkey Kong back in the 1980s? That is a classic game from Nintendo. It was a hit in the arcades and made its way to multiple platforms in the years that followed. Believe it or not, Univeral Studios sued Nintendo alleging that Donkey Kong was a trademark infringement of King Kong. The video below will explain the details as to what happened and I can say it is also amusing to watch.

#3 PatmanQC examines Q*bert – Released in the arcades in 1982, Q*bert became a hit in America and went on to become one of the highest grossing arcade games in 1983. A very fun game, it is remembered for cleverly blending puzzle play with 3D-like movement and avoidance of both obstacles and enemies. You might be wondering who came up with Q*bert, what led to its production and what inspired the game creators to design it. To find out, watch PatmanQC’s detailed examination of Q*bert below…

#4 The Terminator’s connection with The Outer Limits explored – Remember watching 1984’s The Terminator? That was the memorable sci-fi action movie from director James Cameron which went on to become a multimedia franchise of movies, a TV series, comic books, video games and more. If you truly believe that the story is a purely original work written by Cameron (and by those who were involved behind the scenes), you will have to think twice because The Terminator’s sci-fi concept shares some notable similarities with a certain episode of The Outer Limits written by Harlan Ellison. To find out more, watch the video below…

#5 Al Jazeera is the terrorist news network and Qatar’s tool of deception – I will say it out loud right here: Al Jazeera is absolutely not a professional news outlet. Al Jazeera is, in fact, the Islamic terrorist news network and also the tool of Qatar which itself has sinister plans. Qatar may be a small nation but its ambitions for greater influence on the Middle East are very big and they have sinister intentions to grow big. Be aware that Qatar funded anti-Israel movements through American universities. That being said, I urge you all to boycott Al Jazeera. To take a close look at the evil of Al Jazeera and why Qatar should be held accountable, watch the video below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Back in 2014, I saw The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the local cinema which was fully crowded. Even though I had modest expectations, I still left the cinema feeling disappointed. I was convinced that Sony Pictures, Andrew Garfield and director Marc Webb really had nowhere else to go with the way they were handling the Spider-Man film franchise. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 remains a divisive film and yet I had more fun with it by watching Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video. Watch it now.

#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Million Dollar Baby – When was the last time you saw YouTuber Popcorn in Bed get emotional and cry during a movie reaction video? If you have already seen Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, then you should be aware of its very heartbreaking moments directly related to its very tragic concept. Popcorn in Bed recently reacted to the film and how it impacted her on an emotional level is a must-watch.

#8 SHIFT’s 2024 King of Thong video (Miami Swim Week) – A thong is “an article of swimwear or underwear with the back portion consisting of a narrow strip of cloth that passes between the buttocks and connects with a waistband.” Several months ago, the swimsuit fashion YouTube channel SHIFT posted a video of its coverage of the 2024 Miami Swim Week focusing on a show of King of Thong. For almost nine minutes, you’ll see lots of women appear in thongs showing lots of skin with carefully selected tunes playing. It’s a must-watch for those who enjoy women’s swimwear fashion and thongs. Also, there might be some fashion models you could recognize.

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A Look Back at Superman #385 (1983)

January 3, 2025December 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

Back in 1983, DC Comics published Action Comics #544 which marked the 45^th anniversary of Superman and celebrated it by executing things very differently – introducing the new look of Lex Luthor in battle armor and showing Brainiac in a more robotic body. I really loved reading Action Comics #544 for its very rich storytelling and modernizing the two classic super villains. With regards to what happened in Lex Luthor’s story in the comic book, his tale actually continued with the Superman monthly series afterwards.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #385, published in 1983 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins with the armored Lex Luthor alone and grieving in deep space surrounded by floating rocks. His world Lexor just got destroyed and his wife and child are gone. He blames Superman for being responsible of the massive destruction. He remembers the moment when he fired an energy blast at Superman which got deflected towards the neutrarod (a device Luthor made to shoot a steady stream of stabilizing neutrons into the planet’s unstable core) which started a chain reaction transmitted directly into the core. Lexor detonated but Superman and Luthor survived.

Using the intense power and technologies of his armor, Luthor moves an island-sized rock (a remaining piece of Lexor) towards planet Earth. He is determined to have his revenge against Superman and will stop at nothing to make it happen…

Quality

*This is a great visualization of Lex Luthor (in his warsuit) by Curt Swan.*

Through the decades, I have read lots of Superman comic books that involved Lex Luthor as the main antagonist. This particular story of good-versus-evil is actually very unique thanks to the approach taken by the Bates-Swan duo. To be clear, this is actually a build-up type of story done with the next conflict between Superman and Luthor in mind.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that Luthor – following the events of Action Comics #544 which really hurt him deeply – got a nice share of the spotlight and deservedly so. He is determined to get back at Superman whom he holds responsible for the destruction of Lexor and its many inhabitants (including Luthor’s wife and child). Luthor does not rush things as he is very focused on preparing himself first which reminds me of Batman’s approach to preparations. In some ways, Luthor has his own principles and he is not just being evil for the sake of it. There is this very human portrayal of him and Bates’ writing could make you even forget that he is a madman.

As for the Man of Steel himself, Bates wrote him to be really burdened by having his share of the responsibility of the billions of deaths of the people of Lexor. Instead of the focused Superman dedicated to doing good, you will see him feeling really uneasy and even distracted. He even commits huge blunders! This is a Superman who is showing signs of internal weakness and not even his civilian life as journalist Clark Kent could relieve the tension he is experiencing. I really like this portrayal of DC Comics’ icon.

But there is more! There is the sub-plot of Lois Lane taking a much-needed break from work to relieve herself and it sure is a really interesting portrayal of her. Even Perry White has his own share of the spotlight. There is also the spotlight on some obscure DC villains which actually added to the plot.

Conclusion

Superman #385 (1983) is clearly a very engaging read and it is a worthy follow-up to what happened in Action Comics #544. I really like the way the armored Lex Luthor is portrayed here and the build-up for his upcoming conflict with Superman is really powerful. I’m really glad to have read this particular Superman-Luthor story and I can say that I am looking forward to the next issue to see what will happen.

Overall, Superman #385 (1983) is highly recommended.

+++++

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 25

December 30, 2024June 7, 2025carlocarrasco

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 – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

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 and 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. Defender arcade flyer

*Perhaps Atari did not have enough original artwork of Defender to be used in this arcade flyer. So they ended up using footage of an astronaut on the moon.*

Very long ago, I played the classic game Defender a lot on the Atari 2600. Strangely enough, I never played its arcade version as my visits to arcades were quite limited as I was so young back then. When it comes to the arcade flyer of Defender, I find the use of stock footage of an astronaut on the moon as the artistic backdrop baffling because the game’s concept was all about fighting back alien invaders and protecting the citizens. Ironically, the image blended well with the photos of two arcade machines showcased.

2. Amidar Atari 2600 print ad

*Does this ad make you think about King Kong or animals?*

When I was a young boy, I saw this Parker Brothers print ad of Amidar appear in many superhero comic books I read. I never played the game on the Atari 2600 nor in the arcades. Each time I saw this ad, I always wondered how the game played and what its creative concept was all about. The constant showing of a giant gorilla on the game box cover reminded me of King Kong.

3. Reactor Atari 2600 print ad

*Parker Brothers made this ad imagining gamers getting very engaged with reactor once they start playing it.*

Reactor was one of those video games that was somewhat influenced by the subject of nuclear technology, particularly about the nuclear reactors. This is another game I never played on console nor in the arcades. This Reactor print ad by Parker Brothers for the Atari 2600 has a visual style and creative concept that I still find fascinating to look at.

4. Punch-Out!! arcade flyer

*This was years before Nintendo hired Mike Tyson to endorse the console version of Punch-Out!!*

In 1984, Nintendo released the original Punch-Out!! game in the arcades and literally punched its way through to the top of American arcades that year while also scoring big in other arcades around the world. While the game proved to be very playable and a lot of fun, it could be argued that the intriguing image Nintendo used for the North American arcade flyer – a boxer down after literally getting beaten by the Punch-Out!! machine – made an impact on both gamers and arcade operators.

5. Arumana no Kiseki flyer

*Is the famous Indiana Jones theme music playing inside your mind right now as you look at this art?*

Released in 1987 on the Disk System of the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, Arumana no Kiseki was one of the many 2D adventure games Konami released that entertained gamers. When compared to Castlevania – strongly influenced by American horror movies – this game was very influenced by the Indiana Jones movies of Steven Spielberg which is very evident in this promotional flyer.

In fact, some gamers who could not read the Japanese title actually thought this was an official Indiana Jones video game because the artwork was so suggestive. Having played and finished the game myself, I can say that Arumana no Kiseki was simply an Indiana Jones-inspired adventure game that had its own creative concept and unique settings and characters.

6. Devastators arcade flyer

*The 1980s female Rambo smiling towards you.*

By looking at the track record of Konami closely, you will notice that many of their games in the 1980s were influenced by Hollywood movies and they hired pretty or sexy models for their arcade flyers. This arcade flyer of Devastators is no exception and you can clearly see the Rambo-inspired lady smiling while carrying a weapon. Devastators itself had strong Rambo vibes for its concept.

7. S.P.Y. Special Project Y arcade flyer

*Somehow the picture of this flyer reminds me of Miami Vice.*

Still with Konami, S.P.Y. Special Project Y is 1989 arcade game that featured action sequences in which players fight against countless enemies in order to progress with the minimal story. This game had certain spy movie elements and to promote it, Konami came up with this arcade flyer showcasing three sexy women wearing swimwear accompanied by two men who looked more like operators or schemers. Can you imagine yourself as an arcade operator looking at this flyer trying to decide to buy the game?

8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade flyer/poster

*This arcade flyer is still great and exciting to look at, even if your not a TMNT fan.*

Now this is one of the most definitive arcade games Konami ever made. Released in late 1989, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a massive arcade hit in North America constantly attracting lots of fans and casual gamers to play at each machine. The demand was so great, Konami had no choice but to hire a company to manufacture more machines. When it comes to promoting the game, Konami cleverly used a mix of artworks for the TMNT characters and fantasy environment while having a hired model playing April O’Neil blending in smoothly.

Having seen the 1980s animated series myself, I can say that the ad makers struck gold when it came to making a promotional image that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans can easily recognize and go to the arcade to play the game.

9. Batman arcade flyer

*If you saw the 1989 movie, did you play this in the arcade?*

The live-action Batman movie of 1989 was simply inescapable as there was so much hype, merchandising and promos connected with it. When it came to video games, it was not surprising that a lot of companies talked with Warner Bros. and eventually Atari made the official arcade game based on the movie (for insight on the production, watch PatmanQC’s video by clicking here). This early-1990s arcade flyer had a simplistic approach showing a few screenshots and descriptive text while having the live-action Batman (note: Michael Keaton in costume) dominating in the middle. Simplistic yet effective in telling gamers and arcade operators what to expect.

10. Xevious arcade flyer

*This arcade flyer is exciting and creative to focus on.*

Xevious is a long-running series of video games owned by Namco. Since the early 1980s, several Xevious video games were released on arcades, consoles and mobile devices. Believe it or not, the original Xevious game was published by Atari for North American arcades and the company came up with this dynamic looking flyer to promote it. The arcade flyer really looks dynamic due to the hand-drawn art surrounding the photo of the machine. Even by today standards, this flyer still looks modern and energetic.

11. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves print ads

*Tell me if this ad makes you want to play the game.*

*Original artwork here was meant to immerse viewers into the fantasy setting of the game based on the movie.*

If you saw the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, were you able to play the video game adaptation? Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was notable for being specially featured in the Nintendo Power magazine and its game design was truly ambitious at the time. To promote the game and take advantage of the movie’s popularity, Virgin Games came out with two print ads targeting movie fans and NES gamers.

The first print ad above had lots of selected screenshots surrounding the game’s box and crammed the descriptive text. The 2^nd print ad had original artwork to emphasize the fictional setting and used only three screenshots. Looking at both print ads, it was clear that the ad makers had no permission to use the likeness of Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. The same with other actors and their characters. Regardless, the ads still reminded me enough of the movie while keeping me informed about the video game.

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A Look Back at Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #1 (1975)

December 27, 2024December 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back literature enthusiasts, 20^th century arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1975 to take a close look at Marvel Comics’ very own comic book adaptation of the science fiction film Planet of the Apes (1968).

The first time I ever saw the Charlton Heston-led movie was on local TV but I could only watch a few portions of it as my access to TV was very limited on the day of its broadcast. It took me a purchase of the DVD copy of Planet of the Apes in 2001 and the use of a relative’s TV and DVD player to finally see it entirely.

As the movie was highly philosophical and symbolic with its presentation, I could see why a lot of people regard it as a sci-fi classic. I should state that I do not believe in human evolution nor do I believe that humans and apes share a common genetic ancestor. Science and technology could never solve God’s designs and power of creation of life. As such, the concept of Planet of the Apes – which started as a novel before being adapted into film with the involvement of Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone – is nothing more than fantasy.

As the 1968 movie turned out successful, it not only spawned cinematic sequels but also an official comic book adaptation by Marvel Comics.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1, published in 1975 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Moench and drawn by George Tuska. This is the first chapter of a 6-part adaptation of the 1968 movie.

Early story

The story begins in deep space. Inside the speeding space ship is the American pilot Taylor doing an audio recording of mission details and his thoughts. He mentions the theory of Dr. Hasslein stating that centuries have already passed back on Earth even though he and his companions Dodge, Landon and Stewart (all three already in a state of suspended animation) hardly aged at all. He then joins his teammates for the long-term sleep expecting that by the time they wake up, they will their destination.

A very long time later, the ship enters the atmosphere of a breathable planet and crash lands on water. Now with facial hair, Taylor, Dodge and Landon wake up and they are shocked to see that Stewart is already dead. Suddenly, water begins to enter the interior of the ship forcing the three men go outside and ride on a boat with the equipment they managed to bring out. They move on as their ship sinks below the water.

Taylor, Dodge and Landon arrive on shore and they realize they are in the middle of a wasteland…

Quality

*Taylor, Dodge and Landon with the primitive humans.*

I am surprised to see that this literary work turned out to be faithful to the movie (specifically from the start until Taylor got shot during the ape-led hunt). It is not a 100% accurate which is not surprising as Marvel’s creators balanced the amount of details for adaptation while still having some space left for them to implement their own creative way of dramatizing the characters.

Writer Doug Moench clearly paid close attention to the details from the movie while ensuring that the adaptation will work within the limitations of the comic book format. For his part, artist George Tuska did a fine job drawing the characters, the environments and the apes. The way he drew Taylor, Landon and Dodge, there is clearly some 1970s influence on their space suits and the character designs (example: Dodge has an afro hairstyle). Tuska’s art on the apes unfortunately lacked details and they look rushed. The way they appeared in the comic book, the apes don’t look intimidating at all.

When it comes to adapting scenes from the movie script into comic book form, there were clear differences with regards to the arrangement of the details. For example in the movie, Charlton Heston’s Taylor talks a lot more in the opening scene (inside the space ship) expressing his lack of faith in humanity and desire for something better than his own species. In this comic book, Taylor talked much less in the beginning but his cynicism as well as his sarcastic views on humanity and nation were revealed in a scene when he and his companions were in the middle of the wasteland. Literary Taylor’s putdowns on Landon are much more detailed than what was shown in the movie. In some ways, the dialogue in this comic book is more philosophical than what was executed in the movie when it comes to the common scenes (between comic book and film).

Another example was the scene showing the three men and the waterfall. In the film, they took their clothes off and started swimming in the lake without even checking the quality of the water. In the comic book, Dodge actually tested the water and declared it safe for them to swim in. The comic book also showed more of Dodge’s dedication to scientific testing.

Conclusion

*Observe how divisive and cynical Taylor here is. The grey-haired Landon is in conflict with Taylor while Dodge keeps doing scientific work.*

I can say that Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1 (1975) is an entertaining read and a good enough start of the 6-part adaptation of the movie. The Moench-Tuska duo’s efforts resulted in an engaging tale of Taylor and his two teammates who find themselves in a strange world that turned out to have apes being armed and riding horses. This comic book is mostly composed of build-up of details and expository dialogue, and yet the action scenes on the last three pages resulted in a short yet sufficient pay-off.

Overall, Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1 (1975) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Backlash #6 (1995)

December 20, 2024December 10, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the original WildStorm universe through one of the comic books of the Backlash series.

For the newcomers reading this, Backlash is one of the major characters of the WildStorm universe which started in the early 1990s when the famous Jim Lee was one of the founding fathers of Image Comics. Backlash, Deathblow, Wetworks, Gen13 and WildCATS: Covert Action Teams were all connected with each other and many of the major characters were linked together in the Team 7 series of prequel stories.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Backlash #6, published in 1995 by Image Comics with a story written by Brett Booth, Jeff Mariotte and Sean Ruffner. Booth and Dan Norton were the illustrators.

Early story

The story begins inside the Wildlife Organization Research institute in northern Montana. After Dane and Grail (the Filipino soldier Salvador Joel Alonday) of Wetworks easily took out two guards, a third one suddenly tried to attack them only to be killed by Backlash. While the three of them are on a stealth mission, Backlash tells Dane that it’s not too late for Wetworks to pull out as it is not their fight. Dane dismisses the remark and insists on pursuing their objective.

Over at a medical institute in Detroit, Taboo and Cyberjack are operating on their own mission which is directly linked with that of Backlash and Wetworks.

Quality

*Backlash and the WildC.A.T.S. at the team’s headquarters.*

As the sixth issue of its series, this tale has a lot at stake and the writers took their time to balance the build-up with pay-offs and twists. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that a lot is at stake for Backlash as there is something really personal about the missions and the final scene. I can also say that this is a well-crafted comic book that was clearly made with Backlash fans in mind even as the creative team did their parts in expanding the lore of the original WildStorm universe using a clever mix of science fiction and paramilitary action.

I really enjoy reading this comic book and it also has some fine moments that defined Backlash’s personality. The added crossovers with WildC.A.T.S. and Wetworks added not only to the spectacle but also to the depth of the plot. This Backlash comic book is clearly not another adventure but an actual turning point for the former Team 7 member and the series as a whole. That being said, I am looking forward to reading the next issue.

Conclusion

*Backlash with Dane and Grail of Wetworks during the mission.*

Backlash #6 (1995) is a very solid read. Not only was it an improvement over the previous issue, it raised the stakes high and managed to live up to the expectations. The build-up is really powerful and the way the story ended justified it. I can say that anyone who managed to start reading each of the first five issues of Backlash will experience the power of the ending of this comic book. That being said, you better read all the previous issues before reading this one.

Overall, Backlash #6 (1995) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Team 7 #2 (1994)

December 13, 2024December 6, 2024carlocarrasco

For the newcomers reading this, Team 7 is set in the past within the original WildStorm universe. This is the one special forces team that had major WildStorm heroes – Grifter (WildCATS: Covert Action Teams), Backlash, Jackson Dane (Wetworks), John Lynch (Gen13) and Deathblow – who were younger, were proficient with combat and were destined to gain special abilities that later defined them. Issue #1 reviewed last time worked well by efficiently introducing the characters while also building up the plot and there were some nice pay-offs here and there.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Team 7 #2, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Aron Wiesenfeld. This is the 2nd chapter of the 4-issue mini-series.

Early story

Set in the 1970s, a team of armed escorts and some personnel wearing protective gear isolate and examine a battlefield full of dead bodies. Miles Craven and Gabriel Newman analyze the evidence around them. Craven states that what they have is too important an operation to be left to underlings and he wants Gabriel to stay with the project which could use his special talents. Shortly after, the bodies of the Team 7 members were retrieved barely alive.

Seven days later, John Lynch wakes up in a hospital bed feeling traumatized over what happened to his team during the last mission. He was told that they were exposed to a chemical agent and he had been in a deep coma for a week.

Craven then enters the room to provide Lynch crucial updates…

Quality

*Do you recognize Deathblow and Dane on this page?*

As expected, the gritty and dark storytelling from the previous issue continued in this story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this issue has some handsome pay-offs to what was built-up in issue #1 and there were new build-ups established along the way. Because the script was crafted to build-up the plot and sub-plot, the military action scenes are lessened which is not surprising. I can assure you that Chuck Dixon’s writing here remains pretty strong.

While the previous issue served as an efficient introduction of the younger versions of WildStorm’s heroes who are in the middle of a world full of violence and espionage, this issue shed some light as to how the heroes dealt with their new abilities (in connection with the climax of issue #1) and how International Operations is handling matters behind closed doors. The suspense kept on building up and this made the narrative more intriguing to follow. Expect to see elements of high-level espionage, unethical science and war throughout.

When it comes to the characters, Lynch (being the captain of Team 7) has a huge share of the spotlight followed by Cole Cash (Grifter). The two have different views about their special forces duty – Lynch follows the superiors while Cole realizes something is wrong about their leadership and the intelligence fed to them.

Conclusion

*This scene showing Cole Cash (Grifter) emerging from dark with a defiant tone is a very defining moment of this comic book.*

Team 7 #2 (1994) is clearly a very engaging read. It has the fine mix of war (with uncompromising violence drawn by Wiesenfeld), intrigue and the dark side of global espionage. The science fiction element here worked well in explaining the powers Team 7 members got after what happened in issue #1. This comic book also marks the beginning of showing Lynch and Cole Cash as the co-leads among the teammates. Die-hard fans of Deathblow, Dane and Backlash will have to wait a bit before their favorites get their share of the spotlight. Regardless, this is a very powerful read and a fine example of doing a prequel within the original WildStorm universe.

Overall, Team 7 #2 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 45

December 11, 2024December 9, 2024carlocarrasco

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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 A look back at Tobal No. 1 – The 1990s will always be remembered as the decade when fighting games became wildly popular. While franchises like Tekken, Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter and The King of Fighters literally flooded the arcades and consoles, game developers at DreamFactory (a subsidiary of Square) were dissatisfied with the state of fighting games at the time and this eventually led to the creation of Tobal No. 1, one of the most unique games of its genre ever made. To learn more about it, watch the video below.

#2 Assorted videos of Air Force One (1997) – Watching Air Force One (starring Harrison Ford) on the big screen in 1997 was a fun experience for me. It was one of the many so-called Die Hard clones of the 1990s which featured one brave, vulnerable hero fighting terrorists while confined in a place where escape is not option. For your enjoyment, I selected one trivia video and a few reaction videos of Air Force One. As it is a great film, I encourage you to watch it first in case you have not seen it. Otherwise, go watch the selected videos below.

#3 Slope’s Game Room’s look back at the Choplifter series – I first played Choplifter on the Family Computer back in the late-1980s and it really was both unique and fun to play. It was a side-scrolling adventure game with military action but it was not an all-offense experience. In fact, the game gives you opportunities to rescue hostages and the game development history is pretty interesting to discover. As such, I encourage you to watch Slope’s Game Room’s retrospective of Choplifter.

#4 The games of Square in the 1990s remembered – If you know your video game history, Square Enix was established in 2003 as a result of a merger between Square (AKA SquareSoft) and Enix. When Square was still an independent, standalone company it released a lot of memorable games on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the PlayStation in the 1990s. If you love retro gaming and if you are interested to discover (or rediscover) what Square released back in the 1990s, then this video is for you.

#5 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives response from returning US President Donald Trump regarding new tariffs – Justin Trudeau – the super woke and out-of-touch Canadian Prime Minister – told the returning US President Donald Trump that new tariffs would kill the economy of Canada. The result is a memorable response from Trump. To see what happened and how the public reacted, watch this Sky News Australia video. Lastly, never ever trust Trudeau. You will regret it believing in him as he is a very bad leader.

#6 Kamala Harris being hit by her donors and her fellow Democrats for reckless campaign spending – The defeated Commie Kamala Harris is now the target of her US presidential campaign donors and even her fellow Democrats. You see, her campaign team raised at least $1.5 billion and ended up with a debt of at least $20 million due to reckless spending and irresponsible handling of money. Apart from literally BUYING the support of celebrities and Hollywood Communists, the Harris campaign spent excessively on online ads, private jets and others. The donors are very furious and a lot of Democrats realized that the laughing hyena Kamala Harris severely damaged the political party. That being said, Kamala Harris would be delusional enough to actually run for US President again in 2028. Watch and learn from Sky News Australia’s video.

#7 You, Me and the Movies react to Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan – Years I ago, I posted my retro review of Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. The 1989 Friday The 13^th sequel was so sloppy and bad with its presentation, it sometimes could be funny to see and it’s okay to ridicule it. If you want to discover Jason Takes Manhattan without spending too much time, you should watch the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies.

8. The collapse of the Assad dictatorship in Syria – In case you missed the news, a new chapter in the history of Syria has officially started as the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad officially ended with the Islamist rebels taking over the country. Assad and his family are now in Russia. While there is euphoria going on in Syria, you should not allow yourselves to be deceived because the civil war in Syria was never a case of “good versus evil”. Assad was allied with Russia and terrorist state Iran. Meanwhile, the Syrian rebels are allied with the Islamist Turkish forces, Jihadists, terrorists and they have Al-Qaeda members in their ranks. Syria now has a new beginning but where will it go? Watch the videos I selected for your viewing and learning.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 44

December 4, 2024November 29, 2024carlocarrasco

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

#1 Konami’s failed fighting games of the 1990s – Remember back in the 1990s when a lot of fighting games were released on the arcades and game consoles? Japanese game companies Namco and Capcom released a lot of memorable fighting games of different styles such as Street Fighter II, Tekken, Marvel vs. Capcom, Tekken 3, Soulcalibur, X-Men: Children of the Atom, X-Men vs. Street Fighter and so on. Sega released Virtua Fighter games while Midway released Mortal Kombat games, and SNK had Fatal Fury, King of Fighters and Art of Fighting games. Looking back at the fighting game craze of the 1990s, I noticed that Konami – best known for Metal Gear, Contra, Gradius and Suikoden – released their own fighting games but never achieved the tremendous success that its competitors had. The retro gaming video is a must-see.

#2 Calvin Dyson’s lengthy review of The World is Not Enough – I can hardly believe that it has been twenty-five years since the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough was released in cinemas as the 20^th century was ending. The 3^rd film of Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007 received mixed reviews from the critics and some fans found it to be really brainless and excessive with action which negatively affected the cinematic narrative. To find out if the 1999 Bond movie aged well or not, YouTuber Calvin Dyson recently posted his lengthy retro review and you can watch it now.

#3 In-depth documentary of Smash TV – Remember way back in 1990 when Smash T.V. (also referred to as Smash TV) was released in the arcades and attracted a lot of players with its enjoyable game design and concept? The game was a hit and went on to be ported to many platforms afterwards, and I played its Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version a lot. To find out how hit game started and who were the key people behind its production, watch the video documentary of PatmanQC now.

#4 Defeated Kamala Harris, Sharon Stone, Alec Baldwin and others highlighted in Lefties Losing It episode – It has been a few weeks since Donald Trump pulled off the greatest American comeback by winning again the US presidential election. Even until now, the Leftists are still agonizing over Trump’s victory and many of them cannot accept the reality of what happened. In the latest Lefties Losing It episode below, you will see a drunk-like Kamala Harris talking to her supporters, Sharon Stone bashing others and more. Watch it!

#5 Electric vehicles sparked into fire disasters as a result of salt water caused by Hurricane Helene – This news video should convince you not to buy and drive an electric car or any type of electric vehicle for that matter. Salt water touching the ion batteries of electric vehicles spark flame and this leads into fire incidents that simply could not be solved quickly. Hurricane Helene’s powerful wind brought salt water into affected communities and not even electric vehicles parked inside the garage were spared. Avoid electric vehicles and stick with vehicles that run on fossil fuel.

#6 Ashleigh Burton’s Fantastic Four (2005) reaction video – Back in 2005, I never saw Fantastic Four in the local cinema. I was never a Fantastic Four fan nor did the team-up of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby starting the said superhero team interested me. Believe it or not, I finally saw the movie on home video in 2009. In recent times, YouTuber Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction video of Fantastic Four and it is fun to watch.

#7 Phantasy Star IV retrospective – Thanks to my physical copy of Sega Genesis Classics, I was able to play Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium on my Xbox Series X console. For the newcomers reading this, Phantasy Star IV was a sci-fi Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) released on the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive in other markets) in Japan in 1993 followed by released in America and Europe in 1995. The production side of the game has very interesting details and you can learn all about it in GTV Japan’s retrospective video below.

#8 A look at Disney’s The Black Hole – Long before the Walt Disney Company became the super woke entity of modern times, they released the expensive sci-fi film The Black Hole. As far as the Disney legacy is concerned, the 1979 movie is significant as it marked a serious change of direction the company took with its movies. Disney was already known for wholesome and family oriented movies and TV shows and eventually entered a period of uncertainty. The Black Hole was both Disney’s attempt to cash-in on the sci-fi and disaster film craze of the 1970s and attract more adult moviegoers. You can learn more about this forgotten movie by watching the videos below.

#9 Popcorn in Bed’s What Lies Beneath reaction video – I saw What Lies Beneath inside a crowded cinema here in the Philippines way back in 2000. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film was an inspired work of suspense and horror mainly told through Michelle Pfeiffer’s character. I still remember some comments of disappointment over Harrison Ford’s lack of screen time compared with Pfeiffer’s. Regardless, you have to see Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video right here.

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A Look Back at Predator 2 #1 (1990)

November 29, 2024November 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, movie fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a look at the official comic book adaptation of the movie Predator 2 (1990).

For the newcomers reading this, Predator 2 is the sequel to the 1987 movie directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. As the movie became a huge commercial success, it started a chain of events that led to the rise of the Predator entertainment franchise covering merchandising, comic books and video games to name a few. Of course, the development of a cinematic sequel happened and both the movie studio and filmmakers took their time to make it. Predator 2 was directed by Stephen Hopkins and it starred Danny Glover, Gary Busey and Bill Paxton.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Predator 2 #1, published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Frank Henkel (based on the screenplay by Jim Thomas and John Thomas) and drawn by Dan Barry. Mark Verheiden (writer of 1989’s Predator #1) was acknowledged with special thanks. This comic book is the first of a 2-part comic book adaptation of the movie.

Early story

The story begins during a very hot day in 1997 Los Angeles. Police office Mike Harrigan rushes to the site of a major shootout between heavily armed gangs (Colombians and Jamaicans). The police managed to corner a gang to a building that was occupied by the foreigners. Knowing that a fellow cop is slowly bleeding to death and the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team are still stuck in traffic, Harrigan decides to take action against the armed gangsters with the support of his teammates and some police personnel.

After managing to get close to the gangsters by the building using his car, Harrigan manages to shoot them all and pave the way for his teammates to get closer. Harrigan does not realize that a camouflaged Predator is watching him from above.

At one of the higher floors of the building, the rest of the foreign gangsters prepare themselves for the arrival of the cops by gathering guns and ammunition. Suddenly, the camouflaged Predator crashes in on them…

Quality

*The Predator here is quite aggressive and even arrogant enough to suddenly fight the Jamaican gang alone.*

I am surprised how entertaining this first chapter of the 2-part comic book adaptation of Predator 2 turned out to be. While the accuracy is understandably less than 100% with regards to translation from cinema to literature, this comic book’s narrative is quite faithful to the events of the movie (from the start until the King Willie scene) and the film’s vibe was strongly captured. In fact much of the dialogue spoken in the film were mostly recaptured here, and the same can be said about the way the characters were portrayed.

For brevity and the maximizing of the pages made available, creative liberties or shortcuts were taken by the creators. This means that the presentation of details was carefully done to keep readers properly informed while managing to keep the fun factor and level of intrigue strong. Indeed, writer Frank Henkel did a very good job keeping things together to make the reading experience fun and engaging.

If there is anything that this comic book exceeds the movie on, it is the graphic violence. Artist Dan Barry really ramped up the bloody scenes and gore (examples: Mike Harrigan’s killing of two foreign gangsters with a shotgun, and the scene when Harrigan and his team were stunned by the sight of the many ruined dead bodies of gangsters who were just eliminated by the Predator before they arrived) as he used his own style to make the action scenes as intense as the ones filmed by Stephen Hopkins and crew. It was obvious he saw the movie.

Barry also had his own style on visualizing the characters without the authority to use the likeness of any actor from the film. Mike Harrigan looks nothing like Danny Glover while Peter Keyes does not resemble Gary Busey. Barry’s visual take on the Predator itself has a really distinctive look when compared to how other artists drew Predators.

Barry did not aim to achieve photo realism at all with the characters (who appear with a slightly cartoonish aesthetic), the locations and action scenes but I don’t find anything problematic with his work here. In fact, I enjoyed his way of translating the movie’s visual presentation into literary format.

Conclusion

*Mike Harrigan, Danny and Leona make their moves.*

Predator 2 #1 (1990) is a very enjoyable read. It strongly captured the vibe of the movie complete with the dialogue and the way the characters were presented. Very clearly, the Henkel-Barry duo did really fine work in this comic book adaptation and I am convinced to move on to issue #2.

Overall, Predator #2 (1990) is highly recommended!

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