superheroes – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #12 (1993)

November 9, 2026October 31, 2026carlocarrasco

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

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man 2099 monthly series.

By 1993, the 2099 lineup of comic books became popular with Marvel Comics readers and it was the series of the futuristic Spider-Man that engaged readers a lot thanks to the in-depth writing of the late Peter David. It should be stated that David also wrote a lot of stories of the classic Spider-Man (Peter Parker) years before Marvel even launched the 2099 franchise of comic books.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #12, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Rick Leonardi.

Comic book cover featuring Spider-Man and a character named Thanatos. Spider-Man is seen in a dynamic pose, while Thanatos, wearing a gold and red costume with a helmet, is prominently displayed. The background is orange with comic-style text. — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins in an Alchemax facility with Tyler Stone talking with Dana at work. As Miguel O’Hara walks by the virtuality unreality office, a huge explosion sudden hits them. It turns out there was an experiment by Jordan Boone that went wrong and Miguel finds him. As the two talked, Jordan remains arrogant and sarcastic towards O’Hara.

Elsewhere, the mysterious man wearing armor and a helmet uses his device to scan the Alchemax facility and he spots Tyler Stone and Dana talking with each other. He listens to their conversation closely…

Quality

A comic strip featuring a distressed woman with long blonde hair expressing emotional turmoil amidst a backdrop of technological failure. The panels depict her hesitation, thoughts on running, and a call to someone named Miguel. The scene is vibrant with bright colors, emphasizing her emotional state. — *Not even Miguel O’Hara’s AI assistant could handle the news.*

This is a tale that has a careful mix of complexity and twists within. It technically is about the business of Alchemax getting disrupted from within and from the outside with the mysterious Thanatos pursuing something deep within the secrets of the company.

Miguel O’Hara is in a bind here as Dana (who is his fiancée) gets involved in a dangerous situation because of Thanatos’ sudden forced entry into Alchemax targeting Tyler Stone. At the same time, O’Hara values the company and prefers it does not collapse because of Thanatos. As expected, Miguel changes into the futuristic Spider-Man and carefully deals with Thanatos not by force but with strategic negotiation and discussion. Since he does not know what Thanatos is truly after, he has to play along while ensuring nobody from the company suffers (even though Alchemax itself has some very undesirable personalities within).

All throughout, this tale is heavy on the dialogue and there are a lot of details that you will need to absorb in order to understand the story and what Thanatos is pursuing. Along the way, this story reveals Alchemax has something valuable that has nothing to do with wealth. This is where the virtual unreality division of the company comes into place and Jordan Boone (who later becomes the fake Loki in the Fall of the Hammer storyline and also Halloween Jack in later X-Men 2099 tales) has a very notable role here. The story moves mostly in a medium pace and the build-up of the plot happens gradually. As such, there is some suspense and intrigue here.

Thanatos here is a pretty calculating antagonist. He is capable of killing others to get what he wants, but he prefers to do things patiently and strives get what he wants without using force as the primary option. There is richness in the dialogue here and his interactions with Spider-Man and Tyler have a cerebral touch throughout.

Conclusion

A comic book panel featuring characters in superhero costumes interacting, with one character in a red and black suit resembling Spider-Man, and another in a yellow and blue suit. Dialogue bubbles reveal a tense negotiation. The scene includes two other characters standing nearby, with a futuristic background. — *Spider-Man carefully talks with Thanatos to let Dana go free. Dana does not know Miguel O’Hara and Spidey are one and the same person.*

Spider-Man 2099 #12 (1993) is a really intriguing read filled with suspense and twists. This is not your typical superhero story about the hero fighting hard with the villain, and Thanatos is a pretty unique antagonist who puts Alchemax and others on the edge of danger. That said, this tale is the start of a new storyline and there is more that have yet to be revealed.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #12 (1993) is recommended.

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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #116 (1986)

November 6, 2026October 29, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1986 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

Within the shared universe of Marvel Comics, Sabretooth is a very notable super villain often associated with the X-Men, and has been portrayed as Wolverine’s rival. Sabretooth by nature is sadistic, savage and is violent driven by his beastly instincts. Like Venom, Sabretooth is also a murderer. Considering how popular the Wolverine-Sabretooth rivalry has been from comics to the movies, would you believe that the ferocious mutant actually encountered Spider-Man in comics long ago? Yes, they met and fought each other!

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #116, published in 1986 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Peter David and the late Rich Buckler.

Early story

The story begins with a gang of thugs who have cornered Black Cat who is suffering with a broken nose. It turns out, she broke into the office of their boss called the Foreigner. With her broken nose, Black Cat feels disoriented and helpless. She starts to hallucinate an image of Spider-Man replacing the thug who has her.

In another part of New York City, Spider-Man swings around wondering what Black Cat has been doing. He finds an empty alley and secretly changes into civilian clothes as Peter Parker and decides to visit his friend Mary Jane. As he approaches the building where MJ lives in, he spots Roderick Kingsley coming out of the place. He feels troubled and remembers Roderick for causing him aggravation.

Once he meets Mary Jane, he confronts her about Roderick…

Quality

*This page shows the very moment Spider-Man and Sabretooth met.*

This is a story with a lot of details spread throughout. While the cover of this comic book prominently shows Spider-Man and Sabretooth together, the plot is divided into a few threads. That said, the Black Cat herself has a great share of the spotlight as this tale happened after Doctor Strange removed the remains of her hex. At this point of the monthly series, Peter Parker and Black Cat no longer have a love relationship as they broke up already. As such, Peter David loaded a lot of emotional stuff into the intense talks between the webslinger and Felicia Hardy. All of that is justified with the very rich dialogue David composed and the tension between the two is realistic and believable.

Spider-Man here is dealing with a lot of emotional baggage even as he keeps on persevering to get rid of the bad guys in New York. He is seriously having a troubled personal life and lacks a clear direction.

Sabretooth, on the other hand, has things in his own life going wrong since he broke prison. This led him to the Foreigner for potential opportunities to find work (read: violent tasks) and already he is itching to kill someone as he failed to achieve any over the previous two days.

That said, Spider-Man and Sabretooth encountered each other by circumstance and Black Cat is technically the bridge. Better temper your expectations because what the cover art does not tell you is that the first-ever encounter between the webslinger and the beastly murderer is not extensive. Still, I can say their battle is surprisingly satisfying and how it ended is very intriguing to see. As such, I am satisfied with their first encounter here.

Conclusion

*With so much in his mind, Peter Parker walked on the different surfaces of the place.*

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #116 (1986) is loaded with a lot of drama, intrigue and gritty stuff that preceded the Spider-Man/Sabretooth encounter. I should state that the art of the late Rich Buckler here is very impressive to look at and there is a good level of grittiness mixed with realism throughout. Buckler’s take on Sabretooth is menacing to see. This comic book is entertaining and intriguing to read, and I am interest now to search for other comic book encounters between Spider-Man and Sabretooth.

Overall, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #116 (1986) is recommended.

+++++

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

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 48

November 2, 2026November 1, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the 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 to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

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

1. Broderbund British print ad

A colorful advertisement for Broderbund's video games featuring 'Lode Runner' and other titles, with a bright design that includes text promoting 'America's Favourite' and 'Big Value Choice.' — *An American-themed promotion of games for the British market in the 1980s.*

Back in the 1980s, home computer systems were already popular platforms for playing electronic games. The American company Broderbund was one of the dominant forces of home computer gaming back then with lots of hit games (a mix of their own productions and the publishing of ports of games from other companies) that entertained many. When it came to England, Broderbund was aggressive on marketing its games there and the above print ad is a fine example of it. They came up with an American theme on their ad promoting the Lode Runner games, Choplifter, Spelunker and Stealth to British computer gamers. The imagery of a burger and the display of the American flag made the ad eye-catching.

2. King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch Japanese print ad

Promotional advertisement for the video game King Kong 2 by Konami featuring a close-up of a gorilla's face, vibrant graphics, and game details in Japanese. — *A print ad of King Kong 2 and two other Konami games for Japanese gamers.*

Believe it or not, Konami had the license to create the 1986 adventure game King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch which was very loosely based on the 1986 movie King Kong Lives. To promote its release for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom), Konami came up with the above print ad that had an actual movie photo of King Kong, inserted two screenshots and showed some creative writings. Conveniently, Konami also inserted two of its other games for promotions.

3. Datsugoku Japanese arcade flyer

An intense illustrated scene featuring muscular characters in action, one wielding a gun while shouting. The background shows a prison-like setting with buildings and characters on the ground. The image includes bold Japanese text that translates to 'Escape' and hints at a theme of liberation and combat. — *The front.*

An advertisement for a video game featuring various characters in action poses, illustrating gameplay mechanics like combat and weapon usage. The text is in Japanese, explaining character controls and actions for different scenarios. — *The rear.*

In 1988, SNK released Datsugoku in Japanese arcades and it became a commercial success for them long before they transitioned to their Neo Geo hardware. As you can see in the Japanese arcade flyer, the game has a war theme about prisoners of war struggling to fight their way out of enemy territory. This is not surprising because of the popularity of Hollywood’s military themed action movies and the Cold War itself had influenced game designers. The arcade flyer has fine-looking art of war. This game was eventually released in other parts of the world under the title P.O.W.: Prisoners of War.

4. The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback! North American print ad

A vintage advertisement for the video game 'The Punisher' featuring a muscular character in tactical gear and a machine gun, with Spider-Man appearing in the background. The ad highlights intense action against crime and showcases gameplay details alongside an image of the game cartridge. — *The Punisher with Spider-Man in this action-oriented print ad.*

In the early 1990s, Nintendo’s Game Boy was the dominant handheld gaming device and it was not surprising that a lot of companies released games on it. Along the way, the Punisher became one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters and there were two monthly comic book series about the character. Acclaim produced The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback! for Game Boy featuring not only the Punisher but also Spider-Man (in the background) which was enough to get the attention of comic book fans. The descriptive text they came up with has this obvious anti-crime theme and it emphasized action. I saw this print ad in some 1991 comic books I read and it remains eye-catching until now.

5. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Japanese print ad

A promotional image for the video game based on 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,' featuring AT-AT walkers and various characters, with text highlighting the game's release. — *This is one captivating print ad.*

In the early 1990s, Victor/JVC published Star Wars games developed by Lucasfilm Games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Following the 1992 release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on the NES in the West, they released a port of it for the Famicom in Japan in 1993. To promote the game, they made a print ad that highlighting the memorable Battle of Hoth (using art and one screenshot) as well as iconic photos of Luke Skywalker in Hoth and Dagobah (with Yoda). The ad makers strategically inserted screenshots showing the in-game Hoth and Dagobah settings plus two of Cloud City. I played the game myself and it was very punishing. Still, this ad looks great. It also motivated me to replay The Empire Strikes Back on home video back then.

6. Contra: The Hard Corps Japanese print ad

A vibrant video game advertisement featuring a male and female character armed with futuristic guns, set against a fiery background. The text highlights the game's themes of cyber action and features the game's title prominently. — *This Contra: The Hard Corps print ad for Japan still looks exciting.*

In 1994, gamers in Japan who owned the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in America) were highly engaged when Konami released Contra: The Hard Corps specifically for the said console. Konami aggressively marketed the game and one of the ads they made for Japan was the above 2-page print ad that had dynamic looking hand-drawn artwork that had strong anime aesthetics. They inserted two screenshots of the game and posted a text description to get gamers excited. Apart from bringing Contra excitement for Sega gamers and Contra fans who happened to own the Mega Drive, this print ad clearly shows Konami went all-in with doing business with Sega.

7. Skimaxx North American and British arcade flyers

Promotional image for the Skimaxx arcade game featuring a virtual water-skiing experience with a bright blue and pink design, showcasing the game machine and a player on a water-ski simulator. — *Skimaxx arcade flyer for England. Does anyone know who the pretty model is?*

Promotional image for SKIMAXX, an interactive water-skiing simulator featuring a player on a ski board, a colorful arcade machine displaying gameplay, and descriptions of features and pricing. — *Skimaxx arcade flyer for North America.*

I never played Skimaxx in the local arcades. Did you? Released in 1996 by Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, Skimaxx is very notable for having a truly unique physical cabinet design featuring a pivoting hydraulic footboard which brings to players the simulation of rock motions, twists and more. Two arcade flyers – for North America and England – were respectively published and both featured a pretty blonde lady wearing a swimsuit playing the Skimaxx machine, highlighting the use of the footboard. Apart from the technical features, a Skimaxx machine can be linked with another machine for head-to-head competition. These arcade flyers are very cool and mesmerizing to look at and they contain enough details to make arcade operators interested.

8. Genso Suikoden II Japanese print ad

Promotional poster for the video game 'Gensou Suikoden II' featuring various vibrant scenes and characters from the game, with Japanese text and a price listed. — *This is truly an epic-looking print ad promoting Genso Suikoden II. A lot of images were shown but they did not spoil the plot.*

When Konami released the original Suikoden (Genso Suikoden in Japan) fantasy RPG on the PlayStation in the mid-1990s, the game achieved positive feedback from gamers and critics which boosted sales. In late-1998, the sequel Genso Suikoden II was released for PlayStation in Japan and Konami became aggressive on promoting it as it became aware of the many dedicated Suikoden fans. They came up with an epic-looking 2-page print ad that had a collage of official artworks, screenshots of in-game cutscenes, and some of the fancy looking visual effects to sell the game. The images and descriptive text informed gamers of the new conflict following the events of the original game. I played Suikoden II a lot and it is easily bigger and better than its predecessor. That said, this epic-looking print ad truly highlights the great stuff Suikoden II offered gamers and it made the Suikoden II print ads in America look inferior. Too bad Konami did not use the approach of the Japanese print ad in the Western markets because Suikoden II truly is epic fantasy.

9. Einhänder North American print ad

*The 2-page print ad of Einhänder for North America.*

Back in the late-1990s, SquareSoft became a more prominent game developer and publisher by releasing new games that not only had 3D polygonal visuals but also tackled gameplay styles beyond role-playing games (RPGs). In the case of their game Einhänder, they made a serious gamble on the shooter genre of gaming while moving forward with 3D polygons and some unique gameplay features of their own. In preparation for the game’s North American launch in 1998 for PlayStation, the company came up with a wide print ad with a dominant artwork that showed a planet with a huge part torn off and drifting into space. Even a small part of the planet’s core got exposed. This ad pounded hard on the expression of “Earth shattering”, and it showed SquareSoft was serious on making an impact on the shooter genre. When I saw this ad in a magazine, the planet caught my attention and then I focused on the right section which had the descriptive text and screenshots of Einhänder. This is still an engaging print ad to look at.

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

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #24 (1995)

October 26, 2026October 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the X-Men 2099 series was its expansion of the 2099 universe lore as well as the portrayal of uncertainty that mutants deal with in the more desolate parts of America (far away from Spider-Man 2099 and Punisher 2099). Along the way, the futuristic X-Men themselves were really torn down by a series of unfortunate events that includes the departure of their founder and leader Xi’an (eventually Controller X of the Theater of Pain). With the team members separated by circumstances, they were given their own tales and character development periods.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #24, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

X-Men 2099 comic book cover featuring characters Skullfire and Luna facing the Norns, with action-oriented poses and vibrant colors. — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins in southern California where the Slaughterhouse gets shaken by the force of a gamma bomb that detonated far away. Inside the facility, Quiver and Sham struggle as they sneak carefully. They intend to escape even though the odds are against them.

Nearby, the demonic Theater of Pain leader Brimstone Love strikes Junkpile (now with SHIELD serving the new President Doom 2099) hard and seriously damages him. With Junkpile down, the evil leader believes that Doom’s best is a failure and the Theater of Pain has nothing to fear from him. Brimstone Love issues an order to have Junkpile disposed.

Several feet below the ground, Skullfire and Luna find themselves contained after getting captured. For Luna, Xi’an is a lost cause and she prefers to find Shakti and escape. Skullfire, however, insists on pursuing Xi’an even though their situation looks very hopeless. As the two try to escape, they end up facing the muses of the Theater of Pain’s bloodsport arenas…Euphoria, Felicity and Bliss. Luna was previously one of them…

Quality

A dramatic comic book scene depicting a confrontation between two characters. One character, wearing a green outfit, appears distressed and is gripping her arms while shouting. The other character, in a golden outfit with a menacing expression, is explaining the concept of pain in a theatrical context. Their surroundings include futuristic elements and machinery. — *Shakti represents the remaining X-Men while her former superior Xi’an has fully sided with the evil Theater of Pain as Controller X.*

Being the comic book that immediately precedes issue #25, there is a lot of creative stuff here that X-Men 2099 fans will enjoy. The Moore-Lim duo took their time in setting up the eventual restoration of the futuristic X-Men as a team while carefully telling the dangerous events they will face with the Theater of Pain standing in their way.

Fans can find small moments that can be enjoyable or even intriguing to discover such as Luna facing off with her Theater of Pain “sisters” of long ago, the reuniting of Bloodhawk with Meanstreak and Krystalin followed by the justification behind their decision to get involved, and more. What I find very compelling to read is Shakti’s interaction with Controller X (Xi’an behind the mask obsessively serving the Theater of Pain) and the rising danger the Theater’s operation is brewing. There is richness in the dialogue between Shakti and Xi’an, and the symbolic division between them – Shakti representing the X-Men and their former leader Xi’an now serving the evil ones – is really powerful to see.

The storytelling as a whole has a lot of depth behind it, and the build-up of the events is undeniably powerful. As the story progressed, the tension also grew stronger and you can feel the danger that awaits the futuristic X-Men.

Conclusion

A comic book scene featuring two characters discussing their feelings and a recent earthquake, standing near a cliff with a dragon-like creature in the background. — *Bloodhawk is back with Meanstreak and Krystalin.*

X-Men 2099 #24 (1995) succeeds a lot on setting-up the big conflict of issue #25 and it also sets in motion the eventual reuniting of the X-Men. Along the way, there are small details here and there that will compel you to revisit previous X-Men 2099 issues. Brimstone Love’s evil was emphasized more here and Controller X/Xi’an’s determination to serve him and make a lot of people suffer under the Theater’s operation added a lot of tension to the plot. Consider this a very important read before reading X-Men 2099 #25.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #24 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

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

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #23 (1995)

October 23, 2026October 13, 2026carlocarrasco

Having taken over the United States as its President, Doom 2099’s impact was undeniably felt even though his appearances in X-Men 2099 issues #21 and #22 were pretty short. Along the way, members of the futuristic X-Men are gradually making their way back together. While Meanstreak and Krystalin have reunited and left Las Vegas, the trio of Skullfire, Shakti and Luna pursue a dangerous mission to get back Xi’an who has officially joined the Theater of Pain led by the demonic Brimstone Love.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #23, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of 'X-Men 2099' comic issue featuring a character named Junk Pile, wearing a military-style helmet and armor, with a prominent shield design in the background, displaying the text 'MUTANTS MAKE THE LAWS NOW' and 'AGENT OF SHIELD.' — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins with Junkpile who was recently rescued by Doom’s team and restored to functioning status. Doom’s minister of humanity Morphine Somers informs him that he has the chance to join SHIELD (the elite security force of the nation) and operate autonomously and with full administrative sanction. Suddenly, Doom himself appears and convinces Junkpile to calm down and formally join SHIELD.

Over at Death Valley, Skullfire, Shakti and Luna are disguised and traveling with the many disenfranchised people (the ones discarded and unwanted by society) heading to the floodgate bio-resource processing center. Even though the odds are tremendous, the three of them are determined to find their former leader Xi’an and save him from the Theater of Pain.

Upon arriving at the floodgate facility filled with armed guards and handlers, Skullfire, Shakti and Luna join the line for processing. Watching from a distance is Xi’an who is now operating as Controller X…

Quality

A panel from a comic book featuring two characters discussing the use of bodies for various purposes, including medical experimentation and entertainment, with a futuristic backdrop of machinery and monitors. — *Pay attention to the details closely. In 2099, human lives can be disregarded or turned into something else.*

Apart from the obvious fact that this particular story is part of the build-up towards the events of issue #25, this comic book carries a fundamental expansion of the lore of America of 2099. As the theme of mega corporations taking over America has been a core element of Marvel 2099, this X-Men 2099 tale further explores what happens to the social outcasts and unwanted people, and why the self-declared authorities have such power to have each of them processed under heavy surveillance.

A scene from a graphic novel featuring a group of characters in hooded cloaks discussing a dangerous situation. They express concern about their security and the fate of a character named Xian. — *Even without resources, Skullfire, Shakti and Luna push through with their very dangerous mission.*

Through words and images, the Moore-Lim duo gave readers a really dark look at how human lives got turned into commodities by those who wield a lot of power in 2099 America. Some people who got processed end up being subjects for medical experimentation, others are groomed for private pleasure dens while the best ones are prepared for the use of the Theater of Pain. That said, Xi’an being part of the Theater of Pain as Controller X really strikes hard at the foundation of the futuristic X-Men who have been struggling a lot since he left them.

More on the plot itself, the X-Men are the underdogs and they really don’t have much resources nor a solid strategy to get to Xi’an while dealing with the dangerous forces of Brimstone Love and the Theater of Pain. Fortunately for them, there are a few others who have the means to take on the Theater of Pain directly.

Conclusion

A comic book scene featuring two armored characters engaged in conversation. One character, wearing a hooded red cloak and a metallic suit adorned with stars, stands confidently while the other character, a large robotic figure, looms over him. The background depicts a high-tech environment, with panels and machinery visible. — *Junkpile joins SHIELD in the presence of Doom 2099.*

X-Men 2099 #23 (1995) is another engaging read and it nicely sets the stage for the inevitable big story in issue #25. The odds are really up against the X-Men whose three members are truly determined to get Xi’an back believing there is hope for him to turn away from the Theater of Pain. Bigger than the story itself is the presentation about the immense power others have over the people and why being a social outcast can be very dangerous. That said, I am looking forward to the next issue and see how it connects with issue #25.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #23 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #20 (1995)

October 12, 2026October 5, 2026carlocarrasco

The past few issues followed the developments seen through the eyes of separated X-Men members – Meanstreak who assisted Halloween Jack’s move to take Las Vegas away from the Synge family, Krystalin who has been in California to help her brother, and Shakti who recently uncovered something about the legacy of mutants. That said, Bloodhawk’s absence was really noticeable and this was because Marvel Comics had him appear in a few Doom 2099 comic books set in the Savage Land.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #20, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of X-Men 2099 comic book featuring Bloodhawk battling a robotic character, with bold, colorful title text. — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins in the Arizona desert where Bloodhawk flies over the wasteland. He just returned from the Savage Land and he immediately notices huge tracks left behind by some kind of large machine and they are radiated. He notices a sick and radiated coyote approach. Bloodhawk grabs the coyote, says some words to it and kills it to end its suffering.

Meanwhile at the ACME Pit Stop (a roadside tradition of fuel and food since the year 2047), a conflict between business owner Cyrus and Lou Ann is taking place with lots of bystanders watching. Their conflict gets disrupted as a massive, large robot suddenly arrived causing everyone to panic. The robot grabs a long rig and threw it at the ground causing a huge explosion.

Bloodhawk, who raided one of his weapons cashes to arm himself with grenades, quickly flies in to attack the giant robot…

Quality

A comic book page featuring colorful illustrations of characters engaged in dialogue. One character is working with futuristic technology while two others listen. The setting appears to be a high-tech environment. The conversation includes themes of hardware and technology, with emphasis on weapons and satellite systems. — *If you read the details closely, you will realize the extremism of the Free Radicals and why they have so much in common with real-life anarchists and zealots.*

To point out the obvious, the main feature here is the focus on Bloodhawk’s return to the American wasteland coming from the Savage Land (chronicled in Doom 2099). By having him encounter a massive robot, it is clear that John Francis Moore and Ron Lim planned this to have a huge storytelling weight and give the X-Men 2099 fans – especially the ones who love Bloodhawk – something to enjoy. Along the way, this comic book has Bloodhawk gaining an unexpected ally which allowed the creators to show some character development on him. As many fans already know, Bloodhawk values nature and despises both technology and modern society as he saw them as devourers of the natural environment. In this comic book, he has a gigantic mechanical problem to deal with and the odds are absolutely against him. That said, Bloodhawk’s tale here is pretty much a big comeback from being absent in the past issues.

Meanwhile, Krystalin finds herself in deeper trouble. After helping the Free Radicals regain their very young but tech-oriented teammate, she finds herself and her brother still trapped by the gang. Continuing from what was symbolized in the previous issues, this comic book sheds light on political symbolism and the radicalized people’s obsession with drastic change in world they believe is controlled by institutions they perceive as oppressive. The Free Radicals have sinister values that make them comparable with real-life evil forces like Black Lives Matter (BLM), Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Antifa, LGBTQ mobs, Islamists and others. The Free Radical’s youngest member clearly believes that anarchy means freedom.

Conclusion

A giant red robot stands menacingly on a rocky landscape, with two frightened humans in the foreground reacting in panic. The robot's systems are malfunctioning, indicated by a message about damage and a return directive. The scene is drawn in a comic book style with bold colors and dynamic expression. — *The design of this giant robot is corny to look at.*

Crafted with care and symbolism, X-Men 2099 #20 (1995) has two tales that are gripping to follow. The tales of Bloodhawk and Krystalin succeeded with ensuring a gripping read and moving events forward. That said, the stakes of Krystalin’s conflict with the Free Radicals have been raised even more. Those who are very fond of Bloodhawk will have good stuff to enjoy here. This comic book’s only weakness is the rather corny design of the giant robot, and it felt distracting from time to time.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #20 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #19 (1995)

October 5, 2026September 27, 2026carlocarrasco

Issue #18 had some political flavor as it tried to shake the foundation of the X-Men 2099 series. It also had symbolism that reminded me about the criminal past of Las Vegas, the twisted Black Panthers (the evil Marxist-Leninist and black power political organization of America) and the social unrest that happened in America during the era of Richard Nixon as US President. At this point in the series, the futuristic X-Men are a shell of themselves as the members have been separated and are involved in different developments far away from each other.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #19, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of Marvel's X-Men comic issue 19 from April 2055, featuring bold yellow and red title text, 'Winner Take All for Vegas', and characters including a muscular hero and a villain with a green appearance, surrounded by dark, swirling elements. — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins inside an old facility in New Mexico. Shakti, who is only wearing a t-shirt and a panty – has been unconscious for several minutes. After waking up, she learns that a thermionic detonator (left by their former leader Xi’an) has been set to explode and time is quickly running out. She also realizes that the bodies of the Chosen have been taken.

In desperation, she wakes up Skullfire and Luna, and they ran out of the facility to save themselves. The facility blows up and Skullfire asks Shakti for an explanation. She reveals to him that Xi’an – whom she momentarily encountered several minutes prior – is responsible for the destruction and he clearly made an attempt to kill them all. As such, Xi’an is now an enemy of the X-Men.

Meanwhile in Las Vegas, a heavily mutated and oversized Lytton Synge grabs his sister Desdemona by the neck. While explaining details to him, Desdemona uses a failsafe device to cause him to stop moving and free her. She puts on additional gear that enables her to control Lytton’s body and she made it clear to him that he will be used against Halloween Jack…

Quality

A comic book page featuring a confrontation between a woman with pink hair and a villainous figure. The woman expresses anger while the villain makes a smug remark. Various characters engage in dialogue, highlighting tension and supernatural elements. — *Desdemona, Halloween Jack and Meanstreak are together again. Desdemona here had a desperate attempt to reclaim the casino and their company from Halloween Jack.*

There is a good amount of intrigue in this comic book covering the three plot threads. The thread of Shakti, Skullfire and Luna was very short but it added to the tension about having their former leader Xi’an as a deadly enemy.

On the other hand, the events set in Las Vegas saw the return of Lytton Synge in a bloated, Hulk-like figure as Desdemona used him to attack Halloween Jack who has gained control of the Synge business empire (at least in the building they are in) as he continues with his obsession of changing Las Vegas and moving forward with his plan that could mean doom for the city. In this particular plot thread, Halloween Jack has prepared highly advanced technology to redefine Las Vegas in the most phenomenal way. What I find disturbing is Meanstreak’s lack of morality as he keeps on assisting Halloween Jack (his old friend Jordan) with his sinister plan. This makes Meanstreak appear cold-hearted, sinister and unbecoming as an X-Men member.

Over at California, Krystalin pursues a mission to find Billy the Kid as she has absolutely no choice as the life of her brother is at stake. The Free Radicals literally have her cornered and she cannot do anything except doing what they want her to do. In this particular plot thread, the creators did a good job presenting Krystalin as desperate as she is in the middle of a conflict between the Panthers of Wakanda (where her brother belongs to) and the Free Radicals.

Conclusion

A comic book page featuring a distressed woman in a white outfit, looking alarmed as she interacts with a control panel, with countdown clocks and dialogue about a bomb and urgent questions. — *Shakti in a very dangerous situation with not much time left.*

X-Men 2099 #19 (1995) unsurprisingly moved plot developments forward. Apart from developing the X-Men members more, this comic book also expanded the lore of 2099 America nicely. At this stage, I am eager to find out what would happen next to the X-Men members in their respective plot threads. That said, I am still engaged enough to continue with the remaining X-Men 2099 issues that I have yet to read.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #19 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #18 (1995)

September 28, 2026September 22, 2026carlocarrasco

After 17 issues read, it is clear that the futuristic X-Men were destined to be separated from each other before getting back together against all odds. By having the team in disarray and the members separated with different situations that affected them, it provided the comic book creators opportunities to really develop each member extensively while expanding the lore of Marvel 2099 in creative ways. After seventeen issues, Skullfire has transformed into a more reasonable person who aligned himself with Shakti closely. Meanstreak meanwhile went to Las Vegas with Halloween Jack to do something that could alter the city seriously. Krystalin in California is on a quest to find her kidnapped brother.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #18, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of X-Men 2094 comic book, featuring characters in dynamic poses with vibrant colors and the title prominently displayed. — *The cover.*

Early story

The story begins in Berkeley where Krystalin and her companion visit a ruined part of the city. She is told that it is best for them to turn around but Krystalin insists on finding the Free Radicals who are responsible for kidnapping her brother Zak. As they walk further, they both fall into a trap door only to find themselves in a very dark wind tunnel which caused their fall to slow down. After landing on the floor, gas is suddenly pumped on them. A very bright light followed which disoriented them both. A man and woman appear to take them in. Krystalin decides to fight and find her brother.

Meanwhile in the mountains of New Mexico, three intruders appeared inside a secret laboratory while Shakti struggles to sleep. The intruders analyze Zhao’s attempt to make analogs of the original 20^th century X-Men members which ended in failure. One of them thinks that Shakti has finally halted and reversed the deterioration. Using technology, they have the three fossilized bodies teleported to the Theater of Pain.

Shakti, who has been unable to sleep, senses the presence of a mutant inside the laboratory…

Quality

A group of diverse, stylized characters in a comic book setting, gathered in a futuristic underground location. The central figure, wearing a yellow robe and holding a glowing orb, is flanked by various characters with unique features, including a woman in black, a man with a muscular build, and a child with colorful attire, all engaged in a discussion. — *Krystalin and her companion meet the Free Radicals, a group of dangerous freaks.*

As expected, this comic book continues the tales of the previous issue, specifically Krystalin’s quest and Halloween Jack’s takeover of Las Vegas. Things, however, turned for the weird and the wild.

Krystalin’s quest for her kidnapped brother Zack led her to facing off with the Free Radicals, a group of freaks composed of scientists who have been waging guerilla war against governmental and corporate oppression. Elements of politics were mixed into the narrative of Krystalin’s tale as it brings back memories of radicalized groups in America who engaged in crime, political activism and terrorism during the rule of President Richard Nixon (for insight, click here). As expected, Krystalin finds herself on a huge disadvantage and her will to get her brother (a highly prominent part of the Panthers) back really got tested here.

As for the other important tale, Halloween Jack (assisted by Meanstreak) pushed forward with his insane intention to take over the Synge casino and bring down the syndicate while Desdemona Synge is helpless. This tale easily reminds me of the Las Vegas legacy of crime, particularly with the establishment of businesses owned by gangsters many decades ago. As Marvel 2099 has a strong anti-corporate message (which confirms the Leftist bias and philosophies with Marvel Comics and creators during the 1990s), the boundary that separated good and evil got blurred away in this tale. While Halloween Jack believes he is doing something good and significant by bringing down the Synge empire and changing Las Vegas, he does not realize he himself is evil and is executing a plan of one evil force replacing the current evil force. This should remind you about the Black Panthers, the Palestinian terrorists, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and other wicked forces of the world who see themselves as liberators and went to the extremes with violence and coercion.

Along the way, Meanstreak assists Halloween Jack without any hesitation which made him a pawn of evil. As such, Meanstreak’s character and moral standing got compromised a lot which makes his membership of the X-Men questionable.

Indeed, there is a lot of symbolism in the tales of Krystalin and Halloween Jack here and the undeniable thing is that John Francis Moore implemented a good amount of depth within.

Conclusion

A comic book panel featuring a dialogue between two characters. One character, a shadowy figure in a black suit, speaks to another character, a woman with long dark hair, wearing a yellow top and black shorts. A glowing green container is present in the background, indicating a sci-fi setting. — *Shakti, who has the ability to sense the presence of mutants, encounters the intruder.*

X-Men 2099 #18 (1995) is clearly an attempt to shake the foundation of the series itself. Las Vegas has always been a key location since the beginning, and the Synge empire was the original enemy of the futuristic X-Men. Even as the mentioned two tales resulted in the weird and the wild, the creators succeeded in ensuring a cohesive read.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #18 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Wolverine #50 (1992)

September 25, 2026September 14, 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 Wolverine monthly series.

Before I start the review, I have to say out loud that the very woke and shameless game developer Insomniac Games ruined the superhero icon in the new Wolverine game on PlayStation 5. They inserted woke and homosexual elements into the game. That said, Insomniac Games never intended to make a Wolverine game that was fun and accurate to the source material. I urge you fans of X-Men and Wolverine to BOYCOTT the Wolverine PlayStation 5 video game!

Times like these, it is best to go back to reading the comic books published from the 1970s to the 1990s that featured Wolverine.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Wolverine #50, published by Marvel Comics in 1992 with a story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Marc Silverstri.

Early story

The story begins with Wolverine forcibly going up a New York City skyscraper with his motorcycle. It turns out that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier is secretly floating by the top of the building and Wolverine – who caused a lot of disturbance along the way – used his motorcycle to leave on to the floating structure. Wolverine crashes through the Helicarrier’s window and makes his way to Colonel Nick Fury. Wolverine tells him that he is aware about El Tigre and Emilio Garra’s activities in Cuba and he wants him to hand over his security dossier.

Minutes after Fury makes a call to secure the dossier, pawns of Hydra inside a building nearby gets alerted and retrieves from the National Security Agency (NSA) files of S.H.I.E.L.D. that have not been pulled in over twenty years.

The next day in Washington, D.C., Wolverine arrives at the office of the Department of Agriculture wanting to talk to Professor Thornton who is behind the closed door of his office…

Quality

*A barrage of images from Wolverine’s memories drawn in great detail by Marc Silvestri.*

The best way to describe this particular story of Wolverine is that it is a mystery and suspense tale (with a touch of political intrigue) told in the form of a superhero tale. More notably, this one reconnects to Wolverine’s past with Weapon X and it strong emphasizes the sinister nature of Weapon X and how is ruined the memories and lives of its living objects (including Wolverine and Silver Fox).

As many fans are already aware, it was during the Weapon X project when Logan was held against his will, got heavily experimented on and had Adamantium installed into his skeleton (note: the sharp Adamantium claws were installed on Logan).

In this comic book, Larry Hama went further with the mysteries by focusing on the memories Wolverine remembers and how the people behind Weapon X cleverly staged scenes (complete with physical sets, props and movie cameras) and implanted false memories into their minds by having neuro-synthetic implants placed in the cerebral vortex.

*The X-Men led by Professor X bring Wolverine to Canada where the Weapon X warehouse is located at.*

That said, this comic book explores moments from Wolverine’s past which will challenge readers to think if such moments are real or somehow fabricated. Considering Wolverine’s legacy as an aged superhuman who could not figure out his own personal history, this tale offers readers a cerebral reading experience that is truly one of a kind.

Of course, this comic book would not be complete with action scenes of the icon. Wolverine’s battle with Shiva is indeed action-packed and Marc Silvestri’s art style made it look dynamic and gritty at the same time. I should state that the action did not happen in a random fashion. Instead, the action happened within the context of the story complete with moments of intrigue and revelations (note: pay close attention to the dialogue and other details during the action scenes).

Conclusion

*This page’s message is clear: never mess with the tough and rough Wolverine.*

Wolverine #50 (1992) is indeed a very compelling read and it still is a great, standalone Wolverine tale to follow from start to finish. The story has a good amount of intelligence, mystery, political intrigue and twists carefully blended. In my experience, the tension gradually built up as Wolverine’s quest for answers and the truth went on. I can also say the payoffs are rewarding. More notably, this old comic book will make you think deeply about Wolverine and his past, and how Weapon X violated him to the point of ruining his memory. This comic book could also make you sympathetic towards the tough and violent Marvel icon in ways that other forms of media (notably the movies) could not.

Overall, Wolverine $50 (1992) is highly recommended!

+++++

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A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #17 (1995)

September 21, 2026September 12, 2026carlocarrasco

I like the way the direction of the series went with issue #16. The X-Men are in disarray and they are not even complete nor are they stable enough for any opposing force that could come their way. As Krystalin went to California for an uneasy reunion with her brother, Meanstreak has the past catching up to him. Firstly, he is not comfortable with Luna (Skullfire’s former tormentor and romantic partner) being part of their team. Secondly, a friend of his from Alchemax returned but in a radically different form.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #17, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins with Meanstreak and Halloween Jack (Jordan Boone who previously appeared as Loki during the Fall of the Hammer storyline) arriving in Las Vegas. Halloween Jack tells his pal that they benefit a lot from Las Vegas once they reshape it to their desires. For Meanstreak, trusting Jordan Boone (his friend since their days at the Alchemax academy) is very tough as he has changed so drastically into a dangerous psychopath as Halloween Jack. Jordan tells his fast friend that revenge is motivating him to take over Las Vegas.

Deep inside the Synge Casino & Hotel, Desdemona appears to her fallen brother Lytton who is paying the penalty of having murdered their late father Noah Synge. Even though he is in prison and has been isolated, Lytton remains addicted to shriek

Quality

*A civil talk between Krystlin and her extremist brother Zak.*

This comic book has two main plot threads – one is about Meanstreak and the obsessed Halloween Jack tackling the top of the Synge empire by confronting Desdemona personally, and the other follows Krystalin in California. Thematically, the two main plot threads are about dealing with the past and doing something with the future in mind.

In the case of Meanstreak (now separated many miles away from his teammates), his uneasy reunion with Jordan Boone puts him into a direct encounter with the head of the Synge empire which itself has a powerful grasp on Las Vegas. Meanstreak is witnessing Halloween Jack’s move to take over the city which effectively puts him in a very awkward position and none of the X-Men could help him.

As for Krystalin, she has the burden of dealing with her brother Zak who is obsessed with the ways of Wakanda and still lives with the obsession that everyone – including his sister – has to follow the Wakandan ways and agenda even if it means betraying the X-Men and their mother’s legacy. In fact, Zak here is pretty extreme and there are hints of racism and discrimination in his beliefs. This comic book also reveals the conflict of beliefs between Krystalin’s own parents which remains in effect between her and Zak.

Conclusion

*Desdemona is the head of the Synge empire.*

With its two plot threads, new sub-plots and character-driven focus, X-Men 2099 #17 (1995) moved this series to a direction that can be described as suspenseful, intriguing and also uncertain. That said, the current state of the X-Men looks even bleaker and more uncertain. Still, this comic book has set up something about Las Vegas and Krystalin’s personal struggle, and I am interested enough to discover more.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #17 (1995) is recommended.

+++++

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