superheroes – Page 4 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Superman #79 (1993)

February 10, 2025February 4, 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, 1990s pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the Superman monthly series.

Months after DC Comics published the death of Superman with the best-selling Superman #75 (1993), the publisher went on to shake things up with the Reign of the Supermen storyline. One of the four Supermen was Cyborg Superman who first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 (1993) and had his first story in Superman #78 (1993).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #79, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens.

Early story

The story begins inside a dark part of The Daily Planet with journalist Ronald Troupe starting his work in the absence of Clark Kent. Since Superman’s death, the very accomplished Kent has been absent and was perceived to have died somehow while covering Doomsday’s rampage through Metropolis.

With Kent absent, the newspaper lost one of its best writers. This opened an opportunity for Ronald Troupe to approach Perry White to fill Kent’s slot and work. White, who was close with Kent, values hungry reporters and challenged Troupe to bring him a story so big, he could not turn it down.

With the sudden presence of the Supermen, Troupe viewed Cyborg Superman as a major subject to report about…

Quality

The evil Cyborg Superman handing over a device to US President Bill Clinton. This image is strangely symbolic as both of them are evil figures – one is fictional and the other is real. Clinton’s legacy of empowering Palestinian terrorists through the mass murderer Yasser Arafat still remains.

I want to start with the approach Dan Jurgens took to come up with this particular Reign of the Supermen story. Instead of telling the tale through the viewpoint of the more established Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane or photographer Jimmy Olsen, Jurgens instead used the newcomer Ronald Troupe who happened to be a hungry journalist tasked with coming up with a compelling report about Cyborg Superman. This creative approach resulted in a very fresh look at the events involving the caped cyborg complete with the use of a journalistic narrative Troupe wrote on his computer (the paragraphs are stylishly displayed on each page). The writing done was pretty lively to read from start to finish.

I do have a problem with how specific events turned out. To ensure that Troupe would encounter Cyborg Superman, the established character Max Lord (who is working directly with the US President over very sensitive matters) very unrealistically had his government-provided limousine stop (while entering the White House gate half-way) and actually got out to meet Troupe only because the reporter convinced him too easily. Even back in the 1990s, such a scenario is very unrealistic and no person working with the US President would ever stop to give a reporter special attention while compromising security of the White House.

And then there was the short sequence in which Troupe – already within the White House perimeter with several defense turrets already firing energy blasts – miraculously managed to get close to Cyborg Superman without getting hit was also very unbelievable. Very clearly, Troupe is this comic book’s magical black man.

To come up with the superhero spectacle, elements of Islamic terrorism (represented by the fictional Qurac and its terrorists) attacking the White House plus Cyborg Superman’s sudden involvement were implemented. Quite predictably, the caped cyborg became the centerpiece of the action. I can say the spectacle here was fresh and intriguing to see.

Conclusion

*Cyborg Superman fights the terrorists of Qurac.*

Superman #79 (1993) has a very unique approach on storytelling but the above-mentioned unbelievable turnout of events plus Ronald Troupe being the magical black person (literally protected by plot armor) somewhat ruined the reading experience for me. By the time the story ended, the anticipated pay-off to everything that was built-up ended up weak and unsatisfying. To be clear, this is not a badly made comic book but its flaws really ruined it. Also by today’s standards, Cyborg Superman is a very evil character and having him with the American flag on the cover is disgusting.

With regards to geopolitics, having Bill Clinton as the US President made this comic book age very badly. As President, Clinton empowered Palestinian terrorists and anti-Semitic people through the mass murderer Yasser Arafat (a real-life demon) while disrespecting Israel and its people. People who love abortion, political correctness (which leads to wokeness), victimhood and LGBTQ rights also benefited from Clinton’s sinister leadership. By today’s standards, having Clinton and Cyborg Superman appear together strongly symbolize real-life evil and fictional evil in a rather creative way.

It was destiny that his wife Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 US Presidential Election to Donald Trump. This is because the Clinton legacy remains very bad for the whole world. Trump, who is now the US President once again, is already working to make serious corrections while also restoring dignity in America.

Overall, Superman #79 (1987) is not worth your time. Only those who are really obsessed with the Reign of the Supermen storyline can enjoy it. For those looking for the iconic Superman, better look for another comic book!

+++++

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A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the iconic Superman.

To put things in perspective, DC Comics rebooted its entire shared universe in 1986 after the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths. They published the 6-part The Man of Steel mini-series to reboot the iconic Superman and modernize him with the creative leadership of John Byrne. By the time the mini-series ended, the new background stories, the supporting characters and creative foundation of the post-Crisis Superman were established. That being said, a brand new Superman monthly series led by Byrne was inevitable.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #1, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins with Superman smashing his way through into a secretive, high-tech facility. Noticing so much technology, he begins to wonder why would anyone abandon such a facility. As he slowly makes his way inside, he finds several images of him displayed confirming that someone has been devoting a great deal of time and effort to research him. This makes him concerned that someone in his old home town of Smallville could recognize a picture of Superman as their fellow resident Clark Kent.

As he keeps searching, he finds the body of a dead scientist whose neck was broken. He also notices the corpse’s fingerprints are the same as those found on the truck outside of the facility. The truck itself was involved in the theft of his Kryptonian rocket. After finding more nasty evidence, Superman digs deep down underneath the facility then lifts a huge part of the ground with the said structure on top. He lifts up everything and brought them all into space free from the reach of people below.

Superman then flies off to Metropolis to change into Clark Kent to meet with Lois Lane at the city park…

Quality

*I like the way John Byrne told parallel narratives with Superman in the present on the left, and flashbacks of Metallo on the right.*

To begin with, this tale written by John Byrne is another inspire piece of work published at a time when the post-Crisis shared universe of DC Comics was still new and expanding. Byrne really defined Superman’s place in the shared universe by modernizing it with the 1980s in mind and he came up with a story introducing the post-Crisis version of Metallo while coming up with a sub-plot of a mad scientist who was not only obsessed with Superman but also was involved with the said super villain.

The plot is clearly well-structured which starts with Superman doing believable detective work of his own which led to the discovery of the mad scientist whose intense research pose a danger to the Man of Steel. Having dual identities and social responsibilities to live up to, Superman also takes the time to adjust to his normal life as Clark Kent at a time when he has to socialize with his Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that you will see the iconic superhero ranging from being mighty to becoming vulnerable, weakened and suffering tremendous pain. How Byrne handled the transition of Superman is excellent.

The sub-plot of the mad scientist obsessing over discoveries about Superman is short and yet highly significant. For one thing, Superman himself has been very careful on keeping his dual identities secret and yet someone managed to secretly photograph him and come up with a lot of information – including the destroyed world of Krypton and the Kryptonian legacy of the hero – that could expose his deepest secrets and ruin his life entirely. The mad scientist’s obsession has strong sci-fi elements related to UFOs and aliens from deep space.

For the Man of Steel, this is too dangerous and also too personal to be left behind untouched. This aspect of the story makes this old tale more relevant in today’s world of drones with cameras, CCTV systems, hacking and the potential of users (or artificial intelligence) who could collect information on people without their consent.

The post-Crisis Metallo looks inspired by the Terminator and appears in human form. He goes by the name John Corben who previously got fatally injured in a car crash and subsequently was taken by the mad scientist (who transplanted the man’s brain into a robotic body). It should be noted that the said scientist also has an obsession about Kryptonians which led to his plan to send a chosen warrior to go against Superman supposedly to prevent Earth from getting conquered. How Metallo and his physical fight with the Man of Steel is a must-read.

Conclusion

Imagine yourself discovering a secret room filled with information and pieces of evidence and visual references about you. This should resonate with people whose privacy got violated. Also try imagining people inside the offices of tech giants with collected information and images about you.

Superman #1 (1987) is still a great read. It has a complex approach on portraying the battle between good and evil without losing focus on the storytelling and the expansion of Superman’s post-Crisis lore. Its sub-plot of the mad scientist and his obsession on Superman will resonate with people who feel vulnerable over the loss of their private information in today’s world of social media, abusive technology giants and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems. There is also a lot of superhero action for readers to enjoy, and the spectacle is never silly nor outlandish to look at. Oh yes, seeing Superman in a vulnerable state and getting actually hurt is believable to see.

Overall, Superman #1 (1987) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #350 (1980)

January 27, 2025March 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

Before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, the DC Comics multiverse had a lot of superhero stories that had outlandish fantasy elements. For example, Action Comics #454 showed Superman eating tons of food in order to survive. In Action Comics #456, the battles between Superman and The Shark had lots of outlandish looking forms of action. In short, the old multiverse and its tropes are looking fun to revisit.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #350, published in 1980 by DC Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins when Superman makes his move to prevent a punctured hot air balloon transport from crashing. It turns out the balloon was part of the promotion of a reunion event at Metropolis University and Superman really went there to attend it in his civilian identity as Clark Kent. Also attending the event is his long-time friend and colleague Lana Lang.

As the old professor Lemuel B. Tolkein – former superior of Clark and his classmates – speaks during the reunion, several attendees – including people Clark personally knew – begin to disappear into thin air. The remaining attendees and guests begin to panic…

Quality

*Superman uses his special abilities to solve problems here.*

I really like this story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this tale written by Conway is actually a mystery that happens to take place during Clark Kent’s reunion with many people from his past. As there is no good-versus-evil concept, the story is solidly focused on mysterious happenings that challenge Superman’s ability to solve problems. Even though he already has many super powers, the Man of Steel still got challenged a lot by the disappearances of people and things.

Apart from the story, I also enjoyed Conway’s approach on developing Clark Kent/Superman, Lana Lang and Lois Lane. Seeing Clark reconnecting with people from his past at Metropolis University was a refreshing portrayal and it also sheds light on how he handled himself during his collegiate years. As for Lois Lane, she was portrayed to be hostile towards Clark with regards to journalistic competition between them, and yet she still has tenderness towards Superman deep inside.

Conclusion

*Superman quickly changes into his Clark Kent identity to attend the reunion.*

Superman #350 (1980) is enjoyable and the elements of the pre-Crisis multiverse of DC Comics added depth to it. The story is relaxing to follow and it managed to surprise me and keep me engaged until the very end. I am convinced to follow the next issue.

Overall, Superman #350 (1980) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994)

January 20, 2025January 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to take a close look at the launch issue of the comic book series that was an adaptation of the WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams animated series.

To put things into perspective, Jim Lee and several creators left Marvel Comics to establish Image Comics. In 1992, Lee launched his creator-owned project WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #1 which also was a part of the creative foundation of the WildStorm universe. Just a little over two years later, an animated series of WildC.A.T.S. was launched on TV. Similar to what Marvel Comics did in relation to adapting stories of the X-Men animated series, Image Comics launched a comic book series based on the WildC.A.T.S. animated series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Jeff Mariotte (adapting the animated story by David Wise) and drawn by Ty Templeton.

Early story

The story begins one night inside an office where Reno Bryce (Warblade) works obsessively on a circuit board. He is surrounded by the technology he knows and loves. As he works, three armed men wearing coats and hats enter his office and ask him for his identity. One of the men grabs a circuit board and destroys it, which triggers Reno to react with violence.

Knowing he is outnumbered, he quickly runs out of the office for safety. He heard one of the men referred to him as a crossbreed whelp. As soon as he finally leaves the building, Reno sees the WildCATS team composed of Grifter, Spartan, Zealot, Voodoo and Maul. Thinking that the WildCATS are out to kill him like the armed men, Reno keeps on running away.

Suddenly, a group of people are rushing towards the WildCATs. Powered with the Sight, Voodoo realizes that the mob is composed of Daemonites disguised as humans. The WildCATs and the mob engage in battle.

From high above, Reno see the battle happening. Suddenly, the three armed men appeared behind him telling him that he has no escape from them…

Quality

*Reno Bryce still adjusting to his new form as Warblade.*

Having seen the first episode myself, I can say that this comic book is actually a faithful adaptation and the creative team did their jobs well.

As an alternate introductory story of the WildCATs, this one obviously has the violence and visceral essence of the comic book series toned down due to the fact that the animated series was made with a younger audience in mind. There is still plenty of action here and the creative team’s focus on telling the story was consistently strong.

Within one story, the creative teams of both the animated episode and this comic book succeeded in gradually emphasizing the lore of WildCATS which had strong sci-fi elements (example: the long conflict between the Kherubim and the Daemonites), introducing the characters and the super villain, showcase the capabilities of the characters, emphasizing the purposes of each side, and having Reno Bryce as the newcomer who is about to discover his real role in the conflict (which reminds me of Jubilee in the opening episode of the X-Men animated series).

Conclusion

*Ty Templeton’s art is nice to look at and he captured the essence of the animated episode. The WildCATS themselves are easily recognizable.*

Like its animated source, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is enjoyable and the creators did a very good job translating the story and essence from animation into literary format. Having read the Jim Lee-drawn issue #1 of 1992, this one worked well as an alternate introduction of the WildCATS and their conflict with the Daemonites. Like the animated TV episode, the presentation was done in a wholesome manner without ever becoming childish. I can say that there is still enough good stuff of WildCATS to enjoy here, and the characters are recognizable (both in looks and portrayals). Right now, I’m looking forward to reading the next issue.

Overall, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #484 (1978)

January 17, 2025January 6, 2025carlocarrasco

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.

+++++

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.

+++++

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.

+++++

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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