Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1The truth about the Middle East and why a two-state solution is terrible – YouTube channel travelingisrael.com published two important videos that have to be seen as each comes with in-depth explanations. One video explains why genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing hit several groups of people (examples: the Armenians, the Christians, the Jewish plus the dissenting people in Iran to name a few) in the Middle East through the decades. The other video is about the decades-old concept of a two-state solution involving Israel and the Palestinians (displaced people) remains terrible to implement. To this day, the evil legacy of murderer and demon Yasser Arafat remains with leaders of Palestine.
#2 Questions that pro-Palestine believers cannot answer – Still with YouTube channel travelingisrael.com, here is a video about ten questions that the pro-Palestine believers cannot answer. Let me also state that a lot of these pro-terrorist, pro-Palestine believers often rely on violence, mobbing and screaming in public rallies. So many of them have been brainwashed by Islamo-Leftists to do Satan’s work. The video below is a must-watch…
#3 Score PN’s videos about comic book adaptations of Batman movies – When it comes to relevant and fun content related to the Resident Evil entertainment franchise, YouTube channel Score PN is a great source of videos to watch. That’s not to say the channel is limited only to Resident Evil stuff as it also has videos about other entertainment properties covering movies, comic books and video games. Among the many non-Resident Evil videos the channel has, I found its two videos about the comic book adaptations of the movies Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) fun and informative to watch. You can watch the two videos below…
#4 Assorted retro gaming videos – There is no doubt that content about retro gaming is really popular not only with long-time gamers but also with much younger people who became fascinated with the way games from long ago looked and played. In relation to the topic of retro gaming, I published articles focused on the decades-old electronic gaming print ads which you can read by clicking here and here. There will be more retro gaming posts on this website and while waiting for them, I recommend you watch the assorted videos I selected for your enjoyment below…
#5 Entertainment trivia videos by Minty Comedic Arts – If you are fond of trivia about movies or shows, then you can’t go wrong with the many videos published by Minty Comedic Arts. Posted below are videos of his that I selected for your enjoyment. Don’t forget to visit Minty’s channel on YouTube.
#6 Israel war updates – Going back to Israel, I have been following updates about the war against Hamas and Hezbollah not through the distorted mainstream news media but to a carefully selected few sources that are trustworthy. One such source is TBN Israel on YouTube and you can watch their recent videos about the war below. Always remember that Hamas and Hezbollah are pure evil and they are both allied with the evil regime of Iran.
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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Superman.
Previously, I reviewed the first issue of The Man of Steel mini-series written and drawn by John Byrne. Using a unique structure for storytelling, Byrne gradually told how the post-Crisis version of Superman came to be while also retaining specific classic elements that made DC’s icon inspirational. That very comic book had its influences on other portrayals of Superman beyond comic books such as he Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV series and even the very divisive Man of Steel movie.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Man of Steel #2, published in 1986 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the middle of Metropolis when the newly established hero Superman (now in full costume) flies just above the busy road which distracted Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White (who was having a coffee break with reported Lois Lane inside a coffee shop). Remembering how the space plane and its crew got saved by Superman (Clark Kent in civilian clothes) sometime prior, White tells Lane (who first encountered Superman immediately after the space plane was saved) to go after him to get the hot scoop.
While Lane crosses the road, a limousine’s opens with the driver telling her that Mister L (Lex Luthor the tycoon) wants to her. Lane declines and proceeds with her chase for Superman…
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An act of help by Superman for someone who was in trouble.
This story is set during the early days of Superman as the new, randomly appearing hero of Metropolis whose impact on local society is just growing stronger. At the same time, this shows Clark Kent being a very new resident of the city still looking for a job. This is inspired work by Byrne on building up the Man of Steel for what was back then the modern age.
That being said, the most intriguing fact here is that this Superman story has Lois Lane as the actual protagonist. While Lane’s literary presence here is slightly stronger than DC’s icon, this tale is clearly all about her unrelenting approach with newspaper journalism, her use of the Daily Planet’s valuable connections and resources, and how much risk she would take to get the facts, the statements and other details all for the sake of getting the hot story. This is Byrne’s modernization of Lois Lane highlighting the concept that Clark Kent will have serious competition with her within the Daily Planet.
That being said, there is no romance between Clark and Lois here. This is after all their 2nd encounter (the saving of the space plane in issue #1 was shown in flashback with Lois Lane already present) and Byrne took a careful approach on establishing the first lengthy encounter and interactions between the two. Their encounter here is really engaging.
More on Superman himself, the writer kept the pace of developing him flow smoothly and steadily. You will see how Superman keeps himself in control whenever he talks with normal people or when he encounters criminals who cause danger on others. While he has a priority to help others in need using his powers, he does not neglect his actual identity (and personal life) as Clark Kent and this includes moderating or limiting the use of his special abilities as he levels himself with the rest of the civilian population.
Conclusion
Lois Lane portrayed as the unrelenting and very determined newspaper reporter. Even though Superman always flew away, she just won’t give up.
The Man of Steel #2 (1986) is clearly a very solid follow-up to issue #1. The continued development of Superman remains solid and the dramatization of Lois Lane as the strongly determined newspaper journalist is compelling to see. With regards to the build-up of the post-Crisis DC Comics shared universe, this particular Superman tale is one of essential parts of it.
Overall, The Man of Steel #2 (1986) is highly recommended!
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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late 1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Superman.
After DC Comics published the maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths, the publisher rebooted their entire comic book universe and that meant reintroducing their superheroes, villains and supporting characters with a touch of 1980s modernization. To reboot and modernize Superman, John Byrne was hired and he was granted a lot of creative freedom for production.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Man of Steel #1, published in 1986 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by John Byrne with ink work by Dick Giordano.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins sometime in the past in Krypton (Superman’s home world), a world about to meet its doom. Jor-El (Superman’s father) arrives home feeling deeply troubled and he wastes no time to execute an important plan he prepared. He examines his unborn Kal-El inside the birthing matrix which turned to have been removed by one of the servants from the gestation chambers of the planet. Lara confronts her husband over what was committed and asked him why he endangers the life of their unborn child.
Jor-El tells her that he plans for their son to be spared from the pending doom of Krypton (a chain reaction from the planet’s core caused vast pressures to build within the crust, fusing native elements into a new metal – Kryptonite) by sending him far away deep into space with planet Earth as the final destination. Jor-El has done extensive research of Earth and is convinced that their son will not only survive there but also become a supreme being among the inhabitants…
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Clark’s earthly parents were indeed involved in his development becoming Superman.
There is no doubt that this John Byrne-led comic book remains great to read and highly significant with anything about Superman. Instead of telling one single extensive story, Byrne created a series of connected short tales that dramatized the icon’s post-Crisis origin and how the Krypton-born American Clark Kent became Superman for the first time ever.
While the prologue set in Krypton was quite heavy with expository dialogue, each subsequent short story was carefully structured and moved at a medium pace gradually emphasizing Clark Kent’s transformation into the Man of Steel. Along the way, there were lots of story details not only about the titular character but also about the Kent couple (Clark’s adoptive parents), what they went through, what secrets had to be kept and more. Very symbolically, this is a tale about an alien human being from space who grew up with traditional American culture and US heartland values while being raised by very loving American parents who previously could not produce children of their own. Through Clark, you will see that he is a blessing for Jonathan and Martha Kent and it is up to the couple to sow good values in him which are essential to his becoming not only a super being among mortals but also his emergence as a hero.
Conclusion
The origin of the post-Crisis Superman is great to read!
The Man of Steel #1 (1986) is indeed a great, character-focused comic book that emphasized the origin and debut of the post-Crisis Superman. John Byrne modernized Superman while still maintaining the classic superhero elements from the icon’s past versions as well as the American identity and ways (none of those woke and internationalist nonsense). This is also the optimistic Superman that is very inspirational which the recent DC cinematic universe (referred to as “DCEU”) of Warner Bros. terribly lacked. This illustrated literature work is also a major cornerstone of the post-Crisis era of DC Comics and John Byrne’s take on Superman is very defining and iconic.
If you are the kind of reader who views Superman widely through pop culture, you will notice specific elements from this comic book that made it into other forms of entertainment media such as Man of Steel (2013), the Christopher ReeveSuperman movies, the animated movies, the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV series (starring Dean Cain as the Man of Steel) and more. Those multimedia productions showed how influential this comic book became as a major reference for other creators.
Overall, The Man of Steel #1 (1986) is highly recommended!
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1The precise differences between Christianity and Islam, Lord Jesus and Muhammad, and the Holy Bible and the Quran explained – The YouTube channel HolyLandSite is a favorite of mine as it has published a lot of very credible and detailed explanatory videos about the Holy Land in Israel, Christianity, the Jews and how everything is connected with the Holy Bible (the Word of God). In the recent video they published recently, the precise differences between Christianity and Islam, between Lord Jesus and Muhammad, and between the Holy Bible and the Quran are explained in detail by Pastor Todd. I strongly recommend watching the video below…
#2 The deep hatred of the Palestinians towards Israel explained – There is no doubt that hatred, violence and murder are core values that the Palestinians have been oriented with while living under very evil leaders (murderer/terrorist Yasser Arafat is just one of them). To date, there are very few Palestinians who overcame their evil orientation and pushed back against their evil leaders to become good people. In the video below, YouTuber Oren explains in detail why so many Palestinians grew up with hate and live by hate towards Israel and its people. Lastly, I should state once again that the Palestinians are a displaced people, are NOT natives of the land of Israel and they caused trouble when they occupied Jordan and Kuwait.
#3 Remembering the past video game company Working Designs – It has been almost twenty years since American game company Working Designs closed down and ended their business. For the newcomers reading this, Working Designs is best known for localizing several video games from different Japanese companies for the North American market and among their best known releases were Lunar: The Silver Star Story, Lunar: Eternal Blue, Dragon Force and Magic Knight Rayearth. Their business history is very interesting to examine and for your viewing pleasure, posted below is one video about Working Designs’ legacy and another video about their games released across different platforms.
#4 Man of Steel video reviews, analysis, trivia and reaction videos – The cinematic universe of DC Comics superheroes that started in 2013’s Man of Steel is officially over and the newest film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom won’t match its predecessor’s massive commercial success. Unofficially referred to as the DCEU (DC Extended Universe), the past cinematic universe of Warner Bros. had a very inconsistent record of commercial and critical results. That being said, it is high time to go all the way back to the very beginning with Man of Steel (starring Henry Cavill as Superman) through a series of varied videos I found for you to watch.
#5 DeepStar Six videos – Believe it or not, way back in 1989 there was not one, not two, but three movies that had underwater settings. One of them was DeepStar Six which was directed by original Friday The 13th movie director Sean S. Cunningham and, for some reason, was released in cinemas here in the Philippines with the title “Alien from the Deep.” While it grossed less than Leviathan and was made for a fraction of the budget of James Cameron’s The Abyss, DeepStar Six still has a long-lasting following and different kinds of videos about it were made. You can watch what I found below…
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 take a close look at one of the many tales published through the Superman monthly series.
For the newcomers reading this, DC Comics published the Funeral for a Friend storyline set after Superman’s death (Superman #75). Funeral for a Friend explored the impact Superman’s death had on local society, the civil and political stakeholders, as well as DC’s many superheroes who were connected with the icon (read my retro reviews here, here, here and here). Of course, DC brought the Man of Steel back to life which led to the Reign of the Supermen storyline. This obviously meant concluding the Funeral for a Friend storyline.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #83, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work by Joe Rubinstein. This is the epilogue of Funeral for a Friend.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Superman meeting an arriving Batman (note: Azrael playing the role as Bruce Wayne had been paralyzed by Bane) in the presence of Commissioner Gordon in Gotham City. He tells Batman that it was time for them to go to a certain ceremony which catches Azrael knowing nothing about it all forcing him to just play along. Batman resorts to making an excuse and turns Superman down, even though he learns that the entire Justice League will be involved to take care of the Engine City problem. Not wanting to spark Superman’s suspicion, Batman leaves Superman and Gordon behind. Superman then flies away.
Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, Supergirl and personnel fly towards Engine City. Luthor is obsessed with accumulating Kyptonite at the site…
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Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Flash with Lex Luthor and Supergirl (in the background).
As the conclusion of the Funeral for a Friend storyline, this is a mixed bag of creative concepts. It has scenes that developed established supporting characters such as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Cat Grant and Superman’s parents Jonathan and Martha Kent. The main story of this comic book has a lot more to do with the Justice League than Superman himself as a result of a huge crisis in which an actual coastal city could collapse, fall into the sea and potentially poison the aquatic life.
That’s not to say that Superman does not have sufficient presence in this comic book. In fact, the Man of Steel has scenes that highlight his humanity, his leadership role among the Justice League and how he is still adjusting to life after getting killed by Doomsday. What Superman fans won’t find here is superhero action versus an enemy.
Still on the Superman relevance of this comic book, Lex Luthor’s obsession with accumulating as much Kryptonite as he could reflects his diabolic nature as well as his cunning moves with distorting people’s perception. Even though he does not commit any acts of violence, Luthor’s manipulative tactics even in the presence of many superheroes showed that he simply won’t stop at anything to get what he wants and what benefits him.
Speaking of more characters, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) here got a good piece of the spotlight as he emphasized why Engine City should fall into the Pacific Ocean which he relates to the destruction of Coast City. Through his dialogue, you can feel his bitterness and the impact that the Coast City tragedy had on his worldview. You will also see Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Guy Gardner and others participate in the talks.
Conclusion
Pay close attention to the details, Superman fans.
Superman #83 (1993) is a nicely crafted story that happens to be more about the Justice League dealing with a big problem with Superman present. As the epilogue to the Funeral for a Friend storyline, this comic book tied up certain loose ends but ultimately focused more on building up details and tension for future events. As this story took place a short time after Superman physically returned from the dead, readers will see a still-adjusting Man of Steel here and this clearly shows that the funeral is indeed over.
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 1995 to examine another chapter of the Superman vs. Aliens mini-series.
In my previous retro review, an object from space on Earth and Superman (who previously as Clark Kent learned of the Kryptonian language from the signals transmitted by the object) intervened the discovery of it in the presence of Lexcorp. After much talk and an agreement, Superman went into space with one of Lexcorp’s space ships (under the watch of Dr. Kimble who leads the corporation’s space division) leaving behind Lois Lane at the space station with Kimble. Deep in space, Superman arrives and discovers a ruined city with physical signs of struggle. What he does not realize is the presence of eggs and the Xenomorphs lurking within the new environment.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. Aliens #2, published in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work done by Kevin Nowlan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a space ship sent home by Superman is about to collide with the space station near Earth. As one of the crew members failed to take remote control of the incoming ship, a very determined Dr. Kimble takes over the controls and eventually took command of the said ship. Lois Lane, who showed signs of self-restraint and deterioration of her professionalism as a journalist, watches. As Kimble, Lane and the crew members approach the ship at the station’s docking bay, one passenger was found dead (a Chestburster alien came out of him) while three others were still alive.
As Dr. Kimble and personnel brought the surviving passengers in the infirmary, Lois Lane takes advantage of the situation by climbing up the ship to examine it closely. She knows that without the ship, her beloved Clark Kent/Superman is stranded in space. She is completely unaware of the presence of a fully grown Xenomorph alien watching her from a dark corner.
Meanwhile at the ruined city on the other side of the galaxy, a blindfolded Superman is carefully guided by the armed Kara going to a place that has medical equipment and supplies…
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Lois Lane during her encounter with the Xenomorph inside the space station.
This is a solid follow-up to what was established in issue #1. In this comic book, the creative team gradually raised the stakes as two sides of the story were told extensively in alternating fashion – the side of Superman and Kara in deep space, and the other side of Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble (clearly the 3rd most important character in this mini-series) inside the space station.
As the story went on, Superman became even more vulnerable not only because he grew weaker as he has been cut off from the sun (a primary source of energy for him), but also because struggling with the aliens wore him down a lot and he still insists on avoiding any acts of killing due to what happened to him previously. As the Man of Steel became more vulnerable, Kara (who is experienced already in fighting the Xenomorphs which she referred to as the uglies) became an even more significant character (next to Dr. Kimble) and she became a highly essential partner for the icon.
Even for us readers, Kara creatively became even more engaging as she shared memories of events (note: exposition) that happened sometime prior which explains why her city got ruined and how the Aliens arrived and made her people’s problems even worse. The visualization of the said events were efficiently done for a good immersion into the past.
While the Superman-Kara thread emphasized survival facing tremendous odds, the Lois-Kimble thread became a more significant part of this mini-series as the space station became the new place for Xenomorph attacks. While Dr. Kimble remained obsessed with achieving results with scientific discoveries and corporate interests in mind, Lois Lane became the hunted similar in the style of Ellen Ripley in 1979’s Alien.
If you are looking for action, you will find a lot of them in both threads of the story. While just one Xenomorph on the space station led to some incidental action moments, a lot more action happened on Superman-Kara’s side of the story as they (along with a few human survivors on the ruined city) faced a huge horde of aliens that kept on attacking them from all sides. If you are looking for superhero spectacle, you won’t find it here as the action is more grounded with sci-fi’s interpretation of reality and Superman here is weaker and a lot more worn down physically. Then again, this is not surprising given the tone and concept the creators aimed for.
Conclusion
Superman and Kara struggling hard as they are surrounded by lots of Aliens. One of Kara’s fellow people is present in this shot.
Superman vs. Aliens #2 (1995) is really engaging to read and there were lots of fun moments along the way. Even as the creators were building up something for the third and final issue, they managed to pull off big pay-offs to what was built up in issue #1. While the lack of superhero-style spectacle is clear, it is not a problem at all as there is a lot of action involving the many Xenomorphs in the ruined city plus the bouts of suspense and incidental action executed during Lois Lane’s encounter with a single but deadly Alien. Considering how much fun and engagement this comic book has, it remains to be seen how the next issue will live up to it.
Overall, Superman vs. Aliens #2 (1995) is highly recommended!
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 1995 to examine what was back then one of the most unthinkable comic book crossovers to ever happen – Superman vs. Aliens (also referred to as Superman/Aliens).
I remember sometime back in 1994, I bought a new superhero comic book from the local comic book retailer and what caught my attention was the print ad on the back – an Alien chestburster crashing through the iconic Superman S logo. A few of my friends who saw the same print ad chuckled at the concept of having the Man of Steel together with the monsters from the movie franchise that first started in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s Alien. Then came 1995 and eventually the first issue of the Superman vs. Aliens mini-series made it on the shelves of local comic book stores. Its cover easily attracted the attention of many and I saw the image of Superman being smaller to the Xenomorph alien in the background, the concept of the crossover started to intrigue me.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. Aliens #1, published in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work done by Kevin Nowlan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a fast moving object from nowhere heads towards Earth which was detected by a satellite of Lex Luthor’s corporation. Behind the scenes, personnel initiated an alert for a certain Dr. Kimble.
Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane arrive at the headquarters of Lexcorp. It turns out they were suddenly called for by the corporation due to what happened in space. As they ride the elevator heading towards the rooftop, Clark and Lois talk about Lexcorp’s space program and Dr. Kimble who happens to lead the said program.
At the roof, they meet Dr. Cheryl Kimble and immediately ride with her in the helicopter going to a certain destination in anticipation of the probe’s estimated arrival. During the trip, Kimble reveals that they received radio signals from the incoming probe which were garbled almost unintelligible. She then plays an excerpt of the radio signals for Clark and Lois to listen to.
For Clark, he cannot help but feel shocked as he finds the audio sounding like Kryptonian…
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Superman finds a dead Facehugger alien.
Firstly, I can say without any hesitation that the creative team succeeded in making the crossover between Superman and the Aliens believable within this very comic book. For one thing, Dan Jurgens came up with a script and visual design that radically different from what was shown in Superman comic books of the time. The script had this somewhat adulterated tone that made the comic book move away from superhero fantasy and move into the realm of cinematic science fiction. For setting the tone and the look, the creative team scored a home run.
Secondly, the script was properly structured to immerse readers with the tale initially following Superman, Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble which ultimately served as a build-up. The good news here is that readers don’t have to wait too long for the pay-off to be executed. In fact, the pay-off itself (which happens when the Man of Steel finally encounters the Xenomorph for the first time) is huge and immediately the tension and depth of the plot really shifted into high-gear which I enjoyed. Along the way, the expository dialogue or the presentation of details (to help readers understand) was nicely balanced.
Thirdly, I love the way how Dan Jurgens presented Superman as being more troubled and more vulnerable than usual. To see the American icon go into personal obsession over the Kryptonian details was a really unique way to presenting his human side. Also having Superman deep in space far away from any sun or star (the essential source for his powers) really made him truly vulnerable as he actually got weaker even before facing off with a Xenomorph. Being in a vulnerable state, you will see the Man of Steel in real danger which truly goes against type (note: being super strong and invulnerable all the time). As such, the danger of the Aliens against him is believable and intense. What I do find weird, however, is how awkward it is for me to see Superman actually trying to reason with the first Xenomorph he encounters. Of course, he has no previous knowledge about the violent nature of the Aliens but we readers – and millions of people who saw any of the movies – know better than him.
As part of the build-up, Dan Jurgens inserted details and flashbacks that recalled previous tales that were published during the early stage of the post-Crisis era of DC Comics. This not only includes Superman’s arrival on Earth but also his strategic killing of General Zod, Zaora and Quex-Ul using green Kryptonite (as published in Superman #22 of 1988). As such, Superman’s deep regret of taking life away from others serves as a build-up for his avoidance of killing in this crossover. This actually races the stakes for his upcoming encounters with the Aliens.
Even though the story is told through Superman, Dan Jurgens still had enough room to develop Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble. Kimble symbolizes the driven corporate executive who is in-charge of operations that could help her make claims on scientific discoveries and new technologies. Lois Lane here served as the intellectual opposite of Kimble without ever going into the extremes of gaining something for her journalistic career.
Conclusion
Superman with Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble.
Very clearly, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is indeed a great comic book as well as great opener for its mini-series. Dan Jurgens established a tale that had sufficient build-up and when the pay-off started, the crossover aspect really made the story more compelling to read. Ultimately, this one made the crossover between Superman and the Xenomorphs believable, engaging and intriguing. This comic book is a great start and I am eager to find out what happens next.
Overall, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is highly recommended!
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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through a Superman tale.
To put things in perspective, John Byrne became in charge of redefining the iconic Superman during the post-Crisis age and he sure had a lot of creative freedom to not only modernize the character but also make him relevant to the public while also pleasing long-time fans. To say the least, the post-Crisis era was a time of daring concepts with the established superheroes of DC Comics. For more insight on Byrne’s handling of the Man of Steel, read my other retro comic book review by clicking here.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #5, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Clark Kent having an outrageous dream in which he and Wonder Woman fight powerful enemies together. Shortly after arriving at the Daily Planet for duty, Clark learns from his boss Perry White that his office rival Lois Lane is already in South America literally digging on a significant discovery there. After being sent there by his boss, Clark flies to the south as Superman.
Upon arrival, Superman does a super speed reconnoiter at the dig site in the middle of a forest before changing back into Clark Kent. He eventually finds Lois Lane who is very surprised to see him. Even though he explained things to her, Lois remains doubtful of Clark as she still sees him as a journalistic rival who could potentially ruin her hot scoop…
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In his civilian form as Clark Kent, Superman fights the huge mummy figure.
I can say that John Byrne’s brilliance is very evident in this comic book. Firstly, this is a story that sheds light on the journalistic rivalry between Lois and Clark that brings back memories about what happened with the Superman hot scoop in The Man of Steel limited series. Here, Lois remains doubtful about Clark and even shows some bitterness as she is on the verge of a major discovery in South America.
Secondly, this story is also an accidental adventure that creatively has a mix of Indiana Jones, UFOs and ancient horror all throughout. The build-up here is pretty strong as the tale focused strongly on the discovery aspect of the dig site which eventually led to a series of action-packed unfortunate events that really pushed Clark Kent both as civilian and as a superhero. Here, Clark has the tough task to fight an over-sized enemy (note: Byrne’s own take on the mummy) to keep Lois and the others safe while also making certain that he keeps his identity secret.
Along the way, Byrne inserted lots of in-depth details backed with observations (by the characters) which made this action-packed tale a cerebral read. This is a fine example of being creative with handling Superman while catering to readers who love spectacle as well as satisfying those who enjoy a smart presentation of the icon. In other words, there is nothing brainless or dumb to find here.
Conclusion
The journalistic rivalry between Clark and Lois Lane is really engaging to read.
Superman #5 (1987) is a very good read and this is fine showcase of the brilliant handling of the Man of Steel done by John Byrne. Aesthetics aside, this comic book is a relic that highlights the time when Lois and Clark were rival writers and the idea of them getting romantically involved seemed very unlikely at the time of its publishing during the early stage of the post-Crisis era. It was in many ways a defiance of the status quo of the original DC multiverse that had Lois and Superman as lovers. As an adventure, this comic book is very entertaining and engaging and the thing here is that it is only the first part of its arc.
Overall, Superman #5 (1993) is highly recommended.
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 and explore a chapter of the Reign of the Supermen storyline through one of the issues of the Superman monthly series.
To put things in perspective, DC Comics fulfilled its promise to kill the iconic Man of Steel in Superman #75 (1993) which sold a whole lot of copies and the daring death concept made Superman a hot news item. After a brief period showing what the world is like without Superman, DC resurrected him in Adventures of Superman #500 which spawned the different Supermen and a new storyline (the Reign of the Supermen) which took effect on the four Superman monthly series of the time.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #78, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Lois Lane still thinking about Superman as she drives her car on a rainy night. At the moment, she still has not learned to live without him. As she is granted access into a facility of Lexcorp, she carefully thinks about the sudden number of many people around the country who claimed to have seen Superman.
Inside the facility, Dr. Meyer meets her and tells her that had met the Man of Steel sometime prior and he believes that the certain person who saved him and others was definitely the same person. Being skeptical, Lois Lane asked him if some other superhero saved them from certain death. In response, he shows to her an image of the heroic figure captured by security cameras. Lois recognizes the face and head even though some parts were shadowed…
Quality
Cyborg Superman in full appearance.
Starting with the storytelling, I can say that this is one solid tale that really pokes the curiosity regarding Cyborg Superman…is he the real Superman or some very clever and capable impostor? Dan Jurgens really knows his Superman stuff and he used a clever approach on arousing the readers’ curiosity while still managing to move the story forward. As one of the early chapters of the Reign of the Supermen storyline, it was very obvious that things were set in motion to set up future post-death Superman stories.
The most engaging parts of this tale were the scenes between Lois Lane and Cyborg Superman (note: he sure looks like a Terminator-inspired take on the Man of Steel which itself was a daring concept back in 1993). Lois Lane here is clearly intelligent and for personal and professional reasons, she would not settle for words as definitive answers but have evidence scientifically analyzed right in front of her. Once again, this is a lively reminder that in the post-Crisis universe of DC Comics, Lois Lane is persistent on verifying facts to realize the truth (which is something clearly missing in today’s world of social media and news media outlets serving as loudspeakers for political forces).
While the storytelling remains good all these decades, what really aged badly in this comic book was the bastardization of Superman’s iconic imagery with some robotic influences of the Terminator mixed in that made him look science fictional in appearance. Of course, Cyborg Superman was just one of the Supermen in this storyline and the Reign of the Supermen concept was clearly an extension of DC Comics’ dishonesty behind the death and return of the Man of Steel. This also shows DC’s irresponsible handling of one of America’s icons. Let’s be honest with ourselves here…how many of you really want to see Cyborg Superman in live-action form in a future DC superhero movie from Warner Bros. and James Gunn?
Conclusion
How many of you have this poster of a very bastardized image of Superman in your homes right now?
While Superman #78 (1993) has a good story told and added to the mystery about the resurrection of Superman, it ultimately served as a build-up platform to set up further stories not only about the Man of Steel but also that of Doomsday (note: a big rematch happened a few years later). The image of Cyborg Superman is clearly a defamation of the iconic look of the Man of Steel and that alone really brought the overall entertainment value of this comic book way down in my view. I find it baffling that there was no major backlash nor an outrage from Superman fans back in 1993 over this.
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, 20th century arts and culture enthusiasts, fans of Marvel and DC Comics, and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1976 to examine what is truly a landmark event in the history of superhero comic book publishing – the first-ever superhero crossover event of Marvel Comics and DC Comics with Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (also referred to as Superman vs. Spider-Man for short).
For the newcomers reading this, I previously reviewed the 2nd Superman-Spider-Man crossover comic book titled Superman and Spider-Man. That was released in 1981 and was handled by a different creative team (led by Jim Shooter as writer) compared to the 1976 crossover of the two icons of Marvel and DC. Going back to the 1970s, a crossover between Marvel and DC looked like an impossible dream as the idea of the two companies coming into agreements over the legal, creative and financial aspects was perceived to be unachievable. Indeed there were headaches and challenges during the negotiations but ultimately Marvel and DC came into an agreement to publish a special comic book featuring Superman, Spider-Man and the related supervillains and supporting characters from both sides. Take note that the two publishing giants worked together previously with publishing an official comic book adaptation of the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939).
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, published in 1976 by Marvel Comics and DC Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru. This crossover event was described as the battle of the century.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at the World News Conference in New York City. Separated by several feet apart, Clark Kent (Superman) and Peter Parker (Spider-Man) arrive with their respective companions and associates. What the two heroes do not know is that Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus recently escaped from prison.
Peter Parker gets berated by his boss J. Jonah Jameson for not being good enough as a photographer while Clark Kent learns the bad news from Edge Morgan that he is not wanted for the coverage of a national convention.
Shortly after, Lois Lane climbs up a scaffold to get a good view for some photography. Just as she is about to fall down, Peter Parker suddenly grabs her and pulls her to safety. After an exchange of pleasantries, Peter introduces Lois to Mary Jane Watson. Just as MJ and Lois start conversing, Superman suddenly arrives. The Superman figure then fires beams of light from eyes to Lois and MJ, causing them to vanish into thin air. It turns out, the caped figure is an impostor as Peter Parker and Clark Kent react in shock.
Peter quickly runs to the roof of the building and changes into Spider-Man. As soon as he leaps into action, he comes face to face with Superman himself…
Quality
Superman, Spider-Man, Luthor, Dr. Octopus, Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson shown in this scene.
I can loudly say that this is one pretty enjoyable crossover tale that not only featured Superman and Spider-Man, but also gave their respective mortal enemies Luthor and Dr. Octopus a good share of the spotlight. To be very clear, the story and set-up of scenes do have a somewhat restrictive structure as the creators clearly did their best to make the spotlight on the characters more or less equal in terms of imagery, dialogue amount and the sharing of dynamic shots. While some may easily complain about the so-called old and tired formula of the major characters getting into fighting each other due to a misunderstanding followed by setting aside their differences to work together, take note that the said formula worked really well in this story written by Gerry Conway.
The story concept Conway came up was clearly made to justify Superman and Spider-Man encountering each other (note: the same goes with the super villains and supporting characters) and the way he wrote the two interacting with each other worked seamlessly and convincingly. There are lots of nice exchanges of dialogue between the Man of Steel and the webslinger.
Even the superiors of Clark Kent and Peter Parker had their own crossover.
Don’t let the woke and socialists fool you. There is nothing racist in this comic book. Wokeness is foolishness. Political correctness distorts perception of reality.
Even though the script has this set of creative restrictions to ensure fairness on both Marvel and DC’s sides, the synergy of friendship and cooperation between Superman and Spider-Man is fantastic to read. Similar qualities are also evident with the scenes of Luthor and Dr. Octopus. Very clearly, the creative team did intense research on the Marvel and DC characters and found ways to create a unique mix that resonates with the fans of Superman and Spider-Man.
As expected, this comic book has lots of superhero spectacle for readers to enjoy. The superhero violence is not intense but the action scenes were entertaining to look at. In my opinion, the highlights of the spectacle here is when Superman and Spider-Man literally exchanged mortal enemies to fight with. As for the fight between the two icons as emphasized in the title, it definitely is a special event that really kicked the story into high gear.
While this is indeed a fun superhero crossover to read, there are some notable weak points here. For one thing, the plot itself lacks a strong concept and Luthor’s evil plan is very flawed and unconvincing. That being said, as I read and re-read this comic book, there never was a sense of danger building up nor was the Luthor-Dr. Octopus team ever a grave threat.
Conclusion
This is only a small sample of the fun in the battle between Superman and Spider-Man.
By today’s standards, Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) is still a fun superhero crossover comic book to read and it remains as a significant part of not just Marvel and DC’s history of collaboration but also that of inter-company superhero crossover comic book publishing in general. While it is better than many other inter-company superhero crossover comic books I have read through the decades, this one is certainly not the best one from Marvel and DC. For me, Superman and Spider-Man (1981) has a more elaborate plot, higher fun factor and deeper impact than this comic book. Meanwhile, Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk (1981) exceeded this comic book in terms of plotting, character interactions, super villain portrayals and establishing a real sense of danger that requires the super heroes to solve. Still, Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) remains an enjoyable read and it definitely is worthy as the strong beginning of Marvel-DC superhero crossover projects of the 1970s and 1980s. It also has more dynamic visuals than its 1981 sequel. This one is also part of the Crossover Classics: The Marvel-DC Collection paperback.
Overall, Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) is recommended!
Author Carlo Carrasco 