As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
Very recently inside the Gaza strip, soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) eliminated the Hamas leader and mass murderer Yahya Sinwar who happens to be the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel. It has also been verified by DNA testing and physical examination that Sinwar’s dead body is genuine and already Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech about this major breakthrough.
Sinwar was not just a Palestinian terrorist sponsored by terrorist state Iran. He was a demon who lived with pure hatred towards Israel and always called for violence against the Jewish state. Sinwar has a history of murder and genocide. As such, the elimination of the Hamas leader (which happened unexpectedly) is a tremendous achievement not only for Israel but also in the war against terrorists. To see more precise details about what happened, click https://looking4theblessedhope.com/2024/10/17/they-got-him-yahya-sinwar-mastermind-of-the-october-7-massacre-is-dead/
Very clearly, George W. Bush’s war on terror has long been over and Israel is now the leading the fight against terrorists while also defending Western democracy and freedom in the region. Sinwar’s death is the latest following the elimination of Hezbollah’s top leader Nasrallah and that of Hamas’ other leader Ismail Haniyeh (who was eliminated inside Iran) made 2024 the year of the fall of terrorist leaders.
For added insight, watch the YouTube videos below…
There is no doubt about it. God is on Israel’s side and already the tide is turning against terrorist state Iran (whose wicked government continues to brutalize Iranians who don’t agree with them) and the terrorist groups who are doing their dirt works. Iran already launched two barrages of missiles at Israel and God defended the nation. The war with the terrorists will still go on but Israel has God to keep on striving, winning and achieving justice for the victims of terrorists.
Before ending this post, I want to reach out to all the people out there who hate Israel, the people who were brainwashed by Islamo-Leftist forces and others who are living with evil, violence and hatred.
My message to the evildoers, the lost, the violent and unsaved is this: Stop being evil. Stop your terrorist activities. Stop being the terrorists’ pawns and useful idiots. Stop being a pawn of Satan and start purifying yourselves with the Word of God so that you can come to Lord Jesus to repent and submit willingly. It is your decision to make the right moves and head towards the light of Lord Jesus (Savior and Hope of all nations) while you still have time.
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Antonio P. Antonio story featured by Dark Asia with Megan – I previous made a blog post about this (click here). Even before this blog and website of mine started, I had been following the crime story of the late Antonio P. Antonio (APA) who was killed by his own son in 2013. The son even stayed overseas for years before getting caught and brought back home to be tried in court. Eventually, justice was served for the victim’s family and I should say that YouTuber Dark Asia with Megan did a really good job explaining and emphasizing the details in an episode launched on YouTube on September 25, 2024. This is a must-see video for anyone who is interested in true crime stories as well as events related to the famous BF Homes subdivision in the Philippines.
#2 New cars are spying on drivers and violating privacy – Be very careful with what you wish for when it comes to buying a brand new car with the latest in technology. There is this disturbing trend growing in which drivers/owners of cars equipped with highly advanced technologies ended up getting violated by car companies who collected not only their personal data but also other types of information about them such as immigration status, race, facial expressions, weight, health and even genetic information. This is because the highly computerized cars can spy on drivers by capturing videos of them, recording sound, monitoring their use of car apps, and collecting data from smartphones or computers that got connected to the car’s system. Watch the videos below and pay close attention to the details.
#3 In-depth look at the elimination of Hezbollah’s top leader Nasrallah – I previously blogged about the elimination of Hezbollah leader and murderer Hassan Nasrallah and it contained relevant videos about the topic. For a new and in-depth look about his elimination and what lies ahead for Israel and the rest of the world, watch the TBN Israel and CBN News videos below. Pay close attention to details.
#4 Hunting legendary animals in Red Dead Redemption II – In the blockbuster video game Red Dead Redemption II, hunting is a huge and engaging part of the game. The game developers set up opportunities to find and hunt what they refer to as legendary animals. There is a variety of rewards that come with hunting the said animals and to find out where they are located, watch this video by Reptac.
#5 Last Action Hero videos – While it is a known fact that the movie Last Action Hero (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) was a huge commercial and critical disappointment in 1993, there are still lots of people who enjoyed watching it and even do research about it. That being said, it is not surprising that there are lots of YouTubers out there who made videos about it and you can watch a variety of videos I selected for your viewing.
6. How terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah got eliminated
Going back to the eliminated Hezbollah leader and murderer Hassan Nasrallah, posted below is a video that explains (to the best of the YouTuber’s ability) what happened and how the powerful strike happened there in Lebanon.
7. Multiculturalism is truly bad
We live in a very twisted world. It is so twisted, illegal aliens are violating the sovereignty and cultures of nations. Like diversity, inclusion and wokeness, multiculturalism is a disease and it is destructive. Watch and learn from PragerU’s video below.
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
Recently it was announced that two Israeli-produced Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts (FAICs) were received by the Philippines which raises the current number of Philippine Navy (PN) FAICs to eight, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) new article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Fleet (PF) on Monday announced that two more fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC), also known as the Acero-class patrol vessels, were delivered to the country.
In a message to reporters, PF spokesperson Lt. Giovanni Badidles said the two FAICs were delivered at the Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor on Sept. 17.
“These two FAICs, to be designated with bow numbers PG-908 and PG-909, will be the seventh and the eighth fast boats under the Acero-class patrol vessels,” PF spokesperson Lt. Giovanni Badidles said in a message to reporters.
Once commissioned into service, the number of FAICs in the Philippine Navy (PN) will rise to eight, leaving only one to be delivered by contractor Israeli Shipyards Ltd.
“Similar with their predecessors, the newly delivered platforms are designed for high-speed operations, featuring advanced missile systems and sophisticated onboard technology, which enhances the PN’s capability to conduct rapid and effective maritime interdiction operations,” Badidles said.
He also said the arrival of these vessels underscores the continued modernization of the PN and represents a crucial step toward bolstering Manila’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program.
On May 22 this year, the PN formally commissioned into service the fifth and sixth FAICs and named them BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG-906) and BRP Laurence Narag (PG-907). These two FAICs are equipped with the Spike NLOS (non-line of sight) missile systems.
The PN received the two gunboats from Israel Shipyards Ltd. on Nov. 18, 2023.
The vessels were named after two Medal of Valor awardees, the late Marine Staff Sgt. Herminigildo Yurong and Marine Cpl. Laurence Narag, who perished in the line of duty during the Philippine government’s campaign against Moro rebels in Mindanao in 2000.
This latest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties through defense and military technology. The Philippine Navy needs the best technology they could get to help them in their operations as well as securing the nation.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
We live in a very divided world. Around the world, Leftist forces have been supporting evil forces like the current regime of Iran which is known for supplying and arming the Palestinian terrorists, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups around the Middle East. The Leftists and terrorists always go together and their anti-Semitism is clearly obvious. Overseas, Israel recently intensified its fight against the Iran-sponsored terrorist group Hezbollah. Israel made it clear that they are at war with Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon.
With all that said, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel and believe that He will guide the Israeli forces to another victory which means finishing off Hamas, crushing Hezbollah and forcing Iran and its terror proxies to fall down. Read Joshua 11:1-20 in the Holy Bible for relevance and truth. Pray to the Lord to support Israel, its government officials, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the citizens and other stakeholders.
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video about V: The Original Miniseries, V: The Final Battle and V TV series – If you are a fan of the V sci-fi entertainment franchise that made big waves on television in the 1980s, then you must watch Minty Comedic Arts’ video which covers V: The Original Miniseries (1983), V: The Final Battle (1984) and the creative mess that was the V TV series. The video also includes the 2009 V TV series which makes it a complete package for all V fans. If you are a long-time V fan, now is a good time to test your knowledge by watching the video below.
#2 Moneymaking locations in Red Dead Redemption 2 – If you have been struggling to make big money in the realm of the 2018 blockbuster video game Red Dead Redemption 2, then this video by YouTuber MrBossFTW must be seen. In RDR2 there are indeed places where you can find gold bars, sets of Dollar bills and other valuables that can sell in-game. There are indeed challenges to find the riches but they are worth doing.
#3 Hezbollah terrorists and allies hit hard by as their communication devices blew up – Recently several Hezbollah terrorists and some allies got hit hard because the pagers used turned out to be bombs which blew up and crippled their communication network. The initial attack even injured the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon himself got injured because he was also using the same pager that Hezbollah uses. The high-tech attacks not only happened in Lebanon but also in Syria where some Hezbollah terrorists were present. Unsurprisingly, the Islamic terrorists blamed Israel. Watch and learn from the videos below.
#4 Wokeness of Dragon Age: The Veilgard exposed – I really don’t like when the woke activists working in entertainment deform video games, movies and comic books as they turned them into vehicles promoting their pathetic agenda. Simply put, whatever the Satanic Left touches, they ruin it. The same can be said about the upcoming video game Dragon Age: The Veilgard. Already it can be seen that there is indeed a lot of woke stuff in the new game and YouTuber Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost posted a video explaining what was found and why the gamers heavily rejected the new Dragon Age game. Watch and learn from the video below.
#5 Kamala Harris’ dishonesty and lying – There is no doubt that the Democrats in American nominated a very dishonest candidate for US President with Kamala Harris. Harris is truly a Communist and she will do anything bad to gain power. That being said, her lying is clear and the corrupted mainstream news media just let her get away with poisoning people’s minds. Watch and learn from the videos below.
#6 PS5 Pro reactions – In recent times, Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro) which is the upgraded version of the PS5. Apart from the flawed console presentation by Sony, PS5 Pro is overpriced at $699 for America and it does not even have an optical drive and no vertical stand is included. For your reference, posted below are selected videos about the reactions and analysis of the PS5 Pro. Things are not really looking good for the upgraded PS5.
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
For the newcomers reading this, Hassan Nasrallah was a religious murder who led Hezbollah for decades and organized several acts of terrorism against Israel . To learn more about the dead Nasrallah, read The Jerusalem Post’s article by clicking here.
To put things in perspective, posted below are selected YouTube videos for your viewing. Watch and pay close attention to the details.
Hassan Nasrallah had been in power for DECADES committing murders and terrorism. So many men, women and children got killed because of him and Hezbollah’s evil moves. There are so many people who became victims and saw their lives disrupted or ended. Think about that very carefully.
While the people who were brainwashed with political correctness keep on failing to see the evil in Nasrallah and his terrorist group, there is no doubt that the evil is real. Terrorist state Iran’s involvement with Hezbollah only made their evil more real and clearer.
Nasrallah’s elimination was inevitable. Not only that, other top officials of Hezbollah and a few Iranian generals died with him during the precise strike by Israel at the terrorists’ headquarters in Lebanon. Knowing how much Iran-sponsored Hezbollah attacked Israel for so long, the elimination of Nasrallah and his top officials proved that vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19) and He has always been with Israel’s side. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is the world leader in the fight against terrorism while the IDF is clearly the most moral army in the whole world. Again, God is with Israel!
Israel’s war is with Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon. Remember that.
Also be reminded that shortly after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah in Lebanon fired rockets at Israel. Without their top leaders, the remaining Hezbollah terrorists know that their days are numbered and they could lose their grip of Lebanon someday (note: the people of Lebanon who seek freedom from Hezbollah need prayers of support). Those evildoers should realize by now that God truly exists and that Israel’s government and the IDF have God on their side. Islamic terrorists and their useful idiots (Islamo-Leftists) should realize that God is watching them all.
Today, the axis of evil in this world is Iran-Turkey-Russia.
Before ending this post, I want to share with you all the relevant holy scriptures below. These scriptures should remind you that the Lord will never abandon His people and His faithful believers. The Word of God is eternally holy and eternal.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
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 comic book readers, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, movie fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1992 to take a close look at the official comic book adaptation of the action movie Universal Soldier.
Universal Soldier stood out among Hollywood action films in 1992 as it had Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the main stars and both of them were established action movie stars each with huge followings of fans. As it grossed almost $100 million worldwide on a budget of less than $25 million, the movie was successful and eventually sparked its of franchise of movies, TV shows, video games and comic books. NOW Comics was in-charge of making and publishing the comic book adaptation of the 1992 film.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Universal Soldier #1 published in 1992 by NOW Comics with a story written by Clint McElroy and drawn by Lenin Delsol. This was the first chapter of a 3-issue mini-series.
The cover showing a photographic image of star Dolph Lundgren.
Early story
The story begins in Vietnam in 1969. The American soldier Luc Deveraux arrives at a village that was secured by the U.S. Army. To his shock, he finds several dead bodies of his squad members and villagers, then encounters Sergeant Andrew Scott with two Vietnamese individuals (male and female) tied together near him. It turns out that Scott, who made a necklace composed of severed ears, has gone insane and executes the Vietnamese man. As Deveraux refuses to follow Scott’s order to shoot the Vietnamese female, the sergeant kills he. Deveraux and Scott shot each other to death and eventually their corpses were recovered by another squad to be cryogenically frozen.
A few decades later in Nevada, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the UniSol (Universal Soldier) arrives and among the members are Deveraux (identified as GR44) and Scott (GR13) who have been reanimated by the government with their past memories fully suppressed. Their team gets deployed to the Hoover Dam (Mackinley Dam in the comic book) to resolve a hostage situation…
Quality
Operating very much like robots, two Universal Soldiers take down terrorists and manipulated their communication as they make their way through to save the hostages from the remaining terrorists.
As an adaptation, I find this comic book a surprisingly accurate translation of the movie’s early part of the story (note: the literary narrative ends when Deveraux leaves with the female reporter). While not 100% of the film’s plot and visual details were captured, this comic book still succeeded in replicating the look, feel and tone of the movie. It is clear that the comic book team had access to the footage of the film and a copy of the screenplay (written by Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch and Dean Devlin).
Clint McElroy really stuck close to the film’s plot, the dialogue and the way the characters were portrayed. Again, not 100% of the relevant details were adapted and some liberties were taken but McElroy managed to craft a comic book narrative that was solidly structured, had sufficient details to keep readers oriented and engaged, and ensured the story moved at a satisfying pace. By the time I reached the end of this comic book, I got oriented with the story, the characters and the details shown in between.
Like in the movie, this comic book emphasizes the government’s very cold and heartless approach on handling their Universal Soldiers who are treated more like tools instead of people.
Lenin Delsol’s artwork here is really good. It is clear that he had access to the film’s production footage as several images of locations and characters here very closely resembled what was shown in the movie most of the time. When it comes to the action scenes, Delsol did not go for visual dynamism (note: the dynamic action style was common with superhero comics of the 1990s) but rather he portrayed the action with realism and varying degrees of brutality.
When it comes to visualizing the characters, it is clear that the creative team was not authorized to use the likenesses of the actors. Luc Deveraux looks absolutely nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme while journalist Veronica Roberts does not look like Ally Walker. Ironically, there are a few images of Scott’s face that somewhat resembles Dolph Lundgren. The way I see it, it is not problematic to see the characters not resembling the actors from the film. In fact, I like the new character designs Delsol came up with for the characters.
Conclusion
This early scene sets the tone of the entire comic book. As for the characters, Deveraux look nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sergeant Scott does not look like Dolph Lundgren (note: in other images of Scott shown later in the comic book, he looked a bit like the actor).
Even though I was not a fan of the 1992 movie, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) succeeded in keeping me engaged and entertained until the end. This is a really good adaptation of the early part of the film and I like the approach the Elroy-Densol team took on establishing the literary experience. Of course, if you want more dynamic visuals of the Hoover Dam scene or if you want that strong rated-R vibe when it comes to hard action, you should watch the movie. As of now, I am convinced to look forward to the next issue of this 3-part mini-series adaptation.
Overall, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) is recommended.
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1HolyLandSite’s comprehensive videos about the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel – I love Israel and I will always stand with it in accordance to my uncompromising faith in the Lord and His Word (the Holy Bible). During the one and only day-off of the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined, I visited the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem and it is truly one of the most significant places to visit in the entire world. The Dome of the Rock (the Muslim shrine) occupies the space where the two Jewish temples used to be and inside it is the Foundation Stone (preserved layer of mountain top rock) which is the spot where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac before God sent the angel to intervene. Be aware that during the time of Lord Jesus, the 2nd Jewish temple was established.
HolyLandSite produced the most in-depth and most informative videos about the Temple Mount and I encourage you to watch them now.
#2 The #10 billion Apple Car disaster – You ever heard of the Apple Car? Such a project from the very same company behind iPhone actually existed and it ended up as a disaster worth an estimated $10 billion. What happened behind the scenes at Apple? Did the technology giant really believe it could make a positive impact on the automobile industry? You can find out more by watching ColdFusion’s video below.
#3 Venom: Lethal Protector revisited and explained – I should mention first that I am not a fan of the Marvel Comics super villain Venom. For the newcomers reading this, Venom emerged in the late 1980s as Spider-Man’s deadliest enemy and went on to become a murderer who somehow helped Marvel Comics sell a lot of comic books. Because comic book fans wanted more of him so much, Marvel went on to publish the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series in the early 1990s and it led to even more comic books showcasing him as an anti-hero (specifically a killer helping the powerless people). If you are interested to learn about the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series without having to go through all the trouble of finding the comic books, watch the video below. Better save your money.
#4 You, Me and the Movies’ reaction videos of the first three Jaws movies – YouTube channel You, Me and the Movies recently posted their movie reaction videos of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978) and Jaws 3-D (1983). Having seen all three movies before, I enjoyed these reaction videos. The first movie from 1975 is a true cinematic classic directed by a very young Spielberg and if you have not seen it, I encourage you to watch it entirely first before seeing the related reaction video. I cannot say the same about Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D (AKA Jaws 3). Once you are ready, enjoy the videos below.
#5 Retrospective videos of Suikoden and Suikoden II – Recently, Konami announced that it will finally be releasing the anticipated collection Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars on March 6, 2025 for varied game consoles plus Steam. The said collection was supposed to have been released in 2023 but a delay happened and Konami was very silent until recently. Now that fans of the first two Suikoden games have something to look forward to in 2025, here are some retrospective videos that will help you understand what the games are and why they are still popular among Japanese RPG (JRPG) enthusiasts.
#6 The wickedness and wokeness of Rachel Zegler exposed – Actress Rachel Zegler is not worth trusting as she went ballistic while promoting the new Snow White movie from woke Disney. Not only did she go against the legacy of the classic Snow White animated movie, she sided with the pro-Palestine movement and their terrorists. While her tweet could encourage pro-Palestine believers to watch the new Snow White, it is a fact that there already a movement of people who hate Israel telling people to boycott the said movie simply because it has Israeli actress (and Wonder Woman star) Gal Gadot. By being woke and reckless, Zegler is only turning off people from watching the new Snow White and if the movie fails, it will cost Disney a lot of money. Watch and learn from the selected videos below.
#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to King Kong (1933) and Godzilla (1954) – I really enjoy watching the movie reaction videos of Popcorn in Bed (PIB) and recently she posted new videos about two very significant movies…the original King Kong of 1933 and the original Godzilla (Gojira) film of 1954. As the two mentioned movies are cinematic classics, I encourage you to watch them first before watching Popcorn in Bed’s reaction videos. To those who saw classics already, watch the reaction videos below.
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Dance Away behind-the-scenes video – Way back in 1994, I saw the Japanese anime feature film Project A-ko (1986) on Laserdisc format (dubbed in Japanese with English subtitles). As I viewed it, I noticed there were three English language songs that played in the background and the one I enjoyed most was the song Dance Away which was performed by Annie Livingstone (with supporting vocals by Samantha Newark and the late Valerie Stevenson). Project A-ko’s behind-the-scenes information revealed the three singers working together on Dance Away which you can watch in the video below. These singers have beautiful voices and were really talented to watch.
#2 AI and automation are taking over grocery stores and drive-thru lanes – In America, inflation spiked so much under the Biden administration which contributed a lot to higher prices of food and the suffering of consumers who need food. That being said, the food industry has invested a lot on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation so that they can lower labors costs and somehow improve sales to keep the businesses alive. In fact, technology is becoming much more integrated in places where people buy food and that also means making orders not in front of a human worker but in front of a computer (example: a touch-screen monitor where you choose what to order). Watch and learn from the video below.
#3 Assorted videos about The Last Starfighter – Released way back in 1984, The Last Starfighter was a memorable movie that carefully blended science fiction concepts, adventure, fine performances and video game elements together. It was also one of the early movies Hollywood made that extensively used computer-generated imagery (CGI) which defied the era’s standard of using practical and optical effects. Now available on 4K Blu-ray format, The Last Starfighter is a popular subject of varied YouTube videos and I selected some for your enjoyment below. However, if you have not seen The Last Starfighter yet, I urge you watch it first before seeing any of the movie reaction videos featuring it. You make the decision.
#4 HolyLandSite’s Capernaum to Bethsaida walking tour video – I love Israel and I will always stand with it. For the newcomers reading this, Israel is where the Holy Land is and it has always been the land that the Lord God designated to the Jewish people. Recently HolyLandSite released another video showcasing a walking tour in the Galilee region specifically from Capernaum to Bethsaida. If you have not read the Holy Bible extensively, Lord Jesus spent a great deal of his ministry in Galilee. I myself had been to the Galilee region and many times during the pilgrimage tour there and in other parts of Israel, I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life on-location. Watch the video below.
#5 More people in Iran coming to Lord Jesus– It is not a fantasy to say that the current regime of Iran (in power since 1979) made their nation a terrorist state. Iran is truly sponsoring terrorist groups in the Middle East and they have Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorists doing their work to destroy Israel. While the Iranian regime is clearly evil and murderous (note: their leaders declared in their own language death towards America, Israel and England), there are many Iranians who do not follow their government. In fact, there are Iranians who even left Islam behind to come to Jesus whom they accepted as their Lord and savior. Be aware that the Iranian government had harmed their fellow Iranians many times and this includes human rights violations. That being said, the people in Iran who desired Lord Jesus and freedom from their oppressive government need our prayers of support. Watch and learn from the video below.
#6 Rocky II (1978) reaction/review videos – If you have been watching movies for decades and if you have been following the career of Sylvester Stallone, then you would be already aware of the significance of the 1976 film Rocky. Considering its success, Rocky spawned several sequels and a few spin-off movies through the decades. Going back to the late 1970s, Sylvester Stallone came up with the effort to make the sequel Rocky II (1979) which itself became featured in several movie reaction/review videos and retrospectives. Watch the videos I selected for you all below.
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. A-Jax North American arcade flyer
Another one of Konami’s arcade flyers showing a pretty fashion model with a touch of militarism.
A-Jax (also referred to as Ajax) is another one of the many military themed games Konami released for the arcades in the 1980s. It was a 2D vertically scrolling shooter in which players use aircrafts to shoot enemies both in the air and on the ground. The game was a hit in Japanese arcades and Konami came up with the North American arcade flyer showing three screenshots, an archive footage shot of a military helicopter and a sexy lady (with a light military look) with a machine gun. The style of presentation was similar in style with the North American arcade flyers of Contra and M.I.A.: Missing in Action.
2. The Combatribes print ad
The short comic book approach was used to emphasize the setting and concept of the video game.
Technos, the Japanese company behind the wildly popular Double Dragon games franchise, proved to be successful with the arcade release of The Combatribes. In an attempt to keep the wave of success moving, Technos released The Combatribes on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992 and someone involved with the North American marketing came up with the idea of creating a comic book-style presentation for the print ad. Creatively speaking, the comic book approach was done to emphasize the story and visual concepts of the game, and entice readers to play it. By today’s standards of video game marketing, this print ad’s approach is both unusual and notable.
3. Dead or Alive 2 Dreamcast port print ad
This was a wide print ad that appeared on magazines and it sure was eye-catching. It was an effective way to promote the game and inform people of the Sega Dreamcast’s presence in the market.
When Dead or Alive 2 was released in the arcades in 1999, a lot of gamers were astounded by it as developer Team Ninja (led by Tomonobu Itagaki) made it much bigger and a lot better than its 1996 predecessor. Team Ninja really went all out making the sequel utilizing Sega’s NAOMI arcade technology, inviting martial artists to do motion-capture, and having a very ambitious game design. Since the game was developed with the NAOMI hardware, porting the game for the Sega Dreamcast was reportedly convenient and smooth for the developers who went on to add more gameplay features and modes. Publisher Tecmo came up with this wide print ad (promoting the Dreamcast release) showcasing three characters, six screenshots and text descriptions emphasizing the universal acclaim the game received. The promotional approach was simple yet effective.
4. Jet Moto (PC version) print ad
From PlayStation to PC.
In November 1996, the futuristic all-terrain hoverbikes racing game Jet Moto was released on the PlayStation which went on to sell well and attract mostly positive reviews. Sony Computer Entertainment eventually released a version of the game for the personal computer (PC) in November 1997. As seen in the above print ad, the network play option and compatibility with Direct3D video accelerators were emphasized as such features resonated with the interests of PC gamers of the era. This print ad showed how willing Sony was to release PlayStation hits on PC back then.
5. Elevator Action Returns Japanese arcade flyer
Great looking art on the front.
The rear of the flyer.
When Taito released Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevator Action II in other nations) in the arcades in 1994, it became a hit as gamers enjoyed its action-packed gameplay, ambitious 2D visual presentation and varied level designs that clearly went beyond its 1983 predecessor. The front of the Japanese arcade flyer has really nice art showing the three playable protagonists on an elevator on their way to do their mission. The back of the flyer shows screenshots (which emphasized the varied level designs), text descriptions explaining how the game played (English version printed), and what the features are. Another text description confirmed that terrorists are the antagonists that players will be dealing with which was reflective of the rise of Islamic terrorism in the 1990s. Oh yes, if you look closely you will the word “item” misspelled as “items”.
6. Sunset Riders print ads
The Sunset Riders arcade machine, the SNES version, screenshots and a can of pork-and-beans on this ad.
This print ad appeared in some comic books I read long ago.
After enjoying a lot of success in the arcades with their 1991 game Sunset Riders, Konami went on to release ports of it to the Sega Genesis in 1992 and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1993. With regards to conversions and procedural/artistic changes between the arcade and console ports, the SNES version had few changes implemented compared to the one released on the Genesis. As seen in one of the print ads of Sunset Riders on SNES, it came with 7 arcade levels, 2-player mode and additional shooter stages. What the print ads did not reveal were notable replacements of specific characters in key parts of the game such as the dynamite-tossing female bandits getting replaced by male bandits, North American Indian villains getting replaced with outlaws, etc.
7. Jackal Japanese arcade flyer
Whoever was the artist Konami hired truly delivered great-looking art!
Konami’s military themed game Jackal (Japanese title: Tokushu Butai Jackal) debuted in Japanese arcades in October 1986 and became a hit. The Japanese market arcade flyer had great looking artwork on the front that strongly emphasized the very concept of the game (players move military jeeps to shoot at enemies as they move into enemy territory). One of the characters (the one wearing the red beret) somewhat resembles the late Sean Connery which only shows that someone within Konami’s development team took inspiration from movies. This arcade flyer’s front still looks great.
8. Aliens North American arcade flyer
A good amount of effort was done to truly capture Aliens’ concept using hired models (as Ripley and Newt), a Xenomorph physical model and a suitable background.
The key details presented on the rear of the flyer. The Xenomorph’s presence adds tension.
In 1990, Konami released their ambitious arcade game Aliens which was loosely based on the 1986 movie that starred Sigourney Weaver and was directed by James Cameron. As Konami’s Aliens license was only temporary and the movie was so highly regarded, the Japanese company’s marketing team really had to exert extra effort to truly capture the film’s sci-fi horror concept in order to make a strong presentation towards arcade operators and their paying customers (the gamers).
Apart from showing screenshots on the front, the creative team hired a blonde model as Ellen Ripley holding a gun and a young girl as the character Newt, and have them pose convincingly in front of a Xenomorph model (darkened in the foreground). On the back of the flyer, the team heavily revealed the details using the text description to emphasize the gaming experience and story concept. The technical details, meanwhile, were presented in simplistic, easy-to-follow fashion. Aliens was a smash hit in the arcades and there are long-time gamers who regard it as one of the best game adaptations of the 1986 movie. This arcade flyer is a strong reminder that the featured game was never ever ported to any game console nor to any personal computer.
Author Carlo Carrasco 