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 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.
In my previous retro review, Charles Xavier got reunited with his beloved Lilandra, the empress of the Shi’ar Empire, as they were trapped temporarily by the Brood. Elsewhere, Corsair reveals to his son Cyclops what happened before they got separated on Earth twenty years prior. The X-Men and the Starjammers got captured by the Brood’s massive transport which turned out to be a massive organic creature. The conflict that followed saw another battle between the X-Men and the Brood but with the stakes raised higher.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #157 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space where the X-Men and the Starjammers worked together to repair the external parts of the Starjammer ship. An incident happens in which Wolverine starts to float away from the ship while Colossus loses consciousness. One of the Starjammers saved Wolverine.
Just as the Starjammers used their advanced technology to help the unconscious Colossus, Empress Lilandra tells Professor X and a few others that she used her imperial commlink and private code to each Chanellor Araki to confirm to him that she is free and unharmed. Supposedly, Lilandra’s move should compel Araki to call off the punitive strike against Earth.
As Lilandra starts communicating with the flagship that carries Araki, Admiral Lord Samedar takes control of the ship and declares that they will execute Araki’s orders to obliterate Earth…
Quality
Kitty Pryde on the move against all odds.
Following the events of the two previous issues, this story is another engaging pay-off to the established build-up but with the stakes raised higher as Earth becomes a target of the defiant Shi’ar officials who themselves turned out to be defiant towards their empress Lilandra all along. Not only that, there is a good amount of intrigue with the way the Shi’ar people are portrayed here.
The X-Men here continue to struggle not only because of Colossus’ weakness but also because something bad happened to their leader Professor X (a must-read scene). Far away from the rest of their teammates, Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde became major players in this particular story and what happened with them was nicely structured by Chris Claremont. This is clearly a big pay-off to what was staged in issue #155 and it sure is worth anticipating!
If you have great interest with the Brood, you will be delighted to see more of the way they communicate and how they treat foreigners like Deathbird as they live on with their uncompromising belief that their race backs winners only.
Conclusion
How the Brood treats Deathbird.
Uncanny X-Men #157 (1982) is an action-packed sci-fi tale that continued Claremont’s direction of the X-Men while also emphasizing the Brood as well as the Starjammers and the Shi’ar as crucial players in this particular storyline. There is plenty of superhero spectacle to enjoy here, a few memorable character moments and if you are fond of Chris Claremont’s works, you will enjoy the twists and surprises he pulled off here.
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #157 (1982) is 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 early 1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ handling of a series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
Last time around, G.I. Joe members were sent to an island to rescue a very important woman who was kidnapped by Cobra. Along the way, the Joes faced stiff opposition and the duo of Snake-Eyes and Scarlett infiltrated the headquarters facing off with Cobra Commander and the Baroness. The comic book itself was indeed engaging and fun to read.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #2 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Don Perlin.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins when the United States discovers its research station in the North Pole has been attacked and left in ruin. The damage found indicates that it has been wiped out in a commando-style raid, all station personnel were found dead and all the records were missing.
After carefully assessing the available information about the ruined American base, General Austin decides to send the G.I. Joe team to the North Pole. This resulted in cutting short the respective leaves of Stalker, Breaker, Scarlett and Snake-Eyes.
After being dropped at the North Pole, the selected G.I. Joe members carefully make their way to the Russian base and decide to watch from a distance…
Quality
The character Kwinn is the most interesting character in this story.
When compared to what happened in issue #1, this comic book’s concept is smaller in scale but allows room for readers to get to know the Joes closely and follow the simplified plot which itself has details that are worth looking into.
When it comes to entertainment value, don’t expect a repeat of the bombastic action of the previous comic book. Expect to see lesser action but with more suspense and a stronger emphasis on the complexities that come with the world of espionage which itself is never simple.
That being said, the force of opposition here is not Cobra at all but something different. The new character Kwinn is a freelance operative who is quite formidable and he sure has extensive experience that enables him to outsmart the Joes. On top of that, Kwinn’s strong adherence to his principles and code of honor made him quite a pretty deep character which are nicely reflected into the story itself. For this reason alone, this is a must-read G.I. Joe tale.
Conclusion
Have you ever experienced your leave getting canceled suddenly?
With G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #2(1982), the creative team of Larry Hama and Don Perlin took a very different approach that shifted away from the classic G.I. Joe/Cobra rivalry and deep into the world of espionage with a really engaging and refreshing tale. As the story features much lesser characters, you will get to know Stalker, Breaker, Scarlett and Snake-Eyes better. Kwinn is easily the most interesting and most compelling character of this comic book. While the story is fun and engaging, it may not delight fans who love to see the Joes fight the Cobra terrorists.
Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #2(1982) is 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.
#1Debunking the lies of the Palestinians and the Satanic Left – Israel has been all over the news for over a month now as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked them on October 7, 2023, and committed acts of murder, kidnapping and torture of many innocent people (including foreign nationals). Israel responded by going into war with Hamas and already they have several soldiers operating inside the Gaza strip searching for the terrorists while trying to rescue the hostages.
Around the world, anti-Semitism has intensified as a lot of public rallies or protests events supporting the Palestinians and condemning Israel continues to happen. Unsurprisingly, the Satanic Leftist elements in governments, mainstream news media outlets and social media all organized a major misinformation campaign highlighting the Palestinians as victims while portraying Israel as the antagonists. Collectively these Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberal, diversity advocates and other anti-Semitic elements have been spreading lies repeatedly to attack Israel while lifting up the Palestinians.
Fortunately, YouTuber Oren who handles the channel travelingisrael.com published in-depth videos that debunked the Arab-Palestine-Hamas-Leftist propaganda complete with details and facts that the liars did not even bother to check. I stand with Israel and the Holy Bible confirms that Israel is the land that God designated to the Jewish people (read Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 35:10-12), not the Arabs and certainly not the Palestinians. There really never was an ancient Palestine and the Palestinian identity as a people did not even exist before the 20th century (not even during the time when the Ottoman Empire had authority over the land of Israel). That being said, I strongly recommend you watch the videos below and pay close attention to the details…
#2 Trustworthy look at Israel – Still on Israel, I want to tell you all that you cannot trust the mainstream news media outlets as they have an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agenda in connection with their Leftist worldviews. You cannot trust CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, BBC, Vox and others as they are laser-focused on smearing Israel and putting the lives of Jewish people in danger. Those abusers of media and information are spreading lies and hate! If you want a clearer and more credible look at Israel and the developments that happened, I recommend you follow CBN News (the news program of the Christian Broadcasting Network) and TBN Israel. Posted below are some of their YouTube videos for you to see…
#3 Macross nostalgia videos – And new we shift into the world of entertainment. When it comes to the world of anime, Macross is my favorite franchise. To be more specific, the Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series, Macross: Do You Remember Love? (read my retro movie review by clicking here), Macross Plus and Macross Zero are the ones I enjoyed replaying and there were some video game adaptations released along the way (read my retro game review by clicking here). If you share my Macross passion or if you are simply interested with anime and related video games, I recommend you watch the videos below…
#4 Cloak & Dagger (1984) nostalgia – A few months ago, I published my retro review of the 1984 movie Cloak & Dagger which remains a very unique film by today’s standards. For one thing, the film was the 4th cinematic adaptation of the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” written by Cornell Woolrich. It also had Henry Thomas (the same kid in Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) as the protagonist, a plot filled with strong elements of espionage, a video game as a key item in the story, and most notably, a very intense tone complete with shooting and killings. Cloak & Dagger, which is now available on 4K Blu-ray format, is the kind of movie that Hollywood does not make anymore. Of course, I do understand that Hollywood has so many Commies and SJWs (social justice warriors) among its screenwriters, actors and directors who could not understand Cloak & Dagger. To learn about the 1984 movie, watch the videos below…
#5Friday The 13th Part 3 reaction and retro review videos – Some time ago I declared in my retro review that Friday The 13th Part 3 is the 2nd best film of its franchise (note: Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter is still #1). Sure, it was flawed and the filmmakers struggled to make the movie as they intended to film it with 3D cinema viewing in mind, but the way things turned out it marked a crucial turning point in Friday The 13th’s general formula on storytelling and the presentation with Jason Voorhees as the enduring antagonist. This is the very movie when Jason first got his hockey mask and the actor’s muscular build gave him a more intimidating look than in Part 2. That being said, it is no surprise that the 1982 movie became the subject of multiple movie reaction videos and retro reviews on YouTube and you can watch some of them (plus one trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts) 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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ launch of a comic book series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
For the newcomers reading this, Hasbro launched the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline in 1982 which was actually a revival of the original G.I. Joe series of toys (sized 12 inches) in the 1960s and 1970s. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys had a new format for its action figures influenced by the success of the Micronauts and Star Wars toys. Veteran writer Larry Hama (the same guy behind the memorable Wolverine #75 of 1993) was already working for Marvel and was developing the concept of a new comic book about elite commandos fighting terrorists. Such development happened before the 1982 relaunch of G.I. Joe, and eventually Marvel’s editor-in-chief Jim Shooter approached Hama for a new comic book project based on Hasbro’s military toyline. Eventually a series of developments followed that saw the creation of the evil organization Cobra, the core villain Cobra Commander and more.
The impact of G.I. Joe as a licensed comic book series turned out positively as it helped attract new readers at the newsstands and it developed a strong following with young readers who were not highly interested with superheroes.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Herb Trimpe.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with an Amtrak train traveling between New York City and Washington, D.C. Inside the nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart who previously served as one of the brains behind the Doomsday Project. It turns out, Burkhart was declared a traitor for denouncing the military claiming that she was misled by them to work on the said project. Inside the train, she has several security personnel guarding her as she is on her way to testify in front of a certain congressional committee.
As she speaks during a press conference inside one of the train’s cars, several flying soldiers of Cobra attacked the exterior of the train. In front of Burkhart, a few of the journalists turned out to be elements of Cobra led by the Baroness. The Baroness and her companions succeed in defeating the bodyguards and kidnapped Burkhart by means of flight.
At the Pentagon, the kidnapping of Burkhart compels the military to call in their special counter-terrorist group called G.I. Joe for a rescue operation. The stakes are high as they know that they cannot let Cobra keep Burkhart long enough to use her and they cannot let her die as the whole world is aware that they considered her an embarrassment. They ordered Colonel Clayton Abernathy (code name: Hawk) to assemble the Joe Team composed of Clutch, Flash, Breaker, Rock ‘n Roll, Scarlett, Stalker, Short-Fuse and Snake-Eyes…
Quality
Dr. Burkhart held hostage by Cobra and in the presence of Cobra Commander, the Baroness and many terrorists.
To get straight to the point, the main story (Operation: Lady Doomsday) was carefully structured by Hama to tell a story engagingly while also functioning to introduce readers to the characters and immersing them into the illustrated literary universe of G.I. Joe that is noticeably separated from the popular cartoon series. It is a classic portrayal of good versus evil laced with militarism and espionage.
The story moved at a medium pace and the approach on build-up and pay-off was executed carefully. There were scenes that had a sufficient amount of details regarding the plot or character moments (as opposed to development) that made the reading experience immersive. In short, there was no rush in the narrative while the pace never slowed down to a halt (no boring moments).
That being said, you will get to see lots of scenes that focus on the side of G.I. Joe as well as on the side of Cobra which is led by Cobra Commander (who is obsessed and scheming) followed by the Baroness (who is more focused on achieving goals but cannot do so without authority). You will see a certain gap between Cobra Commander and the Baroness which shows something seems off within their terrorist organization. This served as a creative contrast with G.I. Joe being more straightforward with the way they organize themselves.
The only weakness this comic book has is the fact that with so many characters from both the good and the bad sides, identifying them was pretty challenging especially when their military uniforms obscured their looks. Characters like Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Rock ‘n Roll, Stalker and the Baroness are instantly recognizable.
As the main story remains a really good read, the 2nd story (Hot Potato) also written by Hama but drawn by Perlin served as a nice additive to this comic book.
Conclusion
G.I. Joe starts getting ready for the high-stakes rescue mission.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1(1982) is indeed a very solid reading experience. This is a strong introduction of the literary version of G.I. Joe and its portrayal of good versus evil remains believable and compelling. I also enjoyed the way the creators balanced the build-up of tension, plot and character moments with spectacle or twists utilized as pay-off. Lastly, I should say that this comic book has lots of action for you to enjoy and the execution of the action scenes made sense within the context of the stories. Remember that this marked the beginning of a memorable long run of G.I. Joe comics that reached into the 1990s. This one is a true classic and it should remind you that there was a time when political correctness and wokeness did not get in America’s way of fighting terrorists.
Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1(1982) 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 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.
In my previous retro review, the X-Men got involved in a high-stakes mission to find and rescue the kidnapped Shi’ar empress Lilandra. Things are not easy on the X-Men’s side as Cyclops is still uneasy over the truth he learned about his father Corsair while the leader Charles Xavier had to deal with the Shi’ar officials who have their agenda that could cause trouble on Earth. What the X-Men faced was a few of the Brood and Deathbird.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #156 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in New York City. The X-Men just fought with the Brood and Deathbird, and Charles Xavier has gone missing. Wolverine, Storm, Corsair, Cyclops and the Avengers member Tigra attend to a mortally wounded Colossus who was hit with acid.
Just as the local police arrived, Tigra tries her best to talk with them. Suddenly a gigantic space ship arrived floating above New York shocking everyone. The ship unleashes a beam of light down to pick up Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Corsair and the ailing Colossus. The giant ship then flies away leaving a lot of people stunned.
It turns out the ship belongs to the Starjammers, a group of space pirates that Corsair leads. Colossus then gets treated with alien technology…
Quality
The spectacle and the new encounter with the Brood were nicely done.
Similar to issue #155, the story here is very in-depth and has so much details and plot-related connections, it will require a great amount of attention from you in order to understand what is going and what is happening within. In this issue, you will get to see the Starjammers gang that Corsair spent a long time with, further development between Corsair and son Cyclops, the reunion between Charles Xavier and Empress Lilandra, and more of the Brood.
To put things clearly, Chris Claremont invested a lot of details when it comes to dramatizing the characters, insert revelations from the past, emphasized the many reactions of the X-Men members and carefully implemented stronger science fiction elements that really added depth to the plot. In many ways, this story is a huge pay-off to the build-up of the previous comic book and there is a lot more to the connection between Deathbird (a very capable villainess) and the Brood.
Having read lots of Claremont-authored X-Men stories, I found this 1982 story enjoyable and compelling to read. The big difference is that there is a stronger element of spectacle in this story which is related to the stronger sci-fi elements as well as Claremont’s strategic handling of the X-Men. At this point, it is clear that something new was being built up with the Brood, space travel and new frontiers. This is a strong sci-fi X-Men tale.
Conclusion
Professor X with his beloved Lilandra.
Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is indeed an enjoyable read provided that you pay close attention to the details, the characters and you have read the previous issue. This is the X-Men literally going deeper with science fiction and the Brood here was just about to rise further as a major force of opposition that would impact Marvel’s mutants. I should also state that Professor X and Empress Lilandra being together is a pretty compelling scene to read. As of this writing, I am convinced to keep on exploring further tales from this era of the X-Men.
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the film 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.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Blob, a sci-fi horror movie released in 1958 starring Steve McQueen and Aneta Corsaut, written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson, and directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr. (Irvin Yeaworth for short). This was a low-budget local-level production by Valley Forge Films, Fairview Productions and Tonylyn Productions.
The Blob movie poster.
Early story
The story begins somewhere within a small town in Pennsylvania. During one evening, teenagers Steve Andrews and Jane Martin spend a romantic time together in a car only to be disturbed when a meteorite from outer space crashes nearby. This easily sparks Steve’s curiosity as he decides to drive to find the spot of the crash taking Jane with him.
Meanwhile, an old man who happened to be living near the spot of the crash went out of his home and finds the meteorite first. Out of curiosity, he pokes the meteorite with a stick which slowly causes it to break open revealing a gelatinous substance (the blob) inside. He uses the stick on the substance, lifts it up and examines it closely. Against gravity, the substance suddenly moves up the stick and wraps itself on the old man’s hand causing him to become desperate to remove it. He failed.
As Steve drives down the road, the old man with the blob suddenly crosses down their path. The old man tells Steve to take him to a doctor…
Quality
Steve McQueen (3rd from left) as teenager Steve Andrews with Earl Rowe (2nd from right) as Lt. Dave and other over-aged actors playing teenagers.
I can say that I really like this old movie which has always been an independent, low budget production that made a solid contribution to the sci-fi genre and pop culture in general.
To begin, this film has a simple plot about an alien creature in the form of a gelatinous blob from outer space which attached itself into an old man’s hand, grew a lot when the man made it to the doctor, and then started consuming people which made it grow so big, life in the town got disrupted and people found themselves in danger. Unsurprisingly, the blob itself does not dominate the narrative considering the limitations the filmmakers had on making special effects work plus they focused more on the characters to move the plot forward. Rest assured, however, that the production team went all out with their limited resources on making the monster look menacing in the final fifteen minutes. I should state that the special effects team did a convincing job with the way they made the blob move to specific directions.
Given the simple plot, it is not surprising to see the narrative focusing more on the characters particularly with teenagers Steve and Jane (both played by obviously over-aged actors Steve McQueen and Aneta Corseaut). The story clearly follows the two mentioned teenagers who have the best knowledge about the blob and what happened, and it just so happens that they are always at a disadvantage when asked by adults to prove things.
With a monster that large within the local community, you know that something must be done before it causes further damage and kills more people. The blob was portrayed to be unrelenting in consuming and killing people which causes it to grow even bigger and with no limits determined. The blob does not care at all about the pain and anguish of its victims which parallels the evil of Communism/Marxism/socialism/anti-Semitism in real life.
Jane (Aneta Corseaut) and Steve (Steve McQueen) with the local doctor (Stephen Chase) early in the film.
The interactions between teenagers (note: Steve McQueen and Aneta Corseaut are not the only over-aged looking actors playing youth) and the mature authorities (local police, parents, educator and house keeper to name some) dramatized a gap in which the youth lacked credibility while the adults remain difficult to convince. Very notably the backward car race early in the film symbolically reflects the Hollywood film trend of the 1950s in which American teenagers are portrayed to be troublesome and living without real purposes.
Going back to the protagonists Steve and Jane, the screenplay was designed to highlight what good teenagers can do when a crisis strikes the local community and why the adults should get over their doubts about the youth.
Given the structure of the script, there are a lot of talk scenes throughout and the progress of the blob growing as a menace within the plot helped break the monotony. While he is clearly too old to play a teenager, Steve McQueen here remains convincing as a youth who strives to achieve something worthy even as he lacks maturity. The same can be said about Aneta Corseaut whose character was designed to help Steve move forward apart from having romance with him. When her character feels troubled, Steve comes in to support her in return. If you ignore their mature looks and focus on the dialogue, you will find convincing lines of youth within Steve and Jane. The same can be said about the other teenagers.
Considering the low budget and the limitations of technology at the time, the man-made practical effects in this movie are still good.
I can say out loud that watching movies inside the cinema is always better than streaming. The best way to enjoy a movie at home, on the other hand, is with physical media like Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray.
While McQueen and Corseaut performed well, there were some moments of stiff acting and lifeless delivery of lines of dialogue scattered throughout.
Those of you who are so used to fast-paced films with thrills and jump scares, you should temper your expectations as this movie moved at a slow-to-medium pace with very little horror elements and very little violence. As this was a low-budget local-level production, certain shots had to be made with very obvious creative shortcuts. Even though this movie was filmed on several locations in Pennsylvania, the filmmakers failed to establish a true sense of geography and this means no scenic shots.
Going back to the blob itself, its jello appearance may not look menacing at first and there were times when the lack of scale (note: they did not have equipment to achieved the depth-of-field visual effect) was noticeable. What I liked here is the way the blob was portrayed – unrelenting and totally immune to the emotions and concerns of people it encounters. The blob here somewhat reminds me of the T-800 in The Terminator (1984) in the sense that it simply would not stop to attack people, consume them and then keep on growing into one very large mass which causes a crisis on the small town community.
In case you are wondering, there were accidents that happened during the memorable scene of moviegoers running out of the cinema in the film. The tripping of some people were purely accidental.
When it grabs someone and starts to consume the victim physically, the blob does not care about the pain it causes on its prey. While it is clear that the movie’s script was written during the early stages of the Cold War, it is possible that the blob served as a symbol of Communism infiltrating America, endangering people and taking their lives (and liberties) away. That being said, the rampant Leftist influence and social violence in the minds of millions of Americans today makes this film socially relevant and the blob’s threat has gotten even more symbolic. Lastly, I should state that composer Ralph Carmichael managed to come up with music to emphasize the threat of the blob.
Conclusion
In my honest opinion The Blob (1958) is still a good movie to watch and it deserves its place in film history as well as in the sci-fi genre of movies in general. While it had its shortcomings, this low-budget local-level production managed to be a worthy viewing experience and set the foundation for its movie franchise (note: a sequel was made in 1972 and the memorable remake of 1988 followed). To say the least, this movie paved the way for Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell to produce the 1988 remake that was very intense and a lot of fun to watch.
The Blob (1958) in Blu-ray disc format from The Criterion Collection. This is the best way to enjoy the movie at home.
The blob itself went on to inspire creative imitations (referred to as blobs or ooze) and new monsters in other forms of entertainment (note: the blob appears as one of the monsters in the 1982 Intellivision game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain). Steve McQueen himself went on to become one of Hollywood’s elite stars in the decades that followed and this film should interest both die-hard fans and any film buff who wants to learn more about him.
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 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.
This review will examine not only the first-ever appearance of the X-Men foes the Brood but also the effects of other developments that made their impact on key members of Marvel’s team of mutants.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #155 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins as a jet carrying Cyclops, Storm and Corsair flies. Tensions are already intense as Cyclops is struggling with the shocking truth that his father – Corsair the leader of the Starjammers – is still living and recently returned to Earth seeking help.
Storm tries to emotionally reconnect with her teammate but Cyclops pushes back as he just found out that she knew Corsair was his father for several months already and never bothered to tell him. Tension grew worse as Corsair tried explaining himself to his son only to get a harsh response in return. Cyclops questioned his father if he even tried to learn what happened to him and his brother Alex (Havok) over the previous twenty years.
Suddenly the jet begins to glow. It turns out that a transporter beam hit them. In an instant, jet got transported forty thousand kilometers above the Earth and into the deck of the Shi’ar Dreadnought. Cyclops, Storm and Corsair find themselves surrounded by armed personnel and an audience of several alien beings.
Suddenly, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine and Professor X appeared out of nowhere and right next to the jet…
Quality
Wolverine takes on one of the Brood. As this marked the Brood’s first appearance in comics, Wolverine’s encounter with one of them here is a prelude of more intense things to come.
Upon close inspection of the storytelling, this comic book is pretty loaded with details related to developments that took place in previous issues. Apart from Cyclops’ personal struggle on accepting the truth about his father’s existence, there are references to what happened recently on the parts of Xavier, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. Not only that, this story also reveals details about Professor X’s past interaction with Empress Lilandra and the Shi’ar race.
As it turns out, the Empress was abducted by terrorists and many of her ministers got killed. This previous event incidentally sets the stage for the new tasks for the X-Men to handle in this particular story which also comes with strong science fiction elements.
Adding further to the X-Men’s new mission to follow the trail to Earth and liberate Empress Lilandra if she is still living, Cyclops’ father Corsair was found to be a conspirator (to be punished) and the Shi’ar’s high officials will only follow Xavier’s lawful command (as the imperial consort) to a certain limit. This new conflict is literally loaded with lots of details that became part of the build-up, and to really grasp it all, you should pay close attention to the details here and in the previous comic books. In other words, this is not an easy read.
Apart from the general concept and plot structuring, Chris Claremont pulled off some clever moves with the way he portrayed Charles Xavier’s leadership and cunning. The X-Men leader knows that a lot is at stake in the new mission and he is certain that further Shi’ar presence on Earth would result in catastrophe.
As for the mission itself, the X-Men got someone from the Avengers to aid them. With Storm and Corsair moving and operating apart from the rest of the team. This leads to another series of developments plus twists that you should read for yourselves.
Conclusion
An intense scene that really puts the X-Men into a predicament and a potential conflict between worlds.
Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is not an easy read but if you have a strong understanding of the many plot details and related character developments, then you will eventually enjoy this story. The literary debut of the Brood here is not too significant as it preceded the further emphasis of the alien monster race in the succeeding issues. A highlight here is the intriguing portrayal of Professor X as X-Men leader, as Lilandra’s lover and as the bridge between humanity, mutants and the aliens of the Shi’ar empire. There is also a good amount of spectacle to keep you entertained, particularly during the 2nd half of the story. Considering all the build-up and exposition that took place in this comic book, don’t expect the mission to be concluded within.
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982) is highly recommended!
Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! Back in the late 1980s, I saw the 1988 version of The Blob – let’s refer to it as The Blob (1988) – on home video and it turned out to be a fine mix of thrills, scares and science fiction concepts that ultimately became fun to watch. Being young at a time when Internet connection and online research were not yet available, I was not even aware that The Blob (1988) was a remake of the 1958 original Blob movie that starred Steve McQueen.
If you who love the late 1980s Blob movie and if you have been looking to add something to your home entertainment collection of Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray movies, be aware that the Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray of The Blob (1988) is now available in the market and you can order it online right now and have it delivered to your home. The new release by Shout Factory! is loaded with features and it has native 4K visuals.
The Blob (1988) 4K Blu-ray cover.
To put things in perspective, posted below are the technical specs from The Blob (1988) 4K Blu-ray page at Blu-ray.com. The said website highly recommended it in its review.
Video Codec: HEVC / H.265 (84.99 Mbps) Resolution: Native 4K (2160p) HDR: HDR10 Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing, Reversible cover
Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A
Having seen both the 1958 and 1988 versions of The Blob, I can say to the newcomers and movie buffs reading this that you can’t go wrong with either version. I enjoyed both movies and I can say that each film has distinctive attractions for viewing. The Blob of 1958 is more sci-fi and has very little horror elements.
However, if you want thrills, the 1980s culture, stronger horror elements, stronger sci-fi elements, the creative approach done by director Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont on reimagining The Blob‘s concept, and the great-looking practical effects (note: the blob effects were made with physical stuff and a lot of man-made work without computers), then The Blob (1988) is the definitive choice. Take note I mentioned thrills as the movie has some fast-paced scenes that happen from time to time as you watch it. Considering its use of sci-fi concepts mixed with action, The Blob (1988) really stood out among the many horror movies released by Hollywood throughout the 1980s. I should also state that the remake has Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Jeffrey DeMunn, Joe Seneca, Candy Clark and Donovan Leitch Jr. in its cast.
As a 4K Blu-ray collector, I plan to acquire a copy of The Blob (1988) 4K Blu-ray in due time. I was already aware of the Blu-ray release from 2019 but I waited for the 4K version to be made.
If you want the best enjoyment possible from watching The Blob (1988) Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray, I highly recommend you avoid watching movie reaction videos and the spoileriffic retro movie reviews posted by YouTubers.
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 arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late 1980s to examine an alternate universe portrayal of Wolverine and S.H.I.E.L.D. told through an issue of the 2ndWhat If comic book series.
While Wolverine has always been identified with the X-Men, the famous mutant spent time with the Canadian team Alpha Flight and his early encounter with the Hulk remains a highly significant chapter of Marvel Comics’ superhero universe.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #7 published in 1989 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Joe Valentino and drawn by Rob Liefeld.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with the Watcher looking back at Wolverine’s encounter with not only the Hulk but also the Wendigo (as recorded in Incredible Hulk #180 and #181). A short time later, Wolverine is alone in the forest and gets visited by Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Hudson (Alpha Flight) who arrived by helicopter.
Hudson tells Logan that an agreement has been made to loan him to the United States which prompts a response – Wolverine claims he is nobody’s property and tells Fury to reveal the details.
As it turns out, Wolverine joined Fury at the helicarrier of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a briefing. Fury reveals to him that the internal security of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been breached by an advanced model of Hydra LMDs (life model decoys) and their sensors cannot even detect them. An agent with top security clearance was recently caught trying to transmit classified data. The said agent blew up…
Quality
Wolverine, Nick Fury, Black Widow and some S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel take on Hydra!
I can say that I am very impressed and entertained with what Valentino and Liefeld came up with in this comic book. The story has a pretty strong structure designed to engage readers, pull off some surprises here and there, while also emphasizing the legacy of conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra with efficiency.
With regards to this comic book’s subject matter, Valentino succeeded in exploring the concept of Wolverine becoming an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. complete with great interactions between the characters. While Wolverine has his ideological differences with Nick Fury, the story went on to show great chemistry between them when S.H.I.E.L.D. operates (with the clawed mutant involved). Wolverine and Black Widow make a solid duo in action and the writer managed to dramatize the conflict between Fury and Baron Strucker (Hydra). For the newcomers reading this, Baron Strucker is Marvel’s super villain with a Nazi heritage and he first appeared in the 1964 comic book Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5. Strucker here is very intimidating and powerful and Hydra’s use of LMDs symbolically reflect his ruthlessness.
When it comes to the visuals, Rob Liefeld’s art here is really great to look at and it truly is one of the best looking Marvel comics I have read with his artwork as well as the most distinctive looking What If story. Great not only because of his stylized take on the established characters (note: the Hulk and Wendigo looked very visceral) but also because Liefeld truly brought Valentino’s solid script into life from start to finish. The action scenes drawn were excellent, the facial expressions were lively and detailed to look at (note: Wolverine’s got some very visceral faces here) and most of all, Liefeld managed to make the established characters look recognizable.
Conclusion
Really nice action of Wolverine and Black Widow against many drawn by Rob Liefeld.
Thanks to Jim Valentino and Rob Liefeld’s combined works, What If #7 (1989) is a great comic book and easily one of the best tales of the 2nd volume of What If that I have ever read. The way it emphasized Wolverine as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was highly imaginative, compelling and fun to read from start to finish. There is so much enjoyable stuff here that should appeal strongly to fans Wolverine, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. In retrospect, this comic book was published just a few years before Valentino and Liefeld left Marvel Comics to establish Image Comics and right here you will see the great creativity from their younger days. Lastly, I can say that this What If tale has a strong conclusion which should compel you to read specific Marvel comic books to realize the connections
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 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.
In my previous review, Dazzler was formally introduced as the X-Men encountered her. Along the way, the other newbie Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) got involved with X-Men members Storm, Wolverine and Colossus and danger got to them. Brewing within the background were plot elements regarding the Hellfire Club and the Dark Phoenix.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #131 published in 1980 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins on the streets of Chicago as the 13-year-old Kitty Pryde desperately runs away from a car that has been chasing her. Just as she trips, the Jean Grey (in her form as the Phoenix) suddenly appears right in front of the car (driven by two armed personnel of the Hellfire Club) and uses her immense power to stop and damage it. This spared Kitty Pryde’s life and made her more confused. Nightcrawler suddenly appears in front of Kitty, grabs her and leap off to a higher place to be safe.
Cyclops and Dazzler arrive to see Phoenix still observing the damaged car and the two Hellfire Club personnel knocked out cold. As Dazzler is amazed by what Phoenix did, Cyclops tells Jean that his instructions were to stop the car but not turning it into scrap. Jean responds by stating that he did not feel Kitty’s stark terror nor did he sense the thoughts of the men who were in the car.
After being called from above by Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Phoenix and Dazzler make their way up to the top of the building. Nightcrawler reveals that Kitty broke away from him and dove right through the roof…
Quality
Kitty Pryde took the risk to help the X-Men free Wolverine.
Upon close inspection, this is a richly layered tale that nicely paid off some of the build-up in the previous issue while consistently building up the plot elements for the events to follow (the eventual Hellfire Club encounter and the Dark Phoenix Saga). In this issue, you will get to see the X-Men in action with Dazzler (who just joined in to help them without fully committing to joining their team) on a series of events that involve encountering Miranda Frost and finding their captured teammates.
As this was written by Chris Claremont, you will see a lot of character development (aided a lot with the use of thought balloons) and key observations emphasized (clever exposition of details) as the plot moved forward. This tale has the classic elements of good-versus-evil backed with action and some twists that will definitely keep readers entertained. It is through the dramatization and observations of the characters that made the narrative deep and by the end of it, you will most likely get to know the characters a lot more.
Apart from witnessing Dazzler’s first unofficial mission (note: misadventure) with the X-Men, you will see Kitty Pryde shine as the fragile yet capable teenager do something heroic which symbolically justified her entry into the X-Men. This story also touches on the theme of immense power which was dramatized nicely through Jean Grey and Cyclops. Cyclops here was written to be very concerned about Jean Grey having god-like powers as the Phoenix which he sees as too risky and he hopes that she will maintain self-control. Even Storm expressed the same concern about the Phoenix. All of these dramatics combined with the superhero spectacle and steady way of presenting exposition were nicely pulled off by the Claremont-Byrne team.
Finally, I want to say that Emma Frost was portrayed as a ruthless, cold-hearted and elitist super villain who happens to be one of the central figures of the Hellfire Club (which itself was being built up by Claremont-Byrne as a dangerous force of opposition for the X-Men to face). Emma Frost is not just another evil figure…she is a telepath capable of overwhelming others and she has a very high ambition of accumulating power socially, economically and politically. Clearly she was created to be a recurring evil figure within Marvel’s shared comic book universe.
Conclusion
A scene showing a few X-Men members with Dazzler and Kitty Pryde as the clear newcomers.
Even if you see Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980) as simply a build-up tale for the inevitable Dark Phoenix Saga, it is clear that the comic book still stands out on its own as it strongly paid-off what was built up in the previous issue and the high quality on storytelling was successfully maintained. This is an entertaining read and, quite notably, it develops specific characters in very believable ways. So much so, you will get to know the characters better by the time you reach the end. As for the fans of Dazzler, there are things to enjoy in this X-Men tale and it definitely is a must-read before reading Dazzler #1 (1981).
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980) is highly recommended!
Author Carlo Carrasco 