The 1990s – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 112

December 3, 2025November 27, 2025carlocarrasco

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 videos I found.

#1 GoodBadFlicks Examines Cheersploitation Movies – Recently YouTuber GoodBadFlicks posted a video examining a certain sub-genre of film involving cheerleaders…Cheersploitation. Before the explosion of raunchy comedy movies in the 1980s, there were sex comedy films involving cheerleaders released in the 1970s. GoodBadFlicks’ video features five movies of the Cheersploitation sub-genre which you should see.

#2 The Odd City In Skyrim – Like many gamers, I bought and played Skyrim (Xbox 360 version specifically) on launch day in 2011, and it was easily the most immersive role-playing game of the 7^th console generation. There is one particular city that always felt odd to me which is Markarth. Recently I saw this particular video on YouTube that explains in detail why Markarth stood out so differently from all other cities and towns of Skyrim, and there definitely is something dark behind its legacy which makes exploring it a very intriguing experience for gamers. This is a reminder about Todd Howard’s team taking creative risks that worked and it is an experience you won’t get in Starfield. Watch the video below.

#3 Japanese Food In Ibaraki Prefecture – Ibaraki Prefecture is located in the Kanto region of Honshu in Japan. Even as Ibaraki Prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, its local food joints offer certain meals that are not available in Tokyo itself. Recently, Nippon TV visited the place and examined why locals travel there to try out the standout food. Watch and learn from the video below.

#4 You, Me And The Movies React To Spawn (1997) – 1997 was not exactly a fun year for superhero enthusiasts when it comes to movies. The movie star-heavy Batman & Robin was terrible and it remains as one of the worst superhero movies ever. Also in 1997, a live-action movie of Spawn was released and even though it took itself seriously (note: creator Todd McFarlane had creative input on the film and his own company was part of the production), it gathered mixed reaction from the fans and very negative feedback from film critics. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted a reaction video about Spawn which strangely was more entertaining than the movie itself.

#5 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid Reaction Videos – If you have seen a lot of buddy cop movies from Hollywood, have you seen a Western buddy film? Once such film was 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid which starred the late Robert Redford and the late Paul Newman. The movie was critically acclaimed and it was for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” 34 years after its release. As such, it is not surprising that the film became a subject of many YouTube reaction videos and posted below are a few I selected for your enjoyment.

#6 Jennifer Lopez And The Scammers In Music – A few decades ago, Milli Vanilli was exposed as a scam and the public backlash was so intense, the fans destroyed the music records they previously bought. For the newcomers reading this, Milli Vanilli was a duo of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus who danced and NEVER used their voices in their songs (note: it was all done by others in secret under German music producer Frank Farian). Back in those times, it was normal for music fans and consumers to expect genuine vocal performances from musical artists. As time passed, standards have changed and the musical scam of Milli Vanilli suddenly became the new normal in modern entertainment as more singers today were exposed to be frauds and pretenders (lip-syncing behind vocals produced by others). Watch and learn from the video below.

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

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 37

December 1, 2025December 29, 2025carlocarrasco

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 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1970s 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. Cabal Japanese arcade flyer/poster

*Can you feel the action and intensity here?*

When it was first released in video arcades in Japan in late 1988, Cabal was another game inspired by military action movies of Hollywood which explains the art work done for the arcade flyer and poster shown above. The Vietnam War was still fresh in people’s minds and the concept of having one or two players firing their weapons against enemy soldiers resonated with gamers who saw Hollywood’s military action flicks. That said, it is not surprising that Cabal became a huge hit in Japan before getting released in arcades around the world.

2. Willows Japanese arcade flyer

Remember the 1988 high fantasy adventure film Willow? That film was produced by George Lucas and was a bold new production of Lucasfilm shifting away from Star Wars. Believe it or not, an official arcade game adaptation of Willow was made by Capcom and they promoted it by having images of Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis on the front of the arcade flyer (opposite the illustrated versions of their characters). The game, which was a side-scrolling platform game with run-and-gun elements, went on to be an arcade hit in Japan and eventually pleased gamers worldwide.

3. Super Punch-Out!! North American print ad

Historically, Nintendo’s Punch-Out!! series started in the arcade in 1984 and the first game was the result of the company’s effort to make a new game using arcade cabinets with two screens. The 2^nd game – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! – became a huge critical and commercial hit (over 2 million copies sold in 1988) on console and it made great business sense for Nintendo for release another Punch-Out!! for its console gamers to enjoy in the comfort of home. In 1994, Super Punch-Out!! was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America and to promote it, the company came up with a hilarious 2-page ad that showed fictional high school graduates with boxing-related injuries. The imagery creatively connected with the words “biggest Punch-Out ever” and “Graduating Class of ‘94”.

4. EA Sports 3-in-1 SNES games print ad

In 1994, Electronic Arts (EA) released their sports games NBA Live 95, NHL 95 and Madden NFL 95 for consoles at the time. Even though the Sega Genesis sold better than Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America at the time, EA went on to aggressively market their 3 sports video games on Nintendo’s console using a 3-in-1 games print ad. In retrospect, the SNES for the most part had better graphics and sounds than the Genesis which is reflected clearly on EA Sports games of the time. This print ad still looks fun and exciting.

5. Atari Jaguar CD print ad

*Were you able to play any game on the Atari Jaguar with the CD add-on included?*

Apart from the obvious advances of technology that impacted video games, the 1990s is also known for the rise of CD-ROM as a medium for gaming. In an effort to boost sales of the Atari Jaguar console (launched in America in 1993 for around $250) and capitalize on the trust of the fans and console owners, Atari launched a CD-ROM add-on device for about $150 in 1995. To promote it, the company went aggressive with the 2-page ad showing the add-on fully connected on top of the main console, showing off some games and posting a text description emphasizing hardware power and the advantages that come with the CD technology. Even in the captured image, the Atari Jaguar CD still resembled a toilet. This is an aggressive ad campaign that failed as less than 20,000 Atari Jaguar CD units were sold by the time it was discontinued in 1996.

6. 3DO print ad

*While it lacks intensity, this 3DO ad emphasized the games.*

Without showing any hardware, the 3DO Company came up with this 2-page print ad that had a slightly adulterated tone (look at the left page) and aggressively marketed the 3DO console games available at the time. Games like Demolition Man, Shock Wave, Road Rash and Super Street Fighter II Turbo were the standout titles which clearly showed the company made the effort to emphasize gaming more than multimedia features. This 1990s ad tackled the generations with a touch of humor.

7. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters Sega Genesis print ad

When Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters was released in the arcades in 1994, it became a commercial success for Konami which went on to announce it would port the game to consoles of Nintendo and Sega at the time. While the port for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was never released, Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters made its way to the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. The print ad of the Sega Genesis version (Sega CD mentioned in small text) had an inspired design emphasizing the Old West, shooting and the conflict between cowboys and Indians. The screenshots gave people the clear idea that Old West was the setting (versus modern day in the previous game). This is still fun to look at.

8. Syphon Filter

*Syphon Filter went on to become a surprise hit game in 1999.*

In 1999, Sony’s 989 Studios released Syphon Filter exclusively on the PlayStation console. This single-page print ad showed a few screenshots on the bottom and several action snippets with a night vision touch ultimately emphasizing the stealth aspect within the gameplay. The marketing proved to be effective as the game sold a lot at retail and went on to establish a new game franchise exclusive to PlayStation consoles.

9. Parasite Eve II Japanese print ad

*Were you a big fan of Aya Brea and the Parasite Eve franchise in the late 1990s?*

Following the critical and commercial success of Parasite Eve in 1998, SquareSoft proceeded with Parasite Eve II and the production (note: initially for a spin-off game before becoming a sequel) did not even involve the main creators of the first game. Instead the company had a different team of developers – including those who previously worked on Resident Evil games for Capcom – in Osaka to make the sequel. This explains why Parasite Eve II had stronger survival horror gameplay resembling a Resident Evil game. As major changes were made during the production, it was decided that Aya Brea would become the main protagonist and already the character was already popular with gamers. That being said, the marketing of Parasite Eve II for the Japanese market heavily featured Aya Brea with subtle sexiness, beauty and action in mind. The marketing intensified leading to its eventual December 16, 1999 release in Japan.

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A Look Back at Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein #1 (1994)

November 28, 2025November 21, 2025carlocarrasco

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

Welcome back movie enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to examine the first issue of a comic book mini-series that served as the official adaptation of the movie Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

The 1994 film – starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced by Francis Ford Coppola – had a huge marketing push through the local media and in the cinemas here in the Philippines. Robert De Niro’s name alone attracted a lot of moviegoers’ attention and there were some literature enthusiasts who had the impression (or were hopeful) that the film would be faithful to the 1818 Gothic novel by Mary Shelley.

Like many others here in the Philippines, I went to the local cinema (which was half-full) to watch Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and ended up having a mixed opinion. The production values looked grand and the cinematography (specifically the location shots and vistas) was very impressive but I felt something was off with regards to the direction which brought the storytelling down.

As with some other Hollywood movies of the time, there was a comic book adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in the form of a mini-series from Topps Comics. I remember seeing issue #1 displayed at the local comic book specialty store shortly after seeing the movie but I was not interested on buying it. Recently, I finally secured a copy of the comic book and read it for the first time ever.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein #1, published in 1994 by Topps Comics with a story written by Roy Thomas (based on the screenplay by Steph Lady and Frank Darabont) and drawn by Rafael Kayanan. This is the first of a 4-issue mini-series.

Early story

The story begins at sea in 1794 in the middle of very cold weather. The ship carrying Captain Walton and his crew crashed on to pack ice and became trapped. The captain refuses to give up on his quest to reach the north pole and he has the crew chopping the ice. Suddenly they hear a frightening noise as something approaches.

A cloaked man emerges from the mist and it turns out he was not the source of the frightening noise. Without hesitation and right in front of the captain, the cloaked man tells the crew to bring their weapons and follow him. The captain tells the newcomer that only he gives the orders. The crew’s dogs ran away moving towards the source of the noise in the mist.

The dogs reached the source of the noise and attack it. The dogs were no match for it as they each got hit and eliminated. As the crew heard the dogs die, the captain tells everyone to move back to the ship.

Moments later, the captain and the cloaked man are inside the ship. A tall human figure slowly approaches the ship. After an exchange of words about what has been going on, the captain asked the cloaked man who he is. The man reveals he is Victor Frankenstein…

Quality

*This particular scene looked great in the movie itself. There was nothing the comic book creators could do to translate it into illustrated literature.*

To make things clear, this comic book covers the film’s beginning until the scene in which Frankenstein attempts to give his creature life. As there were no printed advertisements, the comic book creators tried hard to cram several scenes into it complete with lots of details regarding the setting, the scientific thoughts of Frankenstein, experiment details and more. Indeed, a lot of the exposition in the film made it here and there were also cinematic sequences that simply could not be replicated in print format.

The illustrated opening scene replicated enough of the essence of the cinematic opening. Like the movie, the narrative moves back in time to explore Victor Frankenstein’s youth, his family, how Elizabeth became his adopted sister and how family tragedy started his path to becoming obsessed with overcoming death through science, medicine, chemistry and biology.

As it is clear that this illustrated version could never replicate the grand visuals of the film, such scenes were trimmed a lot with the readers in mind. The narrative moved between slow and medium pace similar to the film but for readers, it is a must to pay close attention to the details to truly understand the story and how Frankenstein develops.

Frankenstein here is portrayed not only as an obsessed scientist (who wants to conquer death by creating life with his own efforts) but also as a hurting man whose destiny has been altered with pain, struggle and darkness ahead. No matter what the odds were, Frankenstein believes he can achieve what is impossible while also believing he is not a mad man. Of course, Frankenstein’s own obsession blinded him so much, he fails to realize the truth that he has turned into a truly mad scientist who does not care at all about ethics, nature and morality. As such, Frankenstein is truly unlikable as the protagonist.

While a lot of effort was done to translate the film’s plot into comic book storytelling, Rafael Kayanan did a decent job with the visuals showing ranging quality throughout. Given the historical setting and European locations of the movie reflecting the novel, it is indeed difficult for any artist to replicate the looks, the environments and the many material objects of the period. Some illustrated scenes looked detailed while others showed some signs of rush. If you are hoping to see the characters looking like the actors in the movie, you won’t find much of that here. Ironically, there were a few shots that reflected that gore and violent movements of the film.

Apart from the story, there are two pages in this comic book that provided details about the history of Mary Shelley’s novel and how her creation impacted entertainment and pop culture in America (including the famous 1931 movie). Selected images were also included.

Conclusion

*The dogs are powerless towards the unseen creature of Frankenstein.*

The way I look at Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein #1 (1994), it clearly follows the movie’s scenes visually rather than following closely the screenplay and that means translating Kenneth Branagh’s vision into comic book form here. As such, there definitely is something off with regards to pacing and storytelling. There really is not much enjoyment in this 1^st issue of the comic book adaptation mini-series. In fact, this is more of a humanized portrayal of unethical science driven by one character’s obsession with conquering death.

Overall, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein #1 (1994) should be avoided.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 111

November 26, 2025November 18, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Full Metal Jacket – A few months ago, my YouTube series post included several reaction videos of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. Recently Ashleigh Burton posted her own Full Metal Jacket reaction video and I can say that it is very enjoyable to watch as the YouTuber (who is a jolly person) had her own bouts of laugh-out-loud moments reacting to it. Watch Ashleigh Burton’s video below.

#2 Ghost in the Shell’s Relevance Analyzed – I was still in college the first time I saw the 1995 anime feature film Ghost in the Shell on home video. While I enjoyed the action and the high-quality visuals (2D animation mixed with computer-generated graphics), I was unable to grasp the story and its many philosophical messages within. To really enjoy it and understand Masamune Shirow’s concepts, watching Ghost in the Shell should be done with patience and the right mindset. Fortunately, a YouTuber took the time to replay the anime feature film and paid close attention to the many details within. Indeed, Ghost in the Shell is more relevant than ever today as it tackled hacking, cybersecurity, identity and artificial intelligence early on. To find out more, watch the video below.

#3 Yakisoba In Japan – You like Yakisoba? Yakisoba is a Japanese noodle stir-fried dish and it first appeared in food stalls in Japan about a century ago. There are lots of places in Japan that offer yakisoba to customers and there are also variants of it depending on where you find it. In the city of Kobe (the same city that got ravaged by a massive earthquake in the mid-1990s) is a Yakisoba shop that serves a lot of customers each day. That means something must be really good with the yakisoba. Watch and learn from the video below.

#4 Do You Trust James Gunn? – I never bothered to watch James Gunn’s Superman movie this year. In fact, when it was announced that Gunn and his partner would start a whole new line of DC Comics superhero movie projects under the Warner Bros. banner a few years ago, I was never excited nor interested. I saw Gunn’s work in Guardians of the Galaxy (he wrote and directed it) and the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake (he wrote it) and neither film was worth replaying. I’m not saying Gunn is a bad filmmaker, I just don’t find his work compelling enough and box office numbers don’t change a thing. He also directed The Suicide Squad which ended up as a commercial disappointment. When it comes to cinematic superhero works, there are reasons why long-time superhero fans and comic book readers don’t trust Gunn which you can learn from the videos below.

#5 Austria Pushes Back Against Mass Migration – Right from the top, Austria made decisive moves to push back against the flow of mass migration and made it clear they want to preserve their culture and prioritize their citizens. It has been over ten years since Germany – under Angela Merkel – committed a huge blunder by opening its borders to so many people from the Middle East and Africa which affected other European nations negatively. It is obvious that the high amount of so-called refugees already in Europe collectively have no desire to assimilate with the culture and norms of the nations they entered, and they want more social benefits and more money at the expense of the citizens. Austria itself had enough and you can find out how they pushed back against mass migration by watching the video below.

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A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #286 (1992)

November 24, 2025November 16, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

While issue #284 marked the turning point following the successful return of Jean Grey and the encounter with Bishop, issue #285 generated strong vibes of the sci-fi TV series Otherworld as it revealed most of the X-Men’s Gold Team members in a completely different world filled with unknown inhabitants and culture. Clearly a lot has happened following the Gold Team’s debut in issue #281 which reflects the respective contributions of the creators.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #286, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell (who worked on the script). The art was done by Whilce Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins with Jean Grey, Colossus, Storm and her male companion (Mikhail Rasputin) together. While Jean is surprised and relieved to see Storm again (she was separated from the team temporarily in the last issue), Colossus is shocked to see his long-lost brother Mikhail alive and well. Mikhail reveals that so many years have passed since he last stood with his little brother and had long abandoned any hope of a reunion.

The reunion is interrupted when a portal has grown larger by the moment and it means that it is only a matter time before Earth is pulled into the realm they are in. Both worlds are at risk of getting destroyed…

Quality

*Charles Xavier and Forge are still on Earth separated from the rest of the X-Men’s Gold Team members.*

Following the build-up and character developments that happened in the previous issue, this X-Men tale is pretty much a strong pay-off while leaving some space for suspense and surprises. The writers intended to conclude what started in issue #284 and along the way, they had to go through the challenges of introducing a new world, new people and the conflicts within. Mikhail Rasputin – the same guy who helped Storm in issue #284 – is easily the most impactful addition to this tale and because of him and what he revealed, Colossus became emotional and felt like his life was crumbling as he simply could not handle the truth. Colossus’ despair and emotional state here served as the creative seeds that later led to the betrayal he would eventually commit (in Uncanny X-Men #304).

The Mikhail-Colossus interaction was easily this comic book’s source of emotions which added some weight to the plot. By the time I reached the end of this issue, I felt really satisfied and at the same time curious about the state of Colossus (note: there’s a still a long road of X-Men tales before Uncanny X-Men #304).

With regards to the writing, John Byrne’s intricate touch on the dialog was clearly missing but Scott Lobdell did a fine job taking over. While Whilce Portacio was credited as illustrator, there were a few pages that looked like they were drawn by someone else. The same also happened with regards to the inking in different parts of the comic book…Art Thibert’s inking has a fine touch and there were some images that had aggressive and thicker inking (it has to be the work of someone uncredited).

Conclusion

*A very significant moment for the Rasputin brothers witnessed by Jean Grey, Storm and a few of the locals.*

While there were some inconsistencies on the quality of the artworks, Uncanny X-Men #286 (1992) had a really strong script and the good news here is that the creative team managed to pull off a solid conclusion. This is the kind of tale in which the X-Men utilized their skills and made tough decisions while being far away from Charles Xavier. At this particular stage of the Uncanny X-Men series, the Gold Team’s development really progressed and they became a more appealing team to follow.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #286 (1992) is highly recommended!

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994)

November 21, 2025December 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Following a serious of unfortunate events that kept Spider-Man away from his wife Mary Jane (read my retro reviews by clicking here, here and here), the Amazing Spider-Man creators decided it was time to have the iconic webslinger in a new rematch with the classic villain The Vulture (specifically Adrian Toomes whose first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #2 in 1963). What makes Toomes Vulture notable (note: there were other versions of Vulture in Marvel’s history) is that he is an old man who happens to be a brilliant electrical engineer who proved to be a very capable criminal. He is also a co-founder of the Sinister Six.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #386, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins in the prison complex at Ryker’s Island. Adrian Toomes (Vulture) is inside his prison cell working on a small device with a guard watching from his back. It turns out the device has a tractor beam and Toomes uses it on the guard to physically slam his body on the sliding door of the prison cell. Toomes then uses the tractor beam to pull the metal bars of the other side of the cell to create an opening. He equips himself with mechanical wings and flew out of his cell and reach the speed boat prepared by two companions.

At the residence of May Parker, Peter and his Aunt May talk with an investigator. It turns out Aunt May hired the investigator to follow and observe Richard and Mary Parker. When asked by Peter, she tells him she does not think Richard and Mary are his parents. As far as the investigator is concerned, there is nothing suspicious with Richard and Mary Parker. He tells peters that his aunt needs professional help (related to Alzheimer’s Disease)…

Quality

*The physical conflict between Spidey and the Vulture is intense to see!*

Perceived as modern during the time of publication, the conflict between Spider-Man and the Vulture in this comic book utilized the concept of everlasting youth with science fiction (combined with the villain’s own obsession). This in turn resulted in a unique approach executed by the Michelinie-Bagley duo to make something new with the rematch between Spidey and his winged nemesis.

The Vulture here is not only very obsessed with obtaining everlasting life as there is something deep inside him that has been raging. This explains why the winged super villain is more visceral in his battle with Spider-Man which Mark Bagley visualized with dynamism and intensity. For the newcomers reading this, the two have fought each other a lot since the 1960s and this 1994 rematch was very unique. The Vulture here is not unhinged but rather strategic while being obsessed, and this made him even more dangerous for Spider-Man.

Apart from the promised rematch, this comic book continued building up the tension for the eventual tragedy in Peter Parker’s life (which happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388) while also dramatizing the lasting hardships Mary Jane experiences as Peter’s wife. Peter Parker meanwhile is focused on his family and his intention to find professional help for Aunt May smoothly connected with his rematch with the Vulture.

Conclusion

*Mary Jane Parker participates in a promotional event of her TV show in a shopping mall.*

There is a lot to enjoy in Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994). The rematch between the Vulture and Spider-Man is engaging and intriguing to read. There is also a good amount of suspense applied on the main plot as well as on the sub-plot about Aunt May being suspicious about Richard and Mary Parker. The result here is a reading experience that is entertaining and also balanced with regards to tone and storytelling.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994) is recommended.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 110

November 19, 2025November 11, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 The Matrix Revisited – What else is there to say about The Matrix? There are some who claimed it is the greatest science fiction movie ever made. Some described it as more relevant than ever due to the wide public use of artificial intelligence (AI) today. In my experience, I saw a special re-screening of The Matrix at the old cinema of Festival Mall in December 1999 and it was entertaining but I never became a fan of its entertainment franchise. Regardless, the film continues to entertain and surprise YouTubers and you can see how by watching the selected videos below.

#2 The Horror Aspect Of Halo: Combat Evolved – It has been 24 years since Halo: Combat Evolved launched along with the original Xbox console. I played and finished the classic sci-fi first-person shooting game on rented Xbox consoles before and it remains a highly significant gaming experience to me. Original game developer Bungie did not just create a great sci-fi game but also designed it to be immersive, captivating and atmospheric. Within the atmosphere in the game is the subtle but effective use of horror elements which added to the mystery. How does the horror function in the classic game? Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Meat & Rice Meals In Japan – Here is another food-related video in Japan. This is for those who crave for delicious meals composed of nice amounts of meat and rice The food joint in the video below not only serves the mentioned meals, it is able to cook many kinds of fried rice as well! Watch and enjoy the video below.

#4 Most Notable Episodes Of The Real Ghostbusters – As a young boy in the 1980s, I saw the classic movie Ghostbusters in 1984 and a few years later, I started watching episodes of The Real Ghostbusters animated TV series on home video and eventually on local TV. For the newcomers reading this, The Real Ghostbusters was the sequel and spin-off to the 1984 film and it had a specific title (using “Real”) as a result of a dispute with Filmation which had the Ghost Busters franchise. I lost count as to how many episodes of the animated series I saw but there were a few notable ones I still remember and Minty Comedic Arts’ recent video contained them. Watch the video below.

#5 UAE Rejects Radical Islam And The Islamists! – Islamists are an extreme and evil bunch. They cause trouble wherever they are and they are driven to overwhelm others, to bring down societies and become the one discriminating dominant force. Islamists have already infiltrated many European nations by means of mass migration (including entry as asylum seekers or refugees needing the host nation’s humanitarian assistance) and teaming up with the Satanic Leftists (to form a new Islamo-Leftist mob overseas). In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) knows how destructive radical Islam really is and they made clear that they not only reject Islamists but also remove them. Watch and learn from the video below.

#6 Japan Tightens Business Manager Visa Policy! – Recently, I blogged about Japan’s reformed policy on the business manager visa in response to the fraud and violations committed by foreigners – notably the Chinese nationals – who carried it. The requirements were drastically changed, new applicants must have at least a few years real experience of business practice, and the hiring of at least one full-time employee (who is Japanese or a permanent resident) must be done. As many of the abusers of the business manager visa were Chinese nationals, I found a video focused on the topic and what the affected Chinese holders of the visa in Japan think about the reforms done by the Japanese. Watch the video below.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 109

November 14, 2025November 11, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Revisited – In late 1993, Warner Bros. released the animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm in cinemas. Even though it was based on the popular Batman animated series of the 1990s, the film was a commercial failure in cinemas but it found its audience on home video and other post-theatrical businesses. To this day, the 1993 animated feature film became a popular subject of YouTube reaction and retrospective videos and you can enjoy the following videos I selected for your viewing below.

#2 Pasta in Japan – If you will be touring Japan and you crave for pasta, there is this one particular food join in Aichi Prefecture that not only specializes in cooking delicious pasta but also serves the customer really fast. Watch and learn from the Japanese Food Noodles video below.

#3 The Notable Zombie Movies Of All Time – Known for consistent opposition against the woke mob and the rise of fake fans in comic books, Ranting for Vengeance recently posted a video about an entirely different subject matter – zombie movies. For him, there are only six zombie films that he described as badass. His video is enjoyable to watch and I strongly agree with Ranting for Vengeance’s opinion about two of the six films. Watch his video now.

#4 Double Dragon Retrospective – I can hardly believe it has been almost forty years since I first played Double Dragon which is a classic among the beat-them-up games. I never played Double Dragon in the arcade but my first time playing it was on console and it was an enjoyable experience. Recently, Double Dragon Revive was released for modern consoles and Windows PC and now is a great time to look back at the history of the Double Dragon game franchise through the video of Slope’s Game Room below.

#5 The Long Kiss Goodnight Revisited – Do you enjoy watching actress Geena Davis doing hard action and being very lethal? In 1996, The Long Kiss Goodnight was released in cinemas and the result was a lot of moviegoers talked about Davis being a dangerous action performer. While the movie was never a massive success, it succeeded enough with the critics and theaters and established a long-lasting following of fans. Considering how old the movie is, now is a good time to see how it impacted YouTubers through the selected reaction videos below.

#6 Wickedness Of Chuck Schumer And The Democrats Exposed As US Government Shutdown Finally Ends – In case you missed the news, there were eight Democrat US Senators who crossed the aisle to join their Republican counterparts to end the government shutdown at last which in turn exposed the wickedness (plus insanity) of their own party led by Chuck Schumer. In fact, the Democrats themselves are divided and many Democrat supporters in the media spoke out against Schumer who proved to be a worthless party leader. The fact that Schumer voted to keep the shutdown going proves he does not care about the Americans who are already suffering. Clearly, the Democrats gained nothing by keeping the government shutdown and they are responsible for hurting the American people. Watch and learn from the news videos below.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 36

November 3, 2025October 29, 2025carlocarrasco

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 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s 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. Super Contra North American arcade flyer

*Have you seen many Hollywood action movies of the 1980s? Does this arcade flyer remind you of something?*

After Konami struck gold with Contra in 1987, it was inevitable that sequels and spin-offs will be made. In 1988, they released the follow-up Super Contra in the arcades and to promote it in America, the company came up with artwork that easily gave gamers the impression they are seeing Sylvester Stallone as a fantasized Rambo and another armed guy who might remind them of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in Commando or Dutch in Predator. To capitalize on the movie references even more, the American arcade flyer had the line “He’s not human. He’s not alien. He’s the predator!!” As it was the 1980s, this creative approach to promotion was not surprising as Konami and its game makers were influenced by Hollywood movies.

2. Double Dragon II: The Revenge North American arcade flyer

*The artwork used in this arcade flyer remains intriguing to look at.*

I never played Double Dragon II: The Revenge in the arcade, but I played it on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). That being said, I was surprised to see how this old North American arcade flyer has the same hand-drawn artwork used on the cover of the NES version. Take note that the arcade game was released in 1988 while the NES port was released in early 1990. I can only guess that Technos decided to use the same artwork not only for convenience but to have a definitive image emphasizing Double Dragon II to gamers wherever they are.

3. Devastators North American arcade flyer

Devastators is another Konami arcade game that had a strong war theme and it was influenced by Hollywood action films of the 1980s. This particular arcade flyer for the North American market is almost identical with the Japanese arcade flyer as both have the same artwork on the front and almost the same visual layout on the rear. The most obvious difference is the use of English text for the North American flyer.

4. Assault North American arcade flyer

Released in American arcades by Atari, Assault is a multi-directional shooter that had a twin-stick control layout (similar with the classic Battlezone) and players experienced intense battles as well as immersive visual effects such as sprite scaling and environment rotation of up to 360 degrees. To promote the game (this originated in Japan by Namco), Atari came up with this arcade flyer that had selected screenshots and descriptive text on both the front and the rear (which showed the arcade cabinet). Assault was a hit with gamers at the arcades and it was not released on consoles until 2009.

5. Sega CD print ad

*Having a socially relevant message can be catchy but it leaves little room for excitement.*

As the Sega Genesis console became a huge commercial success in North America, Sega itself became ambitious about what CD-ROM technology would do for video games. Sega in Japan tasked its Consumer Products Research and Development Labs to create a CD-ROM add-on which resulted in the Sega CD (Mega-CD in other parts of the world) which launched in America in 1992. To promote the add-on towards existing Genesis console owners as well as potential new customers, Sega of America came up with the above 2-page print ad that had a social message on the right and an image of a man standing in front of large monitors (showing Sega CD game footage) on the left. While it looked like an odd way of promoting video game hardware, it still remains catchy to see.

6. Panasonic 3DO print ad

*Panasonic knows how to promote entertainment hardware for people’s homes.*

Still in the field of CD-ROM gaming, Panasonic had competitive presence in video gaming when its Panasonic FZ-1 R.E.A.L. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (with technology licensed by The 3DO Company) was launched in America in 1993. If you look at the print ad closely, you will notice that the descriptive text emphasized the multimedia entertainment aspect more than video gaming. The dominating artwork used does not come from a particular video game as it was made to emphasize home entertainment in general. It’s not surprising that the Panasonic 3DO and other 3DO machines from other manufacturers failed commercially.

7. Shaq Fu print ad

*The close-up of Shaquille O’Neal’s face on the left made him looked less recognizable.*

Yes, it is true! There was indeed a video game endorsed by Shaquille O’Neal and it was not a basketball game. Shaq Fu is a 1994 2D fighting game with adventure elements and a story in which gamers play O’Neal as martial artist (note: O’Neal himself participated in the game’s production). To promote the game, Electronic Arts came up with a 2-page print ad that had a very odd black-and-white close-up image of O’Neal’s face on the left leaving small screenshots and hard-to-read text on the right (even though there was some vacant space remaining. I remember seeing this ad while reading a video game magazine and the ad ended up looking more like a promotion of O’Neal (already an NBA superstar) than the game itself. By today’s standards, this print ad is an example of a marketing misfire.

8. Kasumi Ninja print ad

*Do you even remember seeing this print ad in magazines?*

Remember the 1990s video game trends of digitized human images and disturbingly violent 2D fighting games sparked by Mortal Kombat? The Atari Jaguar-exclusive game Kasumi Ninja was made to capitalize on those trends and it failed badly. Apart from the low sales of the Jaguar console, Atari as publisher came up with the above 2-page print ad that was not appealing to gamers’ eyes and it had almost no excitement overall. This is another marketing misfire.

9. Parasite Eve North American and Japanese print ads

*Following the successful release of Final Fantasy VII, this ad excited PlayStation gamers and JRPG enthusiasts for Parasite Eve’s 1998 release in America.*

*A stronger horror presentation in this print ad for the Japanese market. There were already a lot of people in Japan who enjoyed horror.*

Starting in the mid-1990s, Squaresoft (now Square Enix) really became aggressive with video game creativity and experimentation as they launched several new projects that eventually got released on PlayStation in the late 1990s until 2000. One of those daring new projects was Parasite Eve which was a role-playing game (RPG) that had visual elements – particularly pre-rendered backgrounds – and a style of exploration that reminded gamers of Resident Evil. The game was a sequel to the Japanese science fiction horror novel of the same name and it involved the creativity of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi (credited as producer). To promote the game, the 2-page North American print ad had protagonist Aya Brea on the right and the enemy on the left with a cryptic line placed strategically between them. The North American ad clearly stated that the game is a cinematic RPG. By comparison, the Japanese print ad of Parasite Eve has a strong horror vibe which is not surprising because of the novel’s horror elements and the fact that Squaresoft was capitalizing on the popularity of horror-related entertainment in Japan. By today’s standards, Parasite Eve is truly a product of the late-1990s and it has a dedicated fanbase.

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A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992)

October 24, 2025October 18, 2025carlocarrasco

What happened in issue #284 was a turning point in storytelling and it is only a part of the early period of the X-Men – Gold Team’s operation. The X-Men were on the way home (with Jean Grey successfully retrieved and restored) following their encounters with Fitzroy’s gang and the mutant from the future Bishop only to proceed to a specific island in response to a distress call. By the end of it, something significant happened which separated the X-Men from Professor X and Forge.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #285, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio, Jim Lee and John Byrne (who worked on the script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins with Jean Grey and Colossus (carrying a female primate) who find themselves not only disoriented but also separated from their teammates Iceman, Archangel and Storm. A unknown amount of time has passed since they were sucked forcefully into a void which turned out to be a portal into a new world of unknown origin.

As soon as they land, several primates (humans wearing armor and futuristic gadgets) immediately ganged up on them, knocking Jean Grey out successfully while ramping up their attacks on Colossus. With Colossus down after intense hits, the Russian X-Men member does not fight back and eventually saw his metallic skin turn into flesh fully exposing his human identity. The primates suddenly changed their attitude as they referred to Colossus as a returned savior who has fulfilled the prophecy they grew up with.

Elsewhere, in the middle of a hot desert, Storm is down on the sand feeling weak and groggy. She tries to alter the wind but fails. Suddenly, a man arrives with the intention of carrying Storm to his home…

Quality

*The natives in this page, Archangel is not only accepted by the leader but also perceived to be a great figure of destiny in connection with their beliefs.*

This particular X-Men tale is the result of the turning point that happened in the previous issue. In this comic book, the X-Men’s Gold Team members are separated from each other and the world they are in is alien in nature and yet filled with unusual looking humans who clearly have a long-lasting culture, history and cultural norms formed through generations. This concept the creative team came up with has strong vibes of the 1980s American science fiction TV series Otherworld which I saw a very long time ago. In fact, I find the overall concept of this comic book an inspired piece of work.

Like in Otherworld, the X-Men are in a totally new and unknown world that somewhat looks like Earth but then it is not as the natives they encountered are totally unlike anything they encountered before. Like in The Empire Strikes Back, the X-Men here are separated from each other which opened up opportunities for the creators to develop the characters, show particular threads of their respective personalities (or their talents) and emphasize how they perceive new people and the new world they are in.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the natives of the unknown world are living with the foolishness of idolatry which can be seen at least in how they believe Colossus (in the flesh) is their savior and the fulfillment of the prophecy they were oriented with. The idolatry aspect of the tale serves as the twist on the primates’ (specifically the few who went to Earth willing to fight to the death) who first appeared to the X-Men as very daring opponents and it adds depth to the X-Men’s struggle on understanding the new world they are in.

When it comes to character development, Colossus and Jean Grey are strongly emphasized by the creative team who also managed to do the same with Iceman, Storm and Archangel. This tale also serves as a relief from the back-to-back good-versus-evil battles that took place since issue #281 and I can say the writing is solid.

Conclusion

*A very helpless Storm is approached by a man in the middle of the desert.*

While it lacks the usual conflict between Marvel’s mutants and evildoers, Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992) is an inspired piece of work filled with sci-fi concepts, the overwhelming power of discovering a new world and established natives, and a lot of character development on Colossus, Storm, Jean Grey, Ice Man and Archangel. As I read the story, the mystery builds up and there were these subtle pay-offs that happened along the way. Overall, this comic book is a huge pay-off to what was established in issue #284 and the notable thing is that the X-Men Gold Team (who have Sunfire with them) are just getting started in the unknown world.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #285 (1992) is highly recommended!

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