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Mitsubishi will invest P7 billion in the Philippines

February 13, 2025February 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Japanese motor giant Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) formally announced recently that it will be investing P7 billion in the Philippines which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., welcomed, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

President Marcos welcomed Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s (MMC) P7-billion investment plan in the Philippines in the next five years, saying this will create more jobs for Filipinos.

Marcos expressed his appreciation to MMC during Mitsubishi President and CEO Kato Takao’s courtesy call to the President in Malacañan on Thursday, Feb. 6, to discuss the company’s investment plan in the Philippines.

During their meeting, Kato said MMC’s expansion plan includes adding a new production model at its Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) plant in Laguna. Marcos welcomed this move as it would generate more jobs for Filipinos.

“The jobs that it will provide, that your investment will provide, are very important to us and certainly, vehicle manufacture is one of those,” President Marcos said.

In a Facebook post, the President described Mitsubishi as a valuable partner in his administration’s quest to boost the automotive industry.

“As a strong partner in our journey to strengthen the automotive industry and empower Filipino workers, we welcome Mitsbushi Motors Corporation’s plans to expand operations in the country,” he wrote.

“Mr. Takao Kato and I share the same goals of driving innovation, creating more jobs, and making sustainable transportation a reality for Filipinos,” he added.

During the meeting, Marcos said that MMC will be included in the government’s Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) Program, a new proposed version of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. He hoped MMC’s inclusion would help in its expansion plans.

For his part, Kato said the Philippines is MMC’s most important investment in Southeast Asia, citing its good and stable economy.

“In the ASEAN, (the) Philippines is our number one market,” Kato told the President.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Mitsubishi’s ambitious investment plan will add a lot to the ongoing economic growth of the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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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

Roughly 500 senior citizens of Barangay Pamplona Tres avail of free pneumonia vaccine shots

February 12, 2025February 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, around five hundred senior citizens of Barangay Pamplona Tres got vaccinated for pneumonia for free during the vaccination drive organized by the City Health Office, the City Government announced via social media.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Close to 500 senior citizens from Barangay Pamplona Tres were vaccinated during the Free Pneumonia Vaccination Program held on Wednesday, January 29, at the Verdant Acres Covered Court. The initiative is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to protect its elderly population from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

The vaccination drive was organized by the City Health Office, with healthcare workers ensuring the safe and efficient administration of pneumonia vaccines.

Vice Mayor April Aguilar and City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos were present during the event to show their support and interact with the senior residents. Their presence emphasized the local government’s commitment to addressing the health needs of its senior citizens.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you want the City Health Office to organize a vaccination drive for the senior citizens of your local community as soon as possible?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Cybercrime complaints tripled in 2024, victims lost almost P200 million

February 11, 2025February 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Was there anyone in your local community who got scammed many times last year? Based on the findings of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), cybercrime complaints more than tripled in 2024 and victims lost almost P200 million as well, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Friday said there were a total of 10,004 cybercrime complaints filed with their office in 2024, more than three times the 3,317 complaints in 2023.

In a statement Friday, CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos said the total amount lost by cybercrime victims reached almost PHP198 million last year alone.

He attributed the exponential increase in the number of complaints to the growing awareness of the public on cybercrimes and their willingness to report.

“In previous years, people were not aware that they were being scammed and many were not also aware of where to file their complaints,” Ramos said.

Of the total, around 3,534 complaints, or 35 percent were consumer fraud, these include non-delivery of goods or services and fake advertisements.

On the other hand, there were 3,242 online fraud complaints, or 32 percent of the total. This includes financial fraud, impersonation, job scams, investment scams, and love scams.

Other types of complaints were unsolicited communication, illegal access, identity theft, sexual cybercrimes, phishing, and cyberlibel.

He added that GCash was the top wallet used by victims of consumer fraud, online fraud, and phishing, with a total loss of PHP76.49 million to its users.

Other financial platforms used by victims were BPI with PHP28.47 million losses, GoTyme with PHP15.38 million, and PayMaya with PHP13.99 million.

He called on victims of scams to call the government’s toll-free hotline at 1326.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you scammed in 2024? Do you think that banks and e-wallet companies should enhance security of their respective apps to protect their users from the cyber criminals and scammers? Do you personally know anyone who lost a lot of money because he or she got scammed while using GCash?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at Superman #79 (1993)

February 10, 2025February 4, 2025carlocarrasco

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

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

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

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

Early story

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

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

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

Quality

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

*Cyborg Superman fights the terrorists of Qurac.*

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

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

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

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

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More than 400 Barangay Pamplona Dos residents avail of health services from Las Piñas City caravan

February 10, 2025January 31, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, over four hundred residents of Barangay Pamplona Dos got served with health services by the Health and Wellness Caravan, the City Government announced via social media.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement. Some parts in boldface…

The Las Piñas Health and Wellness Caravan was held at the Sterling Life Homes Covered Court in Pamplona Dos on Thursday, January 23, bringing essential health services to nearly 400 residents. The initiative, spearheaded by the City Health Office, continues to emphasize accessible healthcare and community well-being.

Attendees availed of free medical consultations, dental services, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, chest X-rays, ECG tests, and pneumonia vaccinations for senior citizens. Other services included the distribution of free medicines, assistance with PhilHealth registration, and the Green Card program. Nutrition counseling and non-communicable disease risk assessments were also offered, ensuring comprehensive healthcare support.

City Health Office head Dr. Juliana Gonzalez underscored the importance of preventive care, highlighting how early detection and proactive health measures can significantly improve the quality of life for residents. Her guidance emphasized the value of these caravans in promoting healthier communities across Las Piñas.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you know when will the Health and Wellness Caravan arrive in your local community this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Warrantless arrest of vote-buyers and sellers included in new COMELEC resolution for 2025 elections

February 8, 2025February 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Anyone who gets caught selling or buying votes in connection with the National and Local elections this year will get into trouble as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) recently issued a resolution monitoring such activities and warrantless arrests will be allowed, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA. Some parts in boldface…

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has issued a resolution allowing law enforcement to arrest vote buyers and sellers without a warrant if they are caught in the act.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras,” Resolution No. 11104 will expand the authority of the poll body’s Committee on Kontra-Bigay” to monitor vote buying and selling in Eleksyon 2025.

The resolution allows a law enforcer to make a warrantless arrest if he or she witnessed an act or attempt to commit election offenses.

“Any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when, in his or her presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit the election offense of vote-buying and vote-selling or act constituting ASR (abuse of state resources),” the resolution read.

The arrested individual will be brought to the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, the materials used in vote buying or selling will be under the custody of the police.

“The money or any other goods of value, sample ballots and any other campaign materials used for vote-buying and vote-selling, and ASR, shall be immediately seized and taken into custody by the apprehending law enforcement officer,” the resolution added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the newest resolution by the COMELEC will be effective in preserving the integrity of the national and local elections scheduled for May 2025? Do you think the inclusion of warrantless arrests will deter the buyers and sellers of votes?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

February 7, 2025February 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts, fighting game enthusiasts and other gamers!

With the current Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game Avowed coming out on February 18, I’m supposed to be excited about what Team Xbox has prepared this year. Of course, there were disappointments not only with certain Xbox first-party releases but also with the way things have been changing on the part of Team Xbox.

Times like these, retro gaming on Xbox is the answer for fans who want to experience a lot of fun and Capcom just released Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and even Xbox One users to enjoy. Watch and learn from the official Xbox trailer below.

For the newcomers reading this, the said collection comes with the following video games Capcom released long ago with an emphasis on crossovers with Marvel’s intellectual properties: X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes (2000) plus The Punisher (1993).

Wow! That’s a collection of very fun and popular games Capcom released from 1993 to 2000. With the exception of The Punisher arcade game (a 2D adventure game), I played them all in the arcades decades ago and I can say that having them in a single collection for the modern Xbox consoles is indeed a blessing for long-time Xbox gamers who love 2D fighting games and retro gaming. The way I feel right now, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics looks really enticing to purchase.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is not just a lot of fun to play but also will please those who love the characters. With Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom, Captain America from Marvel’s side included, there is something that will bring both geeks and gamers together.

I have fond memories of Capcom 2D fighting games that carried Marvel’s intellectual properties. X-Me: Children of the Atom was enjoyable to play with and it resonated with me as I was already an X-Men comic book reader back in the 1990s. Marvel Super Heroes was also fun to play and it somewhat reminded me of The Infinity Gauntlet storyline. X-Men vs. Street Fighter was the most intriguing crossover fighting game at the time of its release and it really raised the bar for fast-and-furious style gameplay complete with a quick character swap during the heat of battles. Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter was the follow-up which came with changes that were not well received by the fans.

Then came the two Marvel vs. Capcom crossover fighting games which really built upon the foundation of X-Men vs. Street Fighter for more team battles with speed and impact in mind. I could not forget the inclusion of Resident Evil characters, Mega Man and others.

*X-Men vs. Street Fighter is a classic tag-team, crossover-oriented video game! Fast and furious action ensured!*

*The Punisher arcade game is the only non-fighting game of the collection. Punisher fans should look at this.*

Adding further zest to the collection is online play that allows casual matches, ranked matches, custom matches. Think about how your skills or your scoring will compare with those of other players from around the world.

That being said, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a retro gaming package that deserves attention as it carries some of the finest video games Capcom ever made.

To purchase Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for Xbox, click https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/marvel-vs-capcom-fighting-collection-arcade-classics/9nwfm3hdjc94

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Economy of the Philippines grew by 5.6% in 2024

February 7, 2025January 31, 2025carlocarrasco

The economic growth of the Philippines for the year 2024 has officially been declared by national authorities at 5.6%, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article (which itself emphasized 2024 4^th quarter economic growth of 5.2%). By comparison, the national economy grew by 7.6% in 2022 and 5.6% in 2023.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines was the third highest-growing economy in the region in the fourth quarter of last year despite the impacts of geopolitical tensions and the series of typhoons that hit the country.

Philippine economic growth settled at 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing the full-year economic growth to 5.6 percent.

“While this falls short of our target of 6.0 to 6.5 percent, we are positioned as the third fastest-growing economy in the region, trailing Vietnam (7.5 percent) and China (5.4 percent) but outpacing Malaysia (4.8 percent),” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a briefing Thursday.

Edillon said the country faced numerous setbacks like extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions, and subdued global demand.

“While some challenges affect the entire economy, others exert pressure on specific sectors. Consequently, our economic performance in 2024 hinged on the impact of these factors on various sectors and whether we can mitigate the negative effects or enable a swift recovery,” said Edillon.

Last year, economic growth was mainly driven by the industry and services sectors.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said that among the major economic sectors, industry and services grew by 5.6 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively, last year.

Growth in the manufacturing sector, however, was hampered by subdued global due to geopolitical tensions and the slow recovery of advanced economies. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing declined by 1.6 percent.

Edillon said the six typhoons that hit the country in the fourth quarter, caused disruptions in crop production, livestock, and fisheries. On the demand side, household final consumption expenditure expanded by 4.8 percent.

“During the fourth quarter, we had a succession of typhoons again in October until mid-November and this dampened the growth momentum and travel plans. Although we did see that there was increased spending on travel, transport, recreation and culture but still it was not enough to counter the slowdown in other expenditure items,” said Edillon.

Government final consumption expenditure, meanwhile, grew by 7.2 percent, while gross capital formation rose by 7.5 percent. Exports of goods and services went up by 3.4 percent, while imports of goods and services increased by 4.3 percent.

Building resilience – Edillon noted that the key to economic growth is to build resilience and ensure adaptability to changing preferences.

“To achieve resilient economic growth, we need to diversify our sources of growth,” she said.

Edillon cited the need to encourage more investments in sectors that require workers with higher-level skills.

To keep food inflation low and stable, Edillon said the government must anticipate potential shocks and continue to employ multi-pronged approaches.

“Looking ahead to 2025, we want to regain our growth momentum driven by strategic investments and initiatives designed to strengthen resilience and lay the foundation for long-term inclusive growth,” she said.

Edillon said the government will also ramp up efforts to further develop the country’s infrastructure and boost economic competitiveness by streamlining business processes.

According to Edillon, the government will also expand new free-trade agreements.

To support the recovery in the agriculture sector, Edillon said the government through the Department of Agriculture, will fast-track the implementation of the National Rice Program, invest in irrigation facilities, and fully utilize the increased provision for the Rice Competitiveess Enhancement Fund to improve farm productivity.

Edillon said tourism will also help boost economic growth.

“The government will explore easing visa requirements and actively participate in initiatives such as the proposed ASEAN common visa policy to enhance visitor inflows,” she said.

Edillon said the government will also strengthen the country’s talent pipeline through reskilling and upskilling programs to boost growth in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the 2024 economic growth of the Philippines ended below 6%? What do you think will help the national economy grow by at least 6% this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese national arrested at NAIA Terminal 1 for using a fraudulently acquired visa

February 4, 2025January 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a Chinese national who was found using a fraudulently acquired working visa, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arrested a Chinese man for using a fraudulently acquired working visa.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said 23-year-old Li Xuanjun was intercepted at the immigration departure area of NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on Jan. 22 before he could board a Philippine Airlines flight for Quanzhou, China. Viado said Li’s name prompted a hit in the bureau’s automated derogatory check system.

The hit indicated that the passenger was wanted by the BI for possessing a working visa which he acquired through fraud and misrepresentation.

Verification made by the BI supervisors confirmed that Li and the person who is the subject of the derogatory hit are one and the same.

“We will be deporting him for being an undesirable alien which stemmed from his acquisition of a visa through dishonest means,” Viado said. “His inclusion in our blacklist effectively banned him from re-entering the Philippines.”

The passenger was turned over to the Order Control and Intelligence Unit which brought him to the warden facility in Taguig City as he undergoes deportation proceedings.

Records showed that Li’s working visa was canceled by the BI in 2023 after an investigation revealed that he acquired his visa upon the petition of a fictitious employer company.

A check with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Trade and Industry reportedly found that the purported firm is non-existent.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are still a lot of Chinese nationals here in the Philippines using visas that were fraudulently acquired? How many Chinese nationals are living in your local community right now? Are you ready to report the presence of illegal aliens to the local authorities?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025carlocarrasco

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

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

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

Early story

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

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

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

Quality

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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