During the ASEAN-United States Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting held here in the Philippines yesterday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proposed a new US-ASEAN defense cooperation framework to guide regional partnerships for the next several years, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. It should be noted that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The United States on Wednesday, Oct. 28, proposed developing a new framework for defense cooperation with Southeast Asian nations as Washington seeks to strengthen military partnerships and maintain regional stability amid security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the proposal during the ASEAN-United States Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, held on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN (chairmanship).
“Next year marks the 50th anniversary formally of US-ASEAN relations, an important milestone, and in recognition of this milestone, we propose that we work together to develop a US-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation, a practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years,” Hegseth said.
Details of the said defense frameworks have yet to be specifically discussed by ASEAN defense leaders and Hegseth although he said Washington was ready to begin work on the proposal with Singapore as it prepares to assume the ADMM-Plus chairmanship from the Philippines.
Hegseth described the US approach to regional security as “strong, quiet, and clear,” saying Washington wanted to deter aggression without provoking unnecessary escalation.
“Strong enough to deter coercion and aggression, quiet enough to avoid needless escalation or public theatrics, and to let our actions speak for themselves, but are clear enough that our friends, our partners, and potential adversaries understand precisely where the United States stands and that we will defend our interests and the interests of our allies and partners,” he said.
He said the approach was based on “peace through strength” and emphasized that the United States was willing to work with ASEAN members according to their circumstances, priorities and shared interests.
Hegseth identified maritime domain awareness, interoperability and cooperation among navies as key areas for practical collaboration.
“These are not symbolic things. They are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do,” he said, adding that joint training and planning could build the confidence and competence needed to prevent conflict.
He also cited cooperation to sustain the ceasefire along the Cambodia-Thailand border as an example of regional coordination, saying ASEAN’s leadership had demonstrated what the bloc could achieve when it acted with purpose and resolve.
Valuable ally– Meanwhile, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. welcomed the US engagement, saying a sustained American presence was necessary for peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
“We value the United States’ sustained engagement with the defense establishments of ASEAN as a robust US presence is necessary for peace and stability in Southeast Asia and in the broader Indo-Pacific region,” Teodoro said.
The DND chief also thanked Washington for supporting ASEAN centrality and participating in ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the ADMM-Plus, which brings together ASEAN defense ministers and their eight dialogue partners.
Teodoro cited the second ASEAN-US maritime exercise, in which the Philippine Navy participated in Indonesia in December 2025, and Washington’s support for the Philippines and Japan as co-chairs of the current ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security.
He also welcomed the participation of the US Navy and Air Force in a joint cooperative activity hosted by the Philippines in Subic last month. Teodoro said Manila hopes to build on these initiatives as he stressed the importance of freedom of navigation to regional security and prosperity.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you believe that the proposed new defense cooperation with ASEAN will lead to breakthroughs pertaining to regional stability and freedom of movement at sea? Do you think Communist China will feel the heat of America’s cooperation with ASEAN? What do you think US President Donald Trump will announce about regional cooperation when he attends the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines?
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 Gone Girl reaction videos – When Gone Girl was released in local cinemas back in 2014, I never bothered to see it. Along the way, buzz about the movie spread like wildfire through North American entertainment websites and social media with assorted topics like toxic marriage, manipulation, dishonesty, defamation and betrayal discussed. I eventually saw Gone Girl via streaming just a few years ago and I can say it was a very intriguing movie to watch. That said, it is not surprising that a lot of movie reaction videos featuring it were posted on YouTube. Posted below are the more engaging reaction videos selected for you all.
#2 Why Manga Keeps on Triggering the Internet – It is a very sad fact that there are a lot of fake fans and phony intellectuals out there who seriously believe they are experts on entertainment. This explains why there are so many video essays or so-called analysis focused on established entertainment franchises and entertainment media. That said, there are a lot of fake fans, pretenders, larpers and online tourists who posted their distorted views about manga (Japanese comics) and misinterpret what the original creators did. To learn exactly why, go watch Ranting for Vengeance’s video below. Pay attention to the details.
#3 Maximum Carnage video game remembered – Back in the 1990s, I read the comic books of the Maximum Carnage crossover storyline but I never played the video game adaptation. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage had a very ambitious marketing campaign that captivated many gamers, Spider-Man fans and comic book readers. There was this movie-like build-up that easily kept people thinking about the video game. When it was officially released, there were gamers who expressed disappointment after playing it. To examine what the video game’s quality and impact, go watch the video below.
#4 The Pizzerias in the Mountains of Japan – There is absolutely nothing like exploring the countryside and other nature spots of Japan. Deep in the mountains of Tokyo and Saitama are pizzerias that offer visitors food with unique flavors, homemade ingredients and the immersive closeness to the natural environment. I personally want to visit these food joints the next time I visit Japan. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#5 Totally Whatever reacts to Fast Times at Ridgemont High – It has been over forty years since Fast Times at Ridgemont High was first released in cinemas. To this day, a lot of film buffs considered it as one of the most defining movies Hollywood released in the 1980s, and also one of the most memorable American teen movies ever. Not only that, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The old movie continues to impress first-time viewers and you should see how it impacts Totally Whatever in their reaction video below.
#6Castlevania games revisited – This year marks the 40th anniversary of the original Castlevania video game released on the Famicom Disk System in Japan. The classic horror-themed, 2D side-scrolling adventure game produced by Konami made a huge impact on gamers who enjoyed 2D adventure games and the success it achieved led to the release of many sequels and spin-offs across different platforms. There is a lot of creativity and inspiration behind the production of the original game. To learn more about the original Castlevania and how it grew into an enduring game franchise, watch the video below.
#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Teen Wolf – When it comes to the 1980s, Michael J. Fox is often remembered for playing the teenager Marty McFly in Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II. Speaking of teenagers, Fox was the star in the 1985 coming-of-age fantasy comedy movie Teen Wolf where he played a high school student who could turn into a werewolf. As it was released after Back to the Future, Teen Wolf emerged as a surprise commercial success grossing more than $80 million worldwide. This old movie was featured in several reaction videos on YouTube and Ashleigh Burton’s reaction is fun to watch. Watch the video below.
With the 2026 mid-term elections getting closer, the issues of election integrity and voter fraud are in the spotlight as federal prosecutors announced that there were over four hundred non-citizens who voted more than one thousand five hundred times in Washington state elections over the decades, according to a news report by Breitbart News.
Under the Trump administration, the federal government is working hard to solve voter fraud and ensure the credibility of American elections. All states require US citizenship (by birth or naturalization) to both register and vote in federal and state elections.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the news report of Breitbart News. Some parts in boldface…
Federal prosecutors said Monday that investigators have identified 405 people they believe are not U.S. citizens who voted in Washington state elections, casting more than 1,500 ballots over multiple elections.
Neil Floyd, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, said federal officials sent the names to state election officials and asked them to set aside any ballots from those voters until their eligibility can be checked.
Floyd said investigators were confident in their findings but believe the number of noncitizens who have voted in Washington could be much higher:
Through our investigation, we have confirmed with high confidence that non-citizens are voting in the state of Washington in federal and state elections. Thus far, we have identified over 400 non-citizens who have voted in Washington, and many of them have voted multiple times. That means we have identified over 1,500 ballots illegally cast. This is not the full number of non-citizens who have been voting in Washington. This is only the tip of the iceberg. With a small sample that we have collected so far, I’m confident that we are looking at thousands of non-citizens who have been voting in Washington.
Floyd did not provide a statewide count to support his estimate that thousands of noncitizens had voted. The 1,500 ballots he cited were allegedly cast over several decades, according to a report on the investigation.
The request comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Floyd said Department of Homeland Security investigators compared publicly available Washington voter lists with federal records to identify registered voters they believe were not citizens. They then checked whether those individuals had cast ballots.
He said investigators had to conduct several checks to make sure the records referred to the same person, making the work time-consuming.
Washington has declined to provide the federal government with its full voter registration database, including personal identifying information. Floyd said:
Washington has refused to share the complete list of registered voters with identifying information. We are having to do this essentially one person at a time. If we had access to the full database maintained by Washington, this could be done much more efficiently. We could simply compare Washington’s information to ours and it would yield immediate results.
Floyd said his office would pursue criminal cases against people who vote illegally and those who knowingly help them do so.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you believe that state election officials should be compelled to verify the status of each and every voter who participated in elections? How many illegal voters and fraudulent ballots do you think Washington state has accumulated over the past thirty years? Do you see a connection between illegal immigration and voter fraud in Washington state?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
Issue #21 had a wild story as it reflected the impact of Doom 2099 who took over as President of the United States. Not only did Doom appear (which easily reminded readers about the Fall of the Hammer storyline and the few X-Men members who got involved) in Las Vegas, Halloween Jack was on the verge of causing tremendous chaos on the city and many innocent people within. Quite notably, the series started its movement of gradually getting the futuristic X-Men together again.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #22, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at the Sangre de Cristo mountains in New Mexico where a government helicopter arrives. Morphine Somers and an armored member of S.H.IE.L.D. appear to inspect the ruins. No lifeforms dead or alive were detected.
Meanwhile at a very dark location lighted by flames, former X-Men leader Xi’an meets with Brimstone Love and his trusted companions Charon and Felicity. The demonic leader of the Theater of Pain tells Xi’an that once he is initiated into the exquisite mysteries and dark truths of their group, he will emerge transformed. The Theater of Pain operates by providing twisted entertainment for an audience of the world’s rich and jaded, and by manipulating their deepest, most decadent fantasies which puts them under control.
Xi’an, who reverted back to his sinister self and abandoned the principles he held as leader of the X-Men, arrogantly tells Brimstone Love that he brought the Chosen and Master Zhao to him without being told what would happen to them. After being told that he must surrender his pride to become part of the Theater of Pain, Xi’an turns his back on the leader and begins to walk away expressing rejection. Brimstone Love suddenly tells him no one leaves the theater and teleports him…
Quality
An important meeting between Shakti and Haiku is about to start.
If you have been craving for a powerful tale about Xi’an in the X-Men 2099 monthly series, this is the one to read. This comic book mostly follows Xi’an who at this stage had left the X-Men behind and started his participation with the Theater of Pain. As it turns out, his actual initiation to become a true member of the Theater of Pain really started in this tale and his new superior Brimstone Love is absolutely evil, exploitative and manipulative. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that Xi’an here was portrayed to be very vulnerable and truly disadvantaged as the initiation happens in three different scenarios which instantly reconnects with the painful stages of his past. That said, Xi’an perception of what had happened and how he related with personalities he encountered before truly gets tested. The same goes with his endurance as well as his handling of emotions and trauma. I can also say that the conclusion of Xi’an tale here is absolutely powerful and meaningful to see.
Imagine this as the future of woke California.
While Krystalin and Meanstreak are completely absent in this comic book, you will see Shakti, Skullfire and Luna who are still exerting efforts to figure out how to track down the Theater of Pain and save their former leader. Having served as the second-in-command to their leader when the X-Men was still intact, Shakti seeks a meeting with someone who was personally involved with Xi’an. At this stage in the series, Shakti and Skullfire are both focused on finding Xi’an believing that he can be recovered. This adds more to the tension leading towards the events of issue #25.
Conclusion
Symbolically, Xi’an looks like he is already in Hell in the presence of the demonic Brimstone Love of the Theater of Pain.
I really like X-Men 2099 #22 (1995). The struggle of Xi’an is the very meat of the comic book as the Moore-Lim duo set the stage for the reuniting of the X-Men and the major conflict that awaits them all in the 25th issue. Xi’an’s tale here is absolutely compelling to read and there will be moments when you will feel sympathy or confusion as his struggle with the initiation goes on. Symbolically, the mental and personality torture on the former X-Men leader strikes hard on the essence of the futuristic X-Men itself. You might end up speculating Xi’an might have been delusional on following the steps of Charles Xavier and Magneto to lead mutants in 2099’s America. This comic book could make you think deeply how far the futuristic X-Men could exist without their former leader. As such, this issue should inspire you to revisit the first three issues of the series.
In a press release by Homeland Security, it was announced that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more of the worst-of-the-worst illegal aliens whose acts were very despicable and disturbing. What caught my attention is the arrest of a Filipino illegal alien over the crime of videotaping undressed persons without consent and already he is in the news.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the news report of the Manila Standard. Some parts in boldface…
A 21-year-old Filipino national illegally residing in the United States was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being convicted of two counts of videotaping undressed persons without consent.
In a press release, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Joshua Gabriel Car Hombrebueno was taken into the custody of ICE, following his detention at the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
ICE listed Hombrebueno as part of its “Worst of the Worst” list on October 13, alongside four other convicted individuals from El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala.
“Yesterday, the brave men and women of ICE arrested pedophiles, sexual predators, domestic assailants, and other public safety threats from our communities,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.
The department cited Hombrebueno as an “illegal” individual in the US.
A report from the official City of Alexandria, Virginia website states that the 21-year-old’s case goes back to Sept. 20, 2025, when a mother and her three-year-old daughter reported a phone’s camera recording inside the employee bathroom restroom.
“Upon investigation, Alexandria Police Department (APD) detectives recovered a recording depicting multiple victims, including both adults and children, who were unknowingly recorded while using the restroom,” the statement read.
According to the APD, a search of the device pursuant to a search warrant revealed several other victims, including children and adults.
After being identified, the victims expressed their willingness to file charges against Hombrebueno, who was then 20 years old and working at a French bakery.
Following a sex offense investigation involving hidden-camera recordings inside the restaurant’s employee restroom, the APD filed three felony counts and nine misdemeanor counts of unlawful creation of an image of another person.
“Hombrebueno, through legal counsel, turned himself in to Detective Quint earlier today, and the arrest warrant was served without incident,” the statement read.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support ICE’s efforts on finding and arresting the worst-of-the-worst among the many illegal aliens/immigrants in the United States? Are there many illegal aliens/immigrants living in your local community right now? Do you think Hombrebueno is destined to be deported?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
If you have been reading a great majority of the Marvel 2099 comic book series of the 1990s, then you should be aware about a notable turning point that saw Doom 2099 taking over as the President of the United States. The comic book Spider-Man 2099 #34 reflected the impact of that turning point and it had this pretty clever way of having Doom 2099 and Spider-Man 2099 (but in civilian form as Miguel O’Hara) getting reunited for the first time since the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline. The same thing also happened in the X-Men 2099 series and the encounter between Doom 2099 and a few X-Men members was remembered.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #21, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with government propaganda released to the public. It announces the direction that America will go to under the rule of Doom 2099 as US President. It turns out, Doom has been President for days and already a series of changes is happening nationwide. Halloween Jack (who was a fake Loki during the events of the Fall of the Hammer) asks a rhetorical question about Doom. Halloween Jack and Meanstreak meet with Celestia Amberlyn who is the biggest star of the Synge casino and also a close personal friend of Indigo Eshun, the minister of Signal.
Their meeting intensified quickly due to their conflicting agendas. Amberlyn is with the Doom administration while Halloween Jack is defiant towards the new US President. He shows her his new technology called the virtual unreality projector. He tells her that he will overturn the natural laws of physics throughout Las Vegas and replace them with the wildly unpredictable reality of another dimension…
Quality
Meanstreak, Krystalin and Halloween Jack witness the arrival of Doom 2099 in Las Vegas.
With Doom’s influence as US President felt a lot in this comic book, I can say that the storytelling and events here really got wild. Halloween Jack’s machine really caused a very unique kind of chaos on Las Vegas and his insanity here reminds me a lot about the Joker of DC Comics. After working a lot on making Halloween Jack’s insane agenda happen, Meanstreak finally realizes his errors and decides to take action before total disaster happens. That said, Meanstreak’s old self is back complete with recalling his rightful place with the X-Men.
As stated earlier, Doom has impact on the story and it is truly an expressive portrayal of what he could achieve with the power of the US Presidency. Doom clearly has plans for America and he has his own vision about establishing order and this comic book clearly dramatizes it. On face value, it looks like Doom’s short appearance in this comic book is just for show but I can assure you that he has an action-packed response to Halloween Jack’s insane operation on Las Vegas.
Conclusion
Finally, Meanstreak realizes the wrong things he committed and has decided to take action before total disaster happens.
X-Men 2099 #21 (1995) is indeed a wild tale that concluded with purpose. Not only does it reunite Meanstreak with a teammate, it also sets that direction towards the inevitable reuniting of the futuristic X-Men. The wild turn of events here is balanced with the good amount of details and character development implemented by the Moore-Lim duo. Doom’s presence here really shook things up and the impact on the city of Las Vegas has to be seen.
Remember back in 2009 when then US President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats made a lot of promises that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) – AKA Obamacare – would be very helpful to many Americans in a variety of ways? Believe it or not, Obamacare itself has fraudulent transactions and it cost taxpayers a lot of money that went to waste. That said, the Trump administration eliminated a lot of subsidies for multiple dead or duplicate enrollees which resulted in saving taxpayers roughly $1.5 billion, according to a news report by Newsmax. This development is the latest in the administration’s ongoing efforts to fight fraud, waste and federal program abuses.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
The Trump administration has eliminated Obamacare subsidies for 189,000 duplicate or deceased enrollees, a crackdown on improper government healthcare payments projected to save taxpayers approximately $1.5 billion over the next year, federal officials announced Wednesday.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the action follows the discovery of people receiving taxpayer-subsidized Affordable Care Act coverage despite already having Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage, as well as individuals listed as deceased.
The latest findings are part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health care programs after the Biden administration suspended routine eligibility checks for four years.
“When it comes to program integrity, the Biden Administration was sleeping on the job,” CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a CMS release.
“They paused looking for duplicate Medicaid and Obamacare coverage for four years, creating a backlog of hundreds of thousands of duplicate enrollments.“
According to CMS, the Biden administration halted periodic Medicaid and Obamacare enrollment checks between 2021 and 2024, allowing hundreds of thousands of potentially improper duplicate enrollments to accumulate.
Trump restored the verification process in 2025, when CMS ended duplicate Obamacare subsidies for approximately 551,000 people already covered by Medicaid.
The administration saved nearly $4.4 billion through those efforts last year, according to the Daily Wire.
“We’ve already saved nearly $6 billion, and we will continue to work hard to restore taxpayers’ confidence that the programs they fund are spending their hard-earned dollars wisely and efficiently,” Oz said.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that protecting taxpayer resources helps preserve healthcare coverage for Americans who genuinely need assistance.
“Americans overwhelmingly support protecting access to healthcare for vulnerable Americans, but taxpayers shouldn’t pay twice for the same coverage,” Kennedy said.
CMS said individuals flagged for duplicate coverage receive notice and have 30 days to dispute the findings before their Obamacare subsidies are terminated.
Those affected may also appeal afterward or demonstrate that their Medicaid or CHIP coverage is ending to regain eligibility for subsidies. Similar safeguards apply when federal records incorrectly identify someone as deceased.
The Daily Wire reported that improper enrollments sometimes involve applicants misrepresenting their income or unscrupulous insurance brokers enrolling Americans without their knowledge.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you feeling glad that the US President Donald Trump and his administration are actively fighting fraud and taxpayers’ funds waste? What do you hope would be changed within Obamacare itself while Trump is still in office? Do you think there are illegal immigrants who could be receiving Obamacare benefits?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
Issue #18 had some political flavor as it tried to shake the foundation of the X-Men 2099 series. It also had symbolism that reminded me about the criminal past of Las Vegas, the twisted Black Panthers (the evil Marxist-Leninist and black power political organization of America) and the social unrest that happened in America during the era of Richard Nixon as US President. At this point in the series, the futuristic X-Men are a shell of themselves as the members have been separated and are involved in different developments far away from each other.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #19, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside an old facility in New Mexico. Shakti, who is only wearing a t-shirt and a panty – has been unconscious for several minutes. After waking up, she learns that a thermionic detonator (left by their former leader Xi’an) has been set to explode and time is quickly running out. She also realizes that the bodies of the Chosen have been taken.
In desperation, she wakes up Skullfire and Luna, and they ran out of the facility to save themselves. The facility blows up and Skullfire asks Shakti for an explanation. She reveals to him that Xi’an – whom she momentarily encountered several minutes prior – is responsible for the destruction and he clearly made an attempt to kill them all. As such, Xi’an is now an enemy of the X-Men.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, a heavily mutated and oversized Lytton Synge grabs his sister Desdemona by the neck. While explaining details to him, Desdemona uses a failsafe device to cause him to stop moving and free her. She puts on additional gear that enables her to control Lytton’s body and she made it clear to him that he will be used against Halloween Jack…
Quality
Desdemona, Halloween Jack and Meanstreak are together again. Desdemona here had a desperate attempt to reclaim the casino and their company from Halloween Jack.
There is a good amount of intrigue in this comic book covering the three plot threads. The thread of Shakti, Skullfire and Luna was very short but it added to the tension about having their former leader Xi’an as a deadly enemy.
On the other hand, the events set in Las Vegas saw the return of Lytton Synge in a bloated, Hulk-like figure as Desdemona used him to attack Halloween Jack who has gained control of the Synge business empire (at least in the building they are in) as he continues with his obsession of changing Las Vegas and moving forward with his plan that could mean doom for the city. In this particular plot thread, Halloween Jack has prepared highly advanced technology to redefine Las Vegas in the most phenomenal way. What I find disturbing is Meanstreak’s lack of morality as he keeps on assisting Halloween Jack (his old friend Jordan) with his sinister plan. This makes Meanstreak appear cold-hearted, sinister and unbecoming as an X-Men member.
Over at California, Krystalin pursues a mission to find Billy the Kid as she has absolutely no choice as the life of her brother is at stake. The Free Radicals literally have her cornered and she cannot do anything except doing what they want her to do. In this particular plot thread, the creators did a good job presenting Krystalin as desperate as she is in the middle of a conflict between the Panthers of Wakanda (where her brother belongs to) and the Free Radicals.
Conclusion
Shakti in a very dangerous situation with not much time left.
X-Men 2099 #19 (1995) unsurprisingly moved plot developments forward. Apart from developing the X-Men members more, this comic book also expanded the lore of 2099 America nicely. At this stage, I am eager to find out what would happen next to the X-Men members in their respective plot threads. That said, I am still engaged enough to continue with the remaining X-Men 2099 issues that I have yet to read.
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 from the 1980s 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 to the 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. Atari Console and Games Print Ad
Back in the 1980s, this was simple and yet exciting to look at.
Back in the 1980s, the styles of video game advertising were very different. Back then, Atari was the market leader on console gaming with the Atari 2600 and they had a lot of video games made for it. As such, the above print ad showing the console and the video games (with the front covers of the game boxes) was typical of the era and it was captivating to look at. By today’s standards, the ad looks simple but it still has the appeal to lure gamers.
2. Shark Attack North American Arcade Flyer
The front.
The rear.
Remember long ago when Steven Spielberg’s Jaws made some people afraid of sharks and the sea? Jaws was a massive blockbuster, and it was influential to the public. A few years later, Universal Pictures pushed through with Jaws 2 without Spielberg, and it also was a huge commercial hit. By the start of the 1980s, creature feature films inspired by Jaws were released and pop culture itself was influenced. In 1981, the obscure arcade outfit Pacific Novelty Manufacturing released their game Shark Attack in arcades. To promote the game, the company came up with an arcade flyer that had a comedic touch on the text descriptions while featuring a pretty blonde fashion model posing as the diver. The front of the flyer had the arcade cabinet, the model and an exaggerated artwork of a shark holding a knife and a fork. On the rear, the sexiness was ramped up with a shot of the model’s behind (plus more pictures of the model herself). This is indeed an amusing and funny arcade flyer.
3. Centipede North American Arcade Flyer
This was designed with arcade operators in mind.
When Atari released Centipede in arcades in 1981, it attracted a lot of gamers and became a huge commercial hit. Part of its success is linked with the strategic promotions Atari committed, and the above arcade flyer is one of the variants of Centipede flyers. The one above shows an illustrated centipede carrying a coin in its mouth and in the background are two different arcade cabinets plus a cocktail table machine (for those who want to play Centipede while sitting down). This particular arcade flyer of Centipede emphasizes the popularity of the game and there are different types of machines that arcade operators can choose from. At the same time, this old flyer remains amusing to look at.
4. Rambo Famicom Japanese Print Ad
Using this iconic imagery of Sylvester Stallone as Rambo was a very smart move.
When it comes to Hollywood action movies of the 1980s, Sylvester Stallone was highly successful, and he impacted American pop culture with the Rocky and Rambo films. By 1985, Stallone struck gold with Rambo: First Blood Part II which made over $300 million worldwide. Considering the Cold War theme and ambitious action scenes of the movie, it was clear for Japanese game developer Pack-In-Video to make an official video game adaptation of Rambo: First Blood Part II for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in the form of a 2D side-scrolling adventure game. The said game was simply titled Rambo and to promote it, the company came up with the above Japanese print ad that had the iconic Rambo image of Stallone holding the rocket launcher, and a few screenshots of the game itself. If you look closely at the lower-right corner, you will see a cartoonish hand-drawn art of the Rambo character with a bow and arrow. Considering how very popular Stallone, his character and the movie were, it made a lot of sense to promote the Rambo Famicom game like this in Japan.
5. Gyruss Family Computer Disk System Japanese Print Ad
Gyruss was Konami’s first-ever game developed for the Famicom Disk System of Nintendo.
In 1983, Konami released Gyruss, a science fiction tube shooter designed by Yoshiko Okamoto. The game was a huge arcade hit and it really attracted a lot of players who enjoyed the unique game design and spaceship shooting. Konami licensed the game to a few companies which resulted in the creation and release of Gyruss ports for different consoles and home computer systems. In 1988, Konami released an enhanced Gyruss port for the Family Computer Disk System of Nintendo. To promote the Famicom Disk System port, Konami came up with a print ad that had a nicely detailed painted artwork of a spaceship (representing the player) about to hit incoming enemies deep in space, 3 screenshots and the official price and release date displayed. The artwork is still captivating to look at and the port itself features major overhauls that arguably made it better than the arcade original. Konami really went the extra mile for this Gyruss port.
6. Operation Thunderbolt Japanese Arcade Flyer
Great looking artwork on the front.
The rear.
Following the huge success of Operation Wolf, Taito went on to make the sequel military shooter Operation Thunderbolt which was named after the 1977 movie that itself was based on the real-life Entebbe raid of 1976. To promote the game, the company came up with a pretty compelling arcade flyer for the Japanese market. The front has a detailed painted artwork that emphasizes the conflict between soldiers and Islamic terrorists in the Middle East. The rear has technical details of the arcade cabinet, several phone numbers and hand-drawn art of the terrorists (they easily remind me of Palestinian terrorists) clearly called the enemies. While the listing of phone numbers on the rear was very unusual, this old arcade flyer still looks great. Operation Thunderbolt went on to achieve huge commercial success in the arcades and later on consoles. It was one of the highest grossing arcade games in Japan in 1989.
7. Batman Returns North American Print Ad
Sega’s clever print ad promoting the Sega CD game of Batman Returns.
Batman Returns was a big hit in cinemas in 1992 although it never came close to matching the success of its 1989 predecessor. When it comes to video games, Batman Returns was even more ambitious as there were different game adaptations on different platforms. For the Sega CD Batman Returns game, Sega came up with the above ad that strongly featured photos of Michael Keaton as Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as the Penguin with a stylish dark background and four screenshots of the game. The line “Batman Returns…on Sega CD” was really catchy and ultimately the game itself was very notably an expanded version of the Sega Genesis version with selected video footage from the film. As Sega had the license to make Batman Returns games for its platforms, this print ad is absolutely an attention-grabber.
8. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi North American Print Ad
The Force is with the handheld gamers.
If there is anything notable about Star Wars in the 1990s, it is the fact that there is a lot of merchandise, comic books, video games, books and other licensed products released long after 1983’s Return of the Jedi which itself was perceived to be the last of the film franchise. In the mid-1990s, ports of Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi were released on the competing handheld platforms Nintendo Game Boy and Sega Game Gear. This particular single-page ad has a nice visual design that captured the vibe of the movie (which I saw as a young boy in 1983) and it made handheld gaming look cool.
9. Elevator Action Returns Japanese Print Ad
Did you play Elevator Action Returns on the Sega Saturn?
In 1994, Taito struck gold with the release of Elevator Action Returns in Japanese arcades. The sequel was a big hit for the company and they eventually released a console port on the Sega Saturn only in Japan. For promotion, a print ad was made using the official painted artwork while also showing the screenshots and other details about it running on the Saturn (which itself was a powerful 2D sprite machine). Just looking at this old ad brings back the excitement of Elevator Action Returns and I now have a digital copy of it on my Xbox Series X.
10. Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu North American Print Ad
A very ambitious print ad promoting Jade Cocoon in North America.
By the late 1990s, Japanese role-playing games (JRPG) really became popular on gaming consoles in America which arguably was the result of the massive global success of Final Fantasy VII. In 1999, there were a lot of JRPGs that got released on PlayStation and publisher Crave Entertainment literally pounced on American gamers’ interest on JRPGs by releasing Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu. Crave aggressively promoted the game and the result was this 2-page print ad that emphasized the game concept (developed by Genki), showed screenshots of the game, and displayed artworks that fans of Studio Ghibli anime productions can recognize. While Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu never became a massive commercial hit because of the low print run, there is no denying that its print ad was one of the most visually appealing ads of 1999. The ad alone made it look very ambitious.
11. Konami LaserScope North American print ad
Did you get excited after seeing this Konami LaserScope print ad? Do you know anyone who bought the peripheral?
In 1990, this print ad of Konami’s LaserScope appeared in comic books and several other publications. The LaserScope was a gaming peripheral designed for use on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) complete with compatibility with existing games that were made to support the NES Zapper. The ad even boasted a voice-activated firing feature and a hands-free approach on playing NES games. While the ad boasted that players will have the most powerful voice in video games, the LaserScope itself was a very flawed and badly optimized device. Apart from having a built-in microphone that was oversensitive, tracking targets was a chore requiring constant head-turning which in turn made the gameplay experience very tiring and frustrating. This old ad promised a lot and the LaserScope was a catastrophe. When was the last time you bought hardware from Konami?
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 Virtua Fighter anime revisited – Remember back in the 1990s when Sega struck gold with the groundbreaking success of the first Virtua Fighter game? Virtua Fighter was their first 3D polygonal fighting game and it easily attracted attention as well as tons of money from arcade gamers and later console gamers. Virtua Fighter also sparked strong sales for the Sega Saturn console in Japan. Along the way, Sega itself got involved in anime productions with their ownership of TMS Entertainment and by the year 1995, the Virtua Fighter anime TV series was launched. To be clear, the Virtua Fighter anime series was not a simple production as the creators behind it made something cohesive as well as the characters worth following. To learn more about the said anime, watch the GTV Japan video below.
#2 A look at the legacy of Reggie Lewis – When the late Reggie Lewis first entered the NBA as a rookie, the Celtics were still the best in the Eastern Conference and their famous starting five of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge were aging. During his second season, Lewis improved heavily as he replaced the injured Larry Bird, and he went on to become a very productive Celtic over the next several years. Tragedy struck in 1993 when Lewis died at age 27 and the details behind his heart condition and death are complicated to say the least. What most people did not know was that Lewis entered the NBA to lift his family (note: his mother was a drug addict) up from poverty. The legacy of Reggie Lewis is explained in detail in the video below and I encourage you all to watch it.
#3 The Creepiest Episodes of Unsolved Mysteries – Recently, YouTuber Minty Comedic Arts posted a video about the ten creepiest episodes of Unsolved Mysteries (hosted by the late Robert Stack). In that video, I saw most of the creepy episodes featured and there were a few ones that I saw for the first time. Indeed, almost all the episodes of Unsolved Mysteries can be viewed for free on YouTube and there are some that were missing due to legal reasons. Now is the time to watch Minty’s video below. Tell me if you find them creepy.
#4 American cheese in Japan – With the intensifying demand for cheese around the world, there is now a so-called battle for market share. In Japan, most cheese offered are imported and their prices have gone up significantly affecting the restaurants and local consumers. Along the way, cheese produced in the United States have entered Japan in growing numbers and it is being offered to local businesses and consumers for their consumption and cooking needs. America has key advantages with regards to production of milk and cheese and there is a renewed focus on exporting products aggressively. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#5 The Unreleased Marvel 2099 Video Game of the 1990s – Thirty years ago, I read a video game magazine and got excited over the news about an official video game based on the Marvel 2099 comics franchise. I already read lots of issues of Spider-Man 2099, X-Men 2099, Ravage 2099, Punisher 2099, Doom 2099, and the 2099 Unlimited quarterly series. That said, I was delightfully surprised that the Marvel 2099 game was set for release on PlayStation. Then as time passed by, nothing happened and the unreleased game was forgotten. To find out exactly what happened, go watch the in-depth video below.
#6Chopping Mall reaction videos – How many times have you seen a horror movie or a cinematic misadventure that happened inside a shopping mall? In 1986, the low-budget techno-horror movie Chopping Mall (original title: Killbots) was released and it had a lot of scenes filmed inside the Sherman Oaks Galleria (which was also a location for Commando and Fast Times at Ridgemont High) in California. What makes Chopping Mall unique is its concept of security robots going rogue and harming people which brings back vibes of The Terminator. In today’s age of rampant artificial intelligence (AI) development, Chopping Mall has gotten more socially relevant and it has been featured in many movie reaction and retro review videos on YouTube. I found for you guys and gals the more engaging videos of the said movie.
#7 Adults Who Went to the Extreme for Disney and Buried Themselves with Debt – What is the worst thing you can do with your time and money with regards to entertainment from the woke Disney company? A few years ago, a survey found that 24% of all Disney-goers accrued debt during their trips along with 45% of parents with children (aged below 18). To be very clear, visiting a Disney theme park with the family is very costly and the very expensive rates on the food, transportation, accommodations, souvenirs and services related with Disney won’t fade away. Even with those painful prices, there still are certain adults who put themselves at huge financial risks because they could not restrain themselves from enjoying anything Disney. The Disney adults are real, and they lack discipline on spending. In the long run, these people are morally and spiritually lost. You better not follow their bad examples, and you can find out why by watch the informative video below.
