United States – Page 23 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at What If #19 (1980)

August 16, 2024August 2, 2024carlocarrasco

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

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to examine an alternate story of the Marvel Comics shared universe chronicled through the What If monthly series.

Spider-Man is clearly Marvel Comics’ greatest icon. He is the one Marvel superhero who is easily recognized around the world through the many comic books published, the animated TV shows and the big-budget Hollywood movies released. Given Spider-Man’s real-life fame as a pop culture and American icon, one has to wonder what would it be like had the webslinger decided to have a career in showbiz instead of fighting bad guys. How can Spidey realize that with great power comes great responsibility if he is so focused on being an entertainer?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #19, published in 1980 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter Gillis and drawn by Pat Broderick.

Early story

The story begins far into Spider-Man’s past when he started as an entertainer. Spider-Man sees a police man chasing a thief down the hallway (note: this was a key moment in the life of Peter Parker who went to become a crime fighter as Spider-Man). Instead of letting the thief get away, Spidey uses his web to stop him which enabled the police officer to apprehend him.

The next day, the Daily Globe published a front page story showing Spider-Man (described as a TV star) stopped the crook which established him as a heroic entertainer. The story bothered J. Jonah Jameson (The Daily Bugle) so much not only because the rival newspaper reported it but also because he perceived it as a glorification of so-called superheroes.

Elsewhere, Spider-Man and a famous film producer talk about making a movie about him that can really entertain a lot of people…

Quality

*As Spider-Man makes waves on television as an entertainer and endorser, J. Jonah Jameson tells the media the difference between real heroes and the costumed ones with super powers.*

Considering the history of Spider-Man, it is both difficult and risky to come up with a new reality that diverged from the key moment of the icon’s past (letting a crook get away from the chasing cop) resulting in a completely new version of him – Spider-Man as an entertainer. The good news here is that Peter Gillis’ script is solid and its scenes were nicely arranged to make this new version of the icon believable.

As shown on the cover of this comic book, the tale shows Spider-Man as a celebrity who found success and wealth in showbiz. Along the way, the classic Peter Parker gradually transforms into a new version who is not only focused on entertaining people but also engaging in publicity wars without ever becoming journalist. Since Marvel’s most famous icon does not fight crime, you will see him as an entertainment entrepreneur, a fighter through publicity, and as someone who enjoys the high life that most Americans don’t have.

In relation to the concept of the story, J. Jonah Jameson and Daredevil became the next important players to Spider-Man. Jameson is the rival of the webslinger but not necessarily the villain. Through Jameson, you will not only witness how he misuses his power at The Daily Bugle but also his interactions with criminal elements as he searches for ways to deal with Spidey. When it comes to Daredevil’s role, I encourage you to read the comic book to find out.

The story by Gillis moved at a medium-to-fast pace and for each build-up done, pay-offs were satisfying to read. When it comes to the scope of the story, this alternate reality is actually captivating to follow from start to finish.

Conclusion

*Can you just imagine how different superhero comics would have been in real life had Marvel actually depicted Spider-Man as a showbiz figure?*

What If #19 (1980) is a very solid and captivating comic book to read. The creative duo of Peter Gillis and Pat Broderick succeeded in selling the concept of what would happen had Spider-Man became an entertainer instead of fighting evil figures that hound society. Apart from showing a drastically different version of Spidey, the story will compel you to think about the relevance of superheroes in society, why becoming a major player in showbiz is chaotic, and how could Peter Parker be responsible with the power (related to showbiz) he has without combating evil.

Overall, What If #19 (1980) is recommended.

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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Hamas top leader and Hezbollah’s Second-in-Command eliminated

August 2, 2024August 1, 2024carlocarrasco

As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.

Now, on with the news…

In case you missed the news, the enemies of Israel were shaken hard very recently as two key terrorist figures – Palestinian terrorist group Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s Second-in-Command Fuad Shukur – were eliminated in two different locations within a very short span of time.

Israel took responsibility of eliminating Fuad Shukur with a precise strike in Beirut, Lebanon. The Hezbollah leader was not only responsible for the murderous attack that killed lots of children in Northern Israel, he was also responsible for killing many victims (including attacking the United States Embassy in Beirut in the 1980s) for decades. As for the termination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, Israel neither confirmed nor denied responsibility as of this writing.

To start with, watch the selected news videos below. CBN News and TBN Israel are the most credible sources for news about Israel and the war with the terrorists. Other news outlets like CNN, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press and many other mainstream news media sources cannot be trusted as they collectively support Islamic terrorists. The Islamo-Left union is pure evil. Now watch the videos below…

Since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Jewish State has been working overtime defending their people while fighting the enemies on different fronts. Terrorist state Iran has obviously been supporting terrorist groups to do their dirty work against Israel. Qatar meanwhile supports the Palestinian terrorists mainly through the terrorist news network Al Jazeera.

As of this writing, Israel’s forces eliminated many Hamas terror officials and commanders. The termination of Hamas billionaire leader Ismail Haniyeh is a very significant blow to the terrorist group although Israel did not confirm nor deny taking responsibility. The leaders of Hamas are obsessed with causing genocide and murder against Israel and its people. As seen many times, Hamas even used their fellow Palestinians as shields and assets against Israel. Hamas leaders profited and enriched themselves from all the humanitarian supplies that entered the Gaza strip which also explains how Ismail Haniyeh got so rich.

As for Iran and Hezbollah, they are pure evil and they are determined to keep on fighting knowing that the union between Islamists and Leftists around the world will keep on making waves on social media and the news to condemn Israel endlessly.

As some of you may be aware right now, I will always stand with Israel and reject all forms of evil. Learn from what God declared in the holy scriptures below.

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you.

I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)

Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].

And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;

The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.

Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

Also, let me remind you that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations. Never allow the forces of evil to bring you down. Never let the wicked ones pull you away from the Lord. Learn from the scriptures below.

For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NKJV)

“I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.

“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned. But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!

John 15:1-8 (TPT)

Always pray to the Lord in support of Israel, its government, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its stakeholders. Learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 28

July 31, 2024October 15, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Mosab Hassan Yousef: My Father Founded Hamas video – In America, there are lots of young people who are protesting in public supporting Palestinian terrorists while condemning Israel. These pro-Palestine have shown ignorance about the facts and none of them knows exactly what Palestinian culture is like when compared to Mosab Hassan Yousef (son of a founder of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas).

In an interview with PragerU, Yousef talks comprehensively about his past with the Palestinians (Arabs who adopted the Palestinian identity which only started in the 20^th century), the time he was active as a Hamas member, his relationship with his father who founded Hamas, and why he left the terrorist group to cooperate with Israel and migrated overseas. Yousef confirms that Hamas is pure evil and the Palestinian culture has hatred and violence deeply rooted within. Watch this video now.

#2 Jaws 3 4K Blu-ray has footage that involved the use of AI – I am a collector movies on physical media. I don’t just buy any movies on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray format because I am selective with regards to quality, enjoyment and replay value. When it comes to new releases on 4K Blu-ray format, I cannot ignore the observations pointing out that the footage of Jaws 3 (AKA Jaws 3D) on 4K Blu-ray involved the use of AI (artificial intelligence) which resulted in bad visual results. It seems that more people in Hollywood are getting obsessed with remastering old movies using AI, removing the film grain and other digital methods that ruin the visuals. For insight, watch the videos below.

#3 Michael Jordan’s “The Shot” of 1989 – When it comes to those game-winning basketball shots, Michael Jordan had lots of those during his years with the Chicago Bulls. Before he won his first NBA championship, Jordan successfully scored the winning jump shot over Craig Ehlo to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-100 in the 5^th game of the 1989 NBA playoffs’ first round. That shot became iconic and there is a lot more behind the scenes that preceded. Watch the selected video below.

#4 Virtua Fighter 3 retrospective video – When Sega released Virtua Arcade 3 in the arcades in 1996, it was the best-looking 3D polygonal fighting game at the time and it often drew players leaving them really satisfied. Virtua Fighter 3 was the product of the most cutting edge arcade technology of the time (with the Model 3 arcade hardware) as well as the hard-work and in-depth craftmanship by developer AM2 led by the legendary designer Yu Suzuki. To know more about Virtua Fighter 3, watch the video below.

#5 Popcorn in Bed’s James Bond reaction videos – On August 2023, YouTuber Popcorn in Bed started posting reaction videos of James Bond movies. With the exception of the films of Daniel Craig and George Lazenby as Agent 007, Popcorn in Bed posted two selected movie reaction per James Bond actor (example: 2 Bond films of Sean Connery, 2 Bond films of Roger Moore). To give you a taste of what Popcorn in Bed did, watch the selected videos below. To watch more, click here.

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #320 (1989)

July 26, 2024July 11, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

For this particular review, we will explore the first chapter of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline that took place within the Amazing Spider-Man series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #320, published in 1989 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Todd McFarlane.

Early story

The story begins inside Empire State University where Peter Parker – working as an assistant in the science lab – takes advantage of the free time and resources to create web fluid using a new formula. He notices that the acetylene torch does not even leave a smudge on the new web he made.

To his surprise, his boss doctor Evan Sloan catches him doing an interesting experiment. Parker comes up with a convincing excuse for the experiment which spares him from getting into trouble. After promising doctor Sloan he will get on the neutron project first thing in the morning of Thursday, Parker leaves, secretly changes into Spider-Man and equipped his brand new web. He then leaves the university and moves deep into the city…

Quality

*Peter Parker and Mary Jane having a discussion.*

I really like the story David Micheline came up with as the start of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline. This is clearly not your typical good-versus-evil superhero tale starring the webslinger. Instead, there are layers of secrecy, suspense and intrigue that involves a powerful private organization, private armies and diplomats.

Instead of facing off with super villains, Spider-Man finds himself in the middle of something very big brewing behind the scenes, and that puts him in deep danger. That being said, Michelinie’s approach on building up the details of the plot moved very smoothly and the payoff for each buildup was executed on a timely manner. The buildup of details was never boring nor too slow to absorb, and Todd McFarlane excelled with visualizing the plot while still delivering dynamic superhero action.

I should mention that the character Paladin has a strong presence in the story and there were moments when he outweighed Spider-Man in terms of importance.

Conclusion

*Spider-Man and Paladin targeted by armed guards.*

Amazing Spider-Man #320 (1989) is indeed a very solid story to read and a powerful start of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline. With the way the core concept was presented, this comic book symbolically showed that there are high stakes and other matters that are clearly too overwhelming for Spider-Man to deal with. The story is nicely paced and the creative team knew when and how to execute worthy payoffs for each buildup. By the time I reached the end of the comic book, I became convinced to read the next chapter of this storyline.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #320 (1989) is highly recommended.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 27

July 22, 2024July 19, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 John List true crime documentaries – In America, the late John List is one of the most notorious criminals ever in their history. At a very desperate point in his life, List murdered his own family members in 1971 and it took some time for the local authorities to find out what he left behind in their huge home. Having left his home and investigators behind, List traveled across the nation, came up with a fake identity and lived away from the law for almost twenty years. How the law enforcers tracked him down (involving America’s Most Wanted TV show) and arrested him is a great story to follow. All of these are documented in the two videos below.

#2 The Stepfather explanatory video by GoodBadFlicks – Believe it or not, the story of John List inspired the creation of the 1987 psychological horror film The Stepfather. This video by YouTuber GoodBadFlicks is a must-see.

#3 The assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump – I really cannot ignore the assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump which resulted in the injury on his right ear, the death of a campaign rally attendee and one other person getting injured. Whatever your political views are, this is a tragedy and it clearly was not staged. It was indeed an attempt to kill and already the Satanic Leftist mainstream news media are distorting the facts and lying to you. To get clear insight on what happened and who the suspect (a very young guy who was a registered Republican voter who also donated money to support Democrats and far-left movement), watch the selected videos below.

#4 HolyLandSite’s Mount of Olives video – Recently, the YouTube channel HolyLandSite published their newest video featuring the Mount of Olives in Israel. I personally visited some of the sites at the Mount of Olives featured in this video and in my experience, I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life and gained insight on what the place was like during the time of Lord Jesus. Mount of Olives was where Lord Jesus last stepped on before ascending into Heaven and He will arrive there sometime in the future. Watch the video below.

#5 Capcom’s failed case against Data East over Fighter’s History – Remember how popular Street Fighter II was in the arcades in the 1990s? Capcom made tons of profit from SFII which led to the production of sequels, spin-offs and other 2D fighting games that followed. Of course, as the fighting game genre became tremendously popular, there were other fighting games that competed with Capcom’s creations. Believe it or not, Capcom sued Data East alleging that their competitor’s game Fighter’s History infringed the copyright of Street Fighter II. To find out what happened, watch the video from Top Hat Gaming Man below.

6. Donald Trump nominated again by Republicans for President of the United States – By the time you are reading this, the 2024 Republican National Convention has concluded a few days ago. Donald Trump has been nominated again for US President by the party, only this time the Republicans are very united and they were reinvigorated arguably because of the failed assassination attempt on their candidate. The Democrats meanwhile are divided and already their powerful members stopped supporting the re-election campaign of Joe Biden. The contrasts between the two parties are so great during the last week. If you want to see all the Republican speeches and the nomination acceptance speech of Trump (whose running mate is US Senator J.D. Vance), watch the Republican National Convention (night 4) below.

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985)

July 19, 2024July 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

For this particular review, the Amazing Spider-Man comic book does not involve Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz. Instead, we will see the creative contribution of Bob Layton who already established himself within Marvel Comics on the Iron Man monthly series. Layton is the same guy who co-founded Valiant Comics with former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #262, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written and illustrated by Bob Layton.

Early story

The story begins as Spider-Man arrives at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey distracting a few air traffic control operators. As he makes his way into a deserted baggage room, Peter Parker intends to change clothes as he has a journalistic assignment from the Daily Bugle to photograph President Ronald Reagan who is set to arrive soon. For Peter Parker, the assignment is crucial as he needs to earn money.

Elsewhere within the airport, the sleazy tabloid news photographer D.J. Jones makes his way through and he intends to photograph something unusual or embarrassing about Reagan. He accidentally bumps into a lady whose items fall down. Jones pretends to be kind to her as he secretly takes her wallet while helping her collect her belongings.

As Jones decides to take the lady’s money, he goes into one of the baggage rooms to get rid of the wallet. Inside, he accidentally spots Peter Parker (still wearing the upper half of his Spider-Man costume) changing clothes and quickly photographs him. Jones starts to run away compelling Parker to chase him knowing that his secret identity will get exposed if he fails…

Quality

*This is what happens when you carry very valuable information with you which the mob wants.*

I really like this Spider-Man tale crafted by Bob Layton. For one thing, it tackles the concept of having your secret identity being discovered by someone who has a record of unethical behavior as well as the opportunity of using the acquired confidential information (the secret identity) for financial gain (at the expense of the affected person). Layton’s story also reconnected Spider-Man to a significant part of his legacy (the death of his Uncle Ben and the identity of the man who killed him) which opens up moral and ethical challenges on his part.

Character development of Spider-Man in this story is short yet substantial to read. As he recalls the painful lesson he learned about his uncle’s death, he remembers how guilt (by previously allowing a crook to get away who later turns out to be the same person responsible for the death of Uncle Ben) overwhelmed his early desire for revenge and this compels him to re-evaluate the responsibility he carries with his superhuman abilities.

Instead of utilizing a super villain, Layton presented D.J. Jones as the antagonist that Spider-Man has to overcome somehow. Jones is not exactly evil, he’s just unethical and sleazy. As a human being, Jones is a turn-off but he is not murderer nor a bank robber. The sleazy photographer is an ordinary man who, like Peter Parker, is trying to survive with his occupation which in turn makes him determined to get the big scoop to rise high.

Conclusion

*Spider-Man ended up having to save the lives of many innocent people resulting in losing track of the man he was chasing.*

Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985) is a very inspired work by Bob Layton who clearly researched the history of Spider-Man and tackled the crucial themes (note: power, responsibility, morality and ethics) through the story. The plot is simple yet engaging to follow and the character development is really solid. This is great writing by Layton and his approach on superhero spectacle (the action scenes) works well within the narrative.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #262 (1985) is highly recommended.

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US-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (123 Agreement) enters into force

July 18, 2024July 9, 2024carlocarrasco

The Philippines moved some steps forward into a nuclear-powered future as the United States-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (also referred to as the 123 Agreement) came into force recently, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. This means that the legal framework for potential nuclear projects with American providers has been laid down. It is recalled that the 123 Agreement has been progressing since last year.

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

The United States-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, or the 123 Agreement, entered into force on July 2, the US Department of State’s Office of the Spokesperson announced on Tuesday (Manila time).

Signed in November last year, the 123 Agreement will establish a legal framework that allows the export of nuclear fuel, reactors, equipment, and special nuclear material from the US to the Philippines.

The agreement lays the legal framework for potential nuclear power projects with US providers and aims to facilitate Philippine-US cooperation in the safe and secure use of nuclear energy, taking into full account the standards and safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as in accordance with respective national laws, international agreements, and regulations.

Upon entry into force, the 123 Agreement will allow the transfer of information, nuclear material, equipment, and components directly between the Philippines and the US or through persons authorized by their respective authorities to engage in transfer activities, which will support potential nuclear power projects with US providers.

It will also pave the way for streamlining the licensing requirements for the private sector with respect to investments in nuclear-related intangible transfers of technology.

“Energy security is an increasingly critical global challenge requiring deliberate collaborative efforts, and together, our two countries can make a significant contribution to our shared clean energy goals,” the US Department of State said.

Nuclear energy, it said, could help achieve these global climate change and energy security targets.

The US Department of State said the agreement is part of its efforts to develop the Philippines’ civil nuclear sector.

“Creating a safe, secure, and modern sector requires a skilled workforce, robust regulations, and strong commercial partnerships. Our government is committed to working with the Philippines to advance each of these areas and we look forward to further building our partnership together,” the US Department of State said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said the administration would be glad to pursue nuclear energy as part of the country’s energy mix by 2032 through the partnership forged with American providers.

His administration seeks to increase the country’s renewable energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that nuclear power will be more beneficial for the Filipino people and the national economy than solar and wind power? Are you aware that solar and wind power will cost too much money to create abundant energy for the Philippines?

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 Amazing Spider-Man #259 (1984)

July 12, 2024July 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

In my previous retro review, additional stress in Peter Parker’s life was realized when Mary Jane revealed to him that she knows he and Spider-Man are one and the same. Some time later when things calmed down, Spider-Man went to the headquarters of the Fantastic Four eventually finding out the shocking truth about the alien costume he has been wearing since the events of Secret Wars.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #259, published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco, and drawn by Ron Frenz.

Early story

The story begins in New York City where Peter Parker and Mary Jane casually spend time walking within a large park. Knowing that Peter is already feeling uneasy about her knowing his secret identity as Spider-Man, Mary Jane reveals to him stories of her past and the domestic challenges that she, her sister and their parents went through.

Elsewhere in the city, the Hobgoblin makes his moves expressing his intention to engage with the business side of crime…

Quality

When it comes to developing a supporting character with sheer depth, this comic book really stands out as Spider-Man literally got pushed to the side. The main story here focuses closely on Mary Jane whose experiences with her family from the past got dramatized big time. You will see flashbacks of her youth, her closeness with her sister and mother, and tension she went through when her father became stressed and resentful. The DeFalco-Frenz duo really set up the blocks of past developments that built up Mary Jane’s personality and her portrayal here is clearly a major character turning point in Spider-Man’s corner of the Marvel Comics shared universe of the time.

As for her relationship with Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Mary Jane here is less of a romantic partner and more of a friend looking for a shoulder to cry on. While it is a fact that several comic books in the 1970s showed Mary Jane and Peter romantically linked, her portrayal in this comic book marked a major turning point of her personal development and her destiny with the webslinger. The writing by DeFalco here is very rich with drama and believability.

Conclusion

*Flashbacks from Mary Jane’s past with her family.*

Amazing Spider-Man #259 (1984) is still significant to read after all these decades. Mary Jane, who eventually got married to Peter Parker, has been redefined very heavily in this tale and she eventually became one of the most essential Spider-Man-related characters in the years that followed. Looking back at this old story (which happened shortly after Spider-Man separated from the alien costume), it was clear that Marvel Comics decided Mary Jane would be the definitive leading lady of Spider-Man.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #259 (1984) is highly recommended.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 10

June 3, 2024May 16, 2024carlocarrasco

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 and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Double Dragon II: The Revenge print ad

*Nice looking art used to promote the game.*

The beat-them-up sub-genre of gaming was already popular in the 1980s and one of the most defining game franchises of this type of game was the Double Dragon series which proved to be popular with Nintendo Entertainment System (NES in America) and Family Computer (Famicom in Japan) gamers. As the first game was a very big hit on Nintendo’s consoles, the sequel Double Dragon II: The Revenge was promoted in America with strong confidence on the part of publisher Acclaim that it would become another massive hit. This print ad had a very nice looking comic books-style art that not only captured the concept of the game but also visualized the heroes Billy and Jimmy with enough details to focus on. I can say this was an eye-catching ad.

2. X-Men: Children of the Atom print ad

*Great looking ad but the line “100% direct conversion” is not true at all.*

Developed by Capcom in cooperation with Marvel, X-Men: Children of the Atom was a huge hit in the video arcades and it was not surprising that it got released on the Sega Saturn by Acclaim. Acclaim organized an aggressive promotional campaign by pouncing on the fans’ love and knowledge of the X-Men and the high fun factor of Capcom’s game. What this print ad got wrong, however, was the line “100% direct conversion of the #1 arcade smash!” which was wrong and misleading. In reality, the Sega Saturn version of the game had about one-third of the animation frames cut due to the console’s smaller RAM capacity.

As the years passed by, the Sega Saturn became the more suitable console for home ports of Capcom’s further 2D fighting games as Sony’s PlayStation had even more severe limitations and a graphics processor that was not suitable for 2D graphics. By the end of 2000, Capcom’s 2D fighting games on PlayStation all were inferior to the Sega Saturn versions.

3. Sky Shark NES print ad

Released in Japan as Flying Shark, Sky Shark was released on multiple platforms in 1988 and there was an NES version of it which this particular print ad promoted. The American branch of Taito wisely used positive quotes from media outlets to promote the game while coming up with an engaging text description and displayed NES screenshots. And then there was that very engaging painted cover art that gave this print ad a lot of punch. An effective ad overall.

4. Conflict print ad

*This is a very captivating artwork for advertising.*

There is no denying the fact that the Cold War was a strong influence on arcade games and video games. Titles like Contra, Jackal, Metal Gear, Operation Wolf, Cabal and Rush’n Attack were militaristic games that entertained millions of gamers from the young adults to the little children. In 1990, Vic Tokai released the game Conflict on the NES which had a military theme but an unusual game design composed of digital maps with hexagons in which gamers will play with strategy to win battles. That being said, this print ad’s visual concept was very captivating yet also misleading. If you see how the game is played, you will know what I mean.

5. College Slam print ad

*Were you ever interested in college basketball video games?*

This is one of the more eye-catching print ads I’ve seen due to the artist’s illustration of a basketball with a mouth biting the basketball rim which dominates the space. For the newcomers reading this, College Slam was a basketball video game that was actually a repacked version of the popular NBA Jam with focus on NCAA basketball players. With the biting basketball at the center, it was easily an attraction and the screenshots implemented were larger than usual which easily gave gamers a clear look at what the game looked like. While this print ad is eye-catching, it did not help sell College Slam and there never was a follow-up.

6. Tecmo Super Baseball print ad

*From the time when Tecmo was prolific with video games about sports.*

Long before it started the Dead or Alive game franchise, Tecmo was once heavily invested in making sports video games. Tecmo Super Baseball was their first American pro baseball video game released for Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis, and it was notable that the publisher secured only the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) which resulted in the game featuring real-life players but the teams had no names and no logos. Regardless, this print ad showed how aggressive Tecmo was in trying to attract consumers’ attention by showing ten screenshots with short text descriptions each. The ad’s write-up boasted realism as well as the promise of gaming quality.

7. The Punisher print ad

In the early 1990s, Capcom and Marvel Comics started their partnership resulting in the releasing of the arcade game The Punisher. Developed by Capcom, the said arcade game became a big hit with gamers as it featured fun gameplay, multiple enemies appearing on screen simultaneously and other fun elements. Unsurprisingly, the game was ported (note: Sculptured Software was the lead developer) to the Sega Genesis with significant downgrades in terms of graphics, sound, enemy variety and other related elements due to technical limitations. That being said, this print ad used detailed art of the Punisher (with Col. Fury in the background) in a clever way to promote the Sega Genesis version while keeping their attention away from the obvious visual downgrades of the two screenshots displayed. The Punisher on Genesis was poorly received.

8. Stargate print ad

*If you did not enjoy the movie, were you able to play the video game adaptation on Sega Genesis or Super NES?*

Remember the sci-fi movie Stargate (1994)? The film was a surprise box office hit and eventually video game adaptations of it were made for the SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Gear and the GameBoy. This particular print ad, however, showed screenshots of the SNES and Genesis versions which is made obvious with the side-scrolling adventure plus 3D flying sequence (one screenshot showed it). Combined with images sourced from the movie poster plus an insert of the movie in home video format (lower-right corner), this print ad was obviously an aggressive way to promote the film with the post-theatrical business in mind. In case you are wondering, the cinematic Stargate is not related at all with the early 1980s video game (a follow-up to the classic game Defender) of the same name.

9. Aerobiz Supersonic print ad

*For a simulation game released on consoles, Aerobiz Supersonic is pretty deep and a lot of fun to play.*

The airline simulation game Aerobiz Supersonic is a highly addictive and surprisingly fun game that I enjoyed playing on the SNES (read my retro review by clicking here) and strangely enough I first learned about not through its print ad but by reading a preview published by Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) magazine. As for this print ad made by Koei’s American team, this is really odd to look at due to the ad makers’ choice of showing a not-so-attractive flight meal. In contrast to that, the ad makers did a good job describing the game creatively and showed three screenshots that were strategically selected in my view. Having played the game many times, I can say that this print ad is very truthful.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 20

May 27, 2024May 23, 2024carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 NHK World’s Game Planet Documentary – If you are very passionate about video games and you want to see gaming through the views of the Japanese and the Chinese, then you should see NHK World’s documentary here. This video documentary is also a must-see for those who love playing the Street Fighter video games. Lots of creative talents from Capcom and Tencent interviewed.

#2 Square Enix decides to drop PlayStation exclusivity and go multiplatform with their business – It was indeed bound to happen and I was not surprised about it. In case you missed the news, Square Enix announced it will drop PlayStation exclusivity in favor of going aggressive with a multiplatform strategy. This is because there was a massive 70% profit drop on the part of Square Enix and sales of the PlayStation 5-exclusive Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were undeniably disappointing. To understand the details better, posted below is one analytical video and one critical video.

#3 Nick Anderson’s notorious 4 missed free throws and disrespect towards Michael Jordan – If you are long-time basketball fan, you would at least be aware of significant events during the NBA Playoffs and the Finals in 1995. I am talking about Nick Anderson who is still remembered as the guy who missed four free throws as his team (Orlando Magic) was already leading by three points ahead of the Houston Rockets (defending champions) during Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals. As history recorded, the Houston Rockets swept the Magic 4-0 to win their 2^nd straight NBA championship. Going back to Anderson, he is also the same guy who disrespected Michael Jordan during the Eastern Conference semifinals. Posted below are three videos for you to watch.

#4 Reggie Miller’s 8 points in 8.9 seconds – Still with the 1995 NBA Playoffs, here is a look back at the miraculous achievement of Reggie Miller scoring eight points in less than nine seconds during a game against the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. For the newcomers reading this, the playoff rivalry between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers started in 1994 and by the time their rematch in 1995 was realized, collective fan anticipation was already high. There was no better way to raise the stakes in the rematch than Miller’s unexpected 8 points in 8.9 seconds. Watch the video below.

#5 Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video of Deep Impact – In 1998 here in the Philippines, I saw the sci-fi film Deep Impact in a cinema during its first week of release. It was entertaining to watch given the sci-fi spectacle, the concept and, of course, the wide cast of actors that includes the legendary Robert Duvall in a really solid supporting role. What is most notable about Deep Impact is the fact that it was made to spark emotion from viewers and that is most inevitable in the movie reaction video by Popcorn in Bed. With the current number of Deep Impact reaction videos available on YouTube as of this writing, the best one is viewable right below…

#6 HolyLandSite’s video of the tour of the Oaks of Mamre in Israel – Recently HolyLandSite released their newest Holy Land video focused on the Oaks of Mamre in Israel which is the historical and biblical site where the Abrahamic Covenant was given. Oaks of Mamre is filled with evidence that it is indeed the very place where Abraham met God. God’s covenant has always been with the Jewish people (read Genesis 17:15-21 in the Holy Bible). This video also has biblical lessons for those who follow Lord Jesus and the Word of God. May this also remind you that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical.

#7 Retrospective video about Konami’s X-Men arcade game – Just a few years before Capcom and Marvel Comics teamed up for the production of arcade games featuring superheroes and the publisher’s own characters, Konami literally rocked the arcades with a lot of fun with the X-Men arcade game of 1992. Using the established character designs from the 1989 cartoon X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, the arcade game allowed players to choose one of six superheroes to play as (listed were Cyclops, Wolverine, Dazzler, Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler) and engage in side-scrolling beat-them-up action fighting the many minions of Magneto. The X-Men arcade game was undeniably successful and impacted the way people enjoyed multiplayer sessions in the arcades. You can learn more from this in-depth retro gaming video by PatmanQC.

#8 FilmComicsExplained’s Demolition Man video analysis – When I first saw Demolition Man (1993), I perceived it as a Sylvester Stallone action movie laced with futuristic science fiction (sci-fi) concepts. I noticed the film’s portrayal of what future society could become and what futuristic technologies could be used by people. By today’s standards, Demolition Man is perceived to be prophetic with its presentation and the video by FilmComicsExplained takes an in-depth look into it. It is a must-see!

#9 The death of wicked Iran’s president – Since 1979, Iran became wicked and its government has officially been sponsoring terrorists and terrorism activities in the Middle East for far too long. In case you missed the news, the president of Iran died in a helicopter crash recently and there were other fatalities with him. The president of Iran not only publicly called for the destruction of Israel, he is also responsible for harming minorities and political opponents, hurting protesters in Iran and more. There are reasons why the dead president has been called the Butcher of Tehran. For a clear view and analysis over the death of the president of Iran, watch the selected videos below. Do not trust Islamo-Leftist mainstream news media as they support terrorism.

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