To put things in perspective, posted below the entire official announcement by Triathlon Philippines (TriPhil). Some parts in boldface…
Duathletes John Patrick Ciron and Merry Joy Trupa emerged as champions in contrasting fashion in the 2025 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup & National Championships in Tam Chuc Complex, Vietnam.
Ranked No. 75 in World Triathlon ranking and 11th placer in the February in the Asian Duathlon Championships in Manama, Bahrain, Ciron covered 5km run, 30km bike and 5km grind in 1 hour 1 minute and 30 seconds (1:01:30).
Ciron finished 1 min and1 sec clear of heavy favorite Pam Tien San, the Hanoi and Cambodia Southeast Asian Games duathlon titleholder, who prevailed over Indonesian Parth Sachin Mirage in a photo finish.
Trupa, who in February earned a ticket for the World Games along top Filipino triathlete Kim Mangrobang and Franklin Yee, climbed the top of the podium on a technicality.
Finishing second unofficially (1:04;14), 41 sec behind Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Tuy Van, she was declared the gold medalist when Nguyen was disqualified on account of failure to serve her penalty for an infraction.
Sharing the victory stand with Trupa were a couple of Singaporeans—Louisa Marie Middleditch, runner-up (1:04:19), and Rachel Hew, bronze medalist (1:05:01).
Sam Corpuz who sees action in the championships that mimics the SEA Games where triathlon, aquathlon and duathlon are included in the program, along with Ciron and Tropa plus Coach Raymond Torio are supported by both Jeremy Go of Go for Philippines and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Recently a Vietnamese national who turned out to be a wanted person over kidnap and rape was arrested by immigration officers at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City have arrested a Vietnamese national wanted in the country for abducting and raping a Chinese woman in 2023.
In a news release Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Nguyen Hu Mai, 48, was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to flee aboard a Cebu Pacific flight to Saigon last March 21.
The foreigner was immediately referred to supervisors for secondary inspection after his name prompted a positive hit in the centralized derogatory database of the bureau.
“Our supervisors were able to establish that the passenger and person appearing in our watchlist are one and the same. He was thus stopped and arrested by our airport personnel,” he added.
Nguyen was immediately turned over to the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) and later transferred to the bureau’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
According to BI-BCIU chief Ferdinand Tendenilla, Nguyen has been on the wanted list of the BI since March 10 when he and two Chinese nationals were charged with deportation for being undesirable aliens for being prime suspects in the kidnapping and rape case.
Police investigators alleged that on March 2, 2023, the three foreigners kidnapped a Chinese woman inside her condominium unit in Makati City.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be more personnel of the Bureau of Immigration who are engaged in illegal activities that the national authorities have yet to find? Do you think that the syndicates behind human trafficking are a threat to national security?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Charges of qualified human trafficking were filed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) against 20 foreign nationals apprehended in the Feb. 20 raid of a scam hub in Parañaque City.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub at the ATI building, in front of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), ran investment and love scams using foreign nationals.
A total of 435 POGO workers, including 148 foreign nationals, were arrested at the Chinese-run hub.
“We conducted the inquest for the foreign nationals operating the POGO hub here at PITX and we have filed charges against 20 of them,” Cruz said in an interview.
“Qualified trafficking, because you can clearly see that they facilitated the employment of individuals in this POGO hub to work here for a long time.”
Cruz said the scam hub also had several other violations, including the lack of the necessary permits to operate.
Among the complainants were three Vietnamese women.
“These Vietnamese women were the models they used to attract investors and then after you fall in love, that’s it, they will invite you to invest in cryptocurrency,” Cruz said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think the presence of illegal POGOs having hundreds of employees – both locals and foreigners – make the city look bad? Do you consider Parañaque City a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals and other foreigners? Do you think that a lot of bad money – money sourced from scams and illegal means – made its way into Parañaque’s local economy?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – the independent agency of the American government responsible for administering civilian and foreign aid – was exposed big-time by the Trump administration revealing a growing list of overseas projects funded by American taxpayers’ money.
These projects were approved by the failed Biden-Harris administration and a lot of them are related with the toxic DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and woke principles of the Satanic Left which explains why the Democrats are angry and outraged now.
To put things into perspective, posted below is the Sky News Australia news video plus the related news report (some parts in boldface)…
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has blasted the United States Agency for International Development for having “insane priorities”.
USAID was formed in the early 1960s to administer humanitarian aid programmes on behalf of the United States government around the world.
The United States spent around $US68 billion on international aid in 2023, according to government data. Ms Leavitt publicly took aim at the agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects.
Some of the projects listed included $1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplace, $70,000 for a production of a DEI Musical in Ireland, $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia and $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru.
For the newcomers reading this, USAID was founded in the 1960s which was the result of US Congress approving the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961 which mandated the agency’s creation and was followed with the executive order of then US President John F. Kennedy.
Going back to the USAID scandal, it is one thing for America to come up with taxpayer-funded overseas projects to help foreigners, it is completely another thing to have projects that emphasized the Satanic Leftist ideologies. Seriously, does the $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru and the $70,000 for a DEI musical production in Ireland have anything relevant with USAID’s traditional purposes of disaster relief, poverty relief, bilateral interests and socioeconomic development. USAID was also abused by the Democrats to fund Leftist news media outlets as well. For more insight, watch the videos below.
But there is still a lot more! The list of questionable overseas projects funded by USAID continues to grow and it includes funding for terrorism, contraception, opium growth, sex change and more. Posted below is the excerpt from the CBN News story (some parts in boldface).
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) published another list of projects and programs she says the agency has funded over the years until DOGE stepped in.
“From funneling tax dollars to risky research in Wuhan to sending Ukrainians to Paris Fashion Week, USAID is one of the worst offenders of waste in Washington… all around the world,” Ernst posted to X this week.
The Iowa senator gave more detail in a thread noting the organization spent millions on wasteful projects including:
* “A whopping $20 million to create a Sesame Street in Iraq
* $2 million for Moroccan pottery classes and promotion
* $2 million promoting tourism to Lebanon
* More than $9 million of USAID’s ‘humanitarian aid’ intended to feed civilians in Syria ended up in the hands of violent terrorists, including an affiliate of Al Qaeda in Iraq.“
Ernst points out that millions of dollars were sent to farmers in Afghanistan to get them to grow food crops instead of opium.
“The results: opium poppy cultivation across the country nearly doubled, according to the U.N.,” Ernst wrote.
“USAID has long been a reckless, out-of-control, unaccountable rogue agency,” she concluded. “USAID has failed to put the American people first and routinely tried to cloak its actions in secrecy. Those days are over.“
A White House fact sheet also contends that American taxpayer dollars were inadvertently used to fund terrorism.
It notes:
* As much as $10 million was used by an al Qaeda-linked group for meals.
* $78,000 to a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations including Pakistan’s Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation — even after an inspector general launched an investigation.
* $15 million in taxpayer funds to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to help distribute ‘oral contraceptives and condoms.’
The fact sheet lists millions of dollars in additional wasteful spending, including:
* $6 million was used to fund tourism in Egypt
* $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
* $1.5 million to ‘advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.’
Here in my native Philippines, there were several projects and recipients of USAID as reported by the Philippine Star. Environmental – check, health – check, assistance for LGBT – check, a mural painting event – check.
Thank the Lord for the return of US President Donald Trump whose administration has been working hard to restore dignity and meritocracy in America. The Trump administration is focused on wiping away the Democrats’ corruption and waste of taxpayers’ funds.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the USAID scandal? Did your local government participate in any USAID-related projects that were done locally in recent years? Are you tired of seeing wokeness, Leftist and DEI being emphasized in USAID projects that were launched during the years of the failed Biden-Harris administration? Do you think USAID should be abolished and the countries that benefited from it should move on and launch their own projects to help their respective people independently?
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 The return of US President Donald Trump – Donald Trump is officially back as President of the United States. Officially speaking, he has been counted as the 45th and now the 47th US President. Within the first day of his new administration, President Trump proceeded with the reforms by signing them with his approval. Indeed, America is back with Trump and this means removing the woke trash left behind by the failed Biden-Harris administration. The following videos were selected for your interest and enlightenment.
#2TBR Schmitt reacts to 1997’s Air Force One – I don’t know with you readers but I enjoy watching the movie reaction videos of YouTuber TBR Schmitt (a couple who enjoy movies together). In light of Donald Trump’s return as US President, I posted below TBR Schmitt’s reaction video of 1997’s Air Force One (note: for other YouTube reaction videos of the said movie, click here) which is entertaining to watch. If you have not seen Air Force One, watch the movie first before seeing the reaction video.
#3 The rise of Vietnam – It cannot be denied that Vietnam truly progressed economically over the decades. Previously ravaged by war, Vietnam is now in a position to replace China as the manufacturing hub of Asia and they already have tech giants like Samsung and Apple on their side. This video by ColdFusion explains in details the historical background and the astronomic rise of Vietnam. It’s a must-watch.
#4 VKunia reacts to Rocky – Have you been watching the movie reaction videos of YouTuber VKunia? She has lots of reaction videos and most of them are enjoyable to watch. For this post, I am sharing with you her reaction video of the one movie that made Sylvester Stallone a movie star – Rocky. Not only that, VKunia herself used to live in Philadelphia (Rocky’s city). Watch VKunia’s Rocky reaction and observe how Stallone’s film draws her reactions.
#5 PatmanQC examines the Atari Jaguar – Back in the early to the mid-1990s, console gaming was already dominated by the Japanese, particularly by Sega (with the Genesis) and Nintendo (with the SNES). Along the way, while reading a video game magazine, I was very surprised to see the announcement of the Atari Jaguar console. Back in those days, a lot of people thought Atari faded away in the console business. The Jaguar eventually failed commercially but it still made its mark in video gaming history, and already a lot of YouTubers posted retrospective videos about the said Atari console. If you want an in-depth look at the history of Atari Jaguar and what its games were, watch PatmanQC’s video below.
#6 You, Me and the Movies react to Mac and Me – Have you ever been interested in a movie geared towards children with a creative mix of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and a story that has similarities with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial? Such a movie exists and it is called Mac and Me. You, Me and the Movies recently posted their reaction video about it and you have to see it.
Very recently in Parañaque City, ten foreign nations were arrested by elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged online scamming, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The apprehension took place inside a village.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Ten foreigners have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a subdivision in Paranaque City where they were found allegedly conducting online scamming activities.
In a statement, the NBI said the 10 foreigners were arrested by operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) during the service of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) at a residence in Multinational Village in Paranaque City.
It said all the 10 foreigners face charges of violating Republic Act (RA) 12010, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
The NBI identified seven of the foreigners as Vietnamese nationals Phan Viet Ngan, Do Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duc Anh, Phan Kim Sang, Vo Hong Sy, Nguyen Van Khanh, and Doan Van Dung.
The other foreigners were identified as Chinese nationals Zhang Ming Yi, Xin Yao Huang and Himen Chen.
The NBI said that during the operation, seized from the suspects were computers and transcripts with Chinese characters.
“Based on the seized translated transcripts, Subjects are indeed engaged in phishing and scamming activities,” it said.
“In addition, Operating System Triage conducted on the seized computer units revealed the illegal activities of the Subjects like romance scam, fictitious messaging accounts, fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes and fake investment solicitations,” it added.
The NBI said the operation was conducted after NBI-NCR received “an intelligence report that groups of foreign nationals are engaged in Investment Fraud, Crypto Asset or Crypto Currency Scam, Artificial Intelligence scam and High Yield Investment Program (HYIP), Romance scam and identity theft through the use of social engineering scheme and digital communication systems.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that there could still be a lot more illegal operations secretly happening in residential communities with foreigners doing the work? When was the last time an online scamming operation was discovered in your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The eight illegal aliens – seven Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese citizen – who were recently arrested inside Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City, will soon be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). All of the suspects were found to be undocumented and also under suspicion of scamming.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The eight foreigners apprehended for illegally staying in the country at a village in Muntinlupa City are set for deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.
Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, in a news release, said seven Chinese nationals and a Vietnamese national were arrested by operatives of the BI’s intelligence division along three streets inside the village on Oct. 22.
“The homeowner association representatives of the Ayala Alabang Village were very helpful in helping us verify target areas,” he said in statement.
All of them were found to be undocumented — two of whom were also found to be overstaying while one was suspected to be an illegal entrant.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier reported that items used for online scamming were seized from the suspects.
Viado noted that they have received information that smaller “pockets” of scamming hubs are forming after the closure of big Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs in the country.
“We have found reason to file deportation cases against them. They will be considered undesirables once their cases are resolved, and face deportation,” the BI chief added.
The operation was conducted with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the NBI National Capital Region (NCR).
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted that the local authorities arrested the illegal aliens and prevented them from proceeding with scams? Do you think there are small groups from POGOs that could be secretly operating in your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, eight foreigners – seven Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese citizen – suspected for scamming got arrested inside a house in Ayala Alabang Village as a result of an operation by elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), according to a Malaya Business Insight news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Malaya Business Insight news report. Some parts in boldface…
SEVEN Chinese and a Vietnamese suspected as scammers were arrested in an operation in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
In a statement, the DOJ said the operation, carried out with the Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, stemmed from information provided by residents and corroborated by intelligence regarding the presence of the foreigners in the posh village.
The DOJ said three Chinese were initially nabbed, two of whom were found to be overstaying in the country, while the other one could not present any documentation.
It said one of the three served for a time as a manager of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.
“Upon entry, there was a live computer operated by a Chinese individual. When read by an interpreter, the screen showed scripts used in a standard phishing scam,” the DOJ said, adding operatives also found a voice-over IP, an equipment usually used in telephone scams to avoid detection.
Four Chinese and the Vietnamese were later arrested.
The DOJ said four failed to present documentation and were considered illegally staying in the country.
“One Chinese national, though not lacking in documentation, is suspected to have harbored the illegal aliens in violation of immigration laws,” the DOJ said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you concerned that scammers from overseas could be living somewhere in your local community secretly doing illegal operations? Do you think that foreign POGO workers could be secretly staying in your village right now? Do you think the seven arrested Chinese nationals could be spies of Communist China?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
By citing positive factors in its latest report, the World Bank (WB) raised its Philippine economic growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…
THE World Bank (WB) has raised its economic growth forecasts for the Philippines for this year and in 2025, driven by improved service exports and public investments.
But weak consumption and investment will keep the country’s growth below pre-pandemic levels, it said.
In its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, the Washington-based multilateral lender now expects the Philippine economy to grow by 6% this year from 5.8%.
The Philippines could become the second-fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia, behind Vietnam (6.1%) and ahead of Cambodia (5.3%), Indonesia (5%), Malaysia (4.9%), Laos (4.1%), Timor-Leste (3%), Thailand (2.4%) and Myanmar (1%).
“Among the larger countries, only Indonesia is expected to grow in 2024 and 2025 above pre-pandemic levels, while growth in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam is expected to be below those levels,” the World Bank said.
For 2025, it forecasts Philippine economic output to expand by 6.1% from 5.9% in its April forecast.
The lender’s growth forecasts for the Philippines are at the low end of the government’s target of 6-7% for 2024 and below the 6.5-7.5% goal for next year.
The Philippine economy grew by 6.3% in the second quarter, faster than 5.8% in the previous quarter and 4.3% a year ago. In the first half, growth averaged 6%.
The World Bank said service exports and public investment have supported Philippine economic growth, but consumption and private investment remain weak.
From 2024 to 2026, the lender expects the Philippine economy to grow by an average of 6%, it said in a separate report.
This will be supported by remittances, jobs, slower inflation and external demand. However, weaker growth in China, global economic slowdown and weather disruptions are risks to the outlook.
It also projects the government’s budget deficit to fall to 4.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026 due to improved state spending. This is slightly below the 4.73% target for the year.
Better revenue collection will be supported by key tax measures, improved tax administration and higher dividends from state-owned corporations, the World Bank said.
The lender also raised this year’s growth forecast for the East Asia-Pacific region to 4.8% from 4.5% in April.
“Most East Asia-Pacific economies are expected to experience robust growth in 2024, supported by private consumption and a positive external environment,” according to the report. In 2025, the region is expected to grow by 4.4% from its previous forecast of 4.3%.
However, domestic demand is expected to moderate in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, while private investment growth remains weak across the region.
“Investment growth has been declining across most countries in the region over the past two decades, with particularly sharp drops in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and more recently, the Philippines.”
It also noted that the Philippines and Malaysia have kept a conservative fiscal stance due to their higher structural deficit this year.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines has enough momentum to exceed the WB’s economic growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025?
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 comic book readers, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, movie fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1992 to take a close look at the official comic book adaptation of the action movie Universal Soldier.
Universal Soldier stood out among Hollywood action films in 1992 as it had Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the main stars and both of them were established action movie stars each with huge followings of fans. As it grossed almost $100 million worldwide on a budget of less than $25 million, the movie was successful and eventually sparked its of franchise of movies, TV shows, video games and comic books. NOW Comics was in-charge of making and publishing the comic book adaptation of the 1992 film.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Universal Soldier #1 published in 1992 by NOW Comics with a story written by Clint McElroy and drawn by Lenin Delsol. This was the first chapter of a 3-issue mini-series.
The cover showing a photographic image of star Dolph Lundgren.
Early story
The story begins in Vietnam in 1969. The American soldier Luc Deveraux arrives at a village that was secured by the U.S. Army. To his shock, he finds several dead bodies of his squad members and villagers, then encounters Sergeant Andrew Scott with two Vietnamese individuals (male and female) tied together near him. It turns out that Scott, who made a necklace composed of severed ears, has gone insane and executes the Vietnamese man. As Deveraux refuses to follow Scott’s order to shoot the Vietnamese female, the sergeant kills he. Deveraux and Scott shot each other to death and eventually their corpses were recovered by another squad to be cryogenically frozen.
A few decades later in Nevada, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the UniSol (Universal Soldier) arrives and among the members are Deveraux (identified as GR44) and Scott (GR13) who have been reanimated by the government with their past memories fully suppressed. Their team gets deployed to the Hoover Dam (Mackinley Dam in the comic book) to resolve a hostage situation…
Quality
Operating very much like robots, two Universal Soldiers take down terrorists and manipulated their communication as they make their way through to save the hostages from the remaining terrorists.
As an adaptation, I find this comic book a surprisingly accurate translation of the movie’s early part of the story (note: the literary narrative ends when Deveraux leaves with the female reporter). While not 100% of the film’s plot and visual details were captured, this comic book still succeeded in replicating the look, feel and tone of the movie. It is clear that the comic book team had access to the footage of the film and a copy of the screenplay (written by Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch and Dean Devlin).
Clint McElroy really stuck close to the film’s plot, the dialogue and the way the characters were portrayed. Again, not 100% of the relevant details were adapted and some liberties were taken but McElroy managed to craft a comic book narrative that was solidly structured, had sufficient details to keep readers oriented and engaged, and ensured the story moved at a satisfying pace. By the time I reached the end of this comic book, I got oriented with the story, the characters and the details shown in between.
Like in the movie, this comic book emphasizes the government’s very cold and heartless approach on handling their Universal Soldiers who are treated more like tools instead of people.
Lenin Delsol’s artwork here is really good. It is clear that he had access to the film’s production footage as several images of locations and characters here very closely resembled what was shown in the movie most of the time. When it comes to the action scenes, Delsol did not go for visual dynamism (note: the dynamic action style was common with superhero comics of the 1990s) but rather he portrayed the action with realism and varying degrees of brutality.
When it comes to visualizing the characters, it is clear that the creative team was not authorized to use the likenesses of the actors. Luc Deveraux looks absolutely nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme while journalist Veronica Roberts does not look like Ally Walker. Ironically, there are a few images of Scott’s face that somewhat resembles Dolph Lundgren. The way I see it, it is not problematic to see the characters not resembling the actors from the film. In fact, I like the new character designs Delsol came up with for the characters.
Conclusion
This early scene sets the tone of the entire comic book. As for the characters, Deveraux look nothing like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sergeant Scott does not look like Dolph Lundgren (note: in other images of Scott shown later in the comic book, he looked a bit like the actor).
Even though I was not a fan of the 1992 movie, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) succeeded in keeping me engaged and entertained until the end. This is a really good adaptation of the early part of the film and I like the approach the Elroy-Densol team took on establishing the literary experience. Of course, if you want more dynamic visuals of the Hoover Dam scene or if you want that strong rated-R vibe when it comes to hard action, you should watch the movie. As of now, I am convinced to look forward to the next issue of this 3-part mini-series adaptation.
Overall, Universal Soldier #1 (1992) is recommended.
Author Carlo Carrasco 