#retrospective — Public Fediverse posts

Here's why I sometimes look back to look forward. You might want to do this too.

https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/learning/2015/08/look-back-to-look-forward

#LifeLessons #learning #retrospective #stuck #journaling #reflection #growth

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've watched this video.

I didn't play EverQuest back in its glory days. My first exposure to the series was with EQ2 after the reveal of EverQuest Next (RIP). Even so, rewatching this reminds me of an era in MMO history when the genre was still primarily about being a roleplaying game, not a raid/endgame grind repeating with every expansion.

https://youtu.be/jqhvTlR1WSc

#RetroGames #pcgaming #PCMR #mmorpg #everquest #90s #retrospective

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've watched this video.

I didn't play EverQuest back in its glory days. My first exposure to the series was with EQ2 after the reveal of EverQuest Next (RIP). Even so, rewatching this reminds me of an era in MMO history when the genre was still primarily about being a roleplaying game, not a raid/endgame grind repeating with every expansion.

https://youtu.be/jqhvTlR1WSc

#RetroGames #pcgaming #PCMR #mmorpg #everquest #90s #retrospective

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've watched this video.

I didn't play EverQuest back in its glory days. My first exposure to the series was with EQ2 after the reveal of EverQuest Next (RIP). Even so, rewatching this reminds me of an era in MMO history when the genre was still primarily about being a roleplaying game, not a raid/endgame grind repeating with every expansion.

https://youtu.be/jqhvTlR1WSc

#RetroGames #pcgaming #PCMR #mmorpg #everquest #90s #retrospective

Retrospectively Reverse-Engineering Apple's Neural Engine

https://eiln.github.io/posts/ane.html

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49670032

#HackerNews #Retrospective #ReverseEngineering #NeuralEngine #AppleTech #AIResearch

Retrospectively Reverse-Engineering Apple's Neural Engine

https://eiln.github.io/posts/ane.html

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49670032

#HackerNews #Retrospective #ReverseEngineering #NeuralEngine #AppleTech #AIResearch

Retrospectively Reverse-Engineering Apple's Neural Engine

https://eiln.github.io/posts/ane.html

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49670032

#HackerNews #Retrospective #ReverseEngineering #NeuralEngine #AppleTech #AIResearch

Retrospectively Reverse-Engineering Apple's Neural Engine

https://eiln.github.io/posts/ane.html

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49670032

#HackerNews #Retrospective #ReverseEngineering #NeuralEngine #AppleTech #AIResearch

Retrospectively Reverse-Engineering Apple's Neural Engine

https://eiln.github.io/posts/ane.html

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49670032

#HackerNews #Retrospective #ReverseEngineering #NeuralEngine #AppleTech #AIResearch

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 46

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 early 2000s.

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. Frogger Print Ad

When Frogger was first released in video arcades in 1981, it easily attracted countless gamers offering them bouts of fun and the video game critics were very impressed with it. Considering its massive arcade success, it was unsurprisingly ported to the game consoles and home computers of the time. Parker Brothers secured the license for cartridge versions and the company produced Frogger ports for not just the Atari 2600 but also the Atari 7800. This print ad they came up with had a deliberate cartoony artwork (with a touch of humor) and an artist created a hand-drawn illustration intentionally made to resemble a screenshot from the game. I saw this ad a number of times when I read comic books in 1982.

2. The Legend of Kage Japanese Arcade Flyer

In my life, I never had the opportunity to play the original arcade version of The Legend of Kage and ended up playing only the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) port. Behind the scenes, Taito itself came close to preventing The Legend of Kage from being released in the arcades. The company placed it in a certain game show where it received praise by many which prompted Taito to give it a full arcade release. To promote the game, the Japanese arcade flyer had lively hand-drawn artwork that perfectly reflected what the game is about, who the playable hero is and what ancient Japanese setting was used. Fortunately for Taito, The Legend of Kage became a huge commercial hit and this led to the production of ports for different consoles and computers.

3. Hyper Olympic Japanese Arcade Flyer

In 1983, Konami released their summer Olympics-inspired arcade game Hyper Olympic (titled Track & Field in other parts of the world) which offered players the opportunities to compete in a series of events with emphasis on pressing the buttons as quickly as possible. The arcade flyer Konami came up with featured fine-looking hand-drawn artwork showing athletes competing in track and field events (with the types of events displayed at the top-most part of the flyer) while showing just one screenshot (lower right) and displaying the officially 1984 Los Angeles Olympics logo (lower left). In my view, this old arcade flyer does a good job promoting both the arcade game as well as the 1984 Olympics itself. Too bad nobody makes this kind of arcade flyer anymore.

4. Terra Cresta Japanese Arcade Flyer

Nichibutsu, which produced a lot of arcade games that were released only in Japan, released Terra Cresta in Japanese arcades in 1985. It turns out Terra Cresta is a sequel to their 1980 game Moon Cresta which itself was their first big arcade hit game. Nichibutsu literally loaded the front of Terra Cresta’s arcade flyer with lots of visuals and details. As you can see, seven screenshots of the game were displayed (each with descriptive text), a fancy looking artwork that emphasized the science fiction setting, some English descriptive text, the cocktail table arcade machine and a pretty Japanese lady wearing an aerobics outfit with legwarmers (popular in the 1980s). This flyer truly has a strong 1980s flavor.  

5. Sega Master System European Print Ad

After many years doing arcade games, Sega made the bold decision to start competing in console gaming with the release of the SG-1000 in 1983 in Japan. Even though Nintendo was a very tough competitor with the best-selling Famicom, Sega did not give up and proceeded to launch their console in America and Europe referred to as the Master System. In a serious attempt to gain customers specifically in England, Sega made a print ad showcasing a family sitting in front of a TV set with the young boy playing a racing game on a Master System. Looking at how the descriptive text was presented, it was clear that Sega emphasized bringing the arcade game experience into the comfort of home while also promising that a lot more new games will be released in the near future. This is an eye-catching ad and also a fine example of aggressive marketing by Sega.

6. Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run North American Print Ad

Following the commercial success of the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, Nintendo got Ken Griffey Jr. again as endorser and proceeded with the follow-up Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run. With the highly talented Rare (Donkey Kong Country) chosen as game developer, Nintendo was highly confident with the baseball sequel and the 2-page print ad reflected that. The Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run ad had a striking image of a broken baseball bat on one side while the game’s details, two screenshots and the creative description dominated the other side. While I am not so interested in baseball, I can say that this old print ad is indeed attention-grabbing.

7. 2Xtreme North American Print Ad

Remember how popular the X Games (Extreme Games) were back in the 1990s? Early in the life of the PlayStation console, Sony released ESPN Extreme Games which sold over a million copies worldwide. As expected, a follow-up titled 2Xtreme was approved for a 1996 release. Sony came up with a 2-page ad that had an upside-down X Games participant with roller blades dominating most of the space and six screenshots were displayed. The descriptive text in the lower part of the ad was deliberately written to be hip and cool.  

8. Macross Plus Japanese Arcade Flyer

Based on the mid-1990s anime OAV, the Macross Plus video game from Banpresto was designed as a vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that captures the feel and intensity of the anime’s spectacle. The front of the Japan-only arcade flyer showcased the YF-19 Excalibur, the YF-21 Sturmvogel and the VF-11 Thunderbolt (plus the basic arcade controls on the lower-left) which were all rendered in 3D polygons to delight Macross fans and gamers who are interested in new 2D shooting experiences. The rear of the flyer showed additional details and it even includes English text descriptions. Strangely, no screenshots of the game were displayed. Being a long-time Macross fan, I can say this old arcade flyer is still engaging to look at.  

9. Macross VF-X2 North American Print Ad

In the late 1990s, Bandai prepared to launch Macross VF-X2 (the sequel to 1997’s Macross Digital Mission VF-X) on the PlayStation console in North America. This was a very intriguing move because Bandai never brought the mentioned 1997 Macross game outside of Japan. Shortly after the official announcement of a North American release, Macross VF-X2 got featured in video game magazines, an English demo of the game (first mission only) was distributed through Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and Bandai came up with the 2-page print ad you see here. Unfortunately, Macross VF-X2’s North American release got cancelled because of copyright issues and legal obstacles (note: Harmony Gold held the Western rights to Robotech and actively blocked the release of genuine Macross products in America). As such, this impressive looking Macross VF-X2 print ad for North America ended up as a promotion for nothing!

10. Star Wars: Racer Arcade Japanese Print Ad/Poster

In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive box office hit in theaters around the world and it marked a new era of Star Wars movies with digital effects available. Similar with 1993’s Jurassic Park, George Lucas’ movie also had a huge lineup of merchandise, action figures and video games. The pod racing from the movie became the basis for Star Wars: Racer Arcade which was released in Japan on June 2000, and then in America a month later. To help arcade operators attract gamers and Star Wars fans, a print ad and poster were released featuring a very dynamic image of pod racing from the game dominating the background, a few screenshots displayed and some computer-generated of characters and vehicles. At the lower right part of the ad/poster is the image of the arcade machine which has a huge screen, a seat and control panel. The descriptive Japanese text was written to excite both fans and gamers. Did you play this Sega-produced Star Wars game in the arcades?

11. Konami Wai Wai World Japanese Print Ad

Going back to the late-1980s, Konami released a 2D adventure game on the Famicom that was very ambitious as it featured side-scrolling treks, vertical-scrolling shooting sequences and, most notably, a cast of characters that emphasized crossovers between intellectual properties of gaming. I am talking about Konami Wai Wai World (sometimes called Konami World for short) which had characters, settings and elements of Konami’s own properties like Gradius, Castlevania and Twin Bee. Not only that, King Kong of King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch and Mikey Walsh of The Goonies were also featured which is astonishing because they represent entertainment intellectual properties that were licensed to Konami for video game adaptation. That said, the emphasis of crossovers and excitement was shown in the form of 2D character sprites in this Japanese print ad of Konami Wai Wai World. This is the kind of game that Konami itself will never be able to make again and to do a remake or an enhanced re-release of Konami Wai Wai World will require overcoming all the legal obstacles in the way.

+++++

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #8 (1994)

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 to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

After the first seven issues of the series, it is clear that the futuristic mutants under Xi’an have tough challenges to not only survive in the dangerous and unpredictable wasteland of 2099’s America but also help their leader fulfill the ultimate goal of protecting mutants from the evil corporations in accordance to the dream of Professor X (Charles Xavier). Unlike the X-Men of the 20th century, the team of 2099 does not have vast resources nor do they have a permanent place for living and development. Xi’an himself is still struggling with the elements from his past as a violent criminal.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #8, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins with Krystalin examining Archangel with amazement. Moments later, she sees Cyclops, Iceman, Beast and Jean Grey (in her Phoenix form). She wondered how many times did each of Professor X’s first students appear to die only to return again and again. She recalls that the records of their deaths may have been in error or even falsified. She also remembers the succeeding X-Men teams of Del Ruiz and Zhao.

It turns out the original X-Men members she saw were holograms as Victor Ten Eagles (who was a fellow outlaw with Xi’an in the old days) reveals that he opened his studio to few people and never to strangers. He allowed Krystalin in because he owes Xi’an a blood debt from their time together with the Lawless. As they talk, he explains to her his personal interest in the X-Men and the legacy.

Over at Iron Horse in Arizona, Hurricane talks with two trackers who were tied up. Meanstreak uses his super speed to dismantle the trackers’ suits of armor and examine the technologies within. He finds one Tetsuo Mark 6 signal beacon that was used to monitor armor in the field. He tells Hurricane she can use it as an advance warning the next time trackers are sent after her.

Hurricane tells the X-Men that she and the Freakshow never stay too long in one place. Moments later, the infected Metalhead tells Skullfire that he is trapped in his current metal form and could not change back…

Quality

To make things clear, this X-Men 2099 comic book is very engaging to read as it is filled with a lot of details that further expanded the lore of the 2099 universe concerning mutants and legacy of the X-Men in the 21st century. As such, I really enjoyed learning about the “future history” of the X-Men, how mutants struggled to survive in a corporation-controlled America, and why the wasteland became the 21st century’s very own Old West where danger and uncertainty are constant.

If have an obsession about the 2099 universe, there is a lot to discover and enjoy here. Xi’an’s pursuit for knowledge about the mutant underground and Hurricane’s involvement is compelling to read and what was revealed is worth discovering. Meanwhile, Krystalin and Ten Eagles’ exploration of facilities as they search for answers reminds me a lot about a notable part of the story in Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Conclusion

X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is a compelling read and it is one of the stronger references about the 2099 universe and the legacy of the X-Men from the time of Xavier to that of Zhao. The details revealed here are fine pay-offs to what was built up in the previous issues, and they connect well with the existence of Xi’an’s X-Men. This comic book will really help you understand the place of mutants in the 21st century and in my experience, the learning is enjoyable.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #6 (1994)

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 to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

In late-1993, Marvel Comics published the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline highlighting the major figures of Marvel 2099 and the X-Men members involved were only Skullfire, Krystalin, Bloodhawk and Meanstreak. As told in Ravage 2099 #15, the said X-Men members made it to Valhalla with Ravage. After the events of Fall of the Hammer, the four X-Men members survived and eventually started traveling all the way back West in America to rejoin the rest of the team.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #6, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins in Arizona when two fully armed personnel wearing suits of armor search for a monster-like mutant who tries to hide. The mutant is named Dominic and he eventually got corned by the two armored figures. As he is about to get shot, one of the armored guys got pushed by force somehow. The next moment, a gang of mutants called the Freakshow appears.

In the southern part of Nevada, Skullfire, Bloodhawk, Krystalin and Meanstreak travel in an aircraft going back to Xi’an and the rest of their teammates. As Bloodhawk jumps of after saying goodbye, Skullfire jumps off as well in a suicidal manner. He eventually grabs Bloodhawk by the ankle. Back at the aircraft, Krystalin and Meanstreak shared their respective observations about Skullfire’s sudden change of personality since the psychic vampire Luna messed with him… 

Quality

The script of this comic book was finely crafted by John Francis Moore and it is amazing how efficient he got the X-Men team back (after Skullfire, Krystalin, Meanstreak returned) on track while ensuring a good amount of depth as reflected in the dynamics between the team members as the story went on. The storytelling felt natural and really believable.

Along the way, this comic book shed light on team leader Xi’an and the threads of the past that came back to haunt to him. This instantly added a new layer of development on Xi’an which established an element of uncertainty on the future of the X-Men under him (and his personal struggles). That said, Xi’an does not have the rock-solid stability of Professor X (Charles Xavier) which will remind readers how different the X-Men of 2099 are from the classic X-Men.

The X-Men are on the search for a mutant called Hurricane who has been active on resisting the corporations’ control on the nation and has long emphasized liberty and self-control on personal living. Historically, Hurricane led a part of the Underground Railroad which carried mutants to safe haven during a time of terror and fear. That said, X-Men’s search has a heavy purpose and the challenges they faced here is gripping and intriguing to follow. I should also state that Ron Lim’s delivery of dynamic action is really good to look at.

Conclusion

X-Men 2099 #6 (1994) is both a solid follow-up to the events of the Fall of the Hammer storyline and also a fine portrayal of how the team works under Xi’an’s leadership. More notably, it pushed the narrative of the series forward and gave us readers an in-depth exploration of the isolated places of America’s southwestern region in 2099 which is a sharp contrast to that era’s New York City dominated by Alchemax. More notably, this comic book implemented renewed focus on the state of mutants who have been living in fear, danger and uncertainty in America of 2099 which connects directly with the purpose of the X-Men as a team.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #6 is recommended. (1994)

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

A Look Back at Robin #1 (1991)

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 and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through one very notable comic book featuring Batman’s sidekick Robin.

For decades, the Caped Crusader Batman (who is business tycoon Bruce Wayne during the day) had Robin as his skilled teenage partner fighting countless waves of criminals in many comic books published through the decades. The most notable fact about Robin is that there are three different characters who took the role as Batman’s sidekick…Dick Grayson (who later joined the Teen Titans and became Nightwing), Jason Todd (who died as a result of a warehouse explosion set up by the Joker who beat him mercilessly) and Tim Drake. Behind the scenes at DC Comics, a decision was made to publish a comic book mini-series featuring Tim Drake Robin.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Robin #1, published in 1991 by DC Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by the late Tom Lyle.

Early story

The story begins inside the Batcave. Tim Drake is still adjusting in his new role as Robin and right in front of Bruce Wayne (wearing his Batman costume), he feels uneasy deep inside even though he got the role after wanting it so badly. He just could not tell him how much it scares him.

Even though Tim admits he feels unsure and needs more time, Bruce tells him he is ready to be his partner. Still the new Boy Wonder says he is not sure if he has what it takes. Bruce reminds Tim that he has proven to be smart after figuring out correctly his secret identity as Batman. He tells him that he needs to develop himself more to gain his edge.

Meanwhile in Japan, the deadly assassin Lady Shiva meets the martial artist Koroshi and discovers he has been paralyzed and limited on a wheelchair…

Quality

As a tale strongly focused on Robin, this comic book has a fine blend of action, discovery, intrigue and even elements of culture clash. It gradually dramatizes Tim Drake’s development into Robin showing moments of trial-and-error, getting himself educated far away from home, experiencing humiliation and overcoming the odds while having limitations.

The script written by Chuck Dixon is not limited to presenting how the newest Robin came to be. I enjoyed how Dixon crafted Tim Drake’s private talks with Batman and the butler Alfred Pennyworth. Each interaction with the established characters were rich in details and there is that sense of the new Robin looking up to Batman as his mentor and to Alfred as a guidance councilor.

By going all the way to France to learn from an Asian master, Tim Drake’s journey has some similarities with how Bruce Wayne developed himself into becoming Batman. It should be noted that this tale took place sometime after the death of his predecessor Jason Todd (beaten by the Joker who eventually became the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations) and it is indeed a part of Batman becoming more stable after overcoming the trauma of Todd’s demise.

For those who still find Robin as an unbelievable teenage crime fighter simply because of his youth, there are young gangsters in this tale that symbolically are the opposites of Batman’s sidekick. This was Chuck Dixon’s way of reminding people that there are indeed teenage criminals or youth gangs that exist around the world. Such young criminals or abusers still exist to this day and Robin’s status as a teenage crime fighter is clearly justified.

As a standalone tale, this comic book is pretty good and there is clear coordination between Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle who did a fine job visualizing the script. Lyle’s art has this fine balance visualizing character development scenes, transition scenes and dynamic action. Historically, Lyle went on to draw the Robin II and Robin III mini-series for DC Comics before moving to Marvel Comics to work on Spider-Man comic books. In this very comic book, you can see how talented Lyle really was on illustrations.

Conclusion

Even though I am not a fan of Robin, I can say that the Dixon-Lyle duo succeeded in making Robin #1 (1991) a really entertaining and engaging read. It definitely is a strong start to a Robin mini-series and also serves as a defining moment for Batman’s sidekick who also got modernized at the time.

Overall, Robin #1 (1991) is recommended.

+++++

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 45

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. Tron Arcade Flyer

Remember how dazzling the 1982 movie Tron was when you first saw it? That film had groundbreaking computer-generated graphics and the filmmakers worked very hard to tell a story covering both the real and digital worlds. Along the way, the movie had strong video game vibes which resonated with gamers at a time when arcade gaming was wildly popular in America. Believe it or not, an official arcade game of Tron was released the same year as the movie and it was a massive success. The arcade flyer perfectly captured the vibe and look from the movie and the machine itself had a control stick the same with what was shown to viewers. This old flyer is still great to look at.

2. Green Beret Japanese Arcade Flyer

Konami was a highly prolific game publisher in the 1980s and it had lots of games that became huge blockbusters. During the decade, their game developers were strongly influenced by both Hollywood action movies and the Cold War. In 1985, Konami released the militaristic game Green Beret in Japanese arcades and to promote it, they created an arcade flyer featuring a very stylish artwork highlighting military images of soldiers (including a guy smoking) and warfare. This ad still looks great and it was not surprising it helped the game achieve huge commercial success. Green Beret was released in America as Rush’n Attack.

3. Darius Japanese And North American Arcade Flyers

Released in arcades worldwide in 1987, Darius is a 2D side-scrolling shooter game from Taito which had a science fiction concept of the starship Silver Hawk (piloted by players) which sets on a mission to destroy an evil empire before it could destroy the world called Darius. The game was successful, most notably in Japan and it eventually led to sequels being released later. What I find intriguing is how the arcade game was promoted in Japan and in North America. The Japanese arcade flyer had this intriguing artwork that reflected a blend of sci-fi with a touch of horror. The North American flyer had a strong sci-fi touch with a male and female model wearing costumes (that made them look futuristic) standing beside the Darius machine. Which flyer looks more appealing to you?

4. Data East’s Arcade Alley Print Ad

There is nothing like porting arcade hits to computer systems for gamers to enjoy. In 1988 there in Europe, U.S. Gold released Data East’s Arcade Alley for computer systems and it included ports of popular Data East games like Kung Fu Master, Express Raider, Breakthru, Tag Team Wrestling, Last Mission and Karate Champ. U.S. Gold’s print ad showed a guy in the middle of a video arcade looking on both sides to pick which game to play which strongly emphasized the essence of the game collection (offered in cassettes and disk). This old ad is still amusing to look at.

5. Blasteroids European Print Ad

Blasteroids, the third entry in Atari’s popular Asteroids games series, was released in European arcades by Image Works and eventually landed on computer systems there. For Europe, the ad makers came up with artwork showing a creepy, green space monster surrounded by a few spaceships to emphasize the game’s concept. The said monster eventually appeared on the game covers of the computer ports of Blasteroids later. This ad shows creative adjustments taken to promote games in different parts of the world.

6. Dream Team USA Japanese Print Ad

Remember how wildly popular the Dream Team (Team USA in Olympic basketball) was in 1992? With NBA legends Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton and more representing America in the basketball tournament of the Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain, the Dream Team (a media-led reference for the team) was easily the main attraction not only for basketball fans worldwide but also those who craved for excitement in international sports events. That said, Electronic Arts secured the license to make an official video game about the Dream Team and actually released the game Team USA Basketball within 1992 for the Sega Genesis. As basketball is popular also in Japan, EA released the game there titled as Dream Team USA and came up with a Japanese print ad to seriously capture gamers’ attention. This ad is still effective in delighting both basketball and video game enthusiasts.

7. Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back And Return Of The Jedi Print Ad

Back in the 1990s, there was a resurgence of the original Star Wars trilogy across different forms of media. Apart from the VHS re-releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, there was a slew of video games of Star Wars released during the decade and the fans had new stuff to entertain themselves with. Along the way, the company THQ secured the rights to Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi for re-release to coincide with the 1997 “Special Edition” theatrical releases of their respective movies. THQ’s print ad simply used official images of Return of the Jedi and inserted a tiny bit of The Empire Strikes Back, and they did not show any screenshots that could have been helpful for Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Game Boy users. Still, it was smart for THQ to print two excerpts of game reviews to sell the games.

8. Super Mario RPG North American Print Ad

Remember back in the 1990s when Nintendo and role-playing game giant SquareSoft had a very healthy business relationship that proved successful? Before their eventual breakup (related to Square signing with Sony for PlayStation development), the two companies joined forces to make a fully featured role-playing game for the SNES featuring Super Mario and related characters…Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. To promote the game, Nintendo (the publisher) created a mesmerizing 2-page print ad highlighting their characters while emphasizing the role-playing and fantasy aspects of the game. At the time of its release, Super Mario was often identified with platform games and the Super Mario RPG print ad was a serious attempt to lure fans into RPGs which the SNES was already rich with. This ad, which I first saw in gaming magazines in 1996, still looks great.

9. NBA Shootout ’97 Print Ad

If there is anything I miss about 1990s console gaming, it is the fact that there were a lot of NBA-licensed video games that were offered to players with different tastes in basketball gaming. Sony had its own exclusive NBA games series called NBA Shootout and they were pretty aggressive selling its own basketball games along with the PlayStation going up against the likes of Electronic Arts (NBA Live), Sega and others. This is reflected in this 2-page print ad of NBA Shootout ’97 which was a PlayStation-exclusive release. They featured a photograph of Lakers’ Eddie Jones about to dunk and showed screenshots as well as the descriptive text written with excitement. Since it first started, NBA Shootout was basketball in full 3D polygonal graphics backed with motion-captured moves and dunks that players could enjoy only PlayStation. This ad is a reminder that Sony used to make official NBA games and there is a lack of variety and players’ choice of NBA gaming in today’s world.

10. Legend of Legaia North American Print Ad

There was a time when Sony produced Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) exclusive for PlayStation consoles. One of them was Legend of Legaia which had a combat system that emphasized martial arts and it had an interesting fantasy concept. For its 1999 North American release, Sony came up with a very bizarre 2-page print ad that had digital artwork with a very strong horror vibe and the visual designs within the three screenshots shown were clearly not related with it. How this ad was made remains unclear. This is easily one of the most misguided gaming ads of the 1990s.

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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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994)

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 and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through the Web of Spider-Man monthly series.

In this review, we will be looking at the 3rd chapter of the Pursuit storyline. Spider-Man #45 showed a broken-hearted Spider-Man who starts his quest for vengeance against the Chameleon whom he holds responsible for the deception that happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388. As the webslinger continued his search for answers while hurting a lot of thugs, the Chameleon deceptively hires the service of a contractor to kill Spider-Man. That said, the tension really built-up a lot and we will find out what will happen next.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Web of Spider-Man #112, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story by Terry Kavanaugh and drawn by Alex Saviuk. This is the 3rd chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

Early story

The story begins deep within New York City. A bus full of prisoners and armed guards makes its way through the rough streets of the city. The guard notices that they are taking a long route and approached the bus driver – the Chameleon in disguise.

The Chameleon is aware that Spider-Man has been tracing him and he puts his sinister plan into action by suddenly hitting the brakes, helping the prisoners overcome the guards, and letting them loose in the city to spark chaos.

Spider-Man swings into action as prisoners get off the bus. Already stressed and obsessed with his search for the Chameleon, he lands on top of the bus and gains access through one of the windows. As the Chameleon fails to maintain his disguise, the webslinger notices him…

Quality

Following the events of the first two chapters, the storytelling in this comic book really turned intense as the stakes were raised. As expected, Spider-Man is doing things the hard way as his obsession for revenge against the Chameleon continues to burn strongly, and his wife Mary Jane is suffering from the loneliness connected with it.

On the raising of stakes in the plot, there is a theme about terrorism here which is dramatized through the Chameleon’s elaborate plan of setting off bombs in several parts of New York. As such, the story has this emphasis on chaos which works well with the webslinger’s state of madness and desperation. Along the way, Spider-Man’s humanity remains as dramatized in key points of the comic book.

In connection with the chaos and terrorism elements, the action here looked grounded with reality and Alex Saviuk’s style made the tale look gritty.

One notable part of this comic book shows the development of a separate sub-plot in Washington, D.C., which reflects developments that took place in Web of Spider-Man #109 to #111. It has a touch of politics and was effectively a distraction from the main story.  

Conclusion

Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994) is easily the most intense and most action-packed chapter of the Pursuit storyline. The themes of chaos and terrorism here easily overshadowed Spider-Man’s obsessive state and yet the creative team succeeded in moving the plot forward. That said, the stage is all set for the conclusion of the Pursuit storyline and I am looking forward to it.

Overall, Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994)

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 arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

Following the tragedy told in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Spider-Man got broken emotionally and he started lusting for revenge against the Chameleon in Spider-Man #45 which marked the beginning of the Pursuit storyline. Along the way, the webslinger became more intense, more violent and his marriage with Mary Jane got strained even more.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spectacular Spider-Man #211, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Mike Lackey and drawn by Sal Buscema. This is the 2nd chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man overwhelming an entire gang of dangerous men on the rooftop of a building. Even though they were armed dangerous, the obsessed webslinger successfully hurt each of them until they fell down on the floor. He beat them all as he obsessively searched for answers about the Chameleon. One of them told Spider-Man they don’t know where the Chameleon is but they heard that he offered a million Dollars to hit him (Spidey). Realizing that he just had another dead end for his search, the webslinger traps them all with his web and then swings away to another destination.

Meanwhile at one of the units of a residential tower in New York, the Chameleon cannot help but smash a lot of things as he struggles with his anger and hatred with Spider-Man. He knows that it is a matter of time before the webslinger finds him…

Quality

In this 2nd chapter of the Pursuit storyline, things really intensified as the plot unraveled. As Spider-Man does his search for the Chameleon and answers, the said super villain executed his strategies that involve deception and deep resources that go beyond money. As such, the webslinger became the target of Tracer who has a powered suit of armor and high-tech weaponry.

As anticipated, Spider-Man remains driven by revenge in his quest for the Chameleon and because of his broken emotional state, he has gotten more violent with his physical action. He also turned sarcastic in key moments which is a lively reminder that this Spider-Man is no longer the friendly neighborhood hero he used to be. The famous webslinger is not completely unhinged here as his concern for bystanders showed he still has some humanity left within him.

When it comes to the Chameleon, this comic book portrays him to be very cunning and resourceful. His deception towards others might draw emotions from you and might make you wish he will suffer a lot once Spider-Man finds him.

Conclusion

As the 2nd part of the Pursuit storyline, Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994) delivers a portrayal of a deeply hurt Spider-Man whose lust for revenge keeps him going no matter what obstacles he faces. As readers, we witness his intense search for the dreaded villain Chameleon as well as his emotional deterioration. That said, this comic book has a somewhat depressing tone as Spider-Man’s life gets worse and his wife Mary Jane is suffering too. Ultimately, this comic book convinced me to continue with the storyline.

Overall, Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994) 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Team 7 #3 (1994)

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 arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the original WildStorm universe through one of the comic books of the first mini-series of Team 7.

For the newcomers reading this, Team 7 is set in the past within the original WildStorm universe. This is the special forces team that had major WildStorm heroes – Grifter (WildCATS: Covert Action Teams), Backlash, Jackson Dane (Wetworks), John Lynch (Gen13) and Michael Cray (Deathblow) – who were younger, were proficient with combat and gained special abilities as a result of a sinister move by their superiors. Issue #2 took place after the team got exposed to something they never anticipated and their superiors knew it.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Team 7 #3, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Aron Wiesenfeld. This is the 3rd chapter of a 4-issue mini-series.

Early story

Set in the 1970s, the surviving Team 7 members (already exposed to the chemical agent) are in the middle of a new mission somewhere in East Africa. Because their teammate Johnson abused his new power to manipulate a black general to kill himself against his own will, Cole Cash eliminates Johnson causing John Lynch to be outraged. Cash tells Lynch that Johnson lost himself completely. He also tells him to list Johnson as MIA (missing-in-action) and turn a blind eye as before.

Lynch points his gun at Cash’s head believing he is standing for the mission and rules. After Cash tells him that they are monsters and that the world is better off without them, Lynch relents and shoots the wall instead. The mission concludes and Team 7 goes home by helicopter.

As the ride goes on, John Lynch thinks very deeply about everything that happened since they got exposed to the chemical agent. He realizes that they were exposed to genetic altering elements and wonders if he and his teammates were nothing more than lab rats for International Operations (IO)…

Quality

If there is anything notable here apart from the continued dark and gritty tone, the plot really thickened clearly. At this stage, it is more obvious that the superiors have indeed something more sinister planned for Team 7 to endure. They know that the infected team members are closing ranks to protect itself which means they are ready for the so-called final test.

Along the way, John Lynch gradually realizes the evil of his superiors and being the field leader, he begins to analyze what is best for him and his teammates and which options to take knowing the betrayal from above. Quitting is simply not an option for Lynch and the pressure builds up as the story went on. Cole Cash here sees things very clearly and he easily became the pathfinder among Team 7 members. When he scolds his teammate Fairchild (father of Gen13’s Caitlin Fairchild) for abusing his power in a public place while off-duty, it is clear that Cash wants to keep the team together by means of keeping together while maintaining sanity.

As for Team 7 itself, there is something intriguing that awaits readers once they start their new mission here. I won’t spoil it and it has to be seen. Simply grab a copy of this comic book, read it and pay attention to the details. It’s strong stuff from the creative team.

Conclusion

Team 7 #3 (1994) has a lot of intrigue as the plot thickened. At this stage, it is clear that IO is really up to no good and Team 7 is symbolically their scientific and military experiment. Fortunately for the team, they have John Lynch and Cole Cash as the reasonable members who are able to cut through the noise and became aware of what IO has been executing. The stage is set for the concluding issue and this comic book is indeed a solid build-up and also an engaging WildStorm read.

Overall, Team 7 #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

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  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Street Fighter #1 (1993)

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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Street Fighter fans, retro gamers, Malibu Comics enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 to examine the official comic book adaptation of the wildly popular video game Street Fighter II.

While the original Street Fighter game of 1987 did not achieve huge success in the arcades and on consoles, it literally started the ball rolling for Capcom as the game itself influence other arcade game developers to focus more on making beat-them-up games and the use of special moves appealed to others. Capcom went on to release Street Fighter II in the arcades and it came with a dedicated fighting game design that strongly lured in gamers to play it in huge numbers. After selling 200,000 arcade cabinets, SFII went on to become a huge seller on game consoles. Capcom even went on to produce new versions of the game – popularly referred to as upgrades – culminating with Super Street Fighter II Turbo in 1994.

As Street Fighter II kept on attracting countless players into the arcades worldwide, Capcom approached Malibu Comics (publisher of the Ultraverse).

“Capcom came to Malibu because we know how to do it—we’ve handled licensed properties before and done very well,” said Tom Mason in the opening message of the first issue of the Street Fighter comic book adaptation.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Street Fighter 1, published by Malibu Comics in 1993 with a story written by the late Len Strazewski and drawn by Don Hillsman. This was the first issue of a planned mini-series.

Early story

The story begins some time in the past when Ryu permanently scars Sagat on the chest with his Dragon Punch during street fight in front of many. Enraged, Sagat tries hard to retaliate against Ryu who happens to be the champion among street fighters. The Japanese fighter hits the tall Thai kickboxer with a barrage of kicks.

The past fight was played on home video and viewed by Sagat and Balrog. Embarrassed by the video, Sagat destroys the TV and asked his companion why must he be humiliated. After Balrog tells him not to talk that tone with their superior Bison, Sagat hits the American boxer. As the fight between the two intensifies, Bison arrives and stops the violence. He tells Sagat that he is an embarrassment to his organization.

Bison reminds them that he took them into his criminal network and still have not redeemed themselves in front of him. He tells the two that they must beat Ryu and regain the street fighter championship.

As Balrog and Sagat express difficulty in finding and fighting Ryu, Bison tells them the Japanese fighter’s friends are Chun Li and Ken…

Quality

Back in 1993, I even contemplated buying a copy of this comic book locally when it was brand new. I’m glad I chose not to buy it back then as this one has bad quality in its presentation from start to finish. Dedicated Street Fighter II fans should be warned.

For starters, the storytelling is not faithful to the lore of Street Fighter II even though the creators derived key elements of characters from the game itself. That said, it looks like liberties were taken in order to form a narrative that can be told in comic book format.

Chun Li here is correctly described as an agent of Interpol and is motivated by revenge over the loss of her father who was killed by M. Bison. And yet, she is portrayed here as having a romantic relationship with Ryu and has been training with him along with Ken in the past. The romantic relationship between the two never existed in the popular video game and it is established in Street Fighter II lore that Chun Li came from a different martial arts background while Ken and Ryu trained together under the same master.

Ryu in this comic book is the defending street fighter champion (reflecting the canonical story of Street Fighter and Street Fighter II) who is responsible for the huge scar on Sagat’s chest. While Ryu is the wandering warrior who travels around the world with only a duffel bag as he seeks the true way of the fighter, in this adaptation he is a reigning champion who starts having doubts when Chun Li lectures him over his devotion to fighting as life changes for others around him.

While the liberties are notable and could be insulting to dedicated Street Fighter II fans, the story of this comic book is surprisingly readable. As Ryu is the target of Bison and his criminal network, it made sense for dangerous pawns Sagat and Balrog to go after Ken to get to the Japanese fighter. There definitely is a plot here and if readers can ignore the actual lore of Street Fighter II, it can be followed and the classic concept of good versus evil will be realized.

As for the art, the work done by Don Hillsman is lackluster. While he excelled in making Balrog look scary early in the story, his visual takes on the other Street Fighter II characters range from bad to passable. Ken, Ryu, Sagat, Bison, Vega and Chun Li all have that rough look on their faces and bodies. Hillsman even tried to emulate special moves from the game but ended up looking sub-par. Lackluster artworks like these only add to the perception of the fans and other people obsessed with Japanese culture and the arts that Western illustrators should not draw Street Fighter characters.

Conclusion

I am glad that I never bought Street Fighter #1 (1993) brand new decades ago. Its quality is really bad and clearly it has not aged well. Street Fighter fans – especially those obsessed with Street Fighter II games – should look elsewhere to enjoy the tale and concepts of Street Fighter II. This comic book from Malibu Comics is a creative failure and was the start of the eventual collapse of the publishing deal made with Capcom. Can you just imagine the shock the Capcom executives had when they first read this comic book? Ultimately, this comic book adaption was creative catastrophe which is a shame because Malibu Comics had a good record of licensed projects and the late Strazewski (died on April 27, 2026) was one of the finest writers and creators on the Ultraverse line of comic books.

Overall, Street Fighter #1 (1993) should be avoided.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996)

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 science fiction enthusiasts, 20th century pop culture enthusiasts, Star Wars fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 to examine the 3rd chapter of a very notable Star Wars storyline that took place between the films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi…Shadows of the Empire!  

With the first two issues of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire released (click here and here), the overall concept of the storyline has firmly been set and with sub-plots moving. This includes characters and developments that were not reflected nor referenced at in Return of the Jedi. At this stage, there is both excitement and suspense to look forward to.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3, published in 1996 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by John Wagner and drawn by Kilian Plunkett. This is the 3rd chapter of the 6-issue mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins with the gang of Gizman – including the newcomer Jix – who visit Jabba The Hutt in his palace for an important meeting. After expressing doubt about Jix, Jabba tells the gang that he is aware of Luke Skywalker’s presence in Tatooine and he has been signed near the former dwelling of Ben Kenobi. Jabba finds Skywalker more valuable to him dead. A short time later, Jix asked why does Jabba want Skywalker dead when Darth Vader will on pay for him to be living. This causes a bit of tension within the gang.

With R2D2 present with him at Obi-Wan’s old place, Luke Skywalker completed his brand-new lightsaber. Suddenly a laser blast almost hits them both and Luke realizes that the gang (which just met Jabba) is fast approaching them. The laser blast came from Jix who was told to hold his fire. Moments later, Luke takes down the first gang member who arrived using his new lightsaber…

Quality

Like issue #2, the intrigue and twists kept on happening as the pay-offs to the previous issue’s build-up got executed. Indeed, the story here moved Shadows of the Empire’s concept forward gradually and what was shown is both entertaining and engaging.

You will see here Luke Skywalker’s first-ever use of his then new green-colored lightsaber (the same one in Return of the Jedi) as he becomes a target of Jabba The Hutt who has a violent gang targeting him. Dash Rendar, arguably a creative stand-in for Han Solo in this storyline and also the playable protagonist in the Nintendo 64 video game, becomes even more important as he took the risk of involving himself with Luke as the gang attacked. The interaction between Dash and Luke here is believable to follow and makes a lot of sense within the context of this storyline.

What I found captivating here was the scene in which Darth Vader actually (and bravely) objected to Emperor Palpatine’s plan. The scene was pretty short but it was a powerful display of tension and even division between them. Along the way, Prince Xizor remains relevant with regards to the potential events waiting to happen while more of Boba Fett’s struggle being targeted (as the frozen body of Han Solo is a very valuable prize for other bounty hunters) by others was dramatized nicely.

Conclusion

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996) succeeded in moving the story developments forward while ending up being entertaining enough. The speed bike chase in Beggar’s Canyon along was exhilarating to see and the dramatic moments of the sub-plots had impact. Right now, I am convinced to keep on reading more of Shadows of the Empire.

Overall, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996) is recommended.

+++++

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 129

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 Resident Evil Bonanza (1996 Original and 2002 Remake) – Thirty years ago this month, the original Resident Evil video game was released on PlayStation and it impacted console gaming by moving towards an adulterated direction with zombie horror and mad science as core elements. The 1996 game led Capcom to making Resident Evil sequels and spin-offs in the years that followed. Then in 2002, an ambitious remake of Resident Evil was released on the Nintendo GameCube and it became the definitive version RE creator Shinji Mikami and his team came up with. To explore Resident Evil in its original version and the remake, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/Leb6KsIvxLA?si=ypWNs-FNEdYcW3EX

https://youtu.be/lViRTflJ8IM?si=jpkbXurnD13RvtQ9

https://youtu.be/zVC2Vv146ms?si=Rpn3QOWOtbl2EwJK

https://youtu.be/gFNgcI8HfvE?si=qZ0-RQ6zzxI06BCQ

https://youtu.be/fTzgb1A_uxs?si=Doy3HUebIkPCBHak

https://youtu.be/3IlF12wWx3A?si=rCXrbERr5DHHPxCz

#2 Living In Las Vegas –For decades, Las Vegas in Nevada has always been known as a major tourist destination with lots of hotels, casinos and other entertainment joints clustered together. There is also the perception that a lively city like it means there are lots of job opportunities and business or investment options to pursue there. What most people do not realize is that Las Vegas is not exactly the ideal city to move into and live in due to many factors that can be challenging and stressful to deal with. To discover why, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/yu61wG2gWGw?si=tb7EXSjw_n4OsDAy

https://youtu.be/-8GIgH82zxw?si=aXu2X3JFMR_-b-Gl

https://youtu.be/joD_feF7-uI?si=vB_ovEK5PHh6pL3E

#3 Popcorn In Bed Reacts To Logan’s Run – It has always been argued that science fiction movies released before Star Wars were not too exciting to watch. One of them was Logan’s Run which continues to have a divisive reception among movie buffs both young and old. There are some who liked its concept and execution, while others dismissed it for being corny or even being symbolic about the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. If you want to discover the film without spending money on it, watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video below. Observe how the movie impacts her.

https://youtu.be/uiikjpdzOjw?si=gGbHo-JZLvMLnBr0

#4 The History Of Atari Arcade Games  – I was fortunate enough to have played games in video arcades in the 1980s. In the old days, Atari was a major arcade industry player apart from being big on console gaming. Atari was also responsible in bringing its arcade games to Japan (with Namco as its partner) and also brought some of Namco’s games into American arcades. If you love Atari, arcade games and retro gaming in general, watch the video documentaries below.

https://youtu.be/cQjxVzg0WDk?si=Pka0NJYXqLQEK-4T

https://youtu.be/KCgUmflgRAY?si=0GXZ5Dwoq20jrbUE

https://youtu.be/p5MdgPjtzlU?si=aIHk8WjyyqWp26Ki

#5 Ranting For Vengeance Demolishes Woke Nuts’ Take On Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield – Going back to Resident Evil, it is not surprising that the mob of woke zealots, LGBTQ activists and other Leftists keep on creeping in on existing entertainment franchises to deform them and make it fit their wicked ideology. Recently there were woke nuts online who targeted the Resident Evil icon Chris Redfield and perceive him as gay. Ranting For Vengeance posted a video to demolish the woke mob’s take on Redfield and he explains in detail why the iconic hero has always been straight since the very beginning. Watch the video below and share it with all Resident Evil fans out there.

https://youtu.be/kxQb0giPagE?si=rDyh6ObvwuWFRWUe

#6 Forgotten Video Games Based On Movies – Remember back in the old days when there were a lot of video games based on movies released? Back then, there was money to be made on licensing and merchandising. As a gamer and movie buff since youth, there definitely was excitement whenever I learned a game about a film I enjoyed was made available. Of course, there were games that turned out fun and others ended up being disappointing or even very poor in quality. Check out the video below about the forgotten movie-based games.

https://youtu.be/Ya0mIkADPnQ?si=mgQaxid_jKXhQlAX

#7 How Hollywood Killed The Oscars – Avoiding the Academy Awards (AKA Oscars) is absolutely fine. It no longer celebrates the best of filmmaking and it has been overwhelmed by woke activists, Satanic Leftists, modern day Commies and the like. Communist Hollywood (Commiewood) has been using the Academy Awards to amplify its wicked agenda for a long time now. The old glory and the celebration of the best of filmmaking are truly gone. Watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/9Q2Dl4yeZsk?si=-uXSOiUXaFJLEj2S

#8 National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani And Basij Commander Of Iran Eliminated By Israel – I recently blogged about the eliminations of two high-ranking officials of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran as the conflict in the Middle East went on. It was Israel which successfully killed Ali Larijani and a Basij commander and it was the most significant achievement since the elimination of the demon Ali Khamenei. Right now, it is not clear who is really leading the remaining wicked regime and Iran’s military has been decimated by America and Israel. Keep in mind that the military operations against Iran is all about bringing down the Islamic terrorist regime and liberating the oppressed Iranians so they can take their country back after 47 years. For insight about what happened, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/OJZgHBa8NOc?si=d79b8I29SfOFhZbI

https://youtu.be/4XqvnN6H02Y?si=w8_3ofOW3tYD3yHI

https://youtu.be/inzRgGEzAPM?si=stKOtnqb3U2YvigU

https://youtu.be/lkOx_Y_79oY?si=rXxTlhLja4RjfCjT

#9 The Revival Of A Japanese Sake Brewery – It is always depressing to see your own business get destroyed because of a natural disaster. In Japan, a certain brewery that produced sake got ruined when a huge earthquake struck. Since then, the owner started hard efforts to revive the business. To discover what happened, watch the Nippon TV video below.

https://youtu.be/02erC5J4_jc?si=j2XnNqBN42NvJPHh

+++++

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

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 129

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 Resident Evil Bonanza (1996 Original and 2002 Remake) – Thirty years ago this month, the original Resident Evil video game was released on PlayStation and it impacted console gaming by moving towards an adulterated direction with zombie horror and mad science as core elements. The 1996 game led Capcom to making Resident Evil sequels and spin-offs in the years that followed. Then in 2002, an ambitious remake of Resident Evil was released on the Nintendo GameCube and it became the definitive version RE creator Shinji Mikami and his team came up with. To explore Resident Evil in its original version and the remake, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/Leb6KsIvxLA?si=ypWNs-FNEdYcW3EX

https://youtu.be/lViRTflJ8IM?si=jpkbXurnD13RvtQ9

https://youtu.be/zVC2Vv146ms?si=Rpn3QOWOtbl2EwJK

https://youtu.be/gFNgcI8HfvE?si=qZ0-RQ6zzxI06BCQ

https://youtu.be/fTzgb1A_uxs?si=Doy3HUebIkPCBHak

https://youtu.be/3IlF12wWx3A?si=rCXrbERr5DHHPxCz

#2 Living In Las Vegas –For decades, Las Vegas in Nevada has always been known as a major tourist destination with lots of hotels, casinos and other entertainment joints clustered together. There is also the perception that a lively city like it means there are lots of job opportunities and business or investment options to pursue there. What most people do not realize is that Las Vegas is not exactly the ideal city to move into and live in due to many factors that can be challenging and stressful to deal with. To discover why, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/yu61wG2gWGw?si=tb7EXSjw_n4OsDAy

https://youtu.be/-8GIgH82zxw?si=aXu2X3JFMR_-b-Gl

https://youtu.be/joD_feF7-uI?si=vB_ovEK5PHh6pL3E

#3 Popcorn In Bed Reacts To Logan’s Run – It has always been argued that science fiction movies released before Star Wars were not too exciting to watch. One of them was Logan’s Run which continues to have a divisive reception among movie buffs both young and old. There are some who liked its concept and execution, while others dismissed it for being corny or even being symbolic about the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. If you want to discover the film without spending money on it, watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video below. Observe how the movie impacts her.

https://youtu.be/uiikjpdzOjw?si=gGbHo-JZLvMLnBr0

#4 The History Of Atari Arcade Games  – I was fortunate enough to have played games in video arcades in the 1980s. In the old days, Atari was a major arcade industry player apart from being big on console gaming. Atari was also responsible in bringing its arcade games to Japan (with Namco as its partner) and also brought some of Namco’s games into American arcades. If you love Atari, arcade games and retro gaming in general, watch the video documentaries below.

https://youtu.be/cQjxVzg0WDk?si=Pka0NJYXqLQEK-4T

https://youtu.be/KCgUmflgRAY?si=0GXZ5Dwoq20jrbUE

https://youtu.be/p5MdgPjtzlU?si=aIHk8WjyyqWp26Ki

#5 Ranting For Vengeance Demolishes Woke Nuts’ Take On Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield – Going back to Resident Evil, it is not surprising that the mob of woke zealots, LGBTQ activists and other Leftists keep on creeping in on existing entertainment franchises to deform them and make it fit their wicked ideology. Recently there were woke nuts online who targeted the Resident Evil icon Chris Redfield and perceive him as gay. Ranting For Vengeance posted a video to demolish the woke mob’s take on Redfield and he explains in detail why the iconic hero has always been straight since the very beginning. Watch the video below and share it with all Resident Evil fans out there.

https://youtu.be/kxQb0giPagE?si=rDyh6ObvwuWFRWUe

#6 Forgotten Video Games Based On Movies – Remember back in the old days when there were a lot of video games based on movies released? Back then, there was money to be made on licensing and merchandising. As a gamer and movie buff since youth, there definitely was excitement whenever I learned a game about a film I enjoyed was made available. Of course, there were games that turned out fun and others ended up being disappointing or even very poor in quality. Check out the video below about the forgotten movie-based games.

https://youtu.be/Ya0mIkADPnQ?si=mgQaxid_jKXhQlAX

#7 How Hollywood Killed The Oscars – Avoiding the Academy Awards (AKA Oscars) is absolutely fine. It no longer celebrates the best of filmmaking and it has been overwhelmed by woke activists, Satanic Leftists, modern day Commies and the like. Communist Hollywood (Commiewood) has been using the Academy Awards to amplify its wicked agenda for a long time now. The old glory and the celebration of the best of filmmaking are truly gone. Watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/9Q2Dl4yeZsk?si=-uXSOiUXaFJLEj2S

#8 National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani And Basij Commander Of Iran Eliminated By Israel – I recently blogged about the eliminations of two high-ranking officials of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran as the conflict in the Middle East went on. It was Israel which successfully killed Ali Larijani and a Basij commander and it was the most significant achievement since the elimination of the demon Ali Khamenei. Right now, it is not clear who is really leading the remaining wicked regime and Iran’s military has been decimated by America and Israel. Keep in mind that the military operations against Iran is all about bringing down the Islamic terrorist regime and liberating the oppressed Iranians so they can take their country back after 47 years. For insight about what happened, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/OJZgHBa8NOc?si=d79b8I29SfOFhZbI

https://youtu.be/4XqvnN6H02Y?si=w8_3ofOW3tYD3yHI

https://youtu.be/inzRgGEzAPM?si=stKOtnqb3U2YvigU

https://youtu.be/lkOx_Y_79oY?si=rXxTlhLja4RjfCjT

#9 The Revival Of A Japanese Sake Brewery – It is always depressing to see your own business get destroyed because of a natural disaster. In Japan, a certain brewery that produced sake got ruined when a huge earthquake struck. Since then, the owner started hard efforts to revive the business. To discover what happened, watch the Nippon TV video below.

https://youtu.be/02erC5J4_jc?si=j2XnNqBN42NvJPHh

+++++

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

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 129

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 Resident Evil Bonanza (1996 Original and 2002 Remake) – Thirty years ago this month, the original Resident Evil video game was released on PlayStation and it impacted console gaming by moving towards an adulterated direction with zombie horror and mad science as core elements. The 1996 game led Capcom to making Resident Evil sequels and spin-offs in the years that followed. Then in 2002, an ambitious remake of Resident Evil was released on the Nintendo GameCube and it became the definitive version RE creator Shinji Mikami and his team came up with. To explore Resident Evil in its original version and the remake, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/Leb6KsIvxLA?si=ypWNs-FNEdYcW3EX

https://youtu.be/lViRTflJ8IM?si=jpkbXurnD13RvtQ9

https://youtu.be/zVC2Vv146ms?si=Rpn3QOWOtbl2EwJK

https://youtu.be/gFNgcI8HfvE?si=qZ0-RQ6zzxI06BCQ

https://youtu.be/fTzgb1A_uxs?si=Doy3HUebIkPCBHak

https://youtu.be/3IlF12wWx3A?si=rCXrbERr5DHHPxCz

#2 Living In Las Vegas –For decades, Las Vegas in Nevada has always been known as a major tourist destination with lots of hotels, casinos and other entertainment joints clustered together. There is also the perception that a lively city like it means there are lots of job opportunities and business or investment options to pursue there. What most people do not realize is that Las Vegas is not exactly the ideal city to move into and live in due to many factors that can be challenging and stressful to deal with. To discover why, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/yu61wG2gWGw?si=tb7EXSjw_n4OsDAy

https://youtu.be/-8GIgH82zxw?si=aXu2X3JFMR_-b-Gl

https://youtu.be/joD_feF7-uI?si=vB_ovEK5PHh6pL3E

#3 Popcorn In Bed Reacts To Logan’s Run – It has always been argued that science fiction movies released before Star Wars were not too exciting to watch. One of them was Logan’s Run which continues to have a divisive reception among movie buffs both young and old. There are some who liked its concept and execution, while others dismissed it for being corny or even being symbolic about the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. If you want to discover the film without spending money on it, watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video below. Observe how the movie impacts her.

https://youtu.be/uiikjpdzOjw?si=gGbHo-JZLvMLnBr0

#4 The History Of Atari Arcade Games  – I was fortunate enough to have played games in video arcades in the 1980s. In the old days, Atari was a major arcade industry player apart from being big on console gaming. Atari was also responsible in bringing its arcade games to Japan (with Namco as its partner) and also brought some of Namco’s games into American arcades. If you love Atari, arcade games and retro gaming in general, watch the video documentaries below.

https://youtu.be/cQjxVzg0WDk?si=Pka0NJYXqLQEK-4T

https://youtu.be/KCgUmflgRAY?si=0GXZ5Dwoq20jrbUE

https://youtu.be/p5MdgPjtzlU?si=aIHk8WjyyqWp26Ki

#5 Ranting For Vengeance Demolishes Woke Nuts’ Take On Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield – Going back to Resident Evil, it is not surprising that the mob of woke zealots, LGBTQ activists and other Leftists keep on creeping in on existing entertainment franchises to deform them and make it fit their wicked ideology. Recently there were woke nuts online who targeted the Resident Evil icon Chris Redfield and perceive him as gay. Ranting For Vengeance posted a video to demolish the woke mob’s take on Redfield and he explains in detail why the iconic hero has always been straight since the very beginning. Watch the video below and share it with all Resident Evil fans out there.

https://youtu.be/kxQb0giPagE?si=rDyh6ObvwuWFRWUe

#6 Forgotten Video Games Based On Movies – Remember back in the old days when there were a lot of video games based on movies released? Back then, there was money to be made on licensing and merchandising. As a gamer and movie buff since youth, there definitely was excitement whenever I learned a game about a film I enjoyed was made available. Of course, there were games that turned out fun and others ended up being disappointing or even very poor in quality. Check out the video below about the forgotten movie-based games.

https://youtu.be/Ya0mIkADPnQ?si=mgQaxid_jKXhQlAX

#7 How Hollywood Killed The Oscars – Avoiding the Academy Awards (AKA Oscars) is absolutely fine. It no longer celebrates the best of filmmaking and it has been overwhelmed by woke activists, Satanic Leftists, modern day Commies and the like. Communist Hollywood (Commiewood) has been using the Academy Awards to amplify its wicked agenda for a long time now. The old glory and the celebration of the best of filmmaking are truly gone. Watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/9Q2Dl4yeZsk?si=-uXSOiUXaFJLEj2S

#8 National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani And Basij Commander Of Iran Eliminated By Israel – I recently blogged about the eliminations of two high-ranking officials of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran as the conflict in the Middle East went on. It was Israel which successfully killed Ali Larijani and a Basij commander and it was the most significant achievement since the elimination of the demon Ali Khamenei. Right now, it is not clear who is really leading the remaining wicked regime and Iran’s military has been decimated by America and Israel. Keep in mind that the military operations against Iran is all about bringing down the Islamic terrorist regime and liberating the oppressed Iranians so they can take their country back after 47 years. For insight about what happened, watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/OJZgHBa8NOc?si=d79b8I29SfOFhZbI

https://youtu.be/4XqvnN6H02Y?si=w8_3ofOW3tYD3yHI

https://youtu.be/inzRgGEzAPM?si=stKOtnqb3U2YvigU

https://youtu.be/lkOx_Y_79oY?si=rXxTlhLja4RjfCjT

#9 The Revival Of A Japanese Sake Brewery – It is always depressing to see your own business get destroyed because of a natural disaster. In Japan, a certain brewery that produced sake got ruined when a huge earthquake struck. Since then, the owner started hard efforts to revive the business. To discover what happened, watch the Nippon TV video below.

https://youtu.be/02erC5J4_jc?si=j2XnNqBN42NvJPHh

+++++

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