Remembering Robin Williams...

It's hard not to choke up and be affected by the sudden death of a legendary actor who has literally touched the hearts of many worldwide like Robin Williams. His storied career in film, television, and stand-up comedy is what made him a household name, and for over 4 decades, he has entertained millions around the globe with performances that have made us laugh and made us cry - The true testament of an iconic presence and master of his craft.

The news literally shocked the world, and even after reading the breaking story via Coming Soon early this morning, I still couldn't accept or believe this tender presence from Hollywood was truly gone. He was a friend to many in the industry, and certainly charmed his way to viewers and the general public thanks to his great and fun charisma too.

It's no big secret either that one of Robin's closest friends is the late and great Christopher Reeve, whom the world knows better as the actor best known for portraying Superman in the 1978 film of the same name directed by Richard Donner. Reeve and Williams were classmates in Julliard School, and there would be tales of Chris sharing his blessings and food with Robin when times were going hard for the latter. In fact after Reeve was paralyzed in an equestrian competition accident, Williams was one of the first to visit his friend's side, cheering his friend up by reprising his role from "Nine Months" and making him laugh and realize he was going to be ok.

The Best Robin Williams Moments | Mashable
Those tender moments, as well as the roles Robin Williams embodied were the stuff of legends. He was well known for his time in television as the alien Mork in the Happy Days spin-off show "Mork & Mindy", and through film he has captured our hearts with roles of friends and beings we'd like to consider as good friends to be by our side. He played the heroic Popeye, voiced the Genie from Disney's beloved animated movie adaptation Aladdin, and played the older Peter Pan in the Steven Spielberg directed futuristic tale of Hook too. Williams also embodied the position of mentor and teacher in the films "Good Will Hunting" and "Dead Poets Society", and turned things like laughter, talent, and humanity into a strength amidst great odds in the movies "Patch Adams", "Mrs. Doubtfire", and "BiCentennial Man". There are so many roles to discuss and lay out, but everyone has a favorite and a timeless classic to relate the man and his legacy with to their very own lives and experiences.

So with this, we can only give our prayers, thanks, and gratitude to a man who has truly lived his life to entertain us with everything he had. Thank you and R.I.P, Robin Williams. :(

Farewell, Gamepro...

Sad news came to me just a few minutes ago, and probably the wave of overwhelming nostalgia I'm feeling right now rides up there when EGM initially shut down operations the first time around.

Gamepro, one of the longest running video game magazines in existence, is shutting down operations for good in the US, showing signs of the times and the end of an era. The news, which hit the web instantaneously in sites like Venture Beat as soon as the publication posted the announcement, has sent ripples and shockwaves in the gaming community, and there are certainly a lot of mixed reactions to its sudden and surely inevitable demise. Beginning in 1989, the magazine was slowly going to shift from a monthly publication schedule to a quarterly one, but that doesn't seem to be the case any longer, as parent company IDG has formally announced it will shut down operations. Gamepro's website, which has been in operation for 13 years, will now be absorbed into PCWorld, and will take effect come December 5th.

As with all cease and desist operations, Gamepro's offices will be closed down, and people will be laid off and lose their jobs as a result. In the article by VentureBeat, the shutdown is described as the "creative success not falling in line with business success", and that can be attributed to the times and lack of push the publication industry has because of the influence and presence the internet generates today.

As a gamer and person who grew up in that generation, Gamepro was one of my initial sources for news, walkthroughs, tips, and tricks related to the world of video games. I used to buy a handful of issues back in the day, and I still have said copies stored and kept in my collection. Despite being out of touch with it in recent years, reading this bit of news now has weighed down heavily in my heart, and I feel for those who have remembered the magazine for its contributions to the video game news industry. It may have had its shortcomings compared to the likes of EGM, but it still delivered hot and potentially interesting news to gamers worldwide. Truly, the mag shall be missed. For more details and the rest of the story, visit the source post at Venture Beat or Gamepro's soon to be gone official website itself.

Here's a final salute in the form of an issue cover I had and remember well from the 90's. It was during the 90's console war era, and back then I had a Sega Genesis and played Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition, with this particular magazine serving as a guide to me. Those were the good ol' days of gaming, which were arguably blissful and simple.

Rest In Peace Gamepro, and thanks for everything.

Farewell and Thank You... R.I.P Steve Jobs.

Depending where you are in the world, in the early hours of the morning of October 6 (and night of October 5 in other parts of the world), Apple creator, wiz, and former CEO Steve Jobs tragically passed away at the age of 56. The very sad news broke all through media and the internet, and major sites like Yahoo! have reported the details and mounted up a record of his brilliance and vast accomplishments in the world of technology, specifically being the figurehead behind such modern innovations as the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPad, and the iPhone. To reflect the loss of such a beloved and talented figure, Apple.com has posted the very picture you see above - a recent photo of Steve with the words "Steve Jobs - 1955 - 2011", on the main page of their official website, giving a solemn tribute to a man who has literally "changed lives and given jobs and opportunities to the world and beyond".

I suppose it goes without saying that we should be indebted to Steve. Without his contributions, we'd never see the light of day on portable social media products such as the iPad and iPhone, and he literally changed the landscape of the music industry by introducing iTunes. This man has been at the center of it all, and while his failing health has led him to quietly step down as CEO of Apple last August, he remained an inspirational figure nonetheless. Today, I am among the number of people who use these devices and technological innovations, and this post here was typed using a MacBook. Truly, the world has lost one of its icons and legends, and we shall always remember him for his legacy.

His commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 remains one of the most inspiring and breathtaking videos to watch. View it here via YouTube, and see the man for who he was .


Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University 2005

Rest In Peace, Steve. Thank You.

R.I.P Dwayne McDuffie...

Sad news hit the comic book industry just recently, as Milestone co-founder and comic writer Dwayne McDuffie has reportedly passed away according to comic news site Comic Book Resources. His credentials include writing and creating the character Icon, as well as writing and serving great tales on other great comic book titles like Damage Control, Deathlok, Static, and even the Fantastic Four. People may know McDuffie well for his contributions to various other mediums like television, as he wrote and produced many episodes of the popular animated series Justice League Unlimited. His latest, and unfortunately one of his last works would be the newly released "All Star Superman" animated movie, which he wrote the script for. His passing was a big shock, and he will certainly be missed by fans and peers alike. For more info, visit the source post at CBR. R.I.P and thank you for the rich stories, Dwayne McDuffie.

Remembering The King Of Pop...

It's been one full year since we lost the King Of Pop, but his music still lives on in our hearts. No amount of words can express how much the entire world misses him, but we do what we can to remember the great things he did during his lifetime, with exceptional songs leaving an everlasting impression on us all, such as this personal favorite of mine.


R.I.P Michael Jackson. Your music will live on forever.

Farewell, Gary Coleman...

I just read the news in CNN.
Another legendary talent from my early TV Sitcom memories has passed away. To pay tribute to his memory, here is a video depicting of his most famous lines ever:

"What'choo talkin''bout Willis" - Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes
And let's not forget the intro to that show:

Diff'rent Strokes Intro
Rest In Peace, Mr. Gary Coleman. You will be missed by many around the world.:(

R.I.P Daisuke Gori...

*Daisuke Gori - pic from audiotheater.jp

Man oh man, this is sad news to bear. Just last week, Yu Tanonaka, another famous Japanese Seiyuu died, and now Daisuke Gori - better known as the voice behind Dozle Zabi in Mobile Suit Gundam and Mr. Satan in Dragonball Z, has passed away. Probably one of the more well known Seiyuu's because of his resounding and deep voice, Gori was also the man who lent his voice to many signature fighting games, taking on the role of Tina's father, Bass Armstrong, in the Dead Or Alive series, and even Raiden in SNK's The King Of Fighters XII.



Daisuke Gori will probably be better known to fans as the guy who played Heihachi Mishima, the ambitious and powerful old man who is head of the Mishima Zaibatsu and sponsor of the Tekken tournament.

Daisuke as the voice of Heihachi Mishima

Details on his demise were posted on Kotaku, and upon learning of his death, it was shocking as it was saddening. Part of me feels that when Gori died, Heihachi died as well, as no other person could I know could give credence or due respect to the role after his excellent performance. The man has done several other projects outstanding projects over the years, with performances in Hokuto No Ken, Gundam, and Transformers to name a few, and looking at his resume just brings a tear to fans eyes. He even played E.Honda in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, and here's a clip showing just how much his voice fits the role.

Daisuke Gori as E.Honda in Street Fighter II - The Animated Movie
Rest In Peace, Daisuke-san, and thanks for the memories.

WWE Star Umaga Passes Away...

Sad news came off the wrestling community, as professional wrestler Eddie Fatu, better known as the Samoan Bulldozer "Umaga", passed away after suffering a heart attack. Also known as Ekmo and Jamal of 3-Minute Warning, he is the real life cousin of wrestlers Rosey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. WWE confirmed the unfortunate news on an article their official website, and it's a sudden loss to take in for fans and peers alike. Fatu, 36, was released from the company last June, and since then he has been performing in other road shows, like the recent Hulkamania Tour in Australia.

You will be missed, Samoan Warrior.:(

Rest In Peace, Captain Lou "Mario" Albano...

Another legendary performer has left us. So many of them are gone too soon this year.:(

Via a post from Kotaku, sad news rocked the wrestling, entertainment, and gaming world today, as the legendary Lou Albano passed away at the age of 76, already suffering from failing health after getting a heart attack back in 2005. Most famously known in the wrestling community as "Captain Lou", Mr. Albano is also a WWE Hall Of Famer, having served as manager to great talents and as a commentator in addition to his wrestling career. He was also known for playing the "dad" of 80's pop star Cyndi Lauper in her videos, as well as making the transition to Hollywood, starring in a number of films and series, including Miami Vice.

Probably his biggest break was playing the iconic video game character Mario from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! This was the part I remember Lou the most for. He was the first person to play a Live-Action Mario, as well as voice the character in the animated show. I can still remember the intro to the show, and the dance he made as well.

Super Marios Bros. Super Show! Intro
While he was significantly taller and chubbier than our Nintendo Plumber hero in the games, kids loved Lou's performance as well as the strong Italian accent he gave to the character. I fondly remember the days when I'd eagerly wake up on a Saturday morning just to catch this show. While I liked the cartoon and story, the live action segments were the best, with Lou delivering funny skits alongside Luigi (played by Danny Wells) in their place in Brooklyn, often visited by famous celebreties and actors. Those were the good times, and I sorely miss them a lot.

Rest In Peace, Captain Lou, and you'll be forever remembered as the first man to take up that famous plumbing suit we all know and love in gaming history.

Farewell, Madam President...

I woke up to the news, shocked and utterly devastated like many, and the only comfort I can find is that she is no longer suffering from illness and finally at peace.:(



Cory Aquino was just a simple woman, who rose to the challenge of leadership when the Philippines needed one the most. Before and after the events of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, she spearheaded the examples of vigilance, prayer, and determination to give the Filipino people hope and God in their lives. I was just a little kid back then, too naive to understand the events unfolding at that time, but I knew she was a good person at heart, and her influence eventually led to the rise of democracy in the Philippines.

Many thought of her actions as naive and temporary, but this undaunted and strong-willed woman trekked on and never gave in to the whims of critics, leading the fight against elements ailing the country such as corruption. Even after her presidency, she continued to be an advocate of peace and human rights, retiring back to her position as an ordinary citizen, yet answering the call of the people when they needed her again. She was a pillar of strength... and a woman who will always be remembered not only in the Philippines, but around the world.

There will be several tributes, prayer vigils, and masses held for the late former president of our country, but I can think of no better way to honor this brave and inspiring woman other than this:



Another Tribute I found was this (song by Gary Valenciano):



It was a full life... and a life lived well. Rest In Peace Madam President Cory Aquino, and thank you for everything.:(

Frank Castle's Days Are Numbered?

Marvel.com and Newsarama released a teaser image. Things don't look good for our gun totting hero Frank Castle, aka The Punisher.


Punisher RIP? Didn't DC already do this to Batman? Oh right, it's Marvel's turn.

Beginning in Punisher #8, this messy teaser doesn't look like a good sign for Frankie boy. Based from the image, the bloody disgusting scene looks like something out of the SAW Franchise. Is Frank Castle going to be dismembered or castrated? Who knows? All the solicits say is that Dark Wolverine (Wolverine's kid, Daken, wearing his cool brown costume) is the man hunting down Castle, and no one is coming out of this unscathed. Hopefully it'll flash out in the coming months as Dark Reign continues. Now the hunter has become the hunted.

Graphic Novel Review - Late Night Browsing: Batman R.I.P

In this cold, dark evening, I found myself picking up another graphic novel in the bookstore to appease my cravings for some Batman action. I got more than I bargained for, and I realized that I just picked up the tale that set the stage for Batman: Reborn, the event wherein a new Batman arises to protect Gotham City after the disappearance of the original. How this came to be is told in Batman R.I.P - the somewhat controversial storyline that changed the entire landscape of the world of The Dark Knight - which is finally collected in one entire Deluxe Hardcover Edition. It's truly the "demise of Batman", as written by comic writer extraordinaire Grant Morrison and illustrated by the excellent Tony Daniels, who has teamed up with Morrison before and shows he can draw a mean looking Caped Crusader at any given moment. It's a collected piece of graphic novel beauty that no Batman fan should miss. Why? Read on to find out.

In this dark and covoluted tale, Batman faces his greatest challenges yet. The mysterious organization known only as "The Black Glove" has finally found a way to defeat the world's greatest detective, using the one thing which is considered his greatest asset against him- his mind. As the Dark Knight disappears and struggles with his demons, Gotham is at the mercy of criminals bent on destruction, with only his closest allies defending the city and at the same time making a desperate bid to find him before all is lost. In order to save everything he holds dear, Batman must journey inwards with himself and find the strength necessary to defeat his new enemies. But with so many secrets, lies, and odds against him, can he find the truth, triumph, and survive at the same time?

When this storyline began last year, I wasn't too sold on collecting it. Truth be told, Morrison's run on Batman has got to be one of the most confusing ones ever told in the history of the batbooks. It was only when he began Batman and Robin that I began to appreciate his run, but then again, he practically deconstructed things first in order to make them good in the end. RIP doesn't have much going for it alone except a few twists and turns that challenges everything we know about the Batman mythos. I guarantee that the book will raise eyebrows, especially with the whole "Black Glove" revelation and the way Bruce Wayne "fights back" later on when he recovers... somewhat. The story also seems to incorporate some of the more elaborate changes made to certain characters thanks in part to the success of The Dark Knight. Obviously, I'm talking about the Clown Prince Of Crime himself, The Joker, who gets to look and act like his onscreen persona from that movie as portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. Also, since it's Morrison's tale of the demise of Batman, many would argue that that isn't a great way for Batman to go... and in fact, it wasn't. His final fate is sealed in the pages of Final Crisis, a major DC Crossover also written by Morrison. So, in effect, this story is just one part in a chain of events leading to the actual "death of Batman", although it can stand on its own and written neatly to ensure that fans who do not like jumping and collecting multiple books are satisfied.


The art department is ensured at least. People who love spectacularly drawn representations of Batman will definitely admire Tony Daniels for his work here. In a way, I find his style to be in par with Jim Lee's work, and that's saying a lot. It makes an impression and truly captures moments in the book wherein a lot of fits fly and blood is spilled during the chaos in Gotham. Tony's art acts as a great foil to Morrison's storytelling, which can become dull without the proper illustration to back up the sequence. His run here eventually paved the way for his work in Battle For The Cowl, which he also wrote and illustrated at the same time. That didn't turn out too well also storywise, but the art was excellent as always.


So in the end, is this worth collecting just to see how "Batman croaks"? Well, the collecting part is true because of the story and extras, but this is just part of the big picture (see Final Crisis), and I sincerely doubt it will be a monumental death to remember. Besides, Dick Grayson has taken up the mantle, and his run as Batman is beginning to take shape in a good way. Still, even with a new Batman in town, we must not forget the ONE AND ONLY TRUE BATMAN - Bruce Wayne. If you want to remember the man and his last moments as the Dark Knight, this is the book for you. Grab it while it's hot.

Score - 8/10

Still Moonwalking...

It's been a week since sad news broke out with the untimely passing of famous music legend Michael Jackson. It was a big commotion for everyone, and it resulted in a media frenzy that kept news channels hooked to the story and flooded the internet with several tributes and farewell messages in response to the loss of an icon. I was among those who were just shocked to find out the news in the morning of June 25th, and I was at a loss for words on how to describe my feelings on the matter. Eventually, I ended up writing my own tribute to Mike as a result, and as I pointed out there, the man was a legend. From a rising child star to an adult sensation, he sold millions of records worldround and popularized dance steps that hundreds of performers imitate to this day, with his signature move being "the moonwalk". Sure, MJ's latter years found him estranged from the world because of his bizarre behavior and child molestation cases, but there's no denying that his music spoke to generations of fans everywhere, something that continues to linger on even with his death.


Last night, I picked up a copy of TIME Magazine's special tribute issue to the late King Of Pop. Somehow, I found it appropriate to post about it here, considering how much of an influence Michael Jackson was in the world of popculture. His music broke barriers and his presence transcended even towards movies and cartoons, something that not many artists or performers can say in their lifetime. The issue commemorates Mike's life, from his days with the Jackson Five, his breakout release of 'Thriller', and the later years which placed him in a constant state of controversy and gossip. All these phases are eclipsed though by his sudden passing from this world, which still continues to make news as people continue to speculate on how he died. For me however, I choose to honor the lucrative career of a singer who did more than just give his share of breakthrough performances, but also his heart and soul to the fans as well.

The picture that TIME chose for their cover is from one of the most memorable music videos associated with Mike - "In The Closet". Another one of his more provocative songs, it features Mike strutting his stuff and sporting the very attire you see him wear in the cover of the issue. Let's take a trip back and see some MJ goodness in action.




R.I.P Michael Jackson. The King Of Pop Moonwalks in the skies now.