09-09-12 Dynamic Worship Special Number

After about a year of Sunday sessions, I was part of those that was able to successfully finish (our batch started out with 15 and 10 remained in the end) the "Life of Disciple" classes - the third leg of the D12 Nurture System of our church.  It's kind of a tradition that as a sort of culminating activity, in a Sunday worship service, the batch should prepare at least one testimony and, if the batch is capable enough, a special number as well.  

Here was our batch's performance: first, we recited our memory verses (that were required to be memorized during our "Life of Disciple" classes) and sang (with actions) "The Love of Jesus" - in English, Tagalog, Taglish, and Bicol (in this order) - and "Day by Day" as if we were merely Sunday School children. lol.  To God be the glory nonetheless!  

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Top 10 PC Games I Had Played in Windows ’95 During Childhood

When I was into gaming, the main medium I played was PC.  And back when desktop personal computers were not yet a household staple as it is nowadays (it was really expensive back then), my family was blessed to have one.  So I get to have the experience of playing PC way ahead of most of my contemporaries. 

The operating system back then was Windows ’95 and most of the games occupy very minimal hard drive space when compared to modern games.  For perspective, consider this: our PC back then only had about 2 GB of hard disk space!  A flash drive has more capacity than that!  

Here are the top ten favorite PC games I played back then…

Note: Some of the games here are still available for free with Windows XP (the OS of my netbook).  While some are available for download in the Internet, which I have downloaded and played again by using Dosbox.  I got some screenshots to use for this list. But there are also screenshots here that are not mine, but merely taken from the Internet.  

10.) HEARTS

Card games on PC were very popular back then.  But my most favorite among them was Hearts.  At first, since I rarely read the “Help” part of a game, I thought that the aim was to get as many points as possible.  It was actually the other way around.  Once I understood the mechanics and the point system – cards belonging to the hearts suite is a point, 13 points for the queen of spade, but you get zero points and your opponents get 26 points each if you get all hearts and the queen of spade in a round – I found the game to be intelligent and addictively fun. 

9.) CASTLE OF THE WINDS

 

Before Diablo II, there was Castle of the Winds.  I remember how easily I got hooked a few minutes into the game.  This fantasy RPG has awesome gameplay (during its time, at least).        

 

8.) DOOM

 

I never get to finish this game at all.  The graphics, by today’s standards, is silly, but I admit that the demons/mutants/monsters/aliens (never bothered to know what were they) that regularly comes out of nowhere freaked me out a lot back then.  I think this was the first first-shooter game that I’ve ever played.   

7.) MINESWEEPER

 

This game bored me initially because I never understood it at first (again, because I was too lazy to read the “Help”).  But there came a time that I bothered to read the instructions so I can comprehend how to play it.  I realized that it was not at all purely about randomly guessing where the mines are (hint: the numbers actually have a purpose).  It also involves plenty of analyzing and quick-thinking (to determine which squares have mines as fast as possible).  And after finally understanding all of these, I found myself spending several hours a day playing it.  

6.) WARPATH

 

This was the best intergalactic-themed PC game that I had played back then.  The game’s aim is to beat your opponents by destroying all their ships or leaving them with no planet left.  In the game, you have to get as much of the planets in the star map on your side, whether you’re good (green) or evil (red), either through colonization of uninhabited planets or investing on neutral races’ planets.  It’s also necessary to earn money, which can be done by means of two things: a) mining uninhabited planets and selling the cargo to inhabited planets; and b) from the automatic taxes of your planets (so, more planets, more income).  The money you earn is used to buy stuff and weapons (remember, it’s a war after all), and for investment on neutral planets to get them to join your side.  It seems complicated at first but it’s actually an easy game to master.  As soon as I got the hang of this game, I easily dominate whenever I play (as shown with the screenshot above).   

5.) SIM CITY 2000

The first simulation game I’ve ever played was probably this one (played Afterlife - a sim game with a heaven and hell setting - back then, too, but if I remembered it right, I played Sim City 2000 first).  I loved the idea of being able to control and design an entire city.  I would also get to play the more modern Sim City game later on, but believe me that I derived more excitement from playing this oldie for the first time than what I got from playing the more advanced version (the novelty of the “controlling a city” concept probably wore off)

4.) CIVILIZATION 2

This is the only Civilizationgame I ever played.  This game was the first of such kind I ever encountered back then.  I found it innovative, very unique, and multi-faceted.  You have to guide your civilization in advancing through history.  You have to choose what technological advances your civilization should pursue.  You have to expand by creating new cities or conquering cities owned by your opponent/s.  You have to consider political and economical aspects.  Sometimes, diplomacy can be used to your advantage.  You can make alliances or treaties.  Building a strong military force is very important.  Amidst all of these, there’s a lot of maintaining to do as well.  You have to keep this cities connected to each other, defended from threats, and amply supplied.  You have to keep your people happy and/or in check.   Etcetera, etcetera.  There are plenty of factors considered in this game, and it’s what makes it fun.  Also, it allows you to live out your world domination fantasies (I was able to build a British Empire that was more dominating than the historical and actual one).

3.) METAL MARINES

This was the game that I played a lot whenever I hang out in my mother’s office (when she was still working) as a kid.  In each level (there are 20), you have to search and destroy the three hidden bases of your opponent before he or she (there’s a female commander) destroys yours.     There are only a few structure options to build in this game that I can enumerate them here.  Interceptor Missile Battery (IMB) defends your island from enemy missile and Metal Marine attacks.  Radars increase the accuracy of IMBs.  Mine fields damages enemy Metal Marines that walk on them.  Gun pods are armored pillboxes that defend your island from invading enemy Metal Marines.  Decoy bases look like real bases to, yeah, serve as decoys.  Camouflage structure hides your base or decoy base.  Logistics and support structures (Factory, Energy Plant, and War Administration Headquarters) decreases construction time, and increases fuel and money production (I seldom build them, though).   ICBM silos can shoot out nukes (but I never make them since they are expensive and fragile).  Missile batteries shoot out missiles.  And, most importantly, Metal Marine Hangars houses Metal Marines – your most valuable assets since they can be used for both defense and attacks.         

2.) CARMEN SANDIEGO GAMES

The Carmen Sandiego games that I’ve played are Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in Europe is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Deluxe Edition, Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, and Where in America’s Past is Carmen Sandiego?  There is a variety of themes in each game, but the essential gameplay remains the same: in each round, you have to chase V.I.L.E. agents across several locations; through trivia clues, you can determine what location.  Moreover, you have to determine the proper identity of the V.I.L.E. agent you are chasing so you will have the proper warrant once you caught up to him or her.  If you don’t have the correct warrant, the arrest is made void.  The titular Carmen Sandiego, the V.I.L.E. ring-leader, only appears on later rounds.  I’m proud to say that I’ve caught Carmen in all the games I’ve enumerated (screenshots are shown above).

      

1.) CHIP’S CHALLENGE

My most favorite Windows ’95 game is Chip’s Challenge.  The game consists of more than 100 levels as you control the protagonist, Chip, through them.  In each level, Chip has to reach the respective exit door to proceed to the next level.  He should reach it before time expires, if it’s under a time limit (which is the usual).  The exit door opens when all the needed microchips in that level has been collected, but in some levels, there are no microchips to collect and Chip just needs to find the exit.  Each level has unique challenges and puzzles to figure out.  Sometimes, there are monsters to avoid.  This game involves plenty of analyzing, imagining, and trial-and-error; it really challenges your thinking skills. 

A good thing about this game is the option to skip a level is offered whenever you have failed it too many times over.  By proceeding to a newer thus fresher level, it will prevent you from mentally burning out and getting extremely frustrated because of a level that you are unable to get through.  You can just return to the levels you fail to solve some other time (once you have a refreshed mind).  I think I had solved 75% of the game’s levels.          

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Top 10 Fictional Organizations

There are a ton of made-up organizations in fiction – ranging from associations, to clubs, to guilds, to institutes, to societies, etc.  In picking the ten that interest me most, there are several factors I considered, which includes but not limited to: having many members (because the word “organization” gives me the feeling of necessarily having many members, while the words “team” and “group” just a few); diverseness of members; perks of membership; having a unique and interesting purpose; and should not be a superhero team (since that can be another available category to make a list out of someday).  

10.) A.E.G.I.S.

A.E.G.I.S. or Alien Exterminating Global Intercept System is a secret organization whose purpose is to combat Invaders, alien/interdimensional beings that intend to conquer the world, who are secretly living among the unaware human populace.  The most valuable agents of A.E.G.I.S. are called Gate Keepers, teenagers who has the ability to tap superpowers from another dimension through opening “gates.”   The Gate Keepers’ powers are the only weapons that can permanently neutralize Invaders.  Since the Gate Keepers (of Japan) are teenagers, the agency enrolled them at Tategami High School, which is the front for the headquarters (which is hidden underground it) of the Far East Branch of A.E.G.I.S., and thus, the agency can conveniently contact, summon and send the Gate Keepers on missions.  The best thing I liked about A.E.G.I.S. is their salute of “Roger, Aegis” while doing the motion of putting a fist against the chest, then doing a peace-sign.            

9.) FAIRY TAIL

As the titular guild of the popular Fairy Tail manga/anime, it is the strongest guild in the country of Fiore.  Though, the guild lost this reputation after significantly weakening after their strongest members went on a 7-year hiatus (thought to be dead, but were actually in time suspension).  The guild is slowly gaining their reputation back in the current arc.    

I greatly like how Fairy Tail members treat each other as family, and will protect them with their lives.  They have a strong bond with each other and have great pride for being members of Fairy Tail.  Members are diverse and interesting (former enemies are even recruited), but only the prominent and most powerful members have significant character development, thus, they are the only ones that I grew fond of.  My favorite members (there are other members I like, but these are the ones that I feel strongly for), in order of fondness, are Natsu, Gajeel, Gray, Laxus, Erza, Freed, Mystogan (I hope Jellal would permanently adopt the Mystogan identity), Juvia, Pantherlily, Gildartz, Lucy, Makarov, Elfman, Loki, and Bickslow.       

8.) GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Though there are Green Lanterns who are technically superheroes (those from Earth), the Corps, however, is not a superhero team per se.  Rather, the Green Lanterns Corps is meant to be an intergalactic police force.  There are over 7,200 members policing 3,600 sectors across the galaxies.  The planet Oa is their headquarters, where the Central Power Battery – the energy source they derive their powers from – is located.   

Each Green Lantern is armed with a power ring that has been called “the most powerful weapon in the universe.”  The ring allows it wielder to fly, create force fields, and ability to travel with ease across the hostile environments of space.  But its main power is to project objects that have been imagined by its wielder – its potency only being limited by the wielder’s willpower.  A ring requires to be recharged through a Green Lantern’s personal battery (that looks like an old-fashioned, portable gas-fueled metal lantern) which directly derives power from the Central Power Battery.           

I had considered the Jedi Order as a likely candidate for a spot on this list.  But though Jedis are cool, with their Force mastery and lightsabers (especially this) and all that, I still find the Green Lanterns and their power rings cooler. 

7.) S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for “Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate” (formerly “Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division”) but “Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  It is the elite, secret espionage and military organization in the Marvel Comics Universe.    The organization closely deals with matters of global threats, activities of superpowered individuals, major terrorism, and the like.  Agents are mostly normal (but well-trained) humans, but there are also a few superhumans employed.  S.H.I.E.L.D. works closely with superheroes (and even supervillains, on special cases), usually the Avengers, and asks their aid when needed.  The most famous head of S.H.I.E.L.D. is Nick Fury, one of the most badass fictional spooks ever, though, currently in the comics, he no longer is.  What I like most about S.H.I.E.L.D. is its most awesome and iconic asset: the Helicarrier, a flying aircraft carrier.      

6.) IMPOSSIBLE MISSIONS FORCE (IMF)

The IMF is the agency featured in the Mission: Impossible TV shows and movies.  The IMF is an independent espionage agency with the US government as their main client.  With the use of cons and high tech gadgetry, they often successfully accomplish a mission, leaving minimal, if any, trace of them being there.  IMF agents are very multi-talented and multi-skilled, with each member having an expertise in at least one area.  Most agents operate as “part-timers”, who has regular day jobs – models, lawyers, doctors, magicians, acrobats, field experts, etc. – with the skills and/or resources of their vocation usually relevant and invaluable for their missions.  Moreover, most of them are rich, making them very unlikely to bribe.

The briefings of their missions usually start with “Your mission, should you decide to accept it…”, since they can refuse a mission if they think it’s impossible to accomplish or it’s in conflict with their moral codes.  There are some agents, though, who are not allowed to refuse a mission.  Once they accept the mission and if they are compromised, killed, or captured, their clients are free to disown the agents and deny involvement.

No IMF agents made my top 10 spooks list, but, as a whole, they have the most awesome espionage agency in fiction.   

5.) DAMAGE CONTROL

Damage Control is a construction company in the Marvel Comics Universe that specializes in repairing property damage in the aftermath of conflicts among superheroes and supervillains.  Do I need to say more why is this organization extremely interesting?            

4.) GOTEI 13

The Gotei 13 is the military arm of Soul Society.  Gotei 13’s members are called Shinigamis or “death gods.”  In Bleach mythos, Shinigamis are kimono-wearing, samurai-like warriors who serve as guides of souls, protectors of Souls Society, and exterminators of Hollows – corrupted souls of deceased humans after failing to cross over to Soul Society.  A Shinigami’s primary weapon is his Zanpakutō.  Zanpakutōs are sentient souls that take the initial appearance of a katana, with each one having a unique transformation and set of abilities when released by its Shinigami.  Bankai is the ultimate form of the Zanpakutō, and is one of the things that make Bleach interesting.    

The Gotei 13 is made up of 13 divisions.  Each division has slightly over 200 Shinigamis, thus Gotei 13 has a total of about 3,000 soldiers.  In the 200 Shinigamis of a division, the strongest 20 are officers or having “seats”.  The 1st Seat belongs to the Captain, the most powerful and the leader of the division, and, usually, the only one in the division who has a Bankai (but not all the time, because there are at least three non-captains who know Bankai).  The 2nd Seat belongs to the Vice-Captain or Lieutenant, the second strongest and the supervisor of the division’s day-to-day activities.  The rest of the seats – 3rd to 20th – have no established or mentioned military ranks but are analogous to junior officers or non-commissioned officers in real life.  The overall leader of Gotei 13 is the Captain of the first division, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, thus he has the sole title of Captain-Commander.         

3.) G.I. JOE

G.I. Joe is based on a line of action figures, but Marvel Comics created an awesome comic book series out of the property (like what they did with Transformers).  And a classic animated TV series was also made out of it during the 80’s.  The perfect description of this organization is from the TV series' intro's narration: "G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring, highly trained special mission force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world."  I loved how G.I. Joe is a military organization that is an interesting mix of all Armed Forces-types, ninjas/martial artists, spooks, technical specialists, etc., with most of the members being based on stereotypes of a certain field or vocation – and, sometimes, not even necessarily military-related – and have code names that are puns of those stereotypes.

   

2.) MEN IN BLACK (MIB)

With my first encounter with MIB (through the first movie), the organization captivated me.  I became an avid fan of the movies and animated series (I haven’t encountered the original comicbook it’s based on though).  I remember that as a kid, I even played pretend that I was an MIB agent.  

Aliens are secretly mingling with humans on Earth and MIB is the secret organization that monitors and police alien activity on the planet. They also serve as Earth’s defense against intergalactic threats.  They make use of advanced alien technology and weaponry and other hardware.  

MIB is so secret that even the US government, which had a hand on its foundation, has no knowledge of its existence.  Therefore, MIB doesn’t receive federal funding.  Instead, they get their funding from owning patents of various alien technologies that they have introduced to the human market (like Velcro and liposuction), which have been released once they think humankind is ready for them.  

MIB’s most iconic and coolest gadget is the Neuralizer, which they use to preserve MIB and alien anonymity.  The Neuralizer releases a flash that can heavily hypnotize a target, making them vulnerable to have their memories erased, replaced, manipulated, and/or manufactured.  Thus, the Neuralizer is an invaluable tool to use on human witnesses of both alien and MIB activity.  To protect themselves from the flash, MIB agents put on a pair of sunglasses before activating the Neuralizer.       

MIB is based on the “Men in Black” theme in pop culture and conspiracy theories about government agents in black suits who cover up UFO and paranormal activities.    

1.) HUNTER ASSOCIATION

With the main characters being members of the organization, the manga/anime series Hunter X Hunter greatly revolves around the Hunter Association.  

“Hunters” are considered to be the elite of humanity; being experts on different fields like music, cooking, computers, archeology, combat, survival, hunting down criminals, uncovering and retrieving information, and many more.  To become a Hunter, one most obtain a license by passing the rigorous Hunter Examination, a series of difficult and dangerous tests to determine those that have the appropriate characteristics and skills to become a Hunter.  Hunters, as the name suggests, devote their lives in hunting down things whether people, items, information, places, treasures, or animals.  

All Hunters are required to know Nen, whether before or after the Hunter Exam.  Nen is the manipulation of aura or life energy, which will enable a Nen user to have a unique power or ability.  

There are plenty of perks of being a Hunter.  This is brought to by the ownership of a Hunter License.  It is a highly-valuable item that symbolizes glory and wealth (60 out of the 100 richest people in the world are Hunters).   Owners of the Hunter License have no legal responsibility for murder, are free to travel in all countries, have free access to public services at first-class, and are allowed to access the Hunters Only Website (where one can find and purchase a variety of important and secret intelligence obtained and uploaded by other Hunters).  The Hunter can also use his or her license as collateral for a loan of 100 million jenny (currency in the Hunter X Hunter universe) with a 0% interest rate at any bank, or the Hunter can outrightly sell his license (which is a valuable collector’s item) for enough money for at least 7 generations of luxury.    

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Top 10 Vampire Hunters

For me, vampires are the most perfect mythological creature to ever epitomize evil.  They are lustful, murderous, appalling, and menacing, making them fascinating, romantic villains.  Therefore, it takes a special kind of hero to be their adversary.  It is necessary for him or her to be motivated enough and brave enough to stand up against such terrifying and strong villains.  But most importantly, with vampires being seductively interesting, the audience tend to root for them, therefore, these vampire hunters should be charismatic enough to steal the audience’s affection from the simultaneously despicable and appealing vampires.  

10.) CHARLEY BREWSTER

Charley is the main protagonist of Fright Night.  I love both the original and the remake, but the remake being fresher in my mind since it’s the most recent between the two that I’ve seen makes me like the remake’s Charley more as a vampire hunter.  I love the character development of Charley from a skeptic that his new neighbor, Jerry, was a vampire; to a nervous wreck after witnessing that his new neighbor was indeed a vampire; to a man on the run and fighting to survive; and, finally, to a badass vampire hunter who made a brilliant but crazy plan to destroy Jerry (who was actually a very powerful centuries-old vampire and had defeated countless hunters that tried to kill him).  I love how the Charley in the end became a contrast of the shaking, terrified Charley at the start.  My favorite part was when Jerry started making out with Amy, Charley’s girlfriend, who had been turned into a vampire earlier.  Despite this being a depressing and hateful sight for Charley, he maintained his cool, sticking to and proceeding with the set plan that would ultimately destroy Jerry and return Amy to normal.

9.) SIMON BELMONT

 

I’m not really a big Castlevania fan, but I’m familiar with the game.  Simon is probably the most popular protagonist of Castlevania.  What really makes him cool and unique to me is he combats vampires with the use of a whip.  This whip, known as the Vampire Killer Whip (or Magic Whip or Holy Whip), is an heirloom of the Belmont clan, whose eternal duty is to stand against Dracula and his allies.

8.) ROBERT NEVILLE

 

Neville is the protagonist of the epic novel I Am Legend(which was made into a “good-movie-but-inferior-to-the-novel” film starring Will Smith).  What’s interesting about the character is Neville being a vampire hunter because he had to, since he’s the last uninfected human on earth with the rest of humanity becoming vampires already.  In his research, while trying to survive day-by-day in a vampire-infested post-apocalyptic world, Neville learned that the vampiric pandemic was caused by a bacteria that was capable of infecting both living and deceased hosts (making the vampirism in the I Am Legend world as having scientific explanation instead of the usual idea that it’s mystical or supernatural).  Near the end of the story, it was revealed that the vampires are starting to overcome their weaknesses against sunlight and are attempting to rebuild society.  These evolving vampires, however, fear and hate Neville because he had killed some of their people along with the undead-type vampires (the dead that was infected and reanimated by the bacteria) during his vampire hunting trips.  He was captured and set for execution, which he accepted.  He realized their point of view: that in this new world of vampires, he is the “monster”, being the last human, someone that is dangerous and different from the rest of the world.  In his last seconds, he declares: “[I am] a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever.  I am legend.”  

7.) JACK CROW

 

In John Carpenter’s movie Vampires, James Woods plays Jack Crow, leader of a group of vampire hunters sanctioned by the Vatican (I love their method of dragging vampires into the sunlight).  There’s a lot of James Woods to the Jack Crow character (just as there’s a lot of James Woods in Hades, from Disney’s Hercules) – which is a good thing – especially the smooth badass talking.  Jack Crow is one mean, serious ass-kicker who has no reservations in killing vampires, even if it’s someone he had known.        

6.) BLADE

 

Arguably, Blade is the most popular superhero/vampire hunter from comics.  A vampire attacked Blade’s mother while she was giving birth to him.  This will kill her mother, but vampiric enzymes were passed on to the infant Blade.  Thus, this gave Blade the same enhanced strength, durability, speed, and agility, and healing factor that vampires have.  He would also have the power to sense supernatural creatures and be immune to full vampirism.  When growing up, he would meet Jamal Afari, a vampire hunter, who would train him to become a vampire hunter.  Blade would become an Olympic-level athlete, a proficient hand-to-hand combatant, and an expert in weapons.  He would devote his life in hunting down vampires and his vision is their ultimate annihilation. 

5.) ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 

I really find it interesting and amusing that Seth Grahame-Smith would reinvent a major historical icon like Lincoln into a badass vampire hunter in his book (which was made into a movie recently).  Lincoln’s vampire killing motivation would come in an early age, when vampires killed his mother.  Later in life, Lincoln would be trained to become a highly skilled axe-wielding vampire hunter.  After witnessing a vampire buying slaves for food in a slave auction, Lincoln became an Abolitionist.  After learning of a vampire plot to start a civil war so that they can enslave all America, Lincoln enters politics, which will ultimately lead him into the presidency.  During the early parts of the Civil War, the South started winning because of the Confederate vampires.  However, with Lincoln announcing the Emancipation Proclamation, encouraging slaves to fight slave owners and vampires, the tides of the War turned in the North’s favor.        

4.) ABRAHAM VAN HELSING

 

The name “Van Helsing” has been forever nailed on pop culture consciousness as synonymous to the archenemy of Dracula and vampires.  The first thing that impressed me about Dr. Van Helsing is his rich collection of post-nominal initials of “M.D., D.Ph., D. Litt., etc.”  This shows that Van Helsing is a genius with a variety of interests.  In Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula, it was under Van Helsing’s leadership – with his great knowledge of vampirism – that allowed the protagonists to combat Dracula, drive him out of England, and ultimately destroy him.  Peter Cushing’s performance is said to be the greatest and most accurate cinematic portrayal of the character. 

3.) D

 

D is a dhampir, meaning his father is a vampire (implied to be Dracula) while his mother is a human.  With his vampire heritage, he possesses most vampiric strengths but only few of the weaknesses.  His supernatural powers are also not limited to the physical aspect, since he also has some magical skills as well.  He rarely uses his magic, only doing so when really needed.  He possesses great fighting skills and grace, and uses the sword as his main weapon. 

D also has a sentient symbiote named “Left Hand” that resides in his left palm, which is capable of independent thought and will, but also aware of most of D’s thoughts.  Left Hand can create a very strong vacuum to suck things with its mouth.  It also has the ability of psychometry, making people sleep, and ability to evaluate other’s strength, power, and health.  Moreover, Left Hand can heal or revive D by creating life force by consuming the elements (fire, earth, water, wind).  Thus, Left Hand is indeed a very invaluable companion to D.  Left Hand likes making wise-cracks to the silent, serious, unemotional, and gloomy D, but only talks when he and D are alone.

D works as a vampire hunter for hire in a far distant future setting (that is an interesting mix of several elements from different pulp genres like sci-fi, fantasy, horror, high fantasy, western, occult science, and Lovecraftian mythology) where vampires, demons, werewolves, mutants, and other monsters share the world with humankind.  D possesses great reputation as a powerful and successful vampire hunter, but is nonetheless despised and feared by both humans and vampires for being a half-breed.       

2.) BUFFY SUMMERS

 

The beloved Slayer is, of course, a part of this list.  In fact, for years prior to encountering the number one of this list, Buffy was my most favorite vampire hunter.   I already discussed Buffy in my top 10 TV characters list (No. 3).      

1.) ALUCARD

 

Alucard is the most powerful and most important agent of the Hellsing Organization (also known as the Holy Order of Protestant Knights), an England-based vampire hunting organization headed by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing.  A pair of powerful handguns are his favorite weapons; the “gunslinging vampire hunter” aspect is what made me like the character initially.  Alucard is in fact Dracula (“Alucard” is “Dracula” in reverse) and had decided to serve the Hellsing family after he was defeated by Abraham Van Hellsing (founder of Hellsing Organization and ancestor of Integra).  Alucard only answers to no one except to Integra (though he had also showed humbleness and respect to the Queen of England).              

Being a vampire, Alucard still has darkness and madness in him.  He takes pleasure in killing, and has no reservations in killing whether the opponent is human or vampire.  He delights in causing chaos, mayhem, and destruction.  He’s a ferocious and ruthless fighter.  Being in fact Dracula, Alucard is the most powerful vampire in the world.  Strengthened by the hundreds of thousands (or possibly even millions) that he had killed in the past, Alucard is impossible to kill.  He would only regenerate when he is badly damaged or dismembered.  Being powerful, Alucard fights with arrogance and disregard for his life (since he can’t be killed).  He never fights at full strength at first, and would allow opponents to take their best shot in destroying him.  No matter how powerful his opponents’ attacks are, they aren’t able to completely destroy Alucard since he would only regenerate.  Alucard would then go on to disable and humiliate his opponents before killing them.     

    

Aside from regenerative powers, Alucard also has the usual superhuman strength, speed, and senses attributed to vampires.  With his superior senses, he is able to shoot his guns with great accuracy.  He can phase through walls, stick on vertical surfaces, communicate telepathically, and shapeshift to any form he wants.  One of the forms he morphs to is an amorphous shapeshifting mass of darkness covered with eyes that has chaotic projections of blood, bats, demonic dogs, as well as his human head and limbs, usually his hands with his guns.  However, Alucard’s great power is restrained by a series of seals made by Hellsing.  Alucard can unlock all seals by himself, except for Level 0, the final seal, which only Integra Hellsing can release (but in my opinion, Alucard can release it by himself and just needs Integra’s permission, something he routinely does before performing a task).  Once the final seal is released, Alucard can summon a large army under his control made up of all the souls he had consumed in his life.

It is heavily implied that Alucard regrets becoming a vampire and consider being a vampire inferior to being human.  He is bored with his immortality and the reason that Alucard greatly lusts for battle, especially with powerful opponents, is because he wants to get himself killed.  However, he would only allow himself to be killed by a human.  “Only a man can truly hope to kill a monster,” he usually declares. 

What’s so awesome about Alucard, making him the most interesting vampire hunter for me, is he ironically hunts down vampires despite being the most powerful vampire ever.  Moreover, he is not at all the type of character who was a former villain, had a change of heart, and now seeks redemption for his sins.  No.  He is merely a villain who happens to be at the side of good.  Having such complex moral ambiguity makes Alucard an extremely exceptional and exciting character.    

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Top 10 Avengers I Want To See In the Next 'Avengers' Movies

I already expressed my thoughts in the past on what would be my fantasy scenario for Marvel Studios’ “Phase 2” and “Phase 3”, and mentioned already the characters I want to be featured.  However, it wasn’t explicit on the degree of preference I have for each character.  So, in this list, let me share the top 10 Avengers I want to be included in the next Avengersmovies’ line-ups, in ascending order of how much I want to see them in the next movies.

Take note that when picking my ten, I didn’t put into consideration those heroes that are already likely to become part of the next Avengersmovies.  US War Machine is back in Iron Man 3 (why is the character not included in the first Avengers movie when he’s already available?).  Falcon and Winter Soldier are in the next Captain America movie.  And, at this point, the Ant-Man movie (which would likely have the Wasp in it as well) is almost a sure thing to happen. The characters in my list are those that have a 0% to 50% chance of being included.  Some are being rumored to be, though there are still no clear commitments from Marvel Studios yet.  And some are almost impossible to be included, since the characters’ movie rights are owned by other studios like Columbia and Fox.  

10.) BLACK PANTHER

There are already some rumors about plans of a Black Panther movie and there are already elements in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that points out that it’s going to happen (thus, he can become part of the next Avengers line-up).  However, until there’s a clear announcement from Marvel, I wouldn’t consider it a sure thing.  Still, because of these promising factors I’ve mentioned, there’s a very good chance Black Panther will indeed come through.  Thus, Black Panther is only number ten because of the likely possibility of being put on the big screen already. 

Black Panther is someone that has the same strategic genius, athletic combat skills, charisma, and overall badassery of Batman.  And who wouldn’t like a Batman-like character in the next Avengers movie?  It also helps that he’s a king of a country. 

9.) QUICKSILVER

Magneto’s children, Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver, are tough to separate.  It’s hard to include one and ignore the other.  But that’s what I’m going to do here.  Yes, I want BOTH to be in the movies.  But there’s only one slot available for one of them in this top 10.  And if there’s also one slot left in the next Avengersmovie’s roster and I get to choose between the two, my pick would be Quicksilver – the resident fast guy of the Avengers. 

In the first movie, we saw the Avengers finally finding their team chemistry despite being at odds with each other at the start.   What I like about Quicksilver being added to the next Avengers movie’s roster is to disrupt the team environment again with his hot-headed, arrogant personality that makes him at odds with almost everyone.  In short, since Robert Downey, Jr.’s jerkish Tony Stark is too likable, we need another jerk we’ll love, not because he’s charismatic like Stark, but because he can entertainingly antagonize teammates perfectly. 

Quicksilver joining the Avengers’ movie line-up is highly unlikely though since 20^thCentury Fox has the movie rights for Marvel’s mutant characters.

8.) DAREDEVIL

 Marvel Studio recently got the rights back for Daredevil, so it’s not impossible to see him in the roster of a future Avengers movie, though I’m not seeing it happening in Avengers 2.  I have no problem with Ben Afleck returning to the role at all.  He still actually looks young and fit for playing Matt Murdock.   

7.) MS. MARVELCAPTAIN MARVEL

 

Carol Danvers (who has been more popularly known as Ms. Marvel but has recently decided to take the legacy of Captain Marvel by adopting it as her superhero codename) is one of the strongest and most popular female Avengers characters.  It seems that as Ms. Marvel, she was more popular than her male counterpart, Captain Marvel, that Marvel decided to give the “Captain Marvel” name to her instead.  She had been a popular mainstay in the Avengers for years and even had been a leader of an Avengers team.  Still, she is no “Wonder Woman” of the Marvel Universe.  There are several female characters more iconic than her despite her name being similar to the company name.  I have no problem, and in fact like the idea, if Marvel plans to make her the “Wonder Woman” of the Marvel Universe.  And what better way to increase her prominence than by making her shine in an Avengersmovie?   

Also, I like it whenever she and Spider-Man team up.  Their chemistry is perfect.  I like them being a pseudo-couple.  However, I don’t like them to become an actual couple (#Pete&MJForever!), but the romantic tension between them is a lot of fun (the only good thing brought by the events of the hated “One More Day” storyline). 

Would love to see such sequences at the side in an Avengers movie (but very very unlikely to happen)

6.) RED HULK

 

As one of the best “villain-to-hero” characters in my book, it would sure give me a lot of delight if he’ll be included in the next Avengersmovie.  Red Hulk, unlike the Hulk, has a brilliant calculative mind. I already pointed out before that Red Hulk is a better Avenger asset than the Hulk (and he can even lead the team) because of having military experience and retaining his intelligence in Hulk form.  Thus, he is a dangerous combination of brains and brawns.  Moreover, he has heat emitting powers which increases with his rage, as well as the ability to absorb the powers of others. 

In my article on how I want Marvel Studios to proceed with the next Avengers movies, I want Red Hulk to be the villain in Incredible Hulk 2 and then redeem himself by joining the Avengers in Avengers 2.  Two Hulks fighting together side-by-side, Red Hulk being put into position to play point for the Avengers team, and the gritty Sam Elliot or William Hurt (both are OK, but the former is better) reprising his role as General Thunderbolt Ross – wouldn’t it be awesome to see these things in the big screen?

5.) DR. STRANGE

In a lineup consisting of superheroes that mostly got their abilities from science, it would be fun to have another hero that has powers from magical origins aside from Thor.   And what other choice of such character is more perfect than the Sorcerer Supreme himself?  With the powerful and supernatural Dr. Strange in the roster, the Avengers’ might becomes more diverse and increases significantly.  

 

4.) LUKE CAGE

In the movies I’ve mentioned in the past that I want to be made for Phase 3, Heroes for Hire is one of the most necessary catalysts for another Avengersmovie.  The Heroes for Hire line-up can consist of Luke Cage, Iron Fist (preferably played by Jason Statham), Shang-Chi, and Moon Knight (a badass Batman-like character, but literary crazier) who can be used for the final two Avengers movies (New Avengers and Secret Avengers), as per my MCU Phase 3 fantasy.   

But the most important among them is Luke Cage.  If there’s only room enough for just one of the Heroes for Hire heroes, the roster slot should go to Luke Cage.  What is unique about this hero is not his powers (super strength, bullet proof) but by being a realistic hero (he even has no real costume) and the toughening and street smarts brought to him by being the stereotypical black man that grew up in the streets.  

And it is very very imperative (at least, for me) that Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson should play him.  

Just look at him, he’s perfect for the character!

3.) VENOM

As my most favorite former villain-turned-hero, unlikely as it may be, I really, really want him to be in that Secret Avengers film I fantasize about.

 

  

Who wouldn’t want to see this kind of stuff in the big screen?

2.) WOLVERINE

 

Again, this is highly improbable with 20^th Century Fox owning the movie rights to Wolverine.  But if Marvel is able to reach some deal with Fox to use Wolverine, and especially Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, that would be a mindblowing coup!!!

But more mindblowing if it’s…

1.) SPIDER-MAN

Fans would go crazy if Sony/Columbia allows Marvel Studios to use Spidey in an Avengers movie.  I, for one, Spidey being my most favorite comic book character, would be more than ecstatic!  The two studios would definitely create tons of money if they decide to feed on each other’s properties.  Everybody wins (except DC) if this happens. 

Nonetheless, it’s still a matter of money.  Sony/Columbia might ask too much.  Marvel Studios might not be ready to give much, considering they know they can replicate the success of The Avengers even without a premium property like Spider-Man (which is a refreshed property, as well, thanks to the successful reboot). 

This happening, as of now, is improbable.  But it’s not impossible.  For now, all I can do is wait… and dream.   

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