Jason's Gallery: Sprite Edition - Altered Beast: Hulk Style!

Hey Gamers!

With all the sadness and passings we had to deal with, I figure I bring a smile to your faces again. So, as you know, I've been busy a whole lot, not just with planning more blogs (some of the them game reviews), but as doing some artwork, especially perfecting custom made sprite art. Speaking of which, remember that custom sprite sheet of the centurion from Altered Beast turning into the Hulk? Well, I have made a huge leap forward, so to speak. I turned it into a sprite story. And I hope you'll like this one. This story takes place after Altered Beast ended. So, enjoy the story, as we talk about the story of Altered Beast: Hulk Style!

A long time ago, where mythology was real. The demon god, Neff, usurped his former master, Hades, and took over the Underworld. To achieve his goal of total dominance in the mortal world, Neff declared war on both humanity and the gods of Mount Olympus. Zeus, the King of the Gods, sense what evil Neff possesses, assembles an army, led by his daughter, the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, and headed to the Underworld to stop Neff's army of monsters. Despite the greater numbers, Neff's monsters overpowered the warriors, and in turn, captured Athena. Neff threatens to harm the goddess unless Zeus backs away, which he did. With no other option, Zeus uses his power to revive a fallen Grecian Spartan warrior named Gerrick to save his daughter. Zeus not only revived the brave Spartan, but fused him with the powers of the Altered Beast to combat Neff and his legions of the Underworld.

Using the powers of the beasts, Gerrick traveled from the Acropolis, all the way to the Underworld itself, battling Neff's four guardian monsters along the way.

In Dis, the City of the Dead, by combining the power of the other beasts, Gerrick changes into the all-powerful Golden Werewolf and fights Neff, who reveals his ultimate form, the armored rhinoceros known as Van Vader and saves Athena, who Neff turned into a dove, as insurance to secure his place as Olympus' new ruler. Neff was strong, but he is no match for the full power of the Altered Beast!

Free from Neff's spell, Athena was saved and returned to mortal world, thanks to Gerrick. Although a goddess, Athena has fallen from the brave and noble beast warrior. As Zeus watches on, he knows that the mortal world and Olympus is well protected, knowing that Neff will never return...or does he?

Although defeated, Neff wasn't destroyed, for he returned to his palace in the Underworld. Enraged by the beast warrior Gerrick, Neff conducts a plan to use the Spartan's own beast powers to his advantage.

Sending his fiercest creatures from the Underworld, Neff captures the near-helpless Gerrick, as he watches on as his minions torture him before sending him to the Underworld as his prisoner.

Using his black magic, Neff ensnares Gerrick and through the gasses of the Underworld, puts his plans in motion, as he turns the Spartan into his own creature. A creature of pure destruction and rage, guaranteeing the conquering of Mount Olympus.

Feeling helpless and losing all control due to Neff's sorcery, Gerrick's blue eyes changed into whitish green eyes, as the metamorphosis begins. 

Loosing control and given to his primitive instincts, as his adrenaline and anger levels go up, Gerrick's muscle mass starts growing, almost in the same manner when he absorbs the Spirit Balls, except for his size and muscles grows almost like that of a giant, his facial details change into something subhuman and his skin color changes green, almost the same color as the gasses in the Underworld. As he changed, his voice pitched changed lower as his roared in pain. Afterwards, Gerrick has been transformed into a giant, green subhuman monster, capable of mass destruction. Neff has created something so inhuman. Thus, the Centurion Hulk is born!

Neff has created his creature, thinking that it will help him gain control of Mount Olympus and rule all life, human and god alike. However, even though he is a Hulk now, Gerrick, despite his subhuman primitive nature, remembers everything, and rebels against the demon god, as he grabs him and threatens him. Knowing he is outnumbered, the Centurion Hulk  escapes the Underworld, to evade Neff's minions.

Busting a hole through the ground, the Centurion Hulk bursts through and back to the surface of the place where Gerrick's adventure began, the Acropolis.

Feeling exhausted after what Neff put him through, the Centurion Hulk breathes heavily and collapses to the ground. 

As the Centurion Hulk was motionless when unconscious, his anger and rage subside and reverts back into his human form. As he comes to, Gerrick, wearing nothing but his briefs and has no memory of what happened, goes into hiding (and finding a new set of clothes). Little that he doesn't know, a familiar looking dove has seen what has transpired, and watches the confused centurion closely. 

Enraged by his rogue creature rebelling against him, Neff sends his top subordinates to go after the Centurion Hulk.

As Gerrick struggles to find the answers he seeks (and after consulting to Zeus about what happened), he was confronted by Neff's elite warriors. Under the demon god's orders, they want to bring him back to the Underworld, no matter what it takes.

With no hesitation, Grave Master orders Rad Boar to bring Gerrick back to the Underworld, by force. For being the strongest warriors, Neff's minions are not to bright either, for they forgot one thing, Gerrick is not who is now, thanks to their master.

All that attack did was trigger Gerrick's transformation. Through severe pain, anger and adrenaline, Gerrick's size and muscle mass grows. As he changes, his clothes burst out of their seams and his boots imploded, revealing the green skinned muscle mass that is worthy of a god, for the Centurion Hulk has come out from the other side.

With a huge, hard clap from his hands, the Centurion Hulk delivered a powerful shockwave, sending Neff's loyal minions flying.

Fearing for his life and knowing that Neff will endanger everyone if he stays in the surface, the Centurion Hulk smashes the ground, opening it up and heads back to the Underworld for safety.

With so much brute strength, the Centurion Hulk busts through ground as he continues to go down pass the deep caverns until he is within the Underworld, where no one could find him, not even Neff himself. What kind of person wants to be around a giant, green-skinned creature in this world, or any world for that matter?

Deep in the dark swamp in the Underworld, the very dove that was watching over Gerrick has followed suit. And when the dove landed on the ground, it transformed, in an instant, into a beautiful maiden, who turned out to be the daughter of Zeus and the Goddess of Wisdom herself, Athena. Even though she is no longer cursed by Neff, being the goddess that she is, Athena gained the ability to change into a dove at will. Zeus sent her to find Gerrick and to see what has happened to the wandering centurion.

As Athena slowly approaches through the trees, the Centurion Hulk emerges from the trees. Frightened at the creature at first, she sense the very human from within and realized that subhuman creature is Gerrick. As Athena questions him about it, with so much limit speech due to his primitive nature, the Centurion Hulk tries to explain to the goddess about what has happened.

Feeling bad for the subhuman creature, Athena attempt to comfort the Centurion Hulk, who is really Gerrick.

Just as they were starting to have an intimate moment together, their romance was interrupted by more of Neff's monsters, including Neff's pet Cerberus, which he grew giant sized by his black magic. The Centurion Hulk put Athena behind a nearby rock for safety. And his calm nature was replaced with a rage of a subhuman creature, as he went after Neff's monsters. Although they outnumbered him, they are no match for this Hulk's strength and durability.

As the Centurion Hulk continues fighting the other monsters, Neff used this opportunity to capture Athena and uses her as bait to lure his creation back to his Underworld kingdom.

Although victorious, the Centurion Hulk looked around for Athena. Though subhuman in nature, the creature realized that this attack was a distraction by Neff to capture the goddess. The Centurion Hulk roars to the heavens, knowing that his beloved was captured once more.

Fueled by rage and his strong love for Athena, the Centurion Hulk decided to take it to Neff and his evil forces, as he breaks through the Underworld Palace with such force.

Not even zombies like Slow Feet are no match for this rage-filled creature. Nothing but cannon-fodder to this determined Hulk, as the Grave Master watches on.

Grave Master defiantly stands his ground for his master. But the Centurion Hulk has other ideas, as he, with great strength that matches the likes of Hercules, lifts up the pillar of Neff's palace, as he prepares to smash the Grave Master into the ground until relents and tells him where Neff and Athena are.

Arriving at the city of Dis, also known as the City of the Dead, the Centurion Hulk roars at the heavens, as he is surrounded by more of Neff's minions, knowing that they are protecting their master.

The other subordinates to Neff stand their ground. And yet, judging from Gory Goat's expression, they are doomed. Not even the powerful Rad Boar, tonfas and all, didn't stand a chance, none of Neff's monsters do. This Hulk will not stop until Neff is destroyed and Athena is saved.

And just like that, Neff's forces were easily destroyed. Now nothing will come between the Centurion Hulk and freeing Athena from Neff's wrath.

With no army left, the Centurion Hulk comes face to face with the demon god himself. As the green-skinned creature grunts and growls as he prepares to smash him, Neff taunts him by revealing to him the captured Athena, all tattered and trapped in his energy barrier, ensuring that she will be harmed if he gets harmed.

Neff, feeling confident, decides to use the creature's own strength against him.

As Neff absorbed the Centurion Hulk's power, the smoke engulfs the demon god as he transforms. And as the some cleared out, Neff re-emerges as his ultimate form, the armored rhinoceros, Van Vader. But unlike last time, since he siphons Hulk's strength, he has become more bigger and even more stronger than before.

Despite being weakened, and dealing with an overpowered Van Vader Neff, the Centurion Hulk, with all the strength from his heart and for his love for Athena, rises up and stands toe-to-toe against the demon god.

As the two giant titans clashed, the corresponding blow from both their punches sets the scantily-clad Athena free from her imprisonment.  Although the goddess was free, she stands helpless to watch as the enraged Neff absorbs whatever energy left from the Centurion Hulk, further empowering him.

With so much energy absorbed, Neff's ultimate form has become more powerful, for his Van Vader form has become part-Hulk. Gerrick, who is no longer a Hulk, feels weak and can't do anything. Athena, with all of her magic, summons spirit balls to help the weaken centurion.

As the Spirit Balls slowly descend towards Gerrick, his muscle mass grows, as the balls, containing the essences of the 4 beasts that aided him long ago, begin to fuse him.

As the Spirit Balls merged within Gerrick, combined with the spirit of the 4 beasts, he emerges as the all-powerful Golden Werewolf, as he howls with such ferocity.

As Athena prays to the gods to protect him, Gerrick, who is all Golden Werewolf now, fights off the fully-powered Van Vader Hulk Neff. As strong as Neff is, he is no match for a fast, crafty and resourceful werewolf, with all the powers of the 4 beasts combined.

Combining all the powers of all the beasts, Gerrick delivers the final blow against Neff. The explosions reign around Neff, as the demon god meets his ultimate defeat.

With Neff weakened, on the verge of death, the feral Gerrick confronts the demon god, as he weeps on his knees.

With Neff no longer among the living, Athena is free once more, as she embraces her savior.

Later, at Mount Olympus, Gerrick and Athena are spending some time together, while embracing the new statue that was forged alongside the other beasts.

As Zeus watches on, he knows that both worlds, human and god alike, are in good hands. No telling what happens next. Until that day comes, the entire mortal world can breathe a sight of relief...for now.

Ballad of the Guardian of Courage and the Rat Sensei! - RIP Emi Shinohara and Peter Renaday

This just in (and I don't like it, either).

No sooner after the passing of Sid Eudy, Rachael Lillis, and especially James Earl Jones, we get a one-two gut punch, especially around September 11th of all days. Emi Shinohara and Peter Renaday have passed away on September 8th, 2024. They were 61 and 89 years old respectively. 

Emi Shinohara, was a Japanese seiyu or Japanese voice actress, who did such characters as Kaho Mizuki from Cardcaptor Sakura, Kagero from Ninja Scroll, Kushina Uzumaki from Naruto and our most importantly, the original Japanese of Makoto Kino aka Sailor Jupiter from the original Sailor Moon anime, who inspired the likes of Susan Roman and Amanda Miller to voice the character in their respective English dubs. She was also married to actor Hiroshi Watari, who starred in the Metal Heroes shows, Space Sheriff Sharivan and Jikuu Senshi Spielban. Shinohara died a month after her birthday, due to an unspecified illness (God forbid it's cancer). And you think that's heartbreaking enough? Let me talk about the guy in question next.

Peter Renaday, was an voice actor, best known for such characters as Abraham Lincoln in multiple episodes from shows like Animaniacs, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and Evil Con Carne, Mandrake the Magician from Defenders of the Earth, Master Blaster from Kidd Video, and most of all, did two characters in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not only Vernon Fenwick, one of April O'Neil's co-workers at Channel 6 News, but most importantly, Hamato Yoshi aka Splinter, the Turtles rat sensei. My favorite Splinter moment was, and always will be, doing the "Cur-Lee" Maneuver on Shredder in the episode, Blast from the Past. Wise and funny to the last. Renaday died, two days after his birthday, of natural causes and the remaining TMNT voice cast, including Townsend Coleman (Michelangelo) gave their heart-filled tribute to the man who brought the rat sensei to life, even though he is one of many versions of Splinter, but that's another story.

On a personal note, it saddens me that we lose a part of our childhood and always remember the good they have done for us, knowing that they will never truly be gone. However, what makes me mad is the fact that the news media and Screen Actors Guild continues to treat voice actors like second class citizens, thinking that they are not as famous as all the actors and other famous people combined, especially sports athletes. Look, voice actors may not look the part, and may not look glamorous like the other actors, but they are more talented than you look. No matter how they sound, whether it's high-pitched, low baritone, squeaky, dark and brood, or even normal, but with more emotions, voice actors as a whole deserves a lot more than emotion alone. This is why I slap on the hashtag, #RespectVoiceActors, it is not just a hashtag, it is a rallying cry. A rallying cry to show the media and SAG that voice actors deserve to be acknowledged and have the respect they so rightfully deserve. This crime of ignorance will not go unpunished. For the sake of those who passed away, we will fight on, and voice actors will one day finally be acknowledged.

Until next time, and Godspeed to our Sailor Guardian of Thundering Courage and rat sensei of the Turtles. Thank you for all the memories. Be at peace.

(TAPS play)

Emi Shinohara-Watanabe
(August 8th, 1963 - September 8th, 2024)

 Peter Renaday
(September 6th, 1935 - September 8th, 2024)

This has been a Retro Rebellion Special Report (Please, no more!)

One with The Force and a part of the Circle of Life - RIP James Earl Jones

This just in.

James Earl Jones, one of the most recognizable names in acting, and one of the most deepest voices in all media, has died on September 9th, 2024. He was 93 years old.

Other than Thulsa Doom in Conan The Barbarian, Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams, and King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America, Jones was best known for the three best known voices. The original voice over announcer for CNN, the voice of Mufasa from The Lion King and most of all, the voice of Darth Vader from the original Star Wars Trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, Star Wars Rebels and so forth. 

No word on how he died, but more information will come in a few days. Until then, to quote the man himself...

This is indeed a disturbing universe.

He will be missed, for he is one with the Force and a part of the Circle of Life now. Godspeed good sir, and May the Force be with you.

(TAPS play)

James Earl Jones

(January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024)

This has been a Retro Rebellion Special Report

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Jones