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About the PCU

Back in 1989, the Valley Comics Update started. We were pretty small. I think our first issue had about a 100 readers, and was placed in 10 stores up and down California's Central Valley. Over the next few years, we worked hard to be accepted as an independent paper, filled with news of the comics industry and how it pertained to the Central Valley of Calfiornia.

Our goal was to offer honest reviews of Comic Books and Science Fiction. No more of this huge, full color ad and two pages later a rave review about a book filled with bad art and truly rotten story telling. Yes, we were a pain in the behind.

But, oddly enough, most of the professional and companies we worked with liked what we offered. We never kissed butt. We never tried to sell out.

And we worked with some truly great people; folks like Stan Lee offered us advice and let us interview him more then once. Kevin Eastman gave us some guidance and an interview... Don Thompson, Dan Brereton, Darick Robertson, Reggie Bannister, and a bunch of other, and had some success. In fact, we grew so much over the next few years that we had to change our name to the Pacific Comics Update, and we branched out to the entire area of the West Coast.

By that time, we were looking at close to 20,000 readers, in around 50 locations in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. We did so well, in fact, that several of our articles and editorials were reprinted in a couple of industry papers, both with Eclipse and Tundra.

We kept growing. By now, we had changed our name to the Pacific Comics Update, and moved into even more states, including New York, North Carolina and Massachutes, where we were still distributed free in shops. We also had readers in 3 countries other then the US; Germany, the UK and Japan.

Finally, we reached a bust. We always worked on a shoe string. We charged just enough for advertising to pay printing costs, and most of the postage. And one day we ran a review of a new comic. The publisher of the book had been a major advertiser with us for quite a while. And since the review did not praise his work and suggest to others to go out and purchase multiple copies, he pulled his advertising business away from us.

I have to admit, that hurt us. At the time, we were going out to over 45,000 readers. And, in all that time, over 4 years, we had never been late once. That was a nice accomplishment in itself.

Over the next couple of years, we tried a lot of different avenues. Computers, branched more into movies and videos, and finally in about 199, we moved onto the World Wide Web. Our first server went out of business. It happens. Our second server was AOL, and we were asked to leave them. Yes, the PCU was tossed off of AOL. Still not real broke up over that one.

Like I said, we changed our name to Pacific Comics Update, but ran into some friendly difficulties with a Comic Book company with a name much like ours. So, we again changed ours, this time hopefully coming to a full rest.

We are now the PCU, Penguin Comics Unlimited... and we still will strive to be an honest newspaper, for the fans. One where you can come to learn about different Comics, and various movies. Where you will be able to read interviews with some of the best talent in the Comic and Science Fiction industry.

We have been involved in educating school kids about Comic Books, doing guest appearances in class rooms, talking about Child Abuse and how to prevent it, and how kids can use Comic Books to deal with abuse. We have been involved in donations of Comic Books to charities and military personel overseas; with placing Comic Books in public libraries throught the state of California.

Lets face it... I love Comic Books. And the PCU is first and foremost a Comic Book fanzine. It has been a long strange trip. I hope the next 12 years are as fun as the last have been.

Our Goal

We plan to discuss comics, both past and present, which catch our interest. Comics, Science fiction, Horror, Fantasy and Mass Market reviews are are a mainstay of the PCU. We pride ourselves on giving honest reviews; our own feelings, not colored by friendship, personal interest or other influences. Comic reviews have been with large companies such as Marvel and DC, and independents such as Boneyard Press, Bone, Quality Comics, and many others.

About Me

I am Larry Stanley, the Ultimate Fanboy. Not just an average fanboy, but the Ultimate FanBoy. The title was given to me before I ever started the PCU, by former retailer Randall Heibert in Manteca, CA. It was backed up at a dinner in San Diego a few years later by a couple of people I have always respected after a trivia contest.

I have been reading Comic Books since I was 9 years old. The first one I ever read was Amazing Spiderman # 17, the second appearance of the Green Goblin. Since then, I have been a fan of the industry.

I love Comic Books. From Archie to Superman; from Punisher to Preacher, I will always love and support this business and hobby.

Right now, I am trying to build up my Superman Family collection, adding to it almost daily. I collect the issues in just about any condition, since I read everyone of them I get. Which really drives some retailers crazy at Comic shows. Open up a bag with an issue you just paid $50 for, and watch their face. It is a gas!

I also write reviews of movies for the local theaters in my area, cult films for Cultcuts Magazine on the Web and will be offering some stuff to Divine Exploitation, another fanzine by Douglas Waltz. Look for links to these sites and more in our link section.

I am trying to publish my own comics, which will continue when I have the money. Every year we publish a collection of short horror and Science Fiction stories in anthology form. So far, we have had one. Well, we have to start somewhere.

It is my hope that you will stay for the long ride with us. If you have amateur art, or fiction you would like to see published, let us know. We are always looking for input. Fan letters (pro or con) are appreciated.

So, settle in, grab a soda and get ready for some fun!

TO WRITE TO ME: larrystanley@penguincomics.net