PU@PUzine.com

Greetings all you ghouls and fools to www.PUzine.com! Our motto here at good ol' PU is that if it's Underground and in Pittsburgh - WE DIG IT!!!

Check back periodically for new articles, links, artwork, and more for all things in the Pittsburgh Underground! You can follow us on our Official Facebook Page, Dead Zed Zombie Twitter Page, and PU Youtube Channel as well and don't forget to Like Us, Subscribe, and shoot us the occasional email at PU@PUzine.com or comment - we always love to hear from our minions!

Also, don't forget that if you have a kitschy, kooky, and ooky event here (or near) the Pittsburgh area and want us to get the word out with ALL the details (a few weeks in advance please) and we'll do our best to spread the word. Until then...

Stay Smokin,
Hot-Toddy
Co-Founder / Pittsburgh Underground

Monday, October 29, 2018

Announcement: Tree of Life Synagogue Tragedy & How To Help

The gang at Pittsburgh Underground wanted to express our profound sorrow and support for the eleven people, their families, and our Jewish community that was effected by the shooting over the weekend at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday.

To say that we are all heartbroken would be an understatement. In Pittsburgh we are all privileged to be a part of a diverse community of neighbors, friends, and loved ones who come together in times both times of joy, but also in times of tragedy like this one.

Pittsburgh’s own Fred Rogers always said in times like these that we should ‘look for the helpers’. With that said, a GoFundMe page for Tree of Life Synagogue Victims has been established by Shay Khatiri,  an international student and a political refugee from Iran attending Arizona State University majoring on Political Science and U.S. History. 

We can’t thank Shay enough for his thoughtfulness, generosity, and glowing example that no matter where you are from or what your religious or political beliefs we are all part of the same community. 

Also, our amazing Pittsburgh Penguins will also be collecting donations during the game scheduled for Tuesday night. Those fans who can’t attend and would still like to donate can do so at treeoflife.givesmart.com .

A huge thanks to everyone that rushed to the scene of this tragedy and continue to go about their appointed duties and power through the pain - from first responders, our local reporters, and of course our amazing Pittsburgh community that has come together stronger than ever during this sad time.

Our hearts and prayers are with our dear friends in Squirrel Hill. You are a part of us and the gang from Pittsburgh Underground and our entire community loves you now and always.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Movies That Have Everything: 50th Anniversary Celebration of Night of the Living Dead THIS SATURDAY!!!

They’re coming to get you Barbara... At the Byham Theater (101 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 / 412 456 6666) this Saturday for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead!

Believe it or not, this Pittsburgh original was first shown at the Byham Theater, or the Fulton as it was known 50 years ago, bringing the zombie genre into the hearts and bones of horror fans! The fun begins on the red carpet starting at 7PM, the show starts at 8PM, and the film at 9:30 PM with tickets starting at $50.00 (you can get your tickets here).

Being that this is the 50th anniversary of the one that started it all there will be a live presentation from cast and crew before the 4K state-of-the-art restoration created by the Museum of Modern Art from the original camera negative (and supervised by George himself) rises from it’s grave and onto the silver screen for all to enjoy. 

Chairman of the Pittsburgh Film Office, Russ Streiner (also known as Barbara’s ill-fated brother Johnny in the film) will be there along with Barbara herself, Judith O’Dea along with other cast and crew.
Zombies Infest the Byham Theater!

Zombies have already been spotted in full makeup lumbering on Sixth Street this past Monday for ‘Romero Lives’ event to honor the father of American zombie films, George Romero, as his widow took center stage to speak for her late husband.

“I walked down the street and saw it on the marquee and I got so emotional, but you know it’s important that we remember him but it’s also important that we go forward and that we have a future,” said George Romero’s widow, Suzanne Desrocher Romero. “We’ve got our foundation. We are working very hard to support genre, support filmmakers, and independent filmmakers.” 

The 50th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead is a one night only event at the Byham Theater this Saturday so crawl out of your grave and join the ghoulish good time!

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Announcement: Zombie Den: Bar of the Living Dead Opens TODAY!!!

Greetings all you ghouls and fools! After a bit of a break, we’re back for our favorite time of year HALLOWEEN!!! To start off the month of monestrous mayhem the gang at ScareHouse will be opening a pop up bar for all Pittsburgher's looking for a place of refuge for the impending zombie plague!

Zombie Den: Bar of the Living Dead opens today at 4PM in The Original Oyster House in Market Square and continues every Wednesday through Sunday from 7PM to Midnight till November 3rd!


Zombie Den: Bar of the Living Dead at the Original Oyster House

Paying homage to Pittsburgh’s 50th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead created and filmed by the father of all zombies, George Romero, in and around Pittsburgh with some scenes shot in the basement of the Original Oyster House. Patrons will enter a bunker-like environment resembling a ‘safe house’ during a typical Pittsburgh zombie outbreak staffed by a band of ‘survivors’ who will add ‘splashes of color and whimsey to the dread’.
They're Coming To Get You Barbra!

Joining ScareHouse on the project are the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Original Oyster House, and veteran food and beverage experts Michael McCoy and Brian Laing.



For more info on all the creepy fun check out the Zombie Den Official Website or follow on their Instagram and Facebook pages. Also, don’t forget to check out ScareHouse as their season of screams is in full spooky swing!

WEIRD WEDNESDAY BONUS!!! Check out George Romero's Night of the Living Dead to get you in the mood for the macabre month to come!\


George Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968; Image Ten Productions)

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Movies That Have Everything: Ant-Man and the Wasp STARTS FRIDAY!!!

We’ve made it through another way-to-hot week and luckily we have an excuse to hide in a cool theater this weekend as Ant-man and the Wasp hit the big screen this Friday! Check out the trailer below.


Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018 Trailer / Marvel / Walt Disney Pictures)

To say Ant-man and the Wasp are two of our favorite heroes in the MCU would be an understatement. They surprised everyone in 2015 with their first breakout hit and the fun continues in this followup as Scott Lang / Ant-man (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne / Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) team up with original Ant-man Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War. 

Things aren’t going well for Scott Lang or his team as he’s now under house arrest after helping Captain America fight Iron Man and his band of misguided heroes during the events of Civil War. To make matters worse, Hank and Hope are both in hiding as they conduct further experiments into the quantum realm in an attempt to find Hope’s mom and original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) who had gone missing after shrinking to subatomic levels in a team up with Hank Pym years prior to the events of both Ant-man movies. 

Lots of old friends return as well as new ones including Scott’s old partner in crime Luis (Michael Peña), Scott’s daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), his ex Maggie (Judy Greer), and her policeman husband Paxton (Bobby Cannavale)
Laurence Fishburne / Dr. Bill Foster aka Black Goliath aka Giant-Man

New to the series is Laurence Fishburne who plays one of Hank’s old colleagues Dr. Bill Foster or as some would know him in the comics, Black Goliath aka Giant-Man along with new gender-bending take on villain the Ghost portrayed by Hannah John-Kamen.
1st Appearance of The Ghost / Iron Man #219 / Marvel Comics

Although in the Ghost in the comics (created by David Michelinie and Bob Layton for Iron Man #219 back in June of 1987) was always portrayed as a mysterious male figure, the movie's creative team didn’t feel that the character’s gender was relevant to his/her portrayal since no ‘identity’ is ever revealed in the books.
Hannah John-Kamen as The Ghost


What is know about the Ghost is that the character created a battlesuit that would allow him to turn himself or any object he touches invisible or intangible (just not at the same time). Also known as an expert computer hacker, the Ghost is a formidable foe in the comics, but in this version is considered a ‘villain’ because her attempts at survival clash with those of our heroes. As to what those goals are is yet to be seen (and since we want to be a surprised as you we aren’t hunting down spoilers either). 

So if you can’t take the heat fly to your local theater to cool down for a hot adventure as Ant-Man and the Wasp continues the fun this Friday!

Monday, June 25, 2018

Artsy Fartsy: Rob Rogers Continues to Cartoon - Here's Where You Can Find Him!

Rob Rogers - Pittsburgh Political Cartoonist

For all of you folks who are missing your daily dose of Pittsburgh political cartoonist Rob Rogers - never fear! An agreement has been made between Rob Rogers’ syndication group and new alternative weekly, the Pittsburgh Current to begin running his cartoons.

This is great news for all of us who really rely on Rob’s amazing work to cheer us up in this day an age where comedy feels like it’s in short supply (unless count the hilarious state of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rob Rogers’ former employer, who’s diminishing subscription rates keep plummeting on a daily basis - now that’s comedy)!

Far From the Border / Rob Rogers (Andrews McMeel Syndicate © 2018)

The Pittsburgh Current is both a print and online publication started by former Editor Charlie Deitch and former Marketing Director Bethany Ruhe of the Pittsburgh City Paper, both who had their own similar experiences of drama by their former employers due to their critical coverage of conservative candidates. You can read more about that story in an article by Pittsburgh Next.

Rob Rogers can also be supported on his own Patreon page with a number of ways that not only help Rob Rogers in his cartooning endeavors, but also provide all kinds of goodies to those that pony up a few dollars in order to keep the laughs coming. 

Separated / Rob Rogers (Andrews McMeel Syndicate © 2018)

So don’t forget to check out the Pittsburgh Current,  Rob Rogers’ at Patreon, and as always at Rob Rogers.com for more fun from Pittsburgh’s greatest political cartoonist Rob Rogers. 

Friday, June 15, 2018

PU It Stinks: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fires Political Cartoonist Rob Rogers

The gang here at Pittsburgh Underground really do our best to try to stay out of the political arena for more reasons than we can count, but mainly because it’s just plain ugly. We’re a pop culture website first and foremost, however, on rare occasion even we can’t turn a blind eye to injustices done, especially in the city we love so dearly.

It was announced today that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has fired long time political cartoonist and friend of good ol' PU, Rob Rogers. To say that we were completely floored by this news would be an understatement, especially due to the content of this man’s character -  incredibly good natured, generous, brilliantly talented, and a consummate professional. To say that we were lucky enough to get to know Rob in various ‘cartooning’ social circles throughout the years has been a true joy which is why the news of this firing came as such a shock.


Melting / Rob Rogers 2018

We live in an age where media reports on ‘men’ being fired due to sexual misconduct, corruption, and other nefarious acts seem to be fairly (if not sadly) commonplace, making it a lot harder on the rest of us that are just trying to lead decent lives in the best way we can. That’s why news of this announcement didn’t make sense. Rob Roger’s is a stand up guy who sheds light on incredibly tough subjects in a light hearted and creative way that (provided you have a sense of humor) can be enjoyed no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall under. 


Summit / Rob Rogers 2018

So if Rob Rogers didn’t get fired for being a lout, and he wasn’t stealing work supplies in order to cartoon, and his work has stood the test of time for a whooping 25 years as a valued employee of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette then what happened? 


In a nutshell, the once ‘liberal’ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been poisoned from the inside out with Trump supporting owners and editors that rejected 19 of his ideas and cartoons since March 2018 due to ‘political differences’. Check out this interview with Rob Rogers on CNN.



Rob Rogers Addresses Firing From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / CNN 2018

Rob had stated that he was willing to cooperate with the publishers ‘to a degree’, but he wouldn’t draw cartoons he disagreed with. In essence, Rob Rogers was fired over his right to free speech which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt is no longer valued by the owners or editors at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


Good Guy With A Gun / Rob Rogers 2018

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists recently issued a statement linking Rogers' situation to "the recent arrival of a Trump-supporting editorial page editor." 

Mayor Bill Peduto was recently quoted in a statement in response to the firing of Rob Rogers:

"The move today by the leadership of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to fire Rob Rogers after he drew a series of cartoons critical of President Trump is disappointing, and sends the wrong message about press freedoms in a time when they are under siege.

This is precisely the time when the constitutionally-protected free press – including critics like Rob Rogers – should be celebrated and supported, and not fired for doing their jobs. This decision, just one day after the President of the United States said the news media is 'Our Country's biggest enemy,' sets a low standard in the 232-year history of the newspaper.


I've known Rob a long time. That has never stopped him from publishing cartoons that are critical of me, of my policy positions, or of my actions (or inactions) in office. He's even made fun of my weight. But he is one of the best in the world at his time-honored craft, and I know people of all political persuasions stand with me in support of him, even if the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette regrettably does not."


The culprit behind this latest misstep from the PG is Keith Burris who became the paper’s editorial director in March. Oddly, neither Burris nor conservative owner John Block has commented on the firing of Rob Rogers. Oddly,  in an article Burris posted in April 2018 on ‘A primer on opinion writing’ states that his ‘job’ as an opinion writer ‘should not pretend to play investigative reporters or sleuths. Their job is not to report the news, but to help readers make sense of the news and the world we live in. This is not a slight responsibility’. 

If an ‘opinion writer’ is to help make sense of the news and the world we live in, then why can’t he explain why they would fire Rob Rogers, who’s talent for ‘helping make sense of the news and the world we live in’ was evident in his political cartoons that were a staple of the Post-Gazette for the last two and a half decades? Maybe there’s only room for one guy to ‘explain the world we live in’ at the Post-Gazette, and that man is Burris. 

Our ‘opinion’ here at Pittsburgh Underground is that the move to fire a well received and established visual artist looks a lot like jealousy for a guy in a position of power that can write his opinions without a care in the world, but when someone who can do the same thing in not only an amusing way, but also a visual one crosses his path he does the only thing he can - get rid of his perceived rival. The act of a very small man indeed.

Publisher, editor-in-cheif, John Block has had controversy surrounding him at the beginning of this year as well due to an editorial that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and it’s sister paper The Blade of Toledo Ohio were forced to run on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the goal of the piece to provide cover for and support of Donald Trump’s bemoaning that Haiti and African countries were “shithole” places of origin for many immigrants to America. “Calling someone a racist is the new McCarthyism,” the editorial opined. “Calling the president a racist helps no one—it is simply another way (the Russia and instability cards having been played unsuccessfully) to attempt to delegitimize a legitimately elected president.” And, it asserted, “There are nations that are hellholes … It is not racist to say that this country cannot take only the worst people from the worst places.”

Block, a strong Trump supporter, demanded that the piece run in both newspapers to the dread of the employees for both newspapers. Michael A. Fuoco, an enterprise reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh/CWA 38061 wrote an article about this debacle stating that ‘In the end, we decided to break precedent set during the 84 years of the Guild’s existence at the Post-Gazette and write a letter to the editor decrying an editorial. In the letter, signed by all 11 members of the local’s Executive Committee, we noted that Guild members were “collectively appalled and crestfallen by the repugnant editorial ‘Reason as Racism’”. You can read the full article here.

Immigrant Children / Rob Rogers 2018

With controversies that keep mounting from the owners of the floundering Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the firing of Rob Rogers should be the final straw for anyone  who values freedom of expression. When twelve people at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo died in 2015 for depicting Muhammad in cartoons it published they didn’t stop them from continuing on because they understood the value of this freedom. You may not always agree with what’s being said, but without continuing on with this type of expression we can’t grow as people to work out our differences or at a bare minimum, find some common ground. 


Sensitivity Training / Rob Rogers 2018

It’s a sad state of affairs when a 231 year old institution like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette falls so hard due to the failings of the wrong people in positions of power. The firing of political cartoonist Rob Rogers was the final shot. As far as Pittsburgh Underground is concerned... this means war. Free speech is no longer valued at the PG as it’s conservative minded owners and editors are interested in only one thing - spreading their own political agenda. This is the type of thing we were all warned about in any political science class that we attended throughout our formative years as we were warned that suppressing the free press is not only how dictatorships get started, but It truly undermines our democracy. 

We hear about the ‘undermining of our democracy’ a lot lately and it’s usually from people screaming it at the top of their lungs from both sides of the aisle. Most of us can’t help but flip the channel or turn off the device entirely when it happens. The problem is what do you do when it’s in your own back yard? 

It would be easy enough to say just don’t buy the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette or end your subscription if you value free speech. The thing is, most people still want to know what’s going on in the local news. With that said, Pittsburgh Underground felt it would be best to list some alternatives to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where you can still get everything and more than what the PG can provide, especially now that freedom of speech and expression is no longer a part of their core values which incidentally...


PU IT STINKS!!!

Here's a list of better alternatives to the censorship minded Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

KDKA TV - On the airwaves of Pittsburgh since 1949, you can get the news in real-time.

New Pittsburgh Courier - this Pittsburgh original has been catering to the African American community since 1966. News, sports, entertainment, business, and lots more for everyone!

Next Pittsburgh.coma woman-owned business, is the must-read Pittsburgh publication about the people driving change in our city and the innovative and cool things happening here.

Pittsburgh Current - New alt-weekly publication in both print and web formats by City Paper alums. Features current Rob Rogers' political cartoons!

Public Source / In-depth Stories for a Better Pittsburgh - Public service journalism for a Pittsburgh in need of substance over click-bait. Meaningful stories and inclusive journalism at it's best.


Pittsburgh Gem: Rob Rogers, Political Cartoonist

Also, anyone who needs to get their Rob Rogers fix including some exclusives at Rob's online store, you can visit him at the following links:

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Movies That Have Everything: Incredibles 2 Starts TOMORROW!!!

To say that Friday will be an incredible day would be an understatement! It’s taken an exasperating 14 years to for fans of the original Incredibles to finally get a sequel and tomorrow it’s day is due. Check out the trailer for Incredibles 2 below!


Incredibles 2 (2018 Trailer / Pixar / Walt Disney Pictures)

The entire Parr family is back - Bob / aka Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Helen / aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), their daughter Violet (Sarah Vowell), and sons Dash (Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile). Old friends return as well including Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), Edna Mode (voice by director and creator Brad Bird), Rick Dicker (Jonathan Banks taking over for the late, great Bud Luckey), along with his 'Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul' co-star Bob Odenkirk as Winston Deavor, and even the last villain to show his face in the original - the Underminer (voiced by Cheers alum John Ratzenberger).

So the biggest question on most fan’s minds is what took so long (especially since the sequel picks up three months after Syndrome’s defeat in the first flick). For writer-director Brad Bird, it all came down to story.

Brad Bird, writer and director of The Incredibles and voice of Edna Mode

“The thing is, many sequels are cash grabs,” Bird told reporters during a recent press event to promote Incredibles 2. “There’s a saying in the business that I can’t stand, where they go, ‘if you don’t make another one, you’re leaving money on the table.’ It’s like, money on the table is not what makes me get up in the morning; making something that people are gonna enjoy a hundred years from now, that’s what gets me up. So if it were a cash grab, we would not have taken fourteen years – it makes no financial sense to wait this long – it’s purely [that] we had a story we wanted to tell.”

The original also debuted in 2004 before Disney, Pixar’s parent company, had purchase Marvel Comics who has since flooded the silver screen with a barrage of super hero movies which, as Bird stated, made it feel that it was much harder to tell an original story. 

“On some level, it’s like going out to the football field and there’ve been way too many games on it, and there’s this dried dirt with a few sprigs of grass, and everything’s kind of clunky, and life doesn’t grow there anymore. So there’s that aspect, where you feel like, ‘oh, Jesus, it’s really been covered,’” Bird said. “It makes it very challenging on a story level. Because not only do you have every superhero under the sun and cross-promoting films and blah blah blah blah blah, but you also have a bunch of television shows … So it’s easy to freak out and go, well, why even try? Everybody’s got everything done to death. But I return to, what makes us unique? And it’s this idea of a family, and that superheroes have to hide their abilities [from the public, due to Superhero Relocation Program]. And those things are actually unique to us, and there’s plenty left to explore.”

When it comes to the plot of this new tale, Bird teased that much like in the first film, Incredibles 2 will explore "the roles of men and women; the importance of fathers participating; the importance of allowing women to also express themselves through work, and that they’re just as vital as men are. And there’s aspects of being controlled by screens. There’s feelings about the difficulties of parenthood, that parenting is a heroic act.”

Two of the primary story lines for the sequel happened as Bird was developing the first film. “The two ideas that were in my head as the first movie was ending, like ‘oh, this would be interesting,’ was a role switch between Bob and Helen, and showing Jack-Jack’s powers, and exploring them, and making Jack-Jack a main character rather than a side character,” he explained. “Those were in from the beginning and never left the project. What changed is the villain plot. And that shifted endlessly. And it drove me insane. Because I always was faced with the release date, and if something didn’t work, I couldn’t sit there and try to bang on it. I had to throw it away immediately and go to another idea that solved some of the issues that the first idea didn’t have. So that half of the story was shifting always.”

The gang from good ol’ PU will be hitting the theaters this weekend as Incredibles 2 soars into your local theater tomorrow. As always, don’t  forget to stay incredible!

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Movies That Have Everything: Solo A Star Wars Story STARTS TOMORROW!!!


If you would have told any Star Wars fan back in 1977 that 41 years later that Ron ‘Opie’ Howard would be directing a movie about the adventures of a young Han Solo, his first introduction to his best pal Chewie, and how he swindled the Millennium Falcon from previous owner, Lando Calrissian, you would have been greeted with more disbelief than when you’re ‘friends’ spilled the beans about Vadar being the daddy of our favorite Jedi as revealed in The Empire Strikes back three years later. Well, fast forward to 2018 as Solo: A Star Wars Story premieres on the silver screen in all it’s glory. Check out the trailer below!


Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018 Trailer / Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Pictures)

Taking on the role of a younger, less cynical Han (he has a good feeling about this) is Alden Ehrenreich as our favorite galactic scoundrel in his first adventure with his future first mate, the mighty Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo taking over for the original (and very missed) Chewie, Peter Mayhew. Along the way, they’ll meet the notorious gambler, Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) along with all new characters Qir’ra (Emilia Clarke), L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Val (Thandie Newton), and Beckett (Woody Harrelson) - mentor to the fledgling smuggler. 

Star Wars alum will also make cameos, but in different roles this time around including Anthony Daniels playing Tak, but more famously known for his portrayal of our favorite protocol droid, C3PO. Warwick Davis is also back as Weazel, but appeared in everything from Star Wars Rebels, The Last Jedi, Rogue One, The Force Awakens, The Phantom Menace, and most notably as Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi. Also keep your eyes peeled for Ron Howard’s brother, character actor Clint Howard to make an appearance as a new character named Ralakili.

The gang from good ol’ PU is very excited to see another Star Wars story play out, but centering around one of our favorite characters is only an added bonus (we miss you Han!). Solo: A Star Wars Story starts this Friday at your local theater.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Fundays At 420 : Star Wars Day is TODAY!!!

It's that time again gang! May 4th or as most of us nerds know it to be - Star Wars Day!!!

The tale for this event is as legendary as Star Wars itself when back on May 4th, 1979, the phrase was first used the day that Margaret Thatcher took office as UK prime minister. The Conservative party allegedly placed an ad in the London Evening News which read,"May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations."

To celebrate Star Wars day, Star Wars: Force for Change has recently announced Roar For Change - a global challenge in support of UNICEF. The initiative invites fans and families to share their own version of Chewbacca’s iconic roar.

For each public post, like, or share on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter that includes #RoarForChange between May 3 – 25, 2018, Star Wars: Force for Change U.S. will donate $1 to UNICEF USA, up to $1 million. Funds will be used to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world.

Check out special Roar for Change videos from Hasbro, Funko and from the set of Solo: A Star Wars Story (which opens May 25th) below!

Star Wars #RoarForChange

Hasbro Roar For Change | Star Wars Partners w/ UNICEF

Funko Roar For Change!

Star Wars: Force for Change is a charitable initiative from Disney and Lucasfilm with the goal of is harnessing the strength of Star Wars and its global fandom to empower people to come together to make a positive impact on the world around them to inspire people to be “forces for change” in their everyday lives.

For more info, check out the Official Star Wars: Force for Change Website to donate.


May the 4th Be With You...Always...

Friday, April 27, 2018

Movies That Have Everything: Marvel Studios Avengers Infinity War STARTS TODAY!!!

Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe that it only took 18 movies and 7 televisions shows to get to this point? The day has finally arrived that’s all been leading up to the premier of Marvel Studios Avengers: Infinity War that starts this weekend at a theater near you.

Marvel has successfully created an intricate connected universe that all started ten years ago when the first Iron Man movie successfully launched back in 2008. The real innovation came when the head of Avi Arad, head of Marvel’s film division, realized that the licensing deals that were made with Colombia, New Line Cinema, 20th Century Fox, and others were making very little profit and wanted to change that along with maintaining artistic control of their projects and distribution. Marvel Studios was then formed which was the first major independent movie studio to be formed since Dreamworks. 

With the help of Kevin Feige (Marvel’s studio head) a committee of experts was formed that were familiar with Marvel Comics lore including Marvel Studios co-president Louis D'Esposito, Marvel Comics' president of publishing Dan Buckley, Marvel's chief creative officer Joe Quesada, writer Brian Michael Bendis, and Marvel Entertainment president Alan Fine. 

The rest is as they say is history - and an incredibly successful one at that with the Walt Disney Company acquiring Marvel in 2009. This has only expanded the reach of Marvel Comics beyond that of comics, movies, and television into the ‘real world’ as the characters now appear at Disney theme parks all over the world.
The Infinity Gauntlet / The Infinity War / The Infinity Crusade 
(Jim Starling / Marvel Comics)

So what’s all the hoopla over Avengers Infinity War? First, it’s based on the 1992 six issue comic sequel to the 1991 comic, The Infinity Gauntlet written by Jim Starling. The Infinity War, also written by Starling was pencilled by Ron Lim, Ian Laughlin, Al Milgrom, Jack Morelli and Christie Scheele and is continued in the 1993 story This Infinity Crusade. As with all comic book adaptations, this one won’t be a direct translation as one part of the directing / brother team up, Joe Russo explained in a recent interview:

“We’re inspired by the books, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not the Marvel comic book universe. They’re different. As a comic book fan, I think it’s fun to take elements from the books that I identify with. But if I want a literal interpretation, I’ll just read the book. I think that Marvel jumped off with this cinematic experiment that they started 10 years ago with a narrative that diverts from that. So we wanted to fulfill storylines that we’ve set up in Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War that we want to carry forward into Avengers: Infinity War and the next one;  but not necessarily do a literal interpretation of Jim Starlins’ book. But there are great ideas in that book, and we owe a lot of the movie and what’s behind the movie to Jim.” Check out the trailer below!


Marvel Avengers: Infinity War (2018 Trailer / Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Company)

Directed by Joe Russo and his brother Anthony, this adaptation is a massive cinematic event, bringing all the characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe together in an unprecedented way never seen before on screen. Our villain Thanos (portrayed by Josh Brolin) is finally here in all his glory (his first appearance in a mid-credit scene in the first Avengers movie) in order to collect the elusive Infinity Stones (or gems as they are called in the comics) that bedazzle his Infinity Gauntlet. Here’s a complete list of what they do:

Soul : Allows the user to steal, control, manipulate, and alter living and dead souls. The Soul Gem is also the gateway to an idyllic pocket universe. At full potential, the Soul Gem grants the user control over all life in the universe.

Time : Allows the user to see into the past and the future; stop, slow down, speed up or reverse the flow of time; time travel; change the past and the future; age and de-age beings; and trap people or entire universes in unending loops of time. At full potential, the Time Gem grants the user omniscience and total control over the past, present and future.

Space : Allows the user to exist in any location; move any object anywhere throughout reality; warp or rearrange space; teleport themselves and others any place the user can imagine; increase their speed; and alter the distance between objects contrary to the laws of physics. At full potential, the Space Gem grants the user omnipresence.

Mind : Allows the user to enhance their mental and psionic abilities and access the thoughts and dreams of other beings. When backed by the Power Gem, the Mind Gem can access all minds in existence simultaneously. The Mind Gem is also the manifestation of the universal subconscious. Currently affixed to the brow of the Vision (played by Paul Bettany). 

Reality : Allows the user to fulfill their wishes, even if the wish is in direct contradiction with scientific laws, and do things that would normally be impossible; and create any type of alternate reality the user wishes. When backed by the power of the other Gems, the Reality Gem allows the user to alter reality on a universal scale.

Power : Allows the user to access and manipulate all forms of energy; enhance their physical strength and durability; and boost the effects of the other five Gems. At full potential, the Power Gem grants the user omnipotence.
Thanos & The Infinity Gauntlet (Marvel Comics)

So, with Thanos on the prowl for all six gems in order to become a god it will take the entire Marvel hero roster to defeat him from The Avengers both past and present to The Guardians of the Galaxy and everyone in between (we’re sure to even see co-creator Stan Lee make his usual cameo appearance somewhere in the film). 

The ten year in the making event, Marvel Studios Avengers: Infinity War finally graces the silver screen this weekend at a theater near you! The gang from good ol' PU will be there - hope to see you join in on the fun!