Greetings Loyal Airmen, thus far it has been a very exciting week here at Hangar 28 HQ and we’ll get right into that. But first we need to shout out our latest title.

Last week we released our fourth book in the Barry Baskerville childrens’ book series.  BARRY BASKERVILLE’S BLUE BICYCLE is written by series creator Richard Kellogg with art by our pal, Gary Kato, who mentioned meeting a few weeks ago on our great trip to Hawaii.  Anyways, in this installment, Barry, the boy wanting to grow up and be Sherlock Holmes, sets out to scour his neighborhood on his brand new bicycle.  As ever the story is fresh, fun and great for children of all ages.  Available now at Amazon in both paperback and on Kindle.

For several years now, the Air Chief has been predicting that the next level for the New Pulp Movement to attain is recognition from Hollywood.  We’ve always believe the stories being told in New Pulp books today are some of the most original and exciting on the market. Thus it seems only logical to us that sooner or later the film community would find that out.  As most of you Loyal Airmen already know, the Air Chief’s own Brother Bones stories are now being adapted into a feature length movie by Franklin – Husser Entertainment LLC.  Well just a few days ago, the Air Chief received an inquiry from a representative of a highly respected Hollywood production firm interested in the rights to one of the titles we published at the start of the year.  We immediately put these people in touch with the creator(s) of that particular book and are now keeping our fingers crossed something actually does come of this. The odds are always tremendously against most of these queries ever developing into full blown productions. Still, it is amazing to realize our books are actually getting into the hands of these people and that in itself says a lot. As for this particular title, we will be keeping everything confidential as we don’t want to go and jinx anything.  If something concrete does come from all this, you have our word, you Loyal Airmen will be the first to know.  In the meanwhile, let’s keep those fingers crossed.

On other fronts, the topic of heroes, both real and fictional, grabs our attention now. Earlier this week, all of Red Sox Nation, which the Air Chief is a proud member, bid a fond farewell to # 34, David Ortiz.  Better known as Big Papi, Ortiz was arguably the greatest designated hitter to play the game of baseball and in his eleven years with the Red Sox help carry them to three world series. He was a a tremendous player as well as a decent, humble, soul who reflected all that is good about the game.  We will miss him sorely, though the Air Chief predicts, Ortiz will make the Hall of Fame in his first ballot which comes in five years.  Mark our words.  And Big Papi, thanks for so many awesome memories from Fenway.

As for fictional heroes, well the Air Chief grew up in the 1950s a huge fan of Superman on television as played by George Reeves.  He was truly the embodiment of “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”  Later, when Richard Donner brought the character to the big screen, it was Christopher Reeves who donned the red cape and once again gave us the comic book hero bringing him to life as he should always be portrayed; as the Big Blue Boy Scout.  Several others have taken the role since then and done well with it, ala Dean Cain on TV and Brandon Routh in a badly panned rebooth of the old film series.  Both were still true to the character the Air Chief loved.  Then along came Zach Snyder and his “Man of Steel” and the recent “Superman VS Batman.”  And just like that, the hero we’d grown up admiring and wanting to emulate was gone, replaced by a pouty, egotistical, darker version which bears absolutely no resemblance to the comic character created by Jerry Seigel and Joe Schuster all those ages ago.  To the point that many of us began to believe, with Snyder’s control at Warner Brothers, we would never again see “our” Superman…the real one.

Whereas a few nights ago, WB aired the first episode of the highly popular SUPERGIRS series, which last year appeared on CBS and then jumped over to the WB channel.  And in this very first show, a new Superman takes center stage in the form of actor Taylor Hoechins….and simply blew us away.  There he was, the same bumbling, fun, smiling happy Clark Kent we all recognized immediately. Then when he becomes the Man of Steel, he’s determined, strong and a true hero of the people. In one of his earliest scenes, he greets people reaching out to shake their hands and win them over with his charming smile.  The Air Chief thought he was witnessing the impossible and we give heartfelt thanks to the producers and writers of this series, who obviously understand who Superman is the cultural history of America and how to do him properly.  All fingers crossed, they stay the course.  Welcome back, Superman, we’ve missed you so much.

And finally, on the Brother Bones movie front, we’ve something cool to share with all your Loyal Airman.  Screenwriter and co-producer, Erik Franklin turned in his first storyboard rough depicting one of the crucial scenes in the movie. Most such storyboards are done only in black and white, but Erik felt the colors would help dramatize what he was hoping to show.  People who have read the origin story should have no problems recognizing the scene.  We’ll continue to share such pieces as they are done.

And that’s a wrap for this week, Loyal Airmen. As ever thanks for stopping by.

Ron – Over & Out!