Greeting, Loyal Airmen.  Here it is a week after my return from the great, bombastic, over-the-top New York Comic Con, where I spent all of last weekend, from Thursday through Sunday. What an amazing time your
Air Chief had with only seventy-six thousand other comic fans.  Sincerely, on Saturday the security people had to close the gates as all the tickets had been sold and the Fire Dept. rules would not let another soul into that huge convention center.  During the course of those amazing three days, and the Thursday prior, I had the wonderful experience of meeting some of the nicest people ever, both the fans and fellow creators.  We saw costumed folks dressed up as their favorite heroes from comics, TV and movies.  All of it was, as I often described at the time, sensory overload.  One's mind was taking so much data, it was humanly impossible to process it all.  So here I am, on a Thursday evening, setting down tomorrow's Flight Log and hoping to capture a small taste of the fun I had while in the Big Apple.  Of course there's no way I can remember or relate it all, but in the next few weeks I do hope to share with all of you some of the real highlights of the con and to publicly thank my gracious pals who made it possible for me to attend this mega party.

            
                             Katie (head down..ah) & Chuck Moore of COMIC RELATED

For the past two years Ye Old Air Chief has been a part of the coolest comics site on the internet, Comic Related, owned and operated by the affable Chuck Moore.  When I hinted to Chuck weeks ago that I might be entertaining going to this super con, he immediately offered to help me in any way possible, to the point of helping me get reservations with his crew and then went as far as to offer me a free table at his booths to show off and sell my comics and pulps…at no charge!  Chuck is one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and getting to spend the past weekend with him and his lovely wife Katie was a pure joy.  I should note, the day we hooked up at the Milford Plaza hotel (a week ago today) was Katie's birthday and that night, after a day spent at the convention hall setting up, Chuck took her to see the Broadway show, WICKED.  You see, our hotel was one single block away from Times Square and the theater district.  That was so cool.

           
                        Jarrod Courtemanche and Ye Old Air Chief

Still, even with Chuck's wonderful sponsorship, I knew the cost of a four night stay in Manhattan wasn't going to be cheap and if I couldn't find someone to share the expense, it would have been a no go.  So Ye Old Air Chief put out the word he was looking for a roommate and to the rescue comes Jarrod Courtemanche of Lowell, MA.  Jarrod is an independent filmmaker and freelance writer I met last year and recruited to work for Airship 27 Prod.  He was one of the writers for our SECRET AGENT X – VOL III which we released at the end of last year.  Jarrod had never been to a big con and jumped at the chance to tag along and have the experience.  I couldn't have had a better roomie and table-partner.  Together we had a blast.  Thanks, Jarrod, for making it possible for me to be there.

                
                                 Ye Old Air Chief with Loyal Airmen Erin & Anthony Schiavino

Way back when Rob Davis and I first launched Airship 27 Prod., our chief designer was Anthony Schiavino, then of New York.  Anthony's designs and his help teaching Rob to use the pc programs for that kind of work was invaluable to helping us launch our first books.  We, to this day, still use some of the beautiful logos Anthony whipped up for us.  Since those days, Anthony married Erin Crocker and they now reside in New Jersey and although Anthony is no longer part of Airship 27 Prod. (he now has his own production team) he remains a dear friend and faithful supporter, as we are of his work.  Anthony has a new pulp comics in the works and we'll be telling you lots more about that as it nears publication.  Anthony and Erin took time out of their busy day to come to New York specifically so we could meet face to face for the very first time.  It was a real pleasure for me and and one I hope we can repeat it again soon.

             
                  Joe Gentile of Moonstone – Ye Old Air Chief –  Stephen Segal :Editor of Weird Tales

Of course the first person who ever put a bug in my ear about attending the show was Moonstone Books editor, Joe Gentile, who e-mailed me several months ago to tell me the con was planning on having its first Pulp Panel and would I be interested in sitting on it.  In my twenty-eight years in the comics game, at all the cons I've ever attended, I've never once sat on a panel.  And to be able to spread the news about pulps and Airship 27 Prod. was too good an opportunity to pass up.  And thus I set about making plans to go to New York. And happily last Friday afternoon, I was there on that Panel, along with other pulp folks such as Joe, Stephen Seagel, the editor of Weird Tales magazine, Will Murray, pulp historian, Charles Ardai, publisher of Hard Case Crime and Mark Haelgua, president of the Gotham Pulp Club.  An august group indeed.  The panel was much fun and Joe made a rather special announcement while on it, which I will get to in next week's Log Entry.  It concerns the return of a great old radio hero that I had the good fortune to write long ago.  It's exciting news you Loyal Airmen will really get a kick out of.
             
    Airship 27 pulp writers Aaron Smith – Ye Old Air Chief – & Frank Schildiner

Also on hand to support Ye Old Air Chief at this panel were several Airship 27 pulp writers, to include Jarrod,
Aaron Smith and Frank Schildiner.  It was a pure joy for me to meet these talented writers for the first time.  If it weren't for their amazing stories, there would be no Airship 27 Prod.  Both Aaron and Frank are the salt of the earth, regular guys who love writing pulp and made my weekend super special by coming down.  I owe you guys more than words can say.  And believe me, Loyal Airmen, you haven't read the last of their great fiction by a long shot.  Both of them are busy at work even now spinning fantastic new tales of pure purple prose you are going to love.  With Airship 27, as always, the best is yet to come.

So there you have it for this installment, Loyal Airmen.  Next week I'll roll out a few more photos, relate some really wild and wacky tales from the Big Con and reveal some truly awesome new projects in the works.  In the mean time, I am very happy to relate that this afternoon I made my regular six month visit to the hospital to see my oncologist.  A few weeks ago I had my yearly Cat-Scan to see how that cancer lymphoma in my right lung was doing…or better yet, not doing.  Next month will mark the year anniversary of my surgery which removed the lower portion of my left lung and the node it contained.  Well, it seems the node in my right lung is very much static, in fact we were told it has shrunk a little (thank you, Lord) and that I'm a relatively healthy fellow. So see you in six months, Doc.  And for all you Loyal Airmen who continue to keep me in your prayers daily, much obliged.  You are always in mine as well.

Finally, I hope you've all gone and picked up a copy of MR.JIGSAW # 1 (go to our Air Fare page to find the link).  Sales for this new superhero comedy comic are great.  And don't forget horror lovers, our first ever pulp scare-fest, WEIRD HORROR TALES by Michael Vance, is also on sale.  Check it out via the dirigible logo to our left.  Quality fiction you won't soon forget.   Our sales for the last quarter of 2008 were our highest yet, which says a great deal about your tremendous support for our humble efforts. Thanks to all of you. We have the greatest fans in the world.

Till next week, Ron, over & out!