Greetings Loyal Airmen, we hope you've had a great week so far.  Out here in sunny Fort Collins, we've been experiencing Spring like temperatures in the high 60s all week long.  Spring flowers are actually breaking through the top soil. An early Spring would be most welcome.

         
                                                        SETTING UP AT C2E2
What with Spring in the air, today (Friday) beings what most comic fans consider the start of the convention season with the big Chicago show, C2E2.  Above is a shot taken by Comic Related's chief honcho, Mr.Chuck Moore who will be in attendance with a large contingent of CR creators. All of which are the Air Chief's buddies as well.  Looks to be a super grand weekend for comic fans in that area. So if you are anywhere near the Windy City this weekend and a comic book fan, you need to get yourself there. Should you find the Comic Related table, do stop by and tell them the Air Chief sent you.  You'll get a really warm welcome.

                   
                                A CHEYENNE BRAVE
Sometimes when putting together new pulp titles for Airship 27 Productions, the Air Chief has to do some serious hunting to find just the right artists to help illustrate a particular book.  Several months ago veteran writer, R.A. Jones approached us about an idea he had for a book that would feature a Native American version of Conan the Barbarian.  Conan, as most of you Loyal Airmen are well aware, was the hero created by pulp author Robert E.Howard, perhaps his greatest creation.  Clearly the one he is most remembered for.  Conan was a savage warrior who roamed the earth in a fictional period Howard called the Hyborian Age. 

Jones' idea was to imagine a similar figure coming from a Native American past, in an alternate world where no Europeans ever settled North America.  In this world, only aboriginal people would populate the mountains, valleys and great plains.  And from the Cheyenne would come a mighty figure known as Deathwalker.  Jones sent me the first chapter and after reading it, the Air Chief was hooked. Just a little over two weeks ago he submitted the final manuscript and we started to edit it.  Generally the Air Chief will read/edit a book and then start thinking of who will be assigned to do the cover and spot illustrations afterwards.  Sometimes that can be a long and frustrating hunt, as we mentioned above.  But not so in this case.

            
                   ART BY MICHAEL MIKOS
Not two days after we received Jones' manuscript, the Air Chief received sample artwork from a super talented fellow named Michael Mikos who was every interested in working with us.  Among his half dozen art pieces were several featuring Native Americans like the one above.  We were bowled over.  Talk about a truly happy twist of fate.  We immediately replied that we loved his work and had just been handed the perfect assignment for his particular talent. Now we've finished editing the book and Michael is busily at work doing the nine illustrations that will be featured in its page.  Meanwhile, earlier this evening, Laura Givens, one of the finest book cover painters in the business today, turned in her cover for DEATHWALKER.  As it is still many weeks before we are ready to go to press here, we're going to hold off revealing it, but we will offer this little tease.  Upon giving Laura the assignment, we suggested she study the works of Frank Frazetta, the late artist who made a reputation based on his Conan paperback covers.  And Laura delivered way beyond what even  the Air Chief's fertile imagination could envision. Believe me, it is a stunning winner.

So there you go, Loyal Airmen.  Sometimes these books actually do go together ala one-two-three.  Not often, but when they do, we are only too happy to thank the fates, stars, whatever made things possible.  Take care, have a great week ahead and we'll see you back here next week.
Ron – Over & Out.