Greeting loyal airmen.  For the longest time I denounced modern comics because they lack any real fun.  Most are filled with anguish, suffering and just plain dark, brooding tales.  Whatever happened to the fun of comics?  Well that fun is back, along with one of the grandest comic book heroes of all time, E-Man.  He is the brain child of writer Nick Cuit and my old pal, artist Joe Staton.  They whipped him up many, many years ago for the Charlton Comic company in Derby, Conn.  When Chalton faded away, E-Man began his long bouncing career from one independent company to another.   Now Digital Webbing has brought him back after an absence of nearly ten years and he is very much a breath of fresh air.  This is a terrific book, it is now available at comic shops around the country.  So, if you want to know what a truly GOOD COMIC BOOK is all about, go grab a copy of E-MAN RECHARGED.   And thanks Nick & Joe, it's so great to have you back again.

Of late, if you've been following these log entires from week to week, you airmen know I've been up to my ears in pulp book productions.  And sadly what has suffered is my own reading for pleasure.  Finally, last week I grabbed the latest Hard Case Crime title, THE GUNS OF HEAVEN by Pete Hamill and sat back to enjoy myself.  Like all HCC titles, this one is a gripping, suspenseful real.  Set in the late 60s, it deals with an American reporter, Sam Briscoe, who while writing a feature on the violence in Northern Ireland, gets himself embroiled with some very dangerous, psychotic people.  Soon people, including Sam's uncle, are murdered and Sam's own teenage daughter is kidnapped.  Things start getting bloody very, very fast and the climax is a taut, nail-biting ride. This is a terrific read and I'm hoping we'll see lots more from this talented writer.

Got some good medical news yesterday.  My regular six month CatScan on my lungs once again indicated the two mysterious spots are dormant and have not changed at all.  Apparently the radiologist told my doctor that comparing the two pictures side by side, they are identical in all aspects.  Meaning, whatever those things are, they are not growing or pose any threat to my continued well-being.  Thank you God, and the good doctor and kind hospital staff.  And so before the doc ended our conversation, he said, “See you in a year.”  Ha.  Just wanted to share that with all of you.

Two more days and I'll be at Verillo's Convention Center in Portland, ME.  Hope lots of you loyal airmen can make the show.  Besides yours truly, artist Mike Mitchell will be on hand and we are hoping our fellow Pulp Factory brother, writer Howard Hopkins will stop by.  Howard writes western novels for a British publisher, has never been out West and hates horses.  I kid you not.  But you'd never know it reading his books.  Amazing.

And that wraps up another week in the old Airship 27 Hangar.  Take care, be good and God Bless.  Ron, over and out.