Greetings loyal airmen and thanks for all of you who've sent well wishes these past 48 hours.  All of us, Val, her mom, and yours truly, are slowly…slowly on the mend.  As one of my writer colleague's so aptily pointed out, I was pretty much zapped by Murphy's Law this weekend.  Not only were we all very, very sick to the point of physical incapacitation, but then we got socked by that snowstorm on top of things.  How Valerie and I, yesterday afternoon, managed to clean up the driveway is still a hazy blur to me today.  And one of the most frustrating things about all this was my inability to rant and rave about the biggest and most wonderful news to come down the airstrip in a long, long time.   We, my pulp production team and I, have a brand new name, logo and most importantly, a new publisher.

Adamant Entertainment is the brainchild of Gareth Michael Skarka.  It began as a role-playing outfit with a very special focus on pulps.  A few months ago Gareth joined our on-line pulp association, the Pulp Factory and announced his intentions to get into fiction publiishing with a new magazine that will be called Thrilling Tales.  At the time I thought this was all well and good but couldn't have guessed how it would ultimately come to impact my own future.   Two weeks ago, Wild Cat Books publisher Ron Hanna and I had a long, and extended discussion about the future of WCB and Ron Fortier Productions.  In the last two years, my creative team of 25 writers and 11 artists has produced eight exceptionally beautiful books for WCB and our association had been nothing but mutually supportive.    Alas nothing in life is forever and during the exchanged I referred to, it became clear to myself and Ron H that we both had very different goals for the future.   Goals that would be best served by a parting of the ways.   Ron H has lots of very cool ideas for a new line of books he wants to produce and I think he's going to do a bang up job with them.   And despite what some few people on the net might think, this parting is very much a friendly and positive one.   In fact, during the discussions  about how we would end our partnership, we both agreed to continue with the two books that were set for release.   One, PROF.STONE & THE EYE OF RE by Wayne Skiver, came out this week.   If you like Doc Savage and Captain Hazzard, do not miss this first in a series featuring this original pulp hero.  And next week, with fingers crossed, we will be delivering WCB our last anthology book, SECRET AGENT X, Vol II.  Four more brand new stories of the world's great super spy.  You won't want to miss it.

Okay, but I'm digressing here.  Realizing we no longer had a publisher, I began to try and work out a strategy with my art director, Rob Davis, and Production & Design Manager, Anthony Schiavino.   Bottom line was we still very much wanted to continue producing pulp books, but without a publisher, the future looked extremely gloomy.  These books do cost money to publish, airmen.  Money that none of us had in abundance.  During those few days, a  part of me began to think our efforst were going to be for naught.   Somewhere in all this, I managed to post a notice on the Pulp Factory boards that we were parting ways with WCB.  Little did I realize what that notice would bring me.  That very same day, within hours, Gareth Michael Skarka wrote and offered to take us on, if we so desired.  Our production crew, without a single skipped beat, would simply continue doing what we've been doing for the past two years, only now with a new and bigger publisher.  The word YES never came out of my mouth so fast!!  Once Rob and Anthony were informed of this new offer, they too were eager to sign on and keep the ball rolling.  Of course we realized a new venture should entail a new name and so Rob and Anthony, with a little in-put from yours truly, came up with the Airship 27 Productions logo you see above this column, side by side with that of Adamant Entertainment.   And for the first time ever, our books are going to have access to a broad distribution network we never dreamed possible.  Yup.  You'll soon be seeing Airship 27 pulp titles in your local comic shops, bookstores and various digital formats that again were simply not available to us in the past.  It's a major step forward for all of us involved, but with your continued support, I'm confident it is the change we've all been waiting for. 

Right now you can go to (www.thrillingtales.net) check out lots more of this exciting new partnership. They have set up a forum which will, for the first time ever, allow all of us to communicate with all of you directly.  Please stop on by and register.  Hopefully I'll have the link posted on my own links page within the next few days.   Likewise, all of our previous WCB books are still very much available from Ron H and their link is staying on our page permanently.  In fact that is where you should go right now to order a copy of….

Wayne Skiver is one of the finest new writers of action adventure I've ever encountered.  His character is a wonderful blend of all the old classics and his stories just burn across the pages.  And the artwork on this winner, both cover and interior spots is by Michael Mitchell, another new rising star on the graphic scene.  So if top not pulp adventure is your cup of tea, click on to the Wild Cab Books link on the link page and check it out.  This is a classic in the making.

And that's it for our first ever Sunday log, airmen.  Take care of yourselves.
Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen, this one is going to be truly brief.  Three days ago, Val's mom, who resides with us, came down with that awful stomach flu that is really sweeping the country.  They yesterday afternoon Valerie got and spend most of her day trying to keep watch on her mom and in the bathroom.  With me doing what little I could to help them both.  Then around 2 AM this morning, I woke up with a sour stomach and knew it was my turn.  Spent  the rest of the night back and forth from sofa in living room to the bathroom.
   This morning all three of us look like he walking dead.  It looks like Val's mom is on the bend, and she has stopped vomiting.  Leaving me the straggler.  Soon as these words are down, I'm crawling back into bed.  Oh, and did I mention we're in the middle of another snowstorm?   What a peachy day.  Ha.
    All prayers would be appreciated and my apologies for such a lackluster log, airmen.  I was really hoping to make a very…very special announcment today concerning the pulp books I produce.  But somebody else has that covered  thankfully.  And if I'm half way human again tomorrow, check back.  I may post my first ever Sat. log.
  Okay, stomach is flipping.
Ron, over and…really out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  Here we are getting ready to wrap another week and February is finally going out the back door.  With March and April on the horizon, Spring is really just around the corner.  Last week I was a guest at the Boston Comic con and had the fun of meeting lots of great people, as well as other creators.  I sold quite a few copies of Captain Hazzard and I hope all of you who purchased books are enjoying them to the max.  And a big tip of the hat to our newest airman, James Falkenburg, who at my prompting, visited the old hangar here and was kind enough to write and let me know how much he liked the place.  Thanks, Jim.  I hope you drop by often.
                                

And since lots of you have been picking up the latest Captain Hazzard adventure novel, CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT, released just last week and selling like a rocket, we here at the Hangar thought it an advantageous time to add some spiffy new gear to our Hazzard Team store.  See that cool bullet above.  It appears on new coffee mugs, tees and sweatshirt.  Just go to the Air Fare page and click on the Team Hazzard icon.  Lots of cool Hazzard merchandise that is perfect for wearing at cons or just laying about the old Hangar.

As I indicated at the end of my log entry last week, Valerie and I were going to catch a matinee showing of the new Marvel action movie, GHOST RIDER based on one of their classic titles.  See image above.  As a kid this was such a cool comic and I'm happy to report the movie is also a lot of fun.  I'm kind of shocked, then again maybe I shouldn't be, that the critics are so vehemently slamming it.   Hey, it's not GONE WITH THE WIND, but then again, it never set out to be.  Nicolas Cage is a decent Johnny Blaze and I have to tell you, the CGI version of old Flaming Skull Head is just too wicked cool.  In the end both Val and I left theater having been well entertained and I'm certainly going to pick up a copy of this when it hits the DVD Market.

What was ironic of the release of this particular movie was how it came out just before the start of Lent.  For those of you non-christians, Lent is the 40 day period of atonement, penance and reflection we do each year before Easter.   Well, part of the Ghost Rider's skills against the forces of darkness and evil is his Penance Stare.  His ability to allow someone to experience first hand all the pain they have caused others in their life.  Yeouch.  When you think of that, for an action popcorn flick, that's a pretty heavy handed concept.

I am certainly no saint.  Far, far from it. And over the years have indeed, through my own stupidity, hurt others, at least emotionally.  It would be so great if we could all get through this life without injuring others and making enemies, but then again only a handful of truly blessed souls have that gift.  Me, I'm a work in progress, or so I'd like to believe.  And yes, I do have people out there who, for whatever reason dislike me and desire to do me wrong.   But here's the thing, I'm trying to learn from the faith I believe in.  A dear priest friend once told me it is only human nature to react to others the way they come at us.  Meaning if they are cold and cruel to us, we tend to be towards them.  It's that mini-version of the old Testaments rule of an eye for an eye.  If someone slights you, go right ahead and slight them back.

But Jesus preached something altogether different and radical.  He said if someone slaps your cheek, offer him or her the other one.  And that's where I really fall short.  Oh, not that I don't get it.  But understanding something and doing it are two different things.  Believe me.  I try.  Every day, I try to just be a better person and I hope God sees that I'm making some small progess along that faith journey.  Meaning what?  Well, I am really trying not to react anymore to injuries from others.  As best I can.  At this stage of my life, that's just a lot of negative energy that I don't want any part of.  So yeah, some people still, every now and then, give me a good solid one across the cheek when I least expect it.  And it still hurts to know people you thought were your friends, are not.  But I've stopped reacting and striking back.  And for that I thank my faith, and all the good people who've helped to make me learn this lesson.  I walk away now; with stinging hurt for sure, but I walk away.  Is it enough?  Nope, Jesus wants more and He has every right to hold me to that.

As I said, the soul is a work in progress.  Hope this wasn't too preachy.  I wish all of you reading this, friend or not, a truly peaceful and reflective Lent, leading to a beautiful and glorious Easter morn.

All for another week, airmen.  Take care, Ron, over and out.

                                   
Greetings loyal airmen.  By the beautiful cover above, you can see what the main topic of this week's log entry is going to be. Ha.  My third Captain Hazzard novel, CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT, is now out and available to purchase from the on-line publisher, Lulu.com.  Please, go to the Air Fare page and you'll see the write-up and the link where the book is on sale.  Those of you who have already purchased my first two Captain Hazzard books are hopefully going to be picking this up as well.   There's a unique story to this particular story that I don't want to delve into here but let me just tease you with the fact this book was based on an original Captain Hazzard novel from 1938 that was never published.  In fact it was actually turned into another pulp character's adventure by the magazine publisher.  How, thanks to a wonderful tip from one of my fans, I discovered the bizarre history of this “lost” Hazzard and was able to unearth it after all these years is a fascinating tale that I recount in its entirety at the back of the book.

And if all this pulp action and adventure isn't enough to make you pull out your credit card and order a copy, you have got to love the art package here.  All interiors are by my partner, Rob Davis, who has done all the Captain Hazzard books.  Included in this volume is a special interview with Rob and a brand new portfolio highlighting Captain Hazzard and each of his team.  These are terrific pin-ups of the entire Hazzard crew done especially for this book.  And lastly, how could you not want to own this magnificent cover by artist Mark Maddox.  Mark is new to the Hazzard team but jumped on board when our regular cover painter, Tom Floyd, had to bow out of this particular project.   When we first learned Tom wouldn't be available, I thought we were really in trouble big-time and sent out a few inquiries to some of the artists now working with Wild Cat Books.  Out of the blue, Mark calls me all but begging for a chance to do this cover for us.   His enthusiasm blew me away and I let him run with it.  Well, when the finished product came in, all of us at WCB central, myself, book designer Anthony Schiavino, Rob and publisher, Ron Hanna, were in complete awe at just how beautiful this cover was.   Trust me, we have chained Mark in the our art dungeons and have absolutely no intentions of ever letting him free.  Ha.  Sincerely, Mark is lined up to do all the artwork, both interiors and covers for our forthcoming FLYING ACES anthology which will feature the return of Captain Midnight.  I'm already drooling imagining what Mark is going to whip up for that outing.

So there you have, three novels starring the Champion of Justice in just under two years.  All of which has been a true dream come true for this writer.  And before you ask, yes, I am now starting on Captain Hazzard #4, another all new pulp thriller.  I'll keep you posted.

On other fronts, TV was fun this past week.  Although HEROES stumbled with their episode, which was nothing much more than character development..i.e. spinning-their-plot-wheels and not getting anywhere, LOST more than amply made up for that.  This week's LOST was one of the finest episodes they've ever done.  Brilliantly written, with, as luck would have, a very tragic, romantic theme for Valentine's Day and a completely surprising end that would have made O'Henry proud.  Some folks had thought LOST had lost (no pun intended..groan) its spark.  Well after the last two episodes, that claim has been put to rest permanently.  The series is just as exciting and challenging as ever.  Yahooo.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I hope all you airmen enjoyed that holiday with that specail person in your lives.  After, of course, digging out of the snow blizzard half the country was buried in.  Ha.  Happily it came and went and now things are getting back to normal winter stuff.   Going to be a busy weekend for your Hangar Chief.  Hope to get out to the movies this afternoon and catch the new Marvel super-hero flick, GHOST RIDER.  Then tomorrow I pack up my pulp novels and comics for the big Boston Comic Show on Sunday.  I mentioned it last week.  Any of you loyal airmen interested in stopping by, the show is being held at the Boston Radison Hotel, 200 Stuart St. Boston, way up on the 6th Floor.  Hope to see many of you there.  Looks to be a fun show.

And that wraps up this week.  Please, check out CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT.  I'd want to sell hundreds of these.  As always, thanks for your continued support.  Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  I hope all of you are surviving the deep freeze that has most of the USA in its icy grip.  So much for what happened to winter, huh.  Still, we are getting through it and within another couple of weeks, lo and behold, our beloved Boston Red Sox open their Spring Training season in Ft.Myers, Florida.  A sure sign that true Spring is really just around the corner.

And after hibernating for so long these past few weeks, I want to be sure to invite all of you in the New England to stop by the Primates Production Comic Convention in Boston coming up quick.  Just a little over a week away, it is the 18th of Feb. and if you go to my links page, you'll be able to link up with their home webpage for all the details, times and directions.   The comic book guest of honor will be Rick Leonardi, who was a personal favorite of mine when I was collecting Marvel.  The guy is an amazing talent and it is going to be a pleasure to meet him.

I'm listed as tthe “author” guest.  Which, I suppose is what I am.  Although I've always prefered the term writer, myself.   Author somehow seems haughty, doesn't it?  Whereas writer implies a working stiff, which is what writing is in the end, work.  I may love doing it, but sometimes it is very much like pulling teeth.  Ha.  Anyway, I will be on hand with a slew of my recent Wild Cat Books titles to autograph and sell.  I'll be bringing copies of, BROTHER GIRM, THE HOUNDS OF HELL, CAPTAIN HAZZARD #1 and CAPTAIN HAZZARD #2.  So, if you are missing any of these from your collection of Ron Fortier books, come on down (or up..) to the show and pick them up.  Of course if you have any of these and would like me to sign them for you, by all means, I'm only too happy to do so, airmen.  And a special note here,  at conventions like these, I always sell my books for less than the current Amazon and Barnes & Noble prices.  My personal way of thanking each and every one of you for supporting my humble efforts.  Lastly, I can't really ever get away from my comic roots and I will also have copies of my Gargoyle comics on sale as well.  Here's keeping my fingers crossed lots of you airmen will stop by to say hi and make this a great show.

Finally, after being gone for the past eight weeks, my beautiful wife, Valerie, flies home tomorrow.   It's been a long, long eight weeks.  You see, Val hates the winters here and over the years both of us came to understand that she truly would get into a very bad depression in the middle of the season.  She's always been a summer girl ever since she was young.  When we started going to Ft.Collins, Coloado, to spend every other Christmas with our son, Alan, we were surprised to realize just how mild the winters are on the Eastern side of the Rockies. 

Lots milder than good old New Hampshire.  So, one year I suggested, that after Christmas, she stay with Al and his family through Jan.  That way when she came home it would be Feb. and even as brutal as this short little month can be, the days do get longer and we are all pretty much coasting down into Spring.  The idea was to give her a break from the long winter stretch.   We've been doing it for several years now and it has really worked out well, for both her spirit and mine.  When you love somebody, it's about making them happy.  Not you.  So the price for her health, is our separation for a month. This year, for reasons I won't get into, that 4 to 6 weeks turned into 8.  I don't like our being apart, but seeing her tomorrow will make the last few weeks vaporize from my thoughts instantly.  They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.   Amen to that.
And welcome home, sweetie.

Airmen, have a great week, Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  I trust all of you are keeping safe and warm as we progress through the true heart of winter. What with the freakish weather conditions throughout the country, it's truly one season lots of us are going to remember for a long, long time.

Happily my favorite TV show, LOST, returns this coming week, Wed. 7th Feb, after a long hiatus and will run all sixteen brand new episodes through to its third season finale in May.  Now over the past month I've been re-watching season two on DVD and realized recently that I had something very unique in common with the character of Desmond, as played by actor Henry Ian Cusick, shown above.  

In one of his first appearances on the show, Desmond had a copy of a lesser known novel by Charles Dickens.  When asked if it was his favorite book, he replied he didn't know as he had yet to read.  Then he went on to explain the following.  Dickens was by far his favorite writer and in his life, he had managed to read everything the great author had written, save for this one book.  Now having purchased it, he realized that when he read it, there would never be another tale from his beloved writer….ever again.  And so Desmond refuses to read this book, and carries it with him wherever he goes in the hopes that, if the fates are kind, someday, when he believes his life almost at an end, then, and only then, he will read this book.   Thus making it the last book he ever reads.

If you are a lover of books like I am, then that quirky story has to appeal to you as well.   And over the Christmas holidays I inadvertently put myself in the same situation as poor Desmons.  You see, my all time favorite writer was mystery novelist, Ed McBain.   I discovered his series, the 87th Precinct, based on a fictional squad of big city detectives, back in my freshmen year of high school.  It was a period of my life when reading was opening up both the world and maturity to my ever curious mind.   McBain's books simply astounded me with their style and grace.  As I grew older and read lots and lots of writers, his skills became more and more evident to me, to the point of sincerely trying to emulate him whenever I write.  The man was a true master of his craft.   And last year, after completing his 55th 87th Precinct novel, he passed away.  It was a very sad day to mystery fans across the world.
                                 

While in Colorado, I found this last book and purchased it immediately.   I came home, set it on my To-Read stack (most of you know what this is) and didn't give it much thought.   Two days ago I finished reading a western by Max McCoy (see the link to my Pulp Fiction Review column above) and headed for the stack to see what I would be reading next.  And there was FIDDLERS, by Ed McBain.   I picked it up, held for a few minutes…and then put it back on the stack and walked away.

For the past day I've been grappling with the sad fact that once I read this book, there will never…ever…be another McBain thriller for me to enjoy.  And I remembered Desmond from LOST.  Oh, do I now know exactly what he was feeling.  Unlike Desmond, I don't have that much trust in the fates allowing me to simply “know” when my end will come.   And I would be the biggest fool in the world to hold off enjoying, for one last time, this great writer's work, only to get nailed by a tractor trailer truck somewhere down the road.  Having kicked the bucket with it unread. I am not going to let that happen.  Most likely before this very day is over, I'll have found the will to pick it up and start reading it.  But I am so going to cry when the end comes.

Take care, my friends.  Have a great week.
Ron – over and out.

Greetings loyal airman.  I want to discuss a subject that has been on my mind for several years now. And that is the issue of why it is Hispanic immigrants believe they should be treated any different than all the millions of ethnic immigrants from all over the world who came to America in the past?  When the French, the Irish, the Germans, the Russians..all of them came to this country, it was to leave their homeland behind and to become Americans.
Yet our Mexican immigrants come and demand it is we, Americans, who change our language to accomodate them.  Back in 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt made a speech that is very topical to our times and this current issue.  It filled with old fashion, common sense.

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.  But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here.  Any man who says he is American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.  We have room for but one flag, teh American flagl…we have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

A concise, intelligent and wonderful speech that welcomes all and at the same time defends what it is we all cherish so dearly, one America.  Not Hispanic-American, not French-American, not African-American.
One land, one people.  Teddy was a man ahead of his time.  Wish that we had that kind of no-nonsense leadership today.

The Spider.  Say that name to any true fan of pulp literature and watch their faces light up with a very special kind of glow.  It is safe to say no single character so embodied the essence of an entire genre than this creepy, fang-faced avenger with his blazing .45 automatics.   Arguably the three greatest heroes to emerge from the pulp era were Walter Gibson’s cloaked mystery man, the Shadow; Lester Dent’s world spanning adventurer, Doc Savage and Norvell Page’s psychotic vigilante, the Spider.  But it would the Spider who would quite literally, month after month, give weight to the term, “…the bloody pulps!”

Begun as a monthly from Popular Publications in 1933, he was invented by Harry Steeger to be competition to Street & Smith’s successful Shadow.    Steeger assigned writer R.T.M. Scott to this new series starring an uncostumed operator named Richard Wentworth who battled crime with the aid of his friends; the lovely Nita Van Sloan, his Hindu manservant Ram Sighn and his wartime associate, Ronald Jackson.   Had Scott remained on the magazine, it would most likely have never achieved the macabre glory it now lays claim to.  That particular, and unique, success was the result Norvell Page, who took over the series with its third issue and pulpdom would never be same again.

 Page brought to the character an entire new complexity that would propel him into bizarre and sensational plots no other sane hero would ever dare venture.   Under Page’s fevered imagination, the Spider became a true representative of the country’s poor and downtrodden, as he battled the most fiendish, outlandish villains this side of a Dick Tracy comic strip.  And the more over-the-top the stories became, the more lurid the covers were painted, the fans devoured it all.   Soon the Spider was not only equalling the Shadow in sales and popularity; he was at times exceeding them.  But less you think Richard Wentworth was a two-dimensional, gun crazy lunatic, there was a strength of honor and nobility that permeated his persona.  Wentworth knew he was often all that stood between a world of civility and utter chaos.  If he was a fanatic, it was because he loved his fellow man and was willing to sacrifice his life, and those of his aides, in his self-appointed crusade to battle villainy.

 There was only one Spider!

 Thus you can imagine my elation when Joe Gentile offered me the opportunity to write a brand new Spider adventure for Moonstone’s forthcoming anthology.  It was a joy colored by apprehension.  Hell, it was outright fear.  You see, Joe explained there would be twenty stories in this volume and each would be limited to 5,000 words.  I felt my stomach flip.  Only 5,000 measly little words…to tell a Spider story!  It was ludicrous!

The Spider was the battler of the bombastic!   His 60,000 word novels centered about crimes so horrible and world-shattering as to shock the imagination.  This was a character that fought only Herculean monsters!  How on earth could any of us do him justice in 5,000 words?  Could anyone actually write a small Spider yarn?   The more I wrestled with that idea, the more I was forced to examine all I of knew about this iconic pulp figure.  What was it that truly made Richard Wentworth tick?   Was it a dangerous junkie-type addiction to action and thrills?  Lots of people over the years have argued that Wentworth had a death-wish and expressed it in his alter-ego, laughing in the face of the grim-reaper, always taunting him with his daredevil exploits.

But there again there was that honor I referred to earlier.  There was no denying Wentworth was a man of deep passions.  A war hero, he loved his county, his city and the people who dwelled there.  He saw himself as their protector and it was a self-imposed duty he would never shirk.  So, I mused, how would he react to a crime ring that victimized the young and the innocent?  It wouldn’t matter one iota if this new cartel were an elaborate, sophisticated crime organization.  No, all that would matter, in his mind, was the cruelty and suffering inflicted on the victims. 

Thus was the kernel idea around which I began to weave a story I titled THE INVISIBLE GANG.   It is not your typical, over-the-top Spider thriller.  Oh, there’s action aplenty in its short 5,000 words.  There are gun-battles and villains vanquished, but in the end, it is about righting wrongs, even the little ones.  That was what I learned from this truly wonderful experience; for the Spider, the Master of Men, there are no small crimes.

Moonstone's new anthology, THE SPIDER CHRONICLES will be out soon.  It is available for pre-order from Amazon and Barnes & Noble on-line.  I hope you'll pick up and copy and check out my story and the other nineteen as well.   It's all good stuff.  Thanks.

And that wraps another week, airmen.  Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  As promised from last week, here are a couple of sneak-peeks at two classic pulp heroes making their return in brand new stories via my Wild Cat Books projects.  The first is a well-known radio and comic book figure and the other a true pulp favorite.

Captain Midnight got his start on radio and was a very popular show for many, many years.  Eventually he would become an equally popular comic book series and ultimately in the 50s evolve into television.  I'm sure many of you senior airmen will remember that half hour, black and white TV show with Richard Webb as Captain Midnight and the show's sponsor, Ovaltine.

Well the good Captain is about to make a wonderful return and all through the creative endeavors of my pal, writer David Walker.  David is writing a new series for Wild Cat Books that will be appearing and our forthcoming FLYING ACES title.  Dave has already turned in the first, origin yarn and it's a winner.  Aviation pulp fans are going to love this.  And in keeping with all this, Dave has also started up his own Captain Midnight website (http://mysite.verizon.net/theshadowreturns/)  Stop on by and check it out.

Meanwhile we are hard at work on a classic pulp revival; Ki-Gor Jungle Lord.   After the debut and popularity of Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan, in both pulps and movies, other publishers were eager to cash in on the jungle savage theme and dozens of such characters began popping up.  The most successful, and longest running such series was that of Ki-Gor Jungle Lord, which ran in every single issue of JUNGLE STORIES.  Ki-Gor, the orphaned son of a Scottish missionary killed in the Congo, raised himself in the wilds to become a blond Tarzan.  Within the next few months Wild Cat Books will releasing a brand new Ki-Gor anthology, with four action-packed stories by Wayne Skiver, Tom Johnson, Duane Spurlock and Peter Currane.   Our WCB artist supreme, Tom Floyd has turned in the cover below.

It's a beauty, isn't it?  To get a look at it without all that text, check out the Gallery pages.  Tom has truly outdone himself this time around and we couldn't be more delighted.  Naturally when the book is available for sale, I'll post it in this log.

Speaking of such postings, I am going to be the guest at a Boston Comic Convention on the 18th of Feb, put on my Primate Promotions.   I'm hoping lots of you airmen will jot that date down on your calendar and come down to say hi.  I'll have three or four of my pulp novels on hand for sale plus a comic or two.  Should be a fun day.

And that wraps up another week, amigos.   After a long delay, winter has finally settled in New England and we're once more a snow-covered scenery.  See you in seven, till then, stay warm.
Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  I thought we'd talk about one of my favorite things this week, movies.   My father got me hooked on motion pictures when I was little guy not much older than six or seven.  He would drag me to the local movie house on Saturday afternoons to catch the matinees.  Thus I grew up loving movies; mostly all kinds of movies.  Oh, there are one or two movie genres I won't visit, but I'll talk about them at a later date when I'm feeling more self-reflective, ha.  For right now, let's talk about some movies that have entertained me mightily, old and new.

First up is a movie that debut just last year and this past week arrived in DVD form in stores everywhere.  It is called THE ILLUSIONIST and stars a truly wonderful Edward Norton as a stage magician named Eisenheim who has come to his home town of Vienna to perform.  Upon arriving, he discovers his long lost love is also there, played by the lovely Jessica Biel, and that she is soon to marry a cruel and sadistic prince, deliciously played by Rufus Sewell.  Once the lovers are reunited, it is clear they can never be together because the prince will not be content to simply allow his fiancee to leave him for a commoner.  No, he will most likely have them hunted down and assassinated.  All this Eisenheim learns from both the princess and a chief of police named Uhl, brilliantly acted by Paul Giamatti.  Uhl sympathizes with the magician, but is weak and afraid to go up against royalty.   In the end Eisenheim must devise the greatest illusion of his life, or else he and his beloved will be doomed.  But can even the greal Illusionist escape the clutches of the grim reaper?   THE ILLUSIONIST is a very moving, entertaining experience that is both romance and mystery in the best sense of both.  If you've already seen it, you know what I mean.  If you haven't, I would strongly suggest you do so.  You will not be dissappointed.

Next up more of what Santa brought your Air Chief over Christmas.    I was fortunate enough to get some extra spending funds and immediately logged on to my favorite DVD site on the net, Deep Discount DVD.  (I've a link to them on my links page.)  They sell thousands of movies, old and new, at the cheapest prices with absolutely not shipping and handling fees, ever.   So taking that bonus cash, I went and ordered a bunch of things I've had on my wish list for a long-long time.  Two days ago the mailman delivered my box of movies.   Inside was….

THE MALTESE FALCON 3 Disc-Special Edition.   One of the finest mystery classics of all time, with a superb cast that included Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet.  All of them directed by John Houston based on the novel by Dahiell Hammett.  Along with the film and a great documentary, this set also included two earlier versions of this same movie; the 1931 Maltese Falcon starring Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade and the 1936 Satan Met A Lady, starring Warren Williams and a very young Bette Davis.  Truly..”…the stuff dreams are made of.”

THE GREEN ARCHER – From 1940 comes this 15 Chapter serial out of Columbia studios starring Victor Jory, Iris Meredith and James.  (Hits The Bull's-Eye For Thrill Lovers)  Serials were the cinematic versions of pulp adventures and I have a few dozen in my collection.

LUST FOR A VAMPIRE – 1970.  One of the last vampire movies produced by the popular British studio, Hammer.  Growing up in the 50's & 60's, I was a major fan of the Hammor horror movies and their wonderful reinterpretations of the old classic monsters ala the Wolfman, Frankenstein's Monster and of course, Dracula.  Towards the end of their operations their films, like this one, became a little more adult orirentated, adding a touch of eroticism to their brand of terror.

STAR TREK VI THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY – Clearly the second best Old Trek movie produced, after the WRATH OF KHAN, thanks in large part to the writing and directing skills of Nicolas Meyer.  There is something wild about a Kligon warrior, played to over-the-top perfection by Chirstopher Plummer, quoting Shakespear that is just too funny.  But at the same time, Meyer wisely addressed the age of this beloved cast and the fact that this will be their last mission together. And that they go out with so much dignity and class is what has endeared this particular movie to me.

SAMURAI  JACK – SEASON 3 – One of the most original action-adventure cartoons ever produced by an American stuido..ever!!!  And now I own all three amazing seasons.  Yahooo.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN : DEAD MAN'S CHEST – Okay, so it wasn't as good or funny as the first one, but then again Johnny Depp is back as the most ridiculously bad sea rover of all times, Captain Jack Sparrow.  I do like the fact that it was a cliff-hanger and will wrap up when #3 comes out later this year.
And actor Bill Nighy's octopus-head make-up as the legendary Davey Jones was just too plain freak!!

There you have it, airmen, my lastest stash of celluloid magic.   Now the real trick is going to be finding the time to watch half of them.   Ha.  Sincerely, since getting the new year kicked off, I've been up to my elbows in tons of great new pulp projects.  I'l be giving you a sneak-peek at one of them next week.  Till, then, have a great week.

Ron, over and out.