Greeting loyal airmen.  Here we are ending another week on a Friday 13th and all that supposedly entails. Whereas our first grandchild, Kristi, was born Nov 13th, that has ever been a lucky number here in Hangar 27.  Two new movie blockbusters open today; the new Marvel comic movie, The Incredible Hulk, and the latest thriller from the mind of M.Night Shyamalan, The Happening.  We will most likely try and catch the Hulk later today, and hopefully the other sometime in the next week.  The trailer's look especially creepy.  As for this new Hulk mega movie, we've been hearing nothing but positive reviews from our colleagues who've already seen it.  It seems most people didn't care for the first one that Ang Lee did with Eric Bana.  I agree it's not the greatest comic book adaptation ever done, but I still found it a decent effort and enjoy watching my DVD copy.  So now we're going to have two versions.  It will be fun to compare the two.  Makes me wonder if somebody might decide to do another Daredevil movie, as the Ben Affleck feature was also badly received.

Keeping to this subject, one of Marvel's better comic movies was the recent Punisher with Thomas Jane in the starring role.  It's a dandy crime action flick and Jane is perfect as the haunted Frank Castle who wages a one man war against the mob for murdering his family.  Well, get this, the powers that be at Marvel Entertainment have decided to do a sequel to be called Punisher – War Journal and get this, they are not using Jane for the part.  I've seen a few stills from the new production and they look horrible.  The unknown actor they've hired to play Castle looks more like a business accountant then a deadly vigilante.  I think this entire project is going to be one sorry mess by the time it's released.  Too bad they simply couldn't have brought back the first productin team and Jane, now that's a sequel we all would have wanted to see.

Every now and then certain well known publications use comic graphic art to highlight particular stories or features they are running.  Very recently Sports Illustrated went this route on their baseball cover to illistrate their main article about the Tampa Rays sudden winning ways.  The Rays, a young team that basically owned the cellar spot in the American League Eastern division the past few years, suddenly find themsevles swapping the top spot back and forth with the Boston Red Sox. 

This marvelous artwork depicting a Rays player picking up a startled Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees was rendered by Mark Bagley, a well known comic professional, with the inking and coloring chores handled by Karl Story and Alex Sinclair respectively.  A big thanks to my daughter, Michelle, whose husband, Chris has a subscription to the magazine, for making me aware of this cover and allowing me to borrow it for this piece.  Again, it's always fun to see comic graphics employed in other fields.

The big news this week is that after five long months, we are ready to release our fourth, all new Captain Hazzard pulp novel, CAVEMEN OF NEW YORK.  All the book files, to include text and artwork, have been mailed to the publisher, Cornerstone Book Publishers.   They should receive them early next week and with fingers crossed the book will finally be available by next Friday.  The completed cover by Mark Maddox is just stunning and I am so anxious to show it to all of you, but since the book isn't officially ready yet, I couldn't do that in good conscience this week.  So, as a sneak-peek, I am offering you a look at the back cover.  It gives some hints about the book's plot and the very special guest appearance by one of pulpdom's most revered writers. So hold on to your hats, loyal airmen.  Now it is just a matter of days.

On other fronts, Rob Davis and I continue to reprint our classic pulp books and along with the debut of this new Hazzard title, we will soon be releasing our new reprint edition of  LANCE STAR – SKY RANGER.  This was the first anthology Airship 27 Prod. put out back in 2006 and we are thrilled to have it back in print again.  Also, as all of you know, earlier this year we produced a book called BROTHER BONES, the adventures of the Undead Avenger.  (It is still available at our on-line store if you haven't picked it up yet.)  I mentioned this because we are now producing a brand new, 48 pg, black and white Brother Bones comic book that should be out within another month.  Keep watching this Log, as I'll certainly let you know when it is ready. 

There you have it, loyal airmen, for this week.  Come back next Friday for the release of the new Captain Hazzard and my thoughts on the new Hulk movie.  Till then, be well and enjoy the summer.
Ron – Over & Out.

Greeting loyal airmen.  Well things have really been busy around the old Hangar 27.  Rob Davis, your old Air Chief and the good folks at Cornerstone Book Publishers have just added the new reprint edition of SECRET AGENT X -Volume One to our library of books available for sale.

We first published this title two years ago with another publisher.  In re-editing it for this new edition, we added a brand new story and had the original cover pencils digitally painted by Shane Evans, an artist from New Zealand who has a way with colors.  Returning from that first edition are stories by Mark Justice, Brian Meredith and Kevin Noel Olson.  The new story in this edition is The Icarus Terror by Andrew Salmon and trust me, its one fact paced Agent X thriller.

The book is now available at our on-line Airship 27 store. Simply click on the dirigible logo to the left of this column.  Within a few weeks it will also be available at Barnes & Noble on-line, Amazon and all other well known book distributors.  Secret Agent X was by far one of the most popular classic pulp heroes of the 1930s and we having a blast bringing you new adventures of The Man With a Thousand Faces.  Hopefully within the next few months, we'll be releasing our reprint edition of Volume Two, which will also include a brand new story and then later in the year we hope to begin work on an all new Secret Agent X – Volume Three.  We've lined only the best modern writers of action and adventure for these projects.

We pride ourselves here at Airship 27 Prod. in bringing you the best quality books in both art and story.  Keep watching.  In the next few weeks you'll be seeing the release of our reprint edition of LANCE STAR – SKY RANGER and, finally, after months of waiting, the all new CAPTAIN HAZZARD – CAVEMEN OF NEW YORK.  The final cover is truly amazing and was worth the wait.

Well, we finally got some rain and it did the job of washing away the pollen that's been driving us allergy sufferers to distraction.  Knock on wood, the days ahead are going to be a whole lot more fun being outdoors.  We've started to catch some of the new summer movie blockbusters and so far have really liked; IRON MAN, PRINCE CASPIAN and the new INDIANA JONES installment.  I think this last Indy movie was a nice wrap up to the entire series and just a rollicking, fun flick.  Like revisiting an old friend you haven't seen in a long time.  Harrison Ford plays him to perfection.  Now we're looking forward to HANCOCK, THE HAPPENING, HELL BOY 2, HULK 2 (hey, I actually still like the first one, so sue me) GET SMART and of course, THE DARK KNIGHT.  If you are a movie lover, like us, this is a really fun time.

All for now, airmen.  Hope you're enjoying the summer.  Check out our books and we'll see you next week.
Ron, Over & Out.

Greeting loyal airmen.  For the past three years I've had the good fun of producing lots of great pulp adventure books.  In the past two years, with artist Rob Davis joining the team, we've put out some truly fun titles filled with action ala those great old pulps.  Today I want to beat the drums about Airship 27 Production's newest release.  It is something truly unique and not at all like anything we've ever done before.
 
                      

THE LIGHT OF MEN by Andrew Salmon is an amazing science fiction thriller that takes place in a horrible Nazis concentration camp during the last few days of World War II.   It is a brutally realistic look at one of the darkest chapters in history of mankind and deserves your attention and support.   Andrew spent the last 15 years of his life researching and writing this book.  Over 14 million “undesirables”, six million of them Jews, were murderd by those Nazis monsters in what our history books have properly labelled, The Holocaust.   Both Rob and I, and publisher Michael Poll of Cornerstone Books, are extremely honored and proud to have produced THE LIGHT OF MEN.  We hope you'll take a moment to check it out.   Right now the book is on sale at our on-line store.  Simply click on the flying dirigible logo to the left of the entry and you'll be taken to the store.  Click on the cover image and you'll pull up a page with more information and a sneak-preview of the book's first few pages.   Also, Rob provided the cover and the interior illustrations, producing his best work ever.  Please, believe me when I say you do not want to miss THE LIGHT OF MEN.  It is truly something special.

Last year your old Airship Chief had the distinct honor of being part of a brand new anthology of Phantom stories produced by Moonstone Books.   It was such a treat to write a tale based on one comics' earliest costumed heroes.  Well, that marvelous book featured gorgeous interior illustrations by my new friend, Ruben Procopio.  Ruben is the same fellow who surprised the hell out of me a few weeks ago by sending me statues of the Green Hornet and Kato produced for his studio, Masked Avenger.   Well, lo and behold, as yet another UPS truck showed up at the house a week ago and this time delivered the original art to the very illustration that had graced my short Phantom story, THE FASTEST ANIMAL.   Above you see a very happy Air Chief showing off his latest art acquisition.  Thanks so much, Ruben.  The piece is just fabulous.  Oh, and any interested parties, The Phantom Chronicles are still available at the usual on-line book outlets.  If you don't have a copy, what are you waiting for?

And speaking of buying stuff…a big Air Chief  THANKS to all of you who over the past few months have bought our adult graphic novel, DAUGHTER OF DRACULA at Indy Planet.com – the book continues to sell steadily and for a self-published project, that is saying a great deal.  So thanks for you continued support, airmen, it means the world to Rob and me.   And if you still haven't picked up a copy of this 108 pg. gothic horror romance, go to the Air Fare page and click on Mark Maddox's super cover.  See for yourself what the fuss is all about.

And that pretty much wraps up this week's Log, loyal airmen.  Save to say the allergy season continues and both Val and I really fed up with it.  We are experiencing a drought here in Southern New Hampshire with no rain for the past three weeks.  Pollen continues to settle on everything stationary and making life hell for us sufferers.  Here's hoping for a few rain clouds this weekend.

Finally, LOST wrapped up it's best season last night with a two hour slam-bam episode that was just simply fantastic.  Now I'm going to be watching my DVD collection of Season 3 until they come back next year.  What a wild and fun run.

Take care, see you all in seven.  Ron – Over & Out.

Happy Memorial Day holiday, loyal airmen.  As our country prepares for the first unofficial long week-end of the summer season, what with grumbling about high gas prices and the thrills of the movie blockbusters up there on the silver screen, we should stop for a brief moment to give thanks to those we remember on this special day.  Which, for your Air Chief, means recalling the most vivid dream I ever had.

I served in the U.S.Army in Vietnam during 1967-68.   As the end of May 68 rolled around, I had only one week left of my tour and started the paper-chase process that would get me shipped home.  In the last 90 days of one's tour, you became a Short-Timer.  The First Sergeant of our company relieved me of my duties so I go about getting my paper work in order.  One morning, knowing I was almost done with that task, he asked if I'd volunteer to ride shotgun for him on his daily courier run to Saigon.  We were stationed at an airstrip 22 miles north of the capital city.  It was a beautiful day and knowing I had very little left to do, I agreed to go along.  We went to Supply, signed out hand pistols, then climbed into the sergeant's jeep and took off for the big city.  In Saigon we stopped at various Army offices delivering and picking up packages.  By mid-afternoon Sarge informed me we had one last stop and then we'd be heading back for the base.  That stop was the United States
Mortuary Depot at the Saigon Airport.

As we drove up to this giant, nondesript green and gray warehouse, I felt myself getting nervous.  Although I'd never been there before, every G.I. in-country knew what this place was.  It was the place all the American slain were taken for identification, embalming and final placement in plain, no-frills coffins for the long journey home.  Every day this facility processed hundreds of young American boys, doing their best to make them presentable for that final journey back to their loved ones.  Having parked the jeep, Sarge told me I could stay there and wait for him or go in with him.  The choice was mine.  Part of me rebelled at the idea of setting foot in that place.  I am not a ghoul and seeing dead people is not something I enjoy in the slightest.  But what I am is a writer and my curiosity is what drives my talent.  For no other reason than to see with my own eyes, to live the experience, I agreed to tag along.  Call it an act of duty as a writer.

I would later write about that experience for our local paper here in Somersworth and to this day I still meet people who remember that one column.  I was told that it was actually read aloud on some local TV news broadcast.  The power of words is humbling indeed.  But that is not the what this Log Entry is about Loyal Airmen.  So moving on. 

Two nights later, that trip to the mortuary still very fresh in my mind, I went to sleep and had the most vivid dream in my then 21 year old life.  It seemed I was awaken from my slumber by voices, lots and lots of voices.  I climbed out of my bunk, threw on some clothes and walked out of the barracks.  Once outside I could see the huge empty field to the front of our barracks was filled with dozens of campfires around which were hundreds and hundreds of soldiers.  It was the middle of the night and I was confused as to what they were all doing there?  I slowly approached the field and started walking through their camp.  All of them, gathered around those blazing fires were so alive, so animated, chatting away, laughing and clowning around like all young men do.  I tried to see their unit patches on their sleeves in hopes of being able to identify what outfit they belonged to.  But the brightness of the flames and the darkness of the night prevented me from getting a clear view.  Then, all of a sudden, Top Sergeants all over the field began yelling for them to “saddle up!”  Meaning, get into formation.  They were moving out.  This they did with practised ease, quickly and efficiently.  Seeing I was going to be in their way, I moved off to the side of the road and stood there watching them assemble.  Once they were all lined up, they became silent and the night became powerfully still.  Somewhere down the road, a Company Commander gave the word, and once again the grizzled sergeants relayed the command, “MOVE OUT!”

And that army of young men, most not even 20 yet, started marching past me into the thick, dark jungle ahead.  And as they did, I suddnely knew who they were.  And my chest tightened and tears welled up in my eyes.  And as they moved past me, one of them turned and said with a sad sweet smile, “Don't forget us.”

I never have.  On this special weekend, I remember them, and all the brave men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country in all wars.  Who paid the ultimate sacrifice to guarantee your freedoms and mine.  I will never ever forget them, nor those serving today in foreign lands.  God bless them all, Americans every one.

Ron – Over & Out.

Welcome, loyal airmen.  Don't know how long, or short, this week's log entry will be.  All depends on how many times I have to stop and blow my nose.  Achoo!!!  We're right dab in the middle of pollen season here in the North East and this year it has been particularly brutal.  Both Valerie and I have been bothered by our allergies and life is pretty miserable when all you want to do is get outdoors into that wonderful, warm weather, and you cannot.  Unlike the middle of the country, we've also been bone dry the past few weeks, which hasn't helped the cause in the slightest.  The weather men are predicting rain during the weekend, which would hopefully wash a lot of this away.  We'll keep our fingers crossed.

We attended the funeral of a dear woman we knew slightly this past week.  She was the relative of a relative, if you understand that.  We had only met her on a handful of occassions and enjoyed those meetings a great deal.  She was in her 80s, a native of the Boston South End where she lived most of her life as a devoted wife and terrific mother of seven.  When she passed away of cancer this past week, over a thousand people came to pay their respects.  At the church service, both the priest and one of her granddaughters spoke about this woman's most remarkable talent, her ability to listen.  Long ago I read somewhere that God should have added an eleventh commandment, Thy Shall Listen.  If you think it is an inconsequential gift, you are sadly mistaken.  Whenever this dear lady encountered someone, she would immediately drop everything she was doing ( & thinking about ) and give them her complete, and undivided attention.  She would look at you as if you were the most important person in the entire world, and to her, at that moment, you were.  She wanted to know about you, your life, your hopes and dreams…and so she would listen, and listen well.  In my 61 years of living, I've only ever met two or three people with this selfless ability, she was one of that select group.  So, though I'd only ever spoken with her all of four or five times, I cherished those memories at her funeral.  Truly knowing I'd been blessed by those encounters and realizing I'd been taught something special, how to listen better.  In her memory, I'm really going to try and do that a whole lot more.

Every once in a while a movie comes along that gets very little advertising or marketing.  One day it's at the theaters an the next day its gone.  One such gem was a sword and sandle action flick that came out last year called, THE LAST LEGION.

It tells the story of how King Arthur's magic sword came to be in England in the first place and sets up all the marvelous legends we know of in that particular myth.  I've been a huge fan of the King Arthur tales all my life and really enjoyed this movie a great deal.  It has an international cast, moves along at a fast clip and was filmed in some truly beautiful locations.  It is available on DVD and if you see it, at least rent it and check it out for yourself.  I think you'll find it a fun experience.  Speaking of sword & magic, the second of the big budget Narnia movies, PRINCE CASPIAN, opens nation wide today.  We hope to catch a matinee showing either tomorrow or Sunday.  If it is as good as the first one, we're all in for a treat.

LOST continues to be my all time favorite television series.  In two weeks, season four wraps up with a two hour finale.  I'm biting my nails here.  This has truly been the best season ever!   Meanwhile, in the real world, the Red Sox have lost their last four!!  The pitching is falling apart right in front of our eyes and it hurts.  Here's hoping their return to Boston and Fenway Park puts a stop to this slide and they can start getting back on to the winning column.  And lastly, I've added a couple of pulp-covers-in progress to our Gallery section.  If you haven't checked out the art there, now would be a good time to do so.  These are really beautiful pieces.

All for this week.  Got to stock up on tissues.  Ha.
Ron – Over & Out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  Last weekend was a whirlwind of activity around Hangar 27 and things just haven't let up for a second.  As many of you know, last Saturday was Free Comic Book Day across the country. A crazy idea dreamed up by the comics industry to help retailers promote their products.  Once a year all these companies, big and small, provide the shopowners with free comics to give their customers.  Over the years since its inception, FCBD has taken on a festive, holiday feel.  Most shops go out their way with all kinds of activities geared to making the public aware; from people dressed in Star Wars costumes to free barbecues. It becomes a circus like day for all.  My long time pal, Ralph DiBernardo is second to none when it comes to organizing a fantastic FCBD at his JETPACK comics store in nearby, Rochester, NH.  This year Ralph had two giant outdoor tents put up in the parking lot beside the store and filled them with a dozen comic book creators, both writers and artists, some local and others from as far off as New York City.

                                   The Hangar Chief & artist Rich Woodall

Among these invited guests was your old Hangar Chief and JOHNNY RAYGUN artist supreme, Rich Woodall. Rich is a good pal and neighbor here in Somersworth.  Its always fun to catch up with him, although this time it wasn't such a long in-between period as we went to the Boston Comic Show together only three weeks ago.  Rich and his sci-fi comedy adventure comic have a huge following and it is always fun seeing those fan turn to meet him.   Likewise I too met lots of familiar faces, many I had not seen in years.  It really was great to get caught up with these truly wonderful fans.

                               
                                       
                                     Writer Larry Young & the Air Chief

One fellow I was thrilled to see was Larry Young.   Larry is kind of the Air Chief's informal protege.  I've known him since he was a young man who happened to love comics.  Larry first tried his hand at drawing (much like your Air Chief) but in the end gave up on that path.  Instead he turned his creative juices to writing and in that venue, I've had some small influences on him.  And I do mean small.  Larry has grown into a terrific writer and last year self-published his first two comics.   He's kept this dream alive while at the same time marrying Heidi, his anchor in life, and becoming a father to two really wonderful kids, both in their teens now.  He's the kind of guy who never quits and I'm really lucky to call him a pal.

After the fun of FCBD, things around the Hangar settled out somewhat.  Then Monday afternoon arrived and Valerie and headed down to Boston for my consultation with the specialist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  What a place!  It was our first time there and both of us were totally impressed by the staff, both medical and clerical.  These people are so friendly and helpful and do go out of their way to make their patients comfortable and at ease.  As for our meeting with the lymphoma specialist, it was a rousing success.  Meaning?  Meaning the original diagnose I received after my surgery six weeks ago has been confirmed.  I have only one spot in my entire body (yahoo..& thank you, God) and it is one of the slowest growing cancers known.  So slow in fact that my treatment will be to do nothing.  Nothing that is, save to continue living a healthy lifestyle and once a year going into for an X-ray to keep tabs on that little spot.  Should it ever begin growing, there is even an effective drug that will shrink it down again.  So I could conceivably go the rest of my life simply monitoring it, and every now and then getting these antibiotics to shrink it up.  In fact the specialist told us as we were leaving that he truly believes within the next decade they will have developed a drug to completely eradicate the node. Thus my incentive to say fit and well until that day comes along.  We here at Hangar 27 consider all this great news and answered prayer.  Thanks to all of you for those prayers.

And since I am most likely going to be around for a while yet, it was time to shake off the cobwebs and get busy again doing those things I love.  I've told you lots about the pulp projects we have in development, but this week I thought you'd all get a kick out of seeing a sneek-peek at a new sci-fi adventure comic I'm currently invovled with.  It's called EPOCH and is the brain-child of artist Kris Carter.  Kris asked me a few months ago if I might be able to help him with the scripting and I was only too happy to say yes.  This is a grand over-the-top adventure and the story is all his.   He draws the pages, tells me what is happening in the narrative and then I write the captions and dialogue.  When completed, the book will be in full color and published by Aracana.  Trust me, if you like Star Wars, you are going to truly love EPOCH.

And that's another wrap for this week, loyal airmen.  Sunday is Mother's Day.  I trust all of you have plans to celebrate the day by honoring that special person who, with God's graces, brought you into this world.  Hug her to you tightly, give her a big kiss and tell her how much you love her.  There are no flowers that can ever equal the happiness those words give her.

Ron – Over & Out.

                                                 Me & artist Rob Davis aka Airship 27 Productions.

Greetings loyal airmen.  The comic/pulp convention season is now in full swing and as you can tell by the picture above, your old Hangar Chief had himself a great time last weekend at the Windy City Paper & Pulp Con.  As that photo above can attest to.  Rob and I had a super time meeting old friends and making lots of new ones in the process. As always the weekend just flew by.  Thanks to all of you who stopped by our table to talk and buy our books.  Please, drop us a line and let us know how you liked them.  We always appreciate your feedback.

                                                 Premier Painter Illustrator – Doug Klauba

Among the members of our internet pulp club, the Pulp Factory, who also attended was artist Doug Klauba.  This year Doug was selling a book filled with his amazing pencil sketches and I made sure to pick one up.  Doug is one of the finest artist I've ever known and an all around good guy.  It is always much fun when we hook up like this. 

                                Sci-Fi Author – Van Allen Plexico

Likewise our good pal, writer Van Allen Plexico.  Van recently became the father of a beautiful baby girl named Mira.  When he showed up at the show late Friday afternoon, after an all day drive, it was easy to see what lots of sleepless nights have done to the poor guy.  Ha.  Welcome to the world of Fatherhood, Van.  On the good news front, Van was signed by Swarm Press, a publisher of action-adventure-sci-fi and they will be handling all his SENTINELS books from now on.   This is a series of books starring a group of superheroes and I urge you to seek them out, they are simply fantastic.

During the course of the two days we were at the show, I was humbled by how many of you loyal airmen stopped by and inquired as to my health with sincere concern.  Folks like John Bodnar and Wayne Reinagel.  Thanks so much.  Things are moving along well on that front.  I was back to the local hospital this past week for another series of tests, the results of which I'll be taking to Boston this coming Monday.  We're going down to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to consult with an specialist in the type of lymphomas I have.  I'll keep you posted.

I want to publicly thank pulp writer/historian, Bob Weinberg, who had some really wonderful things to say about Airship 27 Prod.  Bob is the fellow who published a series of pulp reprint books back in the early 1970 and got your old Hangar Chief hooked on pulps in the first place.   And big tip of the pulp fedora to con promoters, Doug Ellis and John Gunnison.  Once again they put on a truly fun show for everybody.  Rob and I are already making plans for next year.  Count on it.

Meanwhile things around here are as hectic as usual.  Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day across the land and I will be spending a good deal of it at my friend, Ralph DiBernardo's super shop, JETPACK COMICS, in nearby Rochester, NH.  So if any of you airmen are anywhere in the vacinity, please stop on by.  This looks to be another blow-out comic book bash.  Lots of free comics, food and just old fashion fun.   All coming on the very weekend when Marvel debuts its lastest superhero blockbuster movie..IRON MAN.  Several of my colleagues, including Van, have already caught early screenings and they are calling the best one yet.  Wow.  Hopefully some time during this busy weekend, Val and I will be able to squeeze it in.  We're both big Robert Downey fans and were thrilled when he got this role.  He makes a perfect Tony Stark, the millionaire industrialist who becomes the iron avenger.  I still remember buying the first issues of IRON MAN when I was all of 12 years old.   Makes you wonder where all those years have gone.  Then again looking at that white haired dude in the picture above answers that question.  Ha.

So there you go, loyal airmen.  Hope all of you have a great week and we'll see you back here in seven.
Ron – Over & Out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  I'm writing this Thursday morning because this time tomorrow (April 25th) I'll be in Chicago hooking up with artist Rob Davis, the other half of Airship 27 Prod. and getting ready to attend our second Windy City Paper & Pulp Convention.   As many of you know, Rob and I attended this show for the first time last year and we had so much fun, met some really wonderful fans and colleagues, that we had to return and do it again.  We're both anxious to see our Pulp Factory pals; Van Plexico of White Rockets Books, artist Doug Klauba and this year, for the first time, Reel Art Studios Michael Hudson.  Looks to be another terrific weekend.  Rob is bringing his ever trusty digital camera so hopefully in next week's log entry, I'll have some fun pictures to post here.

In planning out the trip, Valerie suggested it was time I had some new business cards made up to take along.  The ones I have in the office are outdated and the information inaccurate.  I liked the idea, especially wanting to have a card with our new, spiffy dirigible logo on it.  Valerie then advised me to seek out the help of my good buddy, and design guru, Anthony Schiavino.  Like the loyal airman he is, Anthony whipped out a truly wonderful looking card as you can see above, front and back, with all the pertinent data very neatly laid out.   I loved it and wasted no time racing down to the local Staples where I had 400 printed up.  Now should I meet someone in Chicago who would like keep in touch, I can proudly hand him one of these little beauties.  Thanks, Anthony.  I love them.

Speaking of that dirigible logo, I hope all you loyal airmen have checked out our new Airship 27 Pulp store by now.  All you need to do is click on the dirigible to the left of this column.   We've reprinted two of our old titles in brand new editions.   The publisher sent us a box-full for the show, and in looking at them I was truly impressed with how really great they look.  These are very much superior to the old editions.  So, again, if you don't have either THE HOUNDS OF HELL, or CAPTAIN HAZZARD # 3 – CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT.  Now would be an excellent time to pick them up.

Speaking of Captain Hazzard, the Champion of Justice.  As you all know, we here at Hangar 27 have been biting our nails awaiting the finished cover to book # 4 – CAVEMEN OF NEW YORK.  Above is a mock up Rob pasted together over an early Mark Maddox rough pencil sketch to give us an idea of the finished cover.  Well I'm happy to report Mark has started painting the piece and if you'd like to see a sneek-peek of his color blocking on it, simply go to the Gallery files.  I think you'll be very, very impressed.  Looking at it in even this early stage, it is easy enough to imagine what a dynamite painting this is going to be.  Mark is truly one of the finest digital painters in the field to day and we're so lucky to have him on board.

And there you have it, loyal airmen.  Got more packing to do today, errands to run and hopefully catch a good nap this afternoon.  My day starts at 4 AM tomorrow morning.  Going to be a long one.  Ha.  But of course worth it once we're in Chicago and meeting all you fans.

Take care, have a great week.  Ron, over and out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  Well, here we are going on three weeks since I left the hospital and my recovery continues at a good pace.  Saw my surgeon for a post-op visit this past week and says your old air chief is the poster child for this kind of surgery. Ha.  Valerie and I are back to our morning mile and a half walk and except for one sore pectoral muscle under my left breast, I'm really feeling terrific.  Enough so that last Sunday I spent the entire day in Boston at comic con put on by David Cummings, a long time associate and pal.  Rich Woodall, my neighbor and the artist/creator of the sci-fi comedy comic, JOHNNY RAYGUN, drove us down.  I was lucky enough to latch on to a few photos taken at the show.

The show's Big Name Guest was DC's own Cliff Chiang, seen above with a young fan.  Cliff drew one of my personal favorite comis of last year, the DOCTOR 13 graphic novel.  So it was a thrill for me to go up and shake his hand and tell him how much I enjoy his work.  Of course, I was so excited about going to the show, I forgot to bring my copy of the book for Cliff to sign.  Aaghhh.

The other popular and well known artist guest was Mike Lily, whose work on VAMPIRELLA has really been turning heads.  I was really lucky to have Mike as my table neighbor for the entire day and we had a blast getting to know each other while meeting fans.   That's Mike above, with a really awful shot of me behind him.  Whatever that thing over my mouth is I have no clue.  Ha.  Behind me is Rich Woodall.  Anyway, in talking with Mike, I learned he's doing a pulp inspired comic for a British comic publisher to be called THE MERCURY CHRONICLES.  He showed me some of his early sketechs for it and I was simply blown away.   Nothing I love better than pulp inspired comics and this series, when it comes out, is going to blow people away.

And here's a shot of Rich completely enjoying himself.  Oops.  Ha.  Camera dude simply caught him unprepared.  Rich is one of the most jovial people in the world and seeing any picture of him without a smile is simply a rarity.  Oh, and that's the back of my head in the background.  I know, some of you think its my better side.  Ha.  Ha.  And there you have it.  A really fun day in Beantown.  Oh, and I'd be remiss to not tell you that Mike Lily is a New York boy and Yankees fan.  When he saw mine, and Rich's, Red Sox hats etc.he chuckled and confessed to be a member of the Evil Empire.  We really had a good time talking baseball…amicably.  Cross my heart.

This time next week, I'll be in Chicago hooking up with Rob Davis for our second trip to the Windy City Paper & Pulp Con.   Rob and I had so much fun at this show last year, we decided back then to repeat the experience.  We're really looking forward to renewing our acquaintances with the fine writers and artists we met there last year.  Sooooo…loyal airmen, if any of you are in the Chicago area next weekend, please check out the show on-line for the location and other details.  As always I would so love to meet you in person.

Question.  When is the last time you have been completely surprised…in an awesome, good way?  That doesn't happen to me often, but this past Monday afternoon it did and I'm still a bit shook up even now.  I was sitting in our front room looking out the bay window when a brown UPS truck came to stop in front of our yard.  I hustled to the front porch and there met the driver as he lugged a big cardboard box up our driveway.  He handed it to me, scanned the bar code and went on his way.  When I entered the kitchen carrying this thing (it was the size of a piece of luggage) Valerie queried me as to who it was for?   We checked the address sticker and there was my name.  I was completely stupified.  The return address listed Avengers Studio, Burbank CA.  Again, a mystery to me?  What on earth was in this box and who had sent it?

We laid it our on the kitchen bar counter and carefully cut open one end flap.  This revealed a beautifully designed package inside with the words…Electric Tiki.   I recognized thos instantly and a cold sweat broke out all over my body.   Electric Tiki is a company that produces the most beautiful character statues of well known fictional heroes.  They've done Tarzan, the Lone Ranger and the Phantom to name a few.   About a month ago they released a very special set with two statues, one of the Green Hornet and the other of his sidekick, the martials arts chauffeur, Kato.  I'd seen these advertised all over the internet and they made me drool, as they are just gorgeous, both of them.   The owner/artist/sculpture is a fellow named Ruben Procopio, and his work is just amazing.   When I'd first seen the Hornet and Kato pieces and learned what they were selling for, I mentally let go the dream of ever owning them.  On a retired, fixed income, it was just out of the question.  But, hey, that's life, right?  You just can't have every toy out there.  Ha.

Well, of course I was wrong this one time.  For in that unexpected box was the Electric Tiki set, both statues!!  Valerie and I took them out of their case and carefully set them up on a small table.  I told her to get her digital camera and snap a few shots just so I'd know I wasn't dreaming.

Accompanying the statues was a yellow envelope.  While Valerie took pictures, I opened this up and found a hand written letter from Ruben Procopio.  In it he said the statues for a gift for the entertainment I given him years ago with my GREEN HORNET comic series for Now Comics.  He thought I would be a person to relish and appreciate these pieces.  Ha.  Talk about an understatement.   Happily Ruben had included his business card as well and that's where I found his office phone number.  I immediately picked up the phone and called him.  Now it was his turn to be pleasantly surprised.  For the next forty minutes we had a truly wonderful conversation, with me saying Thank You about a hundred and twenty times and Ruben laughing, and in turn thanking me for my phone call.  That he is a great guy, and a truly generous soul now goes without saying.  Nobody, other than Val or family, has ever given me such a beautiful gift before.  These two figures are now stationed on the book shelf to the immediate right of my writing station here in Hangar 27.   Every time I look at them, I smile.  For one day I was that little boy awakening Christmas morning to discover the impossible toy he had only dreamed about was now really his.  Amazing.  Life is so full of surprises.

Obviously, after the my physical trials of the past weeks, this wonderful gesture on Ruben's part truly went a long, long way in getting me better.  I will never forget it.

And there you have it, loyal airmen.  Another week.  Spring continues to shine and grace us with warm weather.  Our granddaughters are playing softball, the Red Sox are doing relatively well for the start of the season and life really is good.   I wish all of you such surprises every day.
Ron – Over & Out.

Greeting loyal airmen.  Those of you who are regular visitors are all to familiar with the history of my recent health issues.  All of which started three years ago, after two spots were discovered, one on each of my lungs.  This all taking place after I'd had a serious bout of pneumonia that particular winter.  Two weeks ago, I had surgery to remove the mysery nodule from my left lung.  My recovery is going super, thanks to Val's loving care, and all your wonderful well-wishes and prayers.  I'm up and about, walking a mile and a half daily and am back to driving again. So do keep those prayers coming.

Earlier this week my surgeon called to say the biopsy report had come in at long last and he now had a definitive answer to the question that had been plagueing us these past three years.  The true identity of the mystery spots.  What I have is a BALTOMA.  The medical definition is; a slow-growth, malignant lymphoma of the bronchus region.  It is a cancer, that's what malignant lymphoma means.  But it is a treatable type of cancer.  Operative word there is TREATABLE!  I hope you can imagine the twin sighs of relief that came from both of us as we heard that news.  My doctor said, “Ron, if you had to have cancer, this is the kind you want.”  And he meant those words.  He, and now us, all see this a fantastic good news.  Once I am completely recovered from the surgery, hopefully within a few more weeks, I will be meeting with a lung specialist affiliated with the oncology department of the hospital to begin a series of treatment to complete erase that remaining nodule on my right lung.  Without surgery!!  Which was my doctor's euphoric proclomation.   No more cutting me open or taking other pieces out of me.  Now that is really good news.

After our conversation with the doctor, I go back and see him in two weeks for a final post-op visit, Valerie jumped on the internet and truly researched Baltoma frontwards and backwards.  You have to love the information highway. Everything she learned totally confirmed what we had been told and we found case after case where this particular cancer was effectively treated and wiped out.  Some treatments are as simple as overdosing the patient with two to three strong antibiotics at the same time for a lenghty period.  Absolutely amazing.  Obviously we are now more than anxious to meet with the lung specialist and get this program underway.  So, although not quite out of the woods yet, airmen, we truly can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, and its really shining bright.  Of course we'll continue to keep you updated every step of the way.

Back to life as normal.  This past week my son, Scott, posted some pictures on the net of his son, Logan, enduring a wonderful manly rite of passage; his first ever haircut.

I love this picture, with the little guy still not completely sure what that man is doing to him with those scissors.  He's a brave little guy.  He recently had his tonsils removed and we're told was a real trooper.  Believe me, Val and I couldn't be prouder of our Logan.

On the creative front, I'm spending more and more time at my writing desk, trying to gradually get back into the swing of my many projects.  One of these is a new action pulp series I'm writing with my pal, Andrew Salmon, to be called GHOST SQUAD.  While Andrew and I are wrapping up the actual first novel, I was fortunate to find and recruit a young artist named Chad Hardin to digitally paint our first cover.  This past week, Chad sent along the following rough sketch to give us an idea of whate he had in mind.

Both my art director, Rob Davis, and I loved the composition and think its going to work fine, allowing lots of empty space at the top for the placing of the title logo etc.  I did ask Chad to change the characters around, as the dude in the background left is the team leader and I need him in the front.  So in the final painting, the big guy and he will have swapped places.   As Chad continues to develop the piece, I'll post the various stages here for all of you to see and enjoy.  We hope to have GHOST SQUAD #1 – RISE OF THE BLACK LEGION out by this summer at the latest.

And that's it for this week, airmen.  Save to remind you one more time that I will be in Boston all day this coming Sunday (13th) at the Radisson Hotel for a big comic con.  See last week's Log Entry for all the details.  If you are anywhere near there this weekend, please stop on by.  Would love to meet lots of you airmen.  In two weeks I fly off to the Windy City Paper & Pulp Con held in Chicago.  More on that later.

That's it. Take care, have a great week, and do something nice for the people you love today.  Just because you love them.  What other reason could be more important?
Ron  – Over and Out.