There's an old Yankee adage that goes, “If you aren't happy with the weather in New England, stick around five minutes and it will change.”  Well, loyal airmen, that's what happened yesterday afternoon when a severe weather pattern descended on the New England seacoast propelled by powerful winds.  Starting down in the Hartford, Conn. area, this front which combined hot humid air from the south with cold, biting air from Canada whipped itself into a frenzy by the time it had moved over Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  It was the perfect weather cocktail for tornados. 

Winds in excess of 70 miles an hour ripped through the middle of the Granite State without warning, devastating over a hundred homes, most in the Epsom and Barnstead regions.  These are rural, lakeside communities.  One poor woman lost her life, while her husband and grandson miraculously were spared.

We here in Somersworth were spared this kind of horrendous damage.  At one point, Valerie and her mom were out grocery shopping and had to deal with the steady, torrential downpour.  Meanwhile I was manning Hangar 27 and saying lots of prayers that they were okay.  No one was happier than your Air Chief when they rolled up the driveway a few hours later.  Then all three of us stayed glued to out TV set watching local stations continue to report the effects of this foul weather.  Although no one actually caught photage of funnels, they were sighted and today the National Weather Service has agents in the area examining the aftermath.  Areas where mighty trees, some hundreds of years old, were mowed down for miles as if they were toothpicks.

The Governor has toured the areas hardest hit and promised the complete resources of state and national agencies in helping the victims as they attempt to access their loses and come to grips with what the future holds for them.  Still, when we realize the severity of the event, it is clearly a miracle that only one poor soul was lost.
Crazy, crazy, weather.

Moving on to lighter topics, the amazing box-office success of the movie, DARK KNIGHT, pretty much rewarded the stellar work of director Chris Nolan and his truly outstanding cast of actors.  If you'll recall, he, and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, totally jump-started this particular comic book franchise that had fallen on hard times.  The old series had become broad slapstick cartoons that no one took seriously.  Nolan and his team set about correcting that image and returning this DC icon back to his somber roots, as the haunted vigilante who is Gotham's protector.  With BATMAN BEGINS, they succeeded and all we comic fans kept our fingers crossed that first film was not just a lucky fluke, that these people know what they were doing and would give us another adult melodrama we could sink our teeth into.  Well, here it is, and your Old Air Chief is declaring it the BEST MOVIE he's seen thus far this year.   Don't get me wrong, I loved IRON MAN and still do.  But that movie catered to the eternal 13 year old in me, thank you very much.  DARK KNIGHT plays to the adult with intelligence and I appreciate that a great deal.  If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?

I've had the true good fortune (blessings if you will) to see many of my dreams come true.  One that still remains unfulfilled is to someday see one of my own comic tales brought to the big silver screen.  I'm hoping DAUGHTER OF DRACULA is that dream-maker.  At present a good friend who works as a composer in the movie business is passing around copies to various producers in Hollywood.  We keep our fingers crossed and hope you'll do so as well.  Good karma is always appreciated.

And that warps up another week.  One a little hairy, weather wise.  But again, that's New England!
Ron – Over & Out

Yahoo, loyal airmen! Look at that gorgeous comic cover above..  Outstanding!  Naturally our big news of the week is the release of our newest Redbud Studio comic, THE UNDEAD AVENGER – BROTHER BONES.  Of course as you loyal airmen all know, Brother Bones is one of our Airship 27 Prod. original pulp characters that's been entertaining readers since his pulp title came out earlier in the year.   If you closely at the upper right hand corner of this cover you'll see our familiar flying dirigible logo.  Yup.  This is the first time we've taken one of pulp heroes and adapted him to comic action.   All of us involved with the project are extremely excited about this and hope to follow it up with lots of these adaptions.

In BULLETS OF JADE, an assassin from the Far East comes to Cape Noir and begins killing Chinese Tong leaders.  It is up to the Undead Avenger to put a stop to his killing spree.  But can even the Brother Bones withstand the power of assassin's magical ..BULLETS OF JADE!   The script is by yours truly, with all interior art by the amazing John Polacek.  Lettering and design work, to include the pencils for this dramatic cover were by Rob Davis, the same artist who graced the pages of our BROTHER BONES pulp book.  After Rob turned in his pencils they were digitally painted over by Shane Evans of New Zealand, a fanstic artist in his own right.  And when I said John Polacek was a unique stylist, I wasn't exaggerating one little bit.

Take a look at the above full page.  Now that's one scary hombre!!!  This comics is ONLY available from the on-line store (www.IndyPlanet.com).  To find exactly where, go to our Air Fare page.  There you'll find the cover and link to take you right to the store posting.  The book sells for $3.50 plus shipping and handle.  Rob, John and your old Air Chief are really hoping you'll pick up a copy and let us know what you think.  The book was released only four days ago and already Indy Planet is reporting sales!!!  Amazing!  But then again, I'm not suprised.  Loyal airmen are the best damn fans in the world.

Speaking of good fans, I'd like to take a second to talk about “bad” fans.  This past Tuesday night the city of New York, and in particular the Yankees Baseball Organization hosted the annual All Star game, the summer classic pitting the super stars of the American League against the best of the National League.  Unless you've been working out on an offshore oil rig for the past four days, you are well aware how the game became a marathon event going all of 15 innings and ending in the wee hours of Wednesday morning with the AL winning their 12th consecutive contest by the score of 4 to 3.  The Most Valuable Player award (named for Red Sox great, Ted Williams) went to new Red Sox star, J.D. Drew, much to chagrin of the Yankee fans still in the stadium by game's end.

The rivalry between these two teams is well known and has made for some truly memorable games in the past; not excluding a few on-field fights.  None of which is unexpected as every year these two teams seem to go head to head in battling for their division championship.  We all get that.  But underlying the rivalry there has always been a mutual respect amongst fans were for the opposing team.  I've several pals who are diehard Yankees fans and I think the world of them.  Most Red Sox and Yankees fans are decent, knowledgeable fans who truly love the game of baseball.  But not the group that inhabited the seats in Yankee stadium last Tuesday night and showed their idiocy by booing each and every Red Sox player when they were announced and later went to bat or took to the field.  Never mind the booing, they also went out of their way to rattle pitcher Jonathan Papelbon because of misquoted statements that appeared in one of the city's sleaziest rags that morning.

A newspaper with a reputation for stirring up controversy, claimed that Papelbon had somehow disrespected the Yankees' veteran closer, Mariano Rivera.  Which was totally BS!!  Papelbon has been quoted time and time again in the press and on the air as praising the seasoned pitcher.  He even called him, “the Godfather of Closers.”  Hardly what you would call dissing someone?  Yet the morons who came to the game that night were ready to defend their team's honor for some fabricated insult.  This they did by booing  Red Sox players who were in effect, on this night, their HOME TEAM!!!  Watching the game and listening to how they tried to humiliate and shake up Papelbon when he came out to pitch was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen in my life.

So one more time so there is no misunderstanding here.  I think 99% of the Yankees fans in the world are fantastic, wonderful people.  On the other hand, those so called baseball fans who were in that staduim Tues. night booing Jonathan Papelbon and his teammates were the dumbest bunch of moronic idiots ever to attend a ballgame.  The sign below, a Father's Day gift from son Scott and his family, is solely for them!

And that warps another week at Hangar 27, loyal airmen.  Stay cool, enjoy the summer and see you back here in seven days.
Ron – Over & Out.

Greeting loyal airmen and welcome to another week's Log Entry where the old Air Chief's ego takes flight, soaring to new heights of humility.  Ha.  But before launching into what that's all about, we want to give a sharp Airship 27 salute to Airman Wayne Reinagle who provided us with that amazing picture of the USS Akron on one of its flights over Manhattan.  Simply majestic, these grand and graceful cloud cruisers.  Is it any wonder your old Air Chief loves them so much?  Thanks again, Wayne.

If you're a fan of the TV cops and robbers shows, you'll know that every time detectives interview possible suspects in a murder investigation they will invariably ask about the victim, “Did he have any enemies?”  Many times while watching those shows I'll wonder about that question in regards to my own life.  It would be really wonderful to go through life and never have a single enemy.  Sadly, we humans being imperfect souls at best, just can't seem to get through this life without at one time or another offending others, be intentional or not.  I sometimes imagine a story wherein the TV investigator would look at the widow and ask instead, “Did he have any friends?”   You see, at the end of the day, its not whether we have enemies or friends, but rather how many of both?

A few years ago I had Valerie snap the above photo of yours truly.  It was intended for the back of the very first pulp book we ever had published.  I purposely posed ala those serious “author” shots you always see in books.  Whenever I look at it now, it just makes me laugh.  Why?  Because as serious as I might want people to take me, the most honest thing about this picture is the Captain Specter lightning patch on my jacket identifying me as a member of the Lightning Legion.  Yeah, that's how serious I get. 

How do others see us?  One night while surfing the web, I pulled up the free encyclopedia site, Wikipedia and punched in the name Ron Fortier.  Holy smokes, what came up stunned your old Air Chief!  There was this humongous entry detailing 98% of my writing career in chronological order.  It was so detailed, I simply couldn't believe it.  Or that someone out there on the net, obviously devoted loyal airmen, had spent so much time doing up this truly marvelous history of my writing career.  Whoever you good people are, my sincerest and most humble thanks.  Looking over that long lists of credits (way more than I've got listed here…ha), was a trip back in time for sure.  One I had the good pleasure of repeating again this past week on the air.

About a year ago, a loyal airmen named Chuck Moore invited me to join his growing website, Comic Related.  He was kind enough to offer me my own dedicated forums at this terrific site.  He wanted me to have a place where I could go one on one with all of you.  Something we never added here.  So I signed on and within weeks Chuck and I became fast amigos.  I know of very few people who love the world of comics and everything about them as does Chuck.  He recently started doing a series of weekly Comic Related podcast and they are so much fun to listen to.  A few days ago Chuck asked me if I'd like to be his next podcast subject.  Owing him so much for my forums at CR, I happily agreed.  He gave me a call one night and we spoke for almost two full hours about comics, pulps and my blessed career in the field.  It was all about the Air Chief, loyal airmen, and I got to tell many of my “war” stories.  So if you've ever wondered what the Air Chief actually sounds like, or are curious at all about some of the things I've briefly touched upon in this journal, you really should check these out.  Simply go to our Links page, click on the Comic Related logo there and away you go.  Chuck broke our conversation into two one hour podcasts ( # 21 & # 22) and they are both right there on his front menu page.  As Chuck is another loyal airmen who stops by here every single week, THANKS AMIGO!!!  It was so much fun rapping with you about things we both love dearly.  I only hope I didn't put too many of your listeners to sleep.  Ha.

On to other fronts.  I've just finished one of the finest fantasy adventure books ever, LAMPLIGHTER by D.M. Cornish.  Click on my Pulp Fiction Review link above this column for my full review.  If you love this kind of imaginative fiction, don't miss this truly amazing work.  It's a rare find.

Saw the movie version of GET SMART with my daughter, Heather, last week.  It, and dinner afterward, were her belated Father's Day treat for me.  Both of us really liked the movie a great deal.  It is funny and captures the warm zaniest of the original Don Adams TV series.  The Air Chief gives it thumbs up.  Of course my Canadian colleague, Andrew Salmon swears up and down he will not see this movie.  Andrew's a diehard fan of the TV show and is boycotting this flick.  Too bad.  He's missing a really funny time.  Then again, I've been keeping the guy busy writing our newest pulp blockbuster, GHOST SQUAD.   Andrew and I finally slapped THE END on the 127 page manuscript two days ago and now the book is in production with Rob Davis getting ready to do his illos and design work.  Fingers crossed we'll be announcing its release within a month or so.  You airmen are going to love this one.   Tons and tons of pulp action from page one to the climatic finale.  Hang in there, its on its way.

This coming weekend marks the half-way mark of the baseball season.  The Red Sox are holding on to second place behind those come-out-of-nowhere Tampa Bay Rays.  Here's a team that was in last place last year as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Now they take the word devil out of their name and all of a sudden they can't lose.  Hmmm, think about that for a while.  Anyway, next week is the All Star game, and then it's back at it. GO SOX!!

Ron – Over & Out.

Happy 4th of July, loyal airmen, and anyone out there who just happens to stumble on this site.  Today is July, 4th, 2008, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by our Founding Fathers.  The bravery of those congressional delegates in Philadelphia was matched by the citizen farmers who took up arms against a government that unjustly taxed them without fair and equal representation.   Men like the brave Massachusetts lads depicted above in the Battle of Bunker Hill, who were willing to lay down their lives for a country free of the yoke of tyranny, where every man, woman and child could live in peace and pursue their dreams without fear of reprisal or religious and political persecution.  What our ancestors did in 1776 was create an ideal and from it they shaped an amazing land, the United States of America.

To this very day it stands as the very beacon of hope and democracy in a world still suffering from ideological monsters and modern day tyrants.  Having served in the military and seen foreign lands, I came home to the belief that she is worth fighting for and dying for, as those brave Massachusetts lads did long ago.  So today my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have ever worn the uniform of our military forces, past and present.  Those of you now in service, both home and on those far off distances shores, God bless and keep you strong, safe and soon bring you home to this “home of the brave.”

                
Now in reflecting on America's history, I found myself remembering all those glorious stories of heroic men and women I was taught as a child in grade school; from Paul Revere to George Washington and Betsy Ross.  They seemed like figures of myth to me, way larger than life.  As a teenager I loved Walt Disney's efforts in regards to celluloid patriotism with their JOHNNY TREMAINE, the story of a Boston boy who becomes a member of the Sons of Liberty.  Then there was the SWAMP FOX, a series of about Francis Marion, the Southern soldier who practically invented guerrilla warfare, using his knowledge of the land to confound the British troops.  These were lots of fun but they were really glamorized in the Hollywood fashion.  No one made a real effort to show how it truly must have been.

Until, that is, historian David McCullough wrote is two books, 1776 and JOHN ADAMS, the latter winning him a Pulitzer Prize for history.  Then along came Tom Hanks and HBO.  They adapted McCullough's epic into a memorable, inspiring sever part mini-series that is now available on DVD.  The joy of this book, and the series adapted from it, is that the characters we thought we knew now appear as real flesh and blood, imperfect people, all of them filled with fears and doubts about the events that ensnared them.   Somehow seeing them with all these misgivings suddenly allows us to realize just how courageous they truly were.   Had the American Revolution failed, and at the time of the signing, the odds were very much against us, all our leaders, both military and political would have been hunted down by the British and tried and hung for treason.  This is one of the most profound, eye-opening series I've ever had the pleasure of viewing.  If you, like me, are enthralled and fascinated by history done to this excellent caliber, then I recommend you pick these up, both the book for its dept of fact and research and the DVD for the deft performances of Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney and John Adams and his wife Abigail and Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson.  Believe me, you won't be disappointed you did.

Of course one of the hallmarks of a free society is commerce and after telling you all about our new Airship 27 store (go to Air Fare Page), I had to share the above with all of you.  Your beaming Air Chief is tickled pink (or this that an off rouge?) with his Airship 27 baseball cap, coffee mug and that awesome Brother Bones Comic Cover tee.  I know, the book isn't even out yet.  Ha.  Patience, loyal airmen.  We'll be making that announcement within the next few weeks for sure.  Anyway, here's the deal, guys and gals.  We are so happy with the quality of the gear on-sale at the shop, I'm making you this offer.  Any loyal airman who approaches me at a convention wearing any of our Airship 27 gear, or carrying an Airship 27 cup, notebook or whatever purchased from our shop will get to buy any one Airship 27 pulp title on our table for 50% off the selling price!   That's our way of saying thanks for supporting us and joining in on all the fun.

So there you have it, loyal airmen.  Now before this happy day is over, go out and barbecue and set off a few dozen firecrackers.  HAPPY 4th of JULY & GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Ron – Over & Out.

Greeting loyal airmen. It's been a really terrfic week around Hangar 27 thanks to your enthusiastic response to the release last week of our latest Captain Hazzard adventure – CAVEMEN OF NEW YORK.  I've received so many gracious e-mails from many of you excited about the book's debut and sales kicked off the day we announced it's availability.  Thanks so much to each and everyone one of you for your continued support of this series.  And remember, after you've read the darn thing, drop us a line and give us your reactions.

At the same time we were busy releasing this volume, our publisher, Michael Poll of Cornerstone Book Publishers was also burning the midnight oil in a really fun way.  Michael thought it would be very cool if we could provide all you loyal airmen with some authentic Airship 27 gear and fun items.  Thus he went and opened up a huge on-line merchandising shop simply cram-packed with tee-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, notebooks etc. etc., all with Airship 27 book logos and cover images.  The idea here was simply this.  If you've purchased any of our books recently, and enjoyed them, we thought you might like wearing something to publicly show your support of Airship 27 Prod.  To help promote this nifty shop, Michael whipped up this new version of our familiar logo.  See above. 

The very cool coffee mug and baseball cap shown above are two of the three items I've already ordered for myself.  So please, go to the Air Fare page on this site, find the new logo image and click on to the link and that will take you to the store.  Believe me there is so much stuff to look at, take your time and browse.  We're betting you'll get a big kick out of what you find there.

Finally, less you think I'm a heartless capitalist, here is a story about nature and its resiliency.  Over the twenty-five years since we've lived in our home, Valerie and I have tried to spruce up the back yard.   Every Spring we plant all kinds of flowers, both perenials and annuals.  My favorite flower has always been the rose and my success rate with them has been dismal at best.  Two years ago I planted sevearl new rose plants by the back fence and hoped for the best.   Not two weeks later, while mowing the lawn, I forgot all about one particular plant and cut it down.   When I realized what I'd done, I was more than a little upset.  But I still had two others intact and concentrated on keeping them alive and healthy.  Both these plants did so-so and then at the end of the season died out over the winter months.  The following Spring, while planting new assorted flowers, I came upon the plant I'd mowed down and lo and behold, its shoots were coming up out of the ground.  Amazed, I carefully nurtured it with plant food and water all last summer and to my utter bewilderment, it actually grew.   Thing was, it only yielded four or five roses, and then stopped blooming altogether.  Now the plant continued to grow and weave itself around our fence, but it would produce no more flowers.  What the heck?   I simply could not figure out this stubborn plant that refused to die, but then again was only giving me new branches and leaves.  I continued to nuture it nonetheless, wondering what a third Spring would bring.

Well the picture above is the answer to that question.  Not only did this plant survive perhaps the coldest, snowiest winter we've had in the last thirty years, but all of a sudden it was growing taller and sprouting blooms everywhere.  Thus far I've counted almost two dozen roses and they keep coming.  It's become the center piece of the yard and looking at it every day simply buoys my spirit.  The plant that simply would not die!  Nature is truly miraculous and always beautiful.  Sometimes when we least expect it, we are rewarded more than we could ever imagine.  The lesson here is that if you give life a chance, then you allow for these kind of wondrous surprises.  Think about that and while you're at it, go plant something.  It will put a smile on your face at the same time making the earth a little greener, and that's always a good thing.

Till next week, Ron, Over & Out.

Greetings loyal airmen.  Every now and then events both public and private seem to cross the flight path of my life and just naturally provide me with a theme.  Thus was the case over this last week.  Which ended up my being able to discuss heroes with all of you, especially three of them.
 
                                

                                                             STAN WINSTON 1945 – 2008

Last weekend, while the country mourned the loss of cherished newsman, Tim Russert, the movie community suffered their own loss in the Father's Day passing of special effects genius Stan Winston at the young age of 62.  For those of us who love the fantastic, Stan was an invaluble part of so many of our favorite movie moments from TERMINATOR to JURASSIC PARK.  In fact Stan's last work was developing the marvelous IRON MAN suit now seen in that current blockbuster.   He always appeared, when seen in interviews or documentary features to have that childish twinkle in his eyes and you just knew here was a man who truly loved what he did for a living.  After the late Willis O'Brien and his protege (still with us to this day) Ray Harryhausen, Stan was easily the most successful FX guru ever.  Thanks for all that magic, Stan, and God bless.

                                                                                   KG

People who love what they do.  A nice way to segue into our second hero this week, basketball superstar Kevin Garnett.  Unless you've been living a cave all year, you may have heard that at the end of last year's basketball seaons the Boston Celtics had the worst record ever.  They were a team being sucked into a constantly losing spiral.  Then management, under the guidance of former player Danny Ainge, went out and recruited two incredible players to assit their own team star, Paul Pearse.  They signed on Ray Allen and the man with perhaps the biggest heart in the entire world, Kevin Garnett, known to one and all as KG.   All of these three men were veteran players who had never won a championship.  That was all about to change.  Coach Doc Rivers, another genius of the courts, was able to preach his philosophy of team work and total defence to this ultra talented trio.  If they could leave their egos at the door and all work towards a common goal, success would be theirs at the end of their journey.   All of a sudden Celtics fans woke up one morning to see that their beloved team was in the win column and they would stay that way throughout the entire season compiling the best record in the entire NBA.  This past week, the Boston Celtics won their 17th Championship, another NBA record.  Every member of that team from management to the guys on the bench contributed to this astounding come-back year of victory.  Still one man was the passion, the heart of the Celtics.  That man was KG!!!  Bravo!

                                                         20008 World Champion Celtics

Above (left to right) are the great Bill Russell with Ray Allen, Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett & Paul Pearse. 
                                                            THE CELTICS!!!

Finally, loyal airmen, we come to one more hero, one of the fictional variety, but still oh so important to your old airchief.  CAPTAIN HAZZARD – THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE.

As promised last week, the fourth book in this new series starring this classic pulp hero from the 1930s is now available for purchase at our on-line store.  See the Airship logo to the left of this column. One click takes you to the store where you can buy this volume and seven other Airship 27 titles at a special discount price off retail.  In this all new adventure, two evil madmen scientists devise a way to bring the city of New York to its knees under a mountain of freezing snow.  Only Captain Hazzard and his Fighting Five can save the day, but to do so they will first have to conquer an army of mutated cavemen.  CAVEMEN OF NEW YORK is an all new, original pulp novel by ye old airchief, with interior art and design by Rob David and an absolutely stunning cover by Mark Maddox.  Guys, I put everything but the kitchen sink in this one.  Please, check it out.  I'm on pins and needles here until you do so and let me know if its a winner or a dud.  So pick it up, read it and then drop me a line.  I always appreciate your feedback. 

And there you go, airmen.  Another week, albeit a busy one, has flown by.  Summer is officially here now, according to the calendar and I hope all of you are enjoying it to the max.  Valerie and I did see THE INCREDIBLE HULK last week and both of us give it thumbs up.  Great special effects coupled with a good story and really good acting.  It stands toe to toe with IRON MAN.  Wow, Marvel movies are really taking off aren't they?  Talk about feeling like a kid again.  I love it.

Ron – Over & Out!

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.