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.

Greetings, loyal airmen.  Well, here I am, home again, slowly getting back to normal.  Although at 61, we just don't bounce back like we use to.  My chest still feels like there's a steel band wrapped around it, and I tend to get tired a lot quicker.  Still going to be a while till I can get my old stamina.  But overall, when I sit here and consider this time last week I was in a hospital bed, only days past from major surgery, it all seems fantastic.  Modern medicine is just wonderful.  One of the bright spots of that week in the hospital (not counting my granddaughter Kristi getting her driver's license or our nephew Scott and his wife Kelly having their first baby – a 11 pound rascal they named Gus after Scott's dad!) (see…life goes on all the time even when your laid up on your back..ha) was the opening of Baseball Season.  And our Red Sox are back into the thick of it, despite their long overseas trip to Japan and then the west coast, the Boys of Beantown are looking very, very good.

This past weekend, Big Papi, David Ortiz slammed his first homerun of the seaon while in Oakland during the final two games agains the A's.  I love the photo above as it captures all the grace and power this man possesses.  Our Gold Glove first baseman, Kevin Youkilis also broke the World Record that very same game for the most consecutive games played at first base without an error.  Way to go, Youk!  Now the team travels to Toronto for a weekend outing against the Bluejays and then come home to New England to season opener in Fenway Park this coming Tues. when the players will all received their 2007 World Series Rings.  Go Sox!!

And speaking of Boston, shortly before going into the hospital, I thought it was time to plan out a few convention appearances.   As much as I love writing, it is a solitary passion and so attending cons allows me to actually meet all of you, my friends and fans.  Which is why I have so much fun at these things and truly wish I could do lots more.  Anyways, the first one of this year I am attending will be in one week –  Sunday April 13th from 10 AM to 5 PM.
                             Monkey House Entertainment Presents
                    The Boston Comic Book – CD/Record  & Pop Culture Spectacular
                                                  at the
                            Boston Radison Hotel
                            200 Stuart Street.  Boston
                           6th Floor Ballroom   
 (Located in Boston's downtown entertainment district, near the MBTA's Boylson stop.)

The big name guest will be DC artist Cliff Chian, who has worked on more DC titles than I can list here.  Also my good pal, Rich Woodall of JOHNNY RAYGUN and up and coming artist, Kris Carter.  Kris is working on a wild new sci-fi adventure book and has asked me to help script it for him.  I'll let you know more about this new project as it develops.  I'm very excited about working with Kris.  Believe it.  Anyway, that's the goods on the show and I'm hoping lots of you airmen will be able to make it down.  I will have many of my pulp tiles available for sale, plus a very small supply of our DAUGHTER OF DRACULA graphic novels if you still haven't picked up one of these.  So please check your calendars and come on down to say hi.  Meeting many of you would make this a really great show for ye old Air Chief.

                          
Finally, in one of my log entries last year, I discussed how I personally detest the new version of cinema werewolves we've had to endure ever since John Landis made his classic WEREWOLF OF LONDON.  Don't get me wrong, I love that movie, but Landis and make up genius, Rick Baker, took the guise of the monster too much into making him an animal and they completely ignored his human aspects.  It was a major shift away from the classic make up worn by Lon Chaney Jr. in the Universal Classic THE WOLF MAN.   One of my all time favorite movies.  When I heard recently that Universal was in the process of re-making this particular gem with actor Benicio Del Toro, I was both happy and worried.  Would they continue to push the CGI dog-like creatures of UNDERWORLD etc. or would we finally go back to the true classic depiction of a man monster.  Well, just prior to heading out to the hospital two weeks ago, my copy of Entertainment Weekly arrived and within its pages was the answer to that question.  And what a wild answer it was.

             
Now THAT'S A WOLF- MAN…emphasis on MAN!  And scary as hell.  Thank you Rick Baker for bringing us back on line and finally getting it right.  This is one horror flick I'm chomping (…oooh..bad pun) to see.  Ha.

And there you go, loyal airmen.  Our first Post-Surgery Log.  Thanks again to all of you who stopped here these past few weeks, read my accounts and then said silent prayers on my behalf.  To have been showered by these during this experience was a true blessing and all of you will forever be in my prayers of gratitude.  That's it, airmen.  We're back.  Take care, and have a super week.

Ron – Over & Out

Greeting loyal airmen.  Your old air chief is back at the Hangar, after a very long week as a patient at Wentworth Douglas Hospital in nearby Dover, NH.  When Valerie and I arrived there at 6 AM on Monday morning, little did either of us realize that I would be spending the entire week.  You really can't plan these things out.  Ha.  The surgery, performed by Dr. Robert Harrell went super.  He is one of the finest doctors I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and truly a gifted surgeon.  So precise was his work, that within those first 24 hours after the operation, I was already on the mend.  The lower quadrant of my left lung was removed and sent to the labs for biopsy.  Oddly enough that has yet to return.  Meanwhile two very long plastic tubes were inserted into my chest cavity to help drain bodily fluids as I healed.  That would be a telling sign of when I was allowed to be discharged or not.  When Dr.Harrell and I initially talked this out, he'd guessed between 4 or 5 days.  The liquid did not turn clear, the indicator to pull the tubes, until Sat., the sixth day.

But all of that is neither here nor there.  I want use this log entry to thank a dozen of the most wonderful ladies I have ever met, the nurses (day and night) of the Ward 3  South – Recovery.  These ladies are so filled with good humor and spirit, they always kept me perked up, never once allowing me to get down.  They were simply amazing and kept me laughing from sun up to sunset.  I kid you not.  Enough so that my roommate, a local fellow who arrived a day after me, having had a piece of his colon (ouch) removed, were hard pressed to keep up with them with our own quibs.  But we gave it the old college try.

Denise, Laura E, Tiffany, Miranda, Lucretia (have you finished that last Harry Potter book yet?), Rosa, Jamie, Karen and the others whose names now elude my old gray cells, plus Dave, the one male member of this elite gang of carers. YOU ARE THE BEST NURSES IN THE WORLD!!!  THANK YOU & GOD BLESS.

To all you airmen praying for me these past two weeks, I will be forever in your debt. All your prayers were wonderfully answered.  I'm home, on the mend and eager to get on with this beautiful life.  See you all back here Friday for our next “usual” Log Entry

Ron – Over & Out

Greetings loyal airmen.  I know many of you are expecting to read a report on my lung surgery.  Well, I can't write that report, as the surgery did not happen.  One hour before Valerie and I were set to drive to the hospital this past Monday morning, we were called and told my operation had been canceled.  It seems my surgeon had been called into emergency surgery to save another patient who was in the Intensive Care Unit and had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.  Saving a life has to be the priority over a routine procedure.  So, though frustrated at not being able to the get the thing done and over with, we had to accept that it was just not going to happen that day.  Happily the doctor's assistant was able to reschedule it for this coming Monday, 24h March, and this time, working with the hospital Operating Room scheduler, they've got me down for the first surgery of the day, 6 AM.  It means getting up at the crack of dawn, but that's okay.  At least my odds are better that this one will get done.  Since my last log entry detailing my condition and forthcoming operations, I've received so many letters from all of you wishing me well, that it is most humbling.  Thank you, one and all.  And please, keep them coming, as I still need them very, very much.  And now add one more.  Not only that I recover well from the surgery, but that it in fact happens. Ha.

Anyway, here we are on Good Friday, with Easter Sunday two days away and I'm left with finding a new topic for this particular log entry.  Hmm, why not keep with the religious theme?  And no, don't cringe.  I'm not about to ever use this log as a pulpit, or start preaching from it. Heaven forbid.  No, rather I want to discuss two books with you that have strong religious connections.  The first is a comic book series I did many, many years ago for Gary Reed's Caliber Comics.

                              
The concept behind  THE BOSTON BOMBERS was to create an alternate world adventure where things were much like our own world, but then again with some really strong socio-economic differences.  In ths world Jesus had been a woman and the Jewish community had accepted her as the true Messiah.  Thus the Catholic Church was centered in Jerusalem and the pope was a woman.  The Roman Empire never ceased to exist in Southern Africa and evolved in time to become a modern, pagan power.   There was a World War One in this world, but after it the League of Nations became a truly strong political and military alliance that negated the root causes of Nazism and there was never a World War Two in this imagined other world.  So now it is 1970 and the Roman Empire of South African is making war noises.  The League of Nations sends it all-girl squad of agents, the Boston Bombers led by Indra Devine, to investigate.    This six issue mini-series was my homage to the old Doc Savage pulp adventures, only I made my heroes women.  When the series came out, it was a critical success, but not a financial one and its life was a rocky one.  Now, after many, many years, the entire six books have been collected into one truly wonderful graphic volume and it is being published by Gary's new outfit, TRANSFUZION.  The book is now being solicited in the current issue of Diamond's PREVIEW Mag.   If you are a fan of my past works in this genre, ala the Green Hornet and Captain Hazzard, please, do not miss THE BOSTON BOMBERS.  The book, seen above, sports a brand new cover by the penciller, Chris Jones.  Chris, at the time he first did this project, was an up and coming young artist.  Now he is pro working at DC Comics on some of their Batman titles.  The book is 180 pages of all out action and adventure with little sci-fi twist.  I hope you'll order a copy.  Of all the things I've ever written in my thirty-five year career, this is one of my personal favorites.

Finally, while on vacation in Florida two weeks ago, I read a book that simply bowled me over with its exuberant storytelling.  It's called SPACE VULTURE and was written by Gary K. Wold (the same dude who wrote the Roger Rabbitt book from which the Disney movie was made) and Archbishop John J.Myers.  Yup, he's the Catholic Archbishop of New Jersey.  The authors have been friends since childhood and recalled enjoying those great space heroes like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.  So they got it into their heads to write their own wild and adventure filled space opera in that grand old tradition.  And they succeeded to max.  This book is available everywhere and if you, like me, love this kind of stuff, do yourself a big favor and pick up a copy.  It deserves a huge readership.

Okay, airmen.  That's it for this week.  I want to wish all of you a truly blessed, Happy Easter.  Spring is here and life as always is filled with hope and wonder.  Enjoy every single second of it.
Ron – Over & Out.

Oops, almost forgot.  Do click on to our store digirble there to the left.  We've added another title for sale at the Airship 27 Pulp Store.  Check it out.

                 
Greetings loyal airmen, it's good to be home after a truly wonderful week in Florida.  On first day there, March 5th, Valerie and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary and our children and family helped make it a really special day for us.  That's a basket bouquet made up of edible fruits sitting there on the table between us.  The smiles were also for the very fact of sitting outdoors in warm weather after leaving a cold, snowy New Hampshire behind.  We had a condo for the week in Orlando and did a little sight-seeing while there.  One of our stops was Epcot at Disney World which neither had done since our kids will little tykes.
                 
Valerie had experienced the ride called Soaring Over California while out at Disney Land a year ago with our son Alan, and his family, and she'd loved it.  Well, lo and behold, the entire ride had been packed up and moved to Epcot and so I finally had the chance to enjoy it as well.  It's a wonderful ride wherein the illusion of hand-gliding over the land is just incredible.  Then after we'd left that ride, I spotted the above Mission SPACE and there was just no way I was not going to hop on that baby.  The ride simulates a NASA launch and then speedy travel to our future colony on the red planet, Mars.  All of us, me, Val, her sister Barb and husband Gus, loved this truly imaginative ride. Truly as close to outer space as any of us will ever come, so thanks Disney & Co. for providing us with these truly unique memories.

As always, trips like this seem to speed up time and before we knew it we were on a plane winging our way back to snowy, cold New Hampshire.  Upon getting back to Hangar 27 and logging on, I found myself weeding through over two hundred and seventy e-mails awaiting me.  Ha.  Most were normal, routine stuff but amidst this tidal wave of digital news was one truly sad revelation that simply stopped me in my tracks. During our week away, one of my all time favorit comic artist, Dave Stevens died after long battle with leukemia.  He was only 52!
                         
                                               DAVE STEVENS        1955 – 2008
Most of my life I've been a fan of those classic Republic Serials, especially the three that starred Rocketman.  As I grew older and became an avid comic book collector, I always wondered why no one in that field ever shared that same love.  Until the mid-70s when a young fellow named Dave Stevens came along and created a comic strip called THE ROCKETEER!!  Clearly inspired by those wonderful Republic serials, it was set smack dab in the 1930s and told the story of daredevil pilot Cliff Secord and his discovery of a fantastic rocket-pack that allowed him to fly!!  Stevens was one of the most meticulous artist ever to grace a comic page and his arwork was rich in period details, the love of the story so obvious in every single panel.  I soon became a diehard Rocketeer fan.
                             
Then in 1991, much to my joy, Disney came along and turned the strip into a full-fledged color movie, starring Billy Campbell, who was perfect as Cliff.  The film co-starred the beautiful Jennifer Connelly as his girl Betty and Allan Arkin as his mechanic mentor, PeeVee.  Directed by Joe Johnston, the movie was a brilliant recreation of the Steven's comic adventures and he even had a small cameo in it.  I remember seeing it with some comic book pals and how we all screamed and cheered when he took off and soared through the stratosphere “like a bat out of hell”.  It was and remains one of my all time favorite adventure movies.
               
                            Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord – THE ROCKETEER 
It is difficult for me to put into words the sadness I feel at Stevens' passing and at such a truly young age.  Those of us who were his fans will never forget him and his legacy of capturing the thrills and excitement of a time long gone will echo in our own hearts forever.   Fly high with the Angels, Dave!

Finally, segueing into someone's demise by cancer, I'm about to undergo my own personal moment of truth with my continued existence.   Almost three years ago, back on March 22nd, 2005, I wrote a log entry I labelled RECENT TURBULENT AIR, in which I related to all you loyal airmen about two anomolies that had been discovered on my lungs and the inability of my doctors to clearly identify what their nature was.  A biopsy had ruled out cancer back then and I began a routine regiment of having scans done several times a year to keep tabs on these two little mysteries.  Last fall my most recent catscan actually indicated that the left nodule had grown by a millemeter.  Don't bother taking out your slide rulers, that's about the width of a cat's hair.  Still, the radiologist called it a change and all of a sudden what had been passive treatment became active.  Several meetings with my lung specialist and the surgeon seemed to be starting up the old carousel again, in that no one wanted to commit to a specific action.  One doctor even suggested I go to another hospital out of state for a second opinion.  Although I appreciated his conservative approach, such a process would have simply put me back three years to the GO spot, having to start all these tests all over again, this time with all new doctors and with absolutley no guarantees that by the end of this journey they'd have any more information to give us.

Frustarted to the max, I bit the bullet and asked that the spots be cut out.  Once the doctors realized I was completely serious about this route of treatment, I was finally given two new tests which surprised all of them by showing that my lungs, despite the msytery spots, are really very strong and healthy.  Meaning I'm an excellent candidate for this kind surgery.  Once that was determined, it was full speed ahead.
                   
Now airmen, I am not a doctor, and the above is just a crude representation by me to give you a little idea of what is going on here and what will happen to me starting this coming Monday, 17th March.  The two white dots are supposed to be the mystery growths (?) which have been sitting in my lungs for the past three years.  Come Monday morning, my surgeon will go in from my back-side and remove a portion of my left lung with the nodule in it.  Again, this picture is not real.  But is is in the ball-park.  The fact that my lungs are so healthy means that once he has removed this piece and sown me up, the lung should still, after a period of recuperation, function normally the remainder of my life.  I'll be in the hospital for four days to assure there is no infection etc. then released, wherein the next six week there'll be no heavy lifting, but I'll be able to do most normal things.  At the end of that time, if all is well, we will schedule a return trip to the hospital and the process will be repeated on my right lung.   Time-wise, by the start of June, all of this should be well behind us, and at long last I'll be able to get on with my life not having this mystery hanging over my head.  Oh, yeah, that's the real bonus factor here.  With cutting out these “things”, we are finally going to find out exactly what they are.  A cause for celebration around the old Hangar 27 for sure.

Of course if you know your dates, March 17th is St.Patrick's Day, and there'll be no green beer for the Crew Chief this year.  Darn!  But I'm hoping all you loyal airmen will tip one for me, and at the same time say a prayer on my behalf.  I'm a man of faith, and prayers are the currency I live by.  So thanks in advance.  You all take care, and God willing, I'll be back here next week, a wee bit lighter, but much, much happier.

Ron – Over & Out.