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.