For those of you who aren’t aware of my professional history, my first comic book work
was a 12 pg. sci-fi story called DUEL IN THE STARS and it appeared in a try-out book called CHARLTON BULLSEYE. This being a product of a small Conneticut publisher, Charlton Comics. Upon that first pro appearance, then associate editor, Bill Pearson, asked artist Gary Kato, and yours truly, to keep submitting. This resulted in the creation and subsequent appearance of our comedy super-hero, MR.JIGSAW, MAN OF A THOUSAND PARTS. He took the cover spot in Charlton’s SCARY TALES # 38. Chalrton was never one of the big boys in the comics industry, but over its brief lifespan, it was the home of many gifted writers and artists and their unique and exciting line of characters. Sadly, Charlton folded a long, long time ago. Yet, whenever I
pull out those two particular comics, now aged with yellowed pages, I remember my debt to
Charlton.

Another devotee, perhaps the most knowledgeable, of this little comic outfit, is
Texan Michael Ambrose. A few years back Mike
started a magazine dedicated to the history of
the company and called it appropriately enough
CHARLTON SPOTLIGHT. In his second issue, Gary
and I contributed our recollections on our
all too brief connection with Charlton. Yesterday, the mail brought me CS #4 and it, like all the others, is a fantastic issue. In particular because it honors the memory of the late Pete Morisi, a cop by day and and comic book creator by night. In his tenure at Charlton, Morisi created two of the finest comic characters ever brought to the magic of four color adentures; PETER CANON THUNDERBOLT, and the eye-patch wearing private eye, JOHNNY DYNAMITE. Both solid winners fondly rememberd by fans around the world. I recommend this great, quality book to all lovers of American comics history. It can be had for $7.95/US –
$8.95/Canada, from Argo Press, P.O.Box 4201, Austin, TX 78765-4201. You can also check it out at Mike’s website (www.charltonspotlight.com). Tell him, Ron sent you.

Summer has finally arrived, the backyard looks half-way decent and my roses are blooming.
It’s a wonderful time of year in New England.
And Ron’s been a busy writing beaver. My graphic novel with Rob Davis, DAUGHTER OF DRACULA is now three fourths completed and is gorgeous. This is going to be Rob’s magnus opus hands down. I’m involved with something called
THE GODBOX featuring a new cartoonist named Chad Hurd that’s just too much fun. And I’m putting together a movie-tie comic called FRANK NG-HIRED GUN that involves itself with a new independent horror flick, GOD OF VAMPIRES, being done locally by a rookie movie maker named Rob Fitz.
And in just two more weeks, DIGITAL WEBBING PRESENTS #24 hits the comic shops with my Mask of the Gargoyle story. Below is a sneek peek at page one. Do not miss this one!

So that’s it for another week. The 4th is just around the corner. Take care, write when you can and have fun, life’s too short not to.
Over and out, Ron.