Greetings, airmen. And yes, I know it is not Friday, the day I usually post these new long entries. Valerie and I just had so much fun at last weekend’s two day Nashua N.H. Comic Con, I just wanted to share some of that with you. Along with some digital pictures we took. The fun of conventions is always the opportunity to get together with old friends and make new ones. And that is exactly what happened here.

The smiling dude on the left, is Chris Mills, one of my dearest friends in the whole wide world.
Chris and his wife, Brandi, drove down from Belfast, Me. to spend the day with us, Saturday.
It was so great to see them again. Chris is one fine writer and I’m his biggest fan. He and Joe Staton are doing a FEMME NOIR mini-series due out early next year. It will blow you all away. His terrific website, Supernatural Crime, is listed on my links page. Go check it out. Always tons of good stuff there.

The first comic professional creator I ever met was Joe Staton. Way back when he was just cutting his artistic teeth at Charlton Comics, I was home from Vietnam and slowly getting back into comics collecting. I wrote Joe a fan letter and much to my surprise and delight, he actually responded. Thus began our correspondence and friendship. Then a few short months later, Joe and his charming wife, Hilary,
made their first trip to New England and made a point of staying at my house one night. It was such a joy to meet them. Of course, being a typical fan, I pestered the hell out of Joe with all kinds of ridiculous questions about the industry and what advice could he offer me. He took it all in good stride and told me, wisely,
“Just don’t quit.” Simple, oh yeah, but so sound. It’s been my motto ever since. And as I began my own career, Joe, Hilary and I would cross paths once every ten years or so. Ha. And every time, they remained as always two of the kindest, most giving people I have ever known. It was a joy for me to have Valerie meet them at long last in Nashua. For you young’uns, Joe has worked on practically every major character Marvel & DC ever invented. And lately he’s been the visual force behind the truly funny, SCOOBY DOO comic, which just passed its hundreth issue mark.

Now as for making new friends. I have been bugging all you airmen for months about my new CAPTAIN HAZZARD comic project. Well, sitting next to me at the con was none other than artist Craig Shepard -that’s him in the Superman baseball shirt. This was a special weekend for Craig, as it was his first appearance as a guest at a show. And it was a thrill for me to watch Craig interacting with young fans and doing sketches for them. He’s a great guy and super talent. I’m so happy to be a part of his rising career. And I can’t forget to mention his wonderful wife Susan, who is prgenant with their first child. The baby is due in Dec. and Val and I wishing them a very special, miraculous Christmas gift.

On the second day of the show I had the opportunity to catch up with Digital Webbing’s very own boss man, Ed Dukeshire. In the little time Ed has been running the site and its comic line, he’s made them both recognizable names in the business. At present, Digital Webbing is the most visited comics site on the net today.
Literally hundreds of new and old creators visit it every day. Ed just is a bloddy magnet for talent. DIGITAL WEBBING PRESENTS is the best comic anthology book on the market today and I really hope to do lots more with Mr.D in the future. Always fun to hang with him.

Finally, one of the biggest joys of my weekend was meeting at least a half dozen of you airmen! Yup. You reading this right now. Coming up to me and saying, “Hi, I visit your site weekly.” Man oh man, was I ever happy to hear those words. Corey, Chad, Dave, Larry and Marco…and the others I’m forgetting now. I am so happy to have met you all. Sincerely. That’s why Airship 27 is here, because of all you wonderful folks.

And there you have it. A very specail log entry. And I can’t end it without thanking Ralph and Chris, the dudes who put on this great show. What a job well done. Now I have to figure out what to write on Friday? Ha.

Over and out, Ron.