Two somber notes about the next two shows:

Robert Pilk, of the Mountain Empire Comics store in Bristol, and namesake of the Rob-Con comic show, had heart bypass surgery. There was some thought the show might be cancelled, but his partner, John Stone of the MEC store in Johnson City, TN says the show will go on; it is at the Bristol Mall Saturday, July 24. (Pilk was the subject of a full-page Hembeck cartoon feature in Comics Buyers Guide a few years ago.)

A show the next week, the Charlotte Comicon in Charlotte, NC, sponsored by Dave Hinson and Rick Fortenberry, had Noel Neill (Lois Lane in the 1950s TV show Superman) listed as special guest, but she has had to cancel due to health problems. She was at the Charlotte show a few years ago, and also had a cameo in the latest Superman movie. The Charlotte show will be Sunday, August 1.