I think it was about 40 years ago on the 3rd of July when the great comic book artist Herb Trimpe came up to the Marvel offices where I worked to turn in pages of The Incredible Hulk.

He told my boss, the much loved Danny Crespi, “Danny–!! I’m going to be taking my Stearman bi-plane out over the weekend!”

 Danny said it just so happened that he was going to be with his family at their weekend retreat outside Armonk, New York. Herb commented that Armonk was not that far from the airport where he kept his bi-plane.

 So Herb said, “Danny–!!  Watch for me I’ll buzz your house.”

We all wished Herb a Happy Fourth of July as he left the bullpen to go back to Kerhonkson. Danny was in high spirits when 5 o’clock rolled around, and he left the office  to take the subway up to his family in The Bronx and it was clear he was really looking forward to the long holiday weekend.

The following Monday, Herb was back in the Bullpen turning in pages and, as we always did when Herb came in we all stopped whatever we were doing and greeted him warmly.

Danny saw Herb talking to us and he got up from behind his desk and came out of his office and ran up to Herb and said, “Herbie—did you see me?? I was waving my arms like crazy as you passed back and forth over our house!”

Herb just looked at Danny and smiled.

“Sorry, Danny, he said.  “I had to work all weekend and never had a chance to take the plane out…”