After twelve years, one hundred and forty four months, of issues, it's always a challenge to remain fresh and new. Sometimes we introduce new columns, like Tattoo Treasures with Dana Brunson, or go out on a limb with a twist, like Tattoo Tattler with Val Rivera. Often, adding established tattoo legends such as Mike Bakaty, Mr. G and Shanghai Kate provides a refreshing foundation of tattoo history to the mix.

Natural attrition is sometimes the motivator. As when the excellent columns by Madame Lazonga and Aaron Bell came to an end after these two splendid writers and commentators on the tattoo scene figured out that coming up with a monthly column took too major a hunk out of their busy schedules. Bummer.

Chuck Eldridge has been with the magazine from the start. He keeps it fresh by continually coming up with new and diverse subjects that are pure Living History. So does Matty Jankowski (who, by the way, took over the column space from Don Ed Hardy in March 2001). How Eldridge and Jankowski come up with new material each thirty days is sometimes hard to believe. But then again, these aren't your garden variety tattoo documentarians. And speaking of one-of-a-kinders, how can I leave out Travelin' Mick, Michael Laukien? He virtually lives on the road to gather timely, up-to-the-minute stories for us.

So, what else is new, besides Jeff Davidson's seemingly infinite supply of tantalizing Dolls? The Pizz, for one. The incomparable lowbrow artist shows he's clearly at the top of his craft with a classic two-page cartoon strip on our coveted back pages. But sometimes, the old must make way for the new. Case in point, our longtime columnist Danielle Oberosler has handed over the Spotlight duties after nearly twelve years. A real loss, but opening a new shop in Simi Valley and raising an energetic little son have become Dani's new priorities. Back in Portland, Sue Myrick, a local wedding photographer, gardener and kitchen-counter canning expert, shares the first of hopefully many Hipshots.

Jon Kellogg from Crucial Tattoo in Salisbury, Maryland impressed us so much with an email he wrote that we asked him to cover our appearance at a Baltimore Museum of Art tattoo symposium featuring Lyle Tuttle, Jacci Gresham and Roni Zulu. Like Jenny Stench, this was his first-ever writing/photography assignment, and Jon and his wife Deborah came through with flying colors.

Mary Gardner is a magazine regular, but not as a writer. Mary is our popular advertising exec, but this month marks her second go with the Big 10 Questions, ably taking over from Lisa Marie Jankowski, who did such a great job with the column since March 2007. Another new contributor is Jessica Ilalaole, SKIN&INK's new apprentice and capable author of last month's remembrance of the late Coney Island Freddie.

And, of course, on the subject of new and unpredictable, there's life on the road. Case in point, our usually smooth-as-silk convention coverage ran up against a brick wall in San Antonio. Talk about a unique experience! But then, you'll have to leaf through the pages of this brand-new issue to uncover the shocking details.

Always new. Always fresh. SKIN&INK.

Bob Baxter
Editor in Chief

baxter@skin&ink.com
www.skinandink.com