So I am wondering, with the books by Gino Valentino (pseudo for Ray Ottoboni), are they a case of "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
I note that his Cowboy: The Legend book was published in 2011 and its release seems timely, because the idea of western themes and motifs are being actively discussed on the Zodiac forums. Coincidence?
Can anyone tell me, what was the very first ever mention of the Wheel of Doom comic book on an online forum?
Also, what was the very first ever mention of the "Flying VF" cattle ranch brand on an online forum?
It would be good to establish a timeline, comparing the ideas raised in the Valentino books with similar ideas being raised on online forums, just to see which came first.
Of course, there is always the possibility that the events are entirely coincidental… 
So I am wondering, with the books by Gino Valentino (pseudo for Ray Ottoboni), are they a case of "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
I note that his Cowboy: The Legend book was published in 2011 and its release seems timely, because the idea of western themes and motifs are being actively discussed on the Zodiac forums. Coincidence?
Can anyone tell me, what was the very first ever mention of the Wheel of Doom comic book on an online forum?
Also, what was the very first ever mention of the "Flying VF" cattle ranch brand on an online forum?
It would be good to establish a timeline, comparing the ideas raised in the Valentino books with similar ideas being raised on online forums, just to see which came first.
Of course, there is always the possibility that the events are entirely coincidental…
What was the very first mention of these in any media prior to the Internet such as magazines or newspapers?
As I think I’ve posted somewhere, I was astonished when I saw this comic book as my poi showed me one just like it after meeting him in 19 70. There are so many other seeming co-incidences that I recall about him when I read something that jogs my memory. One item was a box of stationery with "Sagittarius" printed on it. IIRC someone somewhere had a photo of this and a theory to go with it and again, I was just floored when coming across it as my friend had that too and showed it to me. I thought it a little surprising that a man would pick that and he told me his mother’s friend (whom he referred to as "aunt" had given it to him).
We’d been talking about things like books we’d read in school, favorite tv programs, hobbies such as collecting various things like coins and stamps and I’d asked him if he had any hobbies as we had just recently met and were getting to know each other,etc. which is what prompted him to go get these items to show me from his apt. on the beach in Orange County.
I can clearly remember that comic book and those fishnet stockings Lady Doom was wearing as I’d mentioned having a pair of patterned stockings before or after he showed me as those fishnets reminded me of them. Also, the male cartoon character reminded me of my boyfriend (if he’d been wearing a hat and mask) and I told him I thought so at the time.
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=1275&hilit=red+ryder#p13029
Tahoe 27 Mon Dec 30 2013 3:20 AM
maybe Tahoe posted it earlier but I think this was the first on this site.
Over at ZK.com Tahoe posted the comic book Dec. 29, 2013 8:25 PM. But depending on where you live and if you have the time set in your settings to your time zone, the two posts could have been made at approximately the same time. I doubt that a day matters too much. 
viewtopic.php?f=81&t=1882&hilit=cattle+brands#p23004
and somewhere in here is the first time we see fred harmons brand
Did Valentino/Ottoboni propose that the "Flying VF" symbol was a cattle brand in his book?
That would be interesting. In a general sort of way.
On a side note, he seems to be a big fan of the exclamation mark. Check this out! My tale is extraordinary! And I want to make that absolutely clear!
Hi, Wow thank you for all of the replies. I’m not sure which to answer first.
Yes it is a bit confronting when a lot of little coincidences suddenly come along. They are enough to make us sit back and wonder "Just what is going on here?"
I have not read the whole of the Cowboy Legend book and am still wondering whether or not to buy it.
To answer other questions: I do not think he talks specifically about a Wheel of Doom with regard to gambling, although I find this is sort of implied at times when he says things like the roulette wheel ruined him, however I may be reading too much into it.
I have also found no mention of brands specifically.
It would be good if we could attract this Ray Ottoboni person on to this forum so we could inundate him with questions about the Zodiac case. I guess then we could get a more precise idea about his credibility.
His writing style is truly bizarre. His books are written like a poorly sequenced and hazy set of flashbacks, with each story kind of independent. I am reminded of the blocks in comic books, which is why I call it a "comic book style" of writing. Hence the over-use of exclamation marks! 
Some of his tales seem outlandish and are at times convoluted, disjointed and confusing. They read like a crazy bunch of mixed up memories partially lost due to the long passing of time.
Towards the end, Ottoboni relates a story about how he caught a scorching case of VD in Costa Rica, before then implying (in a typically vague way) that he himself was in fact the legendary "Cowboy". Perhaps I am reading this incorrectly, as it is often difficult to make complete sense out of his rambling tales. He seems to shift between first person and third person and it is difficult to keep up with what is past, present and distant past at times! 
Gino/Ray has three books devoted to his Zodiac saga. I have the first one, End of Zodiac, honestly it’s a little too unbelievable. I’m interested in how much the Cowboy book deviates from the first book and then the third book from the other two!
The third one is FBI: "Secret Files" The Untold Story written in 2012.
I believe the author was a member of our old forum but I can’t remember what name he used. Maybe someone else will remember.
Most of his stories seem to belong in the category of Grandpa Simpson tales, I’ll grant you that, but I keep finding coincidences with the kinds of themes being discussed on forums. So I thought it might be worthwhile to start a thread so people can note down similarities if ever they find them.
Some of the stories make me 
and 
. Others make me and 
.
All of the flashbacks remind me a bit of this movie scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfwor712Yg8 
