Comics R.I.P. Mike Wieringo...

[Ultimate Hero]

Wow, how incredibly sad R.I.P. Ringo.

 

[Traveller]

How sad. Rest in peace, Mike.

 

[Captivated]

I was never a big fan or his art, but this is really a shock. Dead of a heart attack at 44? And he was a vegetarian? If he can go, what chance do the rest of us have?

I know... When you think about it, death is a "super villain" we all will face in real life. It helps to know who has your back...

Read the sig...

 

[TwilightPro101]

Sorry to see him go. He's work on Spidey was some of my favorite along side Mark Bags.

 

[Venom_uk]

Whoah! This has knocked me for six! Poor guy. So young...what a waste.

R.I.P, Mike.

 

[Norman Osborn]

Wow...just wow

*RIP Mike*

 

[Kraven]

This is really depressing. He was a great artist. It's always sad to hear about people who die younger than they should, and who should have plenty of time left in their lives. I know someone who died of a heart attack myself, and I know how sad it can be when someone dies. My condolences go out to his family.

 

[Flint Marko]

We'll miss ya, Mike

 

[shinlyle]

I think I'm finally to a point to where I can type something abou Mike. He was probably the nicest guy, and one of the coolest professionals I'm ever spoken with. I first met him at Heroes Con in 2000, and he was there every year. Right on from the time I was just a fan looking for work, to the time when I got my own booth and published my own comic. He was always complimentary, always friendly, and he always took time to talk to annoying little fanboys like me. I never ONCE spoke to him that he said "I'm busy", or "There's a line, here", or "Move along". He took his time and was as nice a person as I've met in my life, let alone in the field of comics.

I can only imagine how hard this must be for his family, and I thoughts and prayers go out to Mike's family, and his cat Charlie. The world's lost a great artist and a great person.

 

[Spider_Sense]

RIP Mike.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I would love to see a Wieringo tribute book filled with sketches, published and unpublished work. Who's with me?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I would love to see a Wieringo tribute book filled with sketches, published and unpublished work. Who's with me?

That would be nice.

 

[Themanofbat]

I think there's going to be some kind of tribute booth at the Baltimore Comic Con...

 

[freemadison]

This is depressing....He was honestly one of my top 5 favorite artists of all time. Dezago/Wieringo Sensational Spider-Man in the 90's was easily one of my favorite titles. My heart goes out to his family and friends (reading Dezago's remembrance piece was so sad).

RIP Mike

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

No...

I refuse to let the tribute thread to my second favorite modern Spidey artist (after Bagley) disappear after only 2 pages. This tribute thread should be an eternal flame to one of the most awesome, zany and fun Spider-Man artists we've ever had. I say we keep using this thread to talk about our favorite Ringo stories and post our favorite Ringo pieces.
If you want to talk about the zany, care-free, funny and yes goofy side of Spidey no one captured that better than Ringo.

I absolutely LOVED his Sensational run with Dezago and was thrilled when I heard he was coming back (although in the end he didn't fit in with PAD's writing as well). When I think of Ringo a lot of scenes and stories come to mind, but the one that stands out the most is Peter and Ben strolling down the street and talking during a brief moment of calm and introspection before Robot-Master attacked them in Revelations part 2. The scene where Ben tells Peter he envies him for having a great wife and daughter on the way and Peter replies that he left out he also has a great brother to Ben was really touching and indicative of the very human qualities that Dezago and Ringo's Sensational run provided us with. Now that it's sunk in I'll never see his art again, I'm even sadder than I was a week ago. Gonna try and drag out some old Sensationals right now.

 

[Captivated]

No...

I refuse to let the tribute thread to my second favorite modern Spidey artist (after Bagley) disappear after only 2 pages. This tribute thread should be an eternal flame to one of the most awesome, zany and fun Spider-Man artists we've ever had. I say we keep using this thread to talk about our favorite Ringo stories and post our favorite Ringo pieces.
If you want to talk about the zany, care-free, funny and yes goofy side of Spidey no one captured that better than Ringo.

I absolutely LOVED his Sensational run with Dezago and was thrilled when I heard he was coming back (although in the end he didn't fit in with PAD's writing as well). When I think of Ringo a lot of scenes and stories come to mind, but the one that stands out the most is Peter and Ben strolling down the street and talking during a brief moment of calm and introspection before Robot-Master attacked them in Revelations part 2. The scene where Ben tells Peter he envies him for having a great wife and daughter on the way and Peter replies that he left out he also has a great brother to Ben was really touching and indicative of the very human qualities that Dezago and Ringo's Sensational run provided us with. Now that it's sunk in I'll never see his art again, I'm even sadder than I was a week ago. Gonna try and drag out some old Sensationals right now.

Yeah... let's post some of his art. I'd like to see it here.

 

[Aging Fangirl]

When Ringo was here in Richmond at a Comic Con few years back, I had the opportunity to meet him ... and I blew it.

It was my first Con. I was there by myself, feelilng out of place and a little silly. Ringo was the only visiting artist that I was familiar with so I wandered around looking for his table. When I found him, he was just sitting there with no line at all. He saw me circling around and smiled. I smiled back ... chickened out, and kept walking! What an idiot!

After I left the Con, I mentally kicked myself at the wasted opportunity. Even though he wasn't one of my favorite artists, I thought about how much I could have learned about the craft or the business. Since that time, I gathered from various posts on the boards that I could have learned something else as well; that he was an incredibly nice and decent human being.

Years later I still thought about that missed opportunity and promised myself that if I had the chance to meet him - or anyone whose work I respected - again, I would take it.

The news of his passing brought this lesson home hard.

 

[The Bruce]

Loved his work!

 

[ragingdemon155]

Wow, great sketch. From the looks of it, he seemed to have a good feel for Felicia as well as Spidey.

Also, for anyone that hasn't collected his run on FF with Waid. Do so now...It is seriously some of the most gorgeous art you will see in a comic period.

 

[shinlyle]

Wow, great sketch. From the looks of it, he seemed to have a good feel for Felicia as well as Spidey.

Also, for anyone that hasn't collected his run on FF with Waid. Do so now...It is seriously some of the most gorgeous art you will see in a comic period.

Hell yeah. Mike's run on FF with Mark Waid is probably the best run on the comic in decades. It's what actually got me back into the FF. That whole run was just awesome. I especially loved the 2-parter with Spidey and the Human Torch....awesome stuff.

 

[Web-Head408]

Loved his work!

I haven't seen that one before, I too, loved his work.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

There's a real nice one page b&w tribute to Mike in this week's Amazing Spider-Man: OMD issue...anyone catch it?

 

[Donald Thomas]

There's a real nice one page b&w tribute to Mike in this week's Amazing Spider-Man: OMD issue...anyone catch it?

Aloha,
Yes I did. Thought it was well done.
Spidey rules

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

This coming Wednesday, the comic community will gather one more time to remember creator Mike Wieringo. The event will be held at Flatiron Joe’s, 29 West 21 Street (between 5th and 6th Ave) in New York City. All are welcome, and there will be writers, artists and other contemporaries of Mike’s at the event, with many artists drawing sketches which can be bought that evening. Proceeds from the evening (along with monies raised from an auction of pieces produced for Newsarama’s ‘Ringo Tribute) will be split, 50/50 between the ASPCA and the Hero Initiative. In additional to donating the space, Flatiron Joe’s will also make a cash contribution to The Hero Initiative/ASPCA. There is no charge to attend.

We spoke with Wieringo’s collaborator on Tellos Todd Dezago about this coming event and the tribute at last weekend’s Baltimore Comic-Con.

"I was at the Baltimore ComicCon this past weekend and it wasn't until about halfway through the show that I realized how much people actually needed it, how many pros and fans alike needed to shake my hand or give me a hug or simply walk up to the table and express their sympathies and condolences. They needed that closure. Mike was not only a great talent, but a great guy as well, and whether folks knew him in person, or were simply touched by his art, we have all lost someone very special.

“It was wonderful to remember him at Baltimore, as I'm sure we'll all do in Charlotte at Heroes Con next summer. It's great that Flatiron Joe’s and the Heroes Initiative are doing this to give those of us in the northeast a chance to remember Ringo.”

The Hero Initiative’s Jim McLauchlin added: “Through accident of history, divine providence, or whatever the circumstances may be, a lot of the comics publishing business is centered in Manhattan. Many of the publishers are there, a lot of talent is nearby. Joe Quesada had the notion to do something in Manhattan. I know there were events at the Baltimore Comic-Con and near Mike's home, but this should hopefully give some new folks a chance to show up, pay their respects, and have a good time.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

With a name like ‘McLauchlin,’ you can probably assume I'm well familiar with the Irish Wake. Hell, some of the best parties I've ever been to were wakes. This is somewhat in that vein. I think I went through six drafts of the announcement before finalizing, looping in Mike's brother Matt and Todd DeZago the entire way. We omitted all references to words such as "memorial" or "somber," because in everyone's eyes, that's not what Mike's about. He loved to draw, loved to have fun, and had a great sense of humor. We think this night will be in that same sort of spirit, which again ties into the Irish Wake concept. You definitely mark someone's passing, but more than anything, you celebrate their life, and remember all the good things and the good times. That's what it's all about.

“It was almost strange. Within 24 hours of Mike's passing, I started to get scans of drawings from artists—I think Francis Manapul's was the first—who did Mike-themed pieces and said, ‘Hey, I felt I had to draw this, and now I want to do something with it. Can I donate it to you?’ It was like a lot of people were working their feelings out on paper via their art. Totally independently, Matt Wieringo had told folks that they could omit flowers in lieu of donations to The Hero Initiative and the ASPCA. I ran down Matt's phone number after a few days and told him about the art I was receiving, and asked how he wanted to dispense with it. He told me that auctioning it off would be cool, and splitting proceeds between us and the ASPCA. We'll run eBay auctions starting on or about the 19th, and collect money to split with the ASPCA—Mike was quite an animal lover, as I'm sure you well know.

“I know Joe Quesada will be there—he's right in that same neighborhood. Jim McCann from Marvel will also be there, as will Tom Raney, Neil Vokes, and whoever else shows up. I'm hopeful that everyone will remember Mike well, and tell some great stories. I know Quesada has a couple, and I'd wager Todd Dezago must have a million.”

Again, the celebration is planned for Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 7:30 pm