Mike Wieringo
Birth name	Michael Lance Wieringo
Born	June 24, 1963 Vicenza, Italy
Died	August 12, 2007 (aged 44) Durham, North Carolina, United States
Nationality	Naturalised American (immigrated Italian)
Area(s)	Penciller, Inker, Writer
Notable works	DC Comics (Flash), Image Comics (Tellos), Marvel Comics (Fantastic Four)

Michael Lance "Mike" Wieringo (June 24, 1963 – August 12, 2007),^[1] who sometimes signed his work under the name 'Ringo, was an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' The Flash and Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Durham is a city in the US state of North Carolina. It is the County seat of Durham County North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc The Fantastic Four is a fictional Superhero team appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Biography

Early life and career

Mike Wieringo was born in Italy and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Lynchburg is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ^[2] He attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, USA, graduating with a degree in Fashion Illustration^[3], and broke into comics as a penciler with the Millennium Publications series Pat Savage and Doc Savage: Doom Dynasty in 1991. Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, is a large public American research University with its main campuses located in downtown Richmond, This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fashion Illustration is the communication of fashion designs through drawing A penciller (or penciler) is one of a number of types of Artists working within the Comic book industry Doc Savage is a Fictional character, one of the Pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s Two years later, he penciled the cover of the anthology comic book Negative Burn #1 (1993), from Caliber Press. ANThology is the first Major label album by Alien Ant Farm released on March 6, 2001 in the USA and March 19 Caliber Comics or Caliber Press was an American Comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed.

Wieringo broke into mainstream publisher DC Comics penciling the cover and co-penciling (with Lee Moder) the 30-page Justice League International lead story in Justice League Quarterly #11 (Summer 1993). DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company Justice League International (or JLI for short was formed after the 1987 company-wide crossover Limited series, Legends The Justice League sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short is a Fictional DC Comics superhero team. Wieringo then penciled a 13-page backup feature starring the superheroines Doctor Light and Ice in Justice League Quarterly #12 (Autumn 1993). A superhero (sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero) is a Fictional character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do Doctor Light is a Fictional Comic book Superhero in the DC Comics universe. Ice ( Tora Olafsdotter) is a Fictional character, a Comic book superheroine in publications from DC Comics. In a late 1990s interview, Wieringo recalled that

The Flash

Flash vol. 2, #97 (Jan. 1995), with Bart Allen (Impulse) second from left. Cover by Wieringo.

Wieringo gained prominence working with writer Mark Waid on DC Comics' super-speedster series The Flash vol. Mark Waid (born March 21 1962 in Hueytown Alabama) is an American Comic book Writer. 2, penciling all but two issues from #80–92 (Early Sept. 1993 – July 1994), plus #0 (Oct. 1994); he additionally penciled covers through #100, #118–124, and 128–129, and for Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (April 1999). 80-Page Giant was the name used for a series of Comic books published by DC Comics beginning in 1964. Wieringo co-created, with Waid, the young speedster Bart Allen, a. Bartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the. Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. k. a. Impulse, in The Flash vol. 2, #91 (cameo) and #92 (first full appearance).

Wieringo followed this with a short run on Robin, another DC title, with writer Chuck Dixon, while concurrently penciling Marvel Comics' Rogue #1–4 (Jan. Robin (also referred to as The Boy Wonder) is the name of several Fictional characters appearing in Comic books published by DC Comics, originally Charles "Chuck" Dixon (b 1954 is an American Comic book Writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc Rogue ( Anna Marie) is a Fictional character, part of the Marvel Comics mutant super-team the X-Men. –April 1995), a miniseries starring that X-Men superheroine. A miniseries (also mini-series) in a serial Storytelling medium is a production which tells a story in a pre-planned limited number of episodes The X-Men is a team of fictional Superhero characters in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. During this period, he also penciled occasional Marvel covers and small miscellaneous jobs for that company.

Other work around this time included, for the publisher Malibu Comics, penciling the cover and co-penciling (with Rob Haynes) the lead story of Firearm 0 (Nov. Malibu Comics was an American Comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s best known for its Ultraverse line of Superhero Firearm was a comic book series created by writer James Dale Robinson and artists Howard Chaykin and Cully Hamner for Malibu Comics ' 1993) and penciling the back cover and one story in Godwheel #2 (Feb. The Godwheel is one of the main concepts of the Malibu Comics Ultraverse. 1995). For the small independent publisher Explorer Press, he penciled the cover of Explorers #2 (1995).

Marvel and Tellos

Promotional art for Tellos #1 (May 1999), by Wieringo. Tellos is a comic-book Fantasy series created by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo and published by Image Comics.

After having penciled the Spider-Boy #1 (April 1996) one-shot, which combined Spider-Man and Superboy as part of the Marvel Comics-DC Comics intercompany crossover series of one-shots Amalgam Comics, Wieringo became the regular artist on Marvel's The Sensational Spider-Man, beginning with issue #8 (Sept. Spider-Boy is a Fictional character, the Alter ego of Pete Ross and a Amalgam Comics Superhero created by writer Karl Kesel Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Superboy is the name of several Fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company In Comic books, an intercompany crossover (also called cross-company or company crossover) is a comic or series of comics where characters published by In the American Comic book industry the term one-shot is used to denote a pilot comic or a stand-alone story created to last as one issue Dc2005svg|New DC logo from 2005|125px|right]] Amalgam Comics was an American Comic book publisher of Metafiction; it was a collaboration between Marvel The Sensational Spider-Man was first used as the title for a Prestige format one-shot special called The Sensational Spider-Man Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut 1996). Teaming with writer Todd DeZago, Wieringo penciled all but eight issues from #8-31 (Sept. Todd Dezago is an American Comic book writer He is best known for his collaborations with Penciller Mike Wieringo on The Sensational 1996 - Oct. 1998), and some covers on issues he did not pencil. Additionally, Wieringo co-plotted several issues and penciled the quirkily numbered flashback issue, # -1 (July 1997). In history film television and other media a flashback (also called analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current During his run he signed a two-year contract with Marvel, beginning December 1997.

After Spider-Man, Wieringo's next major project was at Image Comics, where he reteamed with DeZago on their creator-owned fantasy series Tellos. Image Comics is an American Comic book publisher It was founded in 1992 by seven high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their Creator ownership is an arrangement in which the creator or creators of a work of fiction retain full ownership of the material regardless of whether it is self-published or Tellos is a comic-book Fantasy series created by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo and published by Image Comics. The comic, a coming-of-age adventure sent in a magical, piratical world, ran 10 issues (May 1999 – Nov. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering 2000). The last three issues were released by Gorilla Comics, a short-lived Image imprint co-founded by Wieringo and several other creators in 2000. Gorilla Comics was a short-lived American comic book Imprint launched in 2000 by creators Kurt Busiek, Tom Grummett, Stuart Immonen ^[4] Following the demise of the series, Wieringo also penciled one 13-page story in a post-series one-shot, Tellos: Maiden Voyage #1 (March 2001). In the American Comic book industry the term one-shot is used to denote a pilot comic or a stand-alone story created to last as one issue

Wieringo's promotional art for Fantastic Four #509 (March 2004). The Fantastic Four is a fictional Superhero team appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Wieringo returned to DC Comics for all but one issue of Adventures of Superman #592–600 (July 2001 – March 2002), with writer Joe Casey. Superman is a fictional Comic book Superhero widely considered to be one of the most recognized of such characters and an American Cultural icon Joe Casey is an American Comic book writer He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3 He then returned to Marvel and reunited with writer Mark Waid on Fantastic Four. Mark Waid (born March 21 1962 in Hueytown Alabama) is an American Comic book Writer. The Fantastic Four is a fictional Superhero team appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Beginning with #51 (March 2002), Wieringo eventually drew 27 issues of Waid's 36 issues, wrapping up their run with #524, by which time the previously relaunched series had returned to its original numbering. The comics-hobbyist webzine Newsarama. An online magazine is a Magazine that is delivered in an electronic form com commented that the Waid-Wieringo run "was perhaps best known for fan outcry when Marvel announced that [it was] going to replace the team. Marvel quickly reversed [its] decision, and the two completed their run on the series". ^[5]

Wieringo penciled the interior art on issues #1–5, #8–10 of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and was the cover artist of #1–19 (Dec. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a Comic book series published by Marvel Comics. 2005 – June 2007). He and writer Jeff Parker began work on the miniseries Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four in April 2007. A miniseries (also mini-series) in a serial Storytelling medium is a production which tells a story in a pre-planned limited number of episodes

Death and legacy

Wieringo died of an aortic dissection at his home in Durham, North Carolina, at age 44. Durham is a city in the US state of North Carolina. It is the County seat of Durham County North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States ^[1] He was survived by his parents, Cecil and Shirley Dean Wieringo, and his brother Matt. ^[6]

Mirage Comics' Tales Of TMNT #40, Image Comics' Elephantmen #11, and Marvel Comics' Spider-Man: Family #7 were dedicated to his memory. Mirage Studios is an independent American Comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, based in Northampton Image Comics is an American Comic book publisher It was founded in 1992 by seven high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc

At the time of his passing, Wieringo had completed seven pages of a What If? story featuring the temporary "replacement" Fantastic Four of Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and Ghost Rider that had originally been assembled in a 1990 three-part Fantastic Four storyline. What If, sometimes rendered as What If?, is the title of several Comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. This article is about the comic book character and series For all other media appearances see Hulk in other media. Marvel Comics donated the script and Wieringo's art to The Hero Initiative, a charity dedicated to assisting Golden Age and Silver Age comics creators who retired without pensions or benefits, and required financial assistance. The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books generally thought as lasting from the 1930s until late 1940s during which Comic books The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books predominantly those featuring the Superhero Wieringo's colleagues stepped in to complete the story. The completed 48-page book, What If?—The Fantastic Four Tribute to Mike Wieringo, will feature, in addition to Wieringo's art, artwork by Arthur Adams, Paul Renaud, Stuart Immonen, Cully Hammer, Alan Davis, Brian Stelfreeze, David Williams, Sanford Greene, Humberto Ramos, Skottie Young, Mike Allred, and Barry Kitson, and is scheduled for June 2008 release. Arthur "Art" Adams, (b 1963 is an American Writer and Comic book Illustrator. Paul Renaud (born 1975 is a French Illustrator and Comic book artist. Stuart Immonen is a Canadian Comic book artist. Immonen studied at Toronto 's York University, pursuing a Career in Art Cully Hamner (born March 7 1969 in Huntsville Alabama) is an American Comic book artist Alan Davis (born 1956 is a British writer and artist of Comic books Biography UK work Alan Davis was born on June 18, 1956 Brian Stelfreeze is an American Comic book artist Stelfreeze an accomplished painter penciller inker and colorist has worked for nearly every major American Humberto Ramos (born 27 November 1970) is a Mexican Comic book Penciller, best known for his work on American comic books Skottie Young is an American comic book artist and illustrator from Chicago Ill Michael Dalton "Mike" Allred is an American comic book artist and writer. Barry Kitson is a British comics artist best known as a Penciler of major Superhero comic books published by Marvel and DC. ^[7]

Bibliography

• Nolen-Weathington, Eric, and Mike Wieringo. Modern Masters Volume 9: Mike Wieringo (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2006). TwoMorrows Publishing is a publisher of Magazines about Comic books, founded in 1994 by John and Pam Morrow out of their small advertising agency in Raleigh North ISBN 1893905659, ISBN 978-1893905658.

Footnotes

References

• Official Mike Wieringo website
• His personal deviantart page
• Lambiek Comiclopedia: Mike Wieringo
• Grand Comics Database
• Mike Wieringo's Resources at Howtomakecomics.net
• Newsarama.com (no date): "5 Questions for… Mike Wieringo
• ComicBloc.com (July 14, 2007): "Tellos About You: An Interview with Mike Wieringo
• iF (Aug. 13, 2007): "Tellos Artist Mike Wieringo Dead at 44", by Tony Whitt
• iFanboy video podcast about Mike Wieringo's career