In Memory of Mike Wieringo.

I don't know who made this banner, but I liked it, so here it is.

I imagine the rest of the week at least, any posting I do will just be in tribute/memory of Mike Wieringo.

I decided the best thing I could do would be to share my favorite comic of his with you a few pages at a time over the next few days. He was still a rookie to mainstream comics when this issue came out, and the work he would eventually produce would show him growing above and beyond this by leaps and bounds, but this comic will always hold a special place in my heart.

I had just started reading Flash a few months earlier because Mike's art had caught my eye and had been in the process of trying to find some of the older issues since he had started on the book.
Then this came out amid all the Zero Hour revamps, reboots, restarts and was absolutely magical.
To me at least.

This comic solidified my love for the character and made sure that for me, Wally West will always be THE Flash.

I've been trying to think since yesterday if there's been any other single issue of any comic ever that I've read and re-read more than this, and if there is, I can't think of one.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.





More tomorrow..

Mike Wieringo, 1963-2007

I cannot believe what I've just read.
This is absolutely horrible news.
Mike Wieringo was and will always be one of my absolute favorite artists and his personality and kind-hearted spirit made him an even greater asset to the comics community.
I'll never forget how great it made me feel when he complimented a drawing of Ghost Rider I had posted on the Drawing Board forums a few years ago.
I didn't know the man personally, and had only talked to him over the years via e-mail or on various message boards, but I really feel like we've all lost someone special.
As I was walking down to my car this morning to go to work I said to myself, this feels like one of those days where I'm going to be saying I wish I'd just stayed in bed. I had no idea how true that was going to turn out to be.
I only got a few hours sleep last night, and then on the way to work I hit a big dog full-on.
Then to get to work and hear about this.. this has been a really awful day.
After trying all damn morning to find the cover to Flash #0 (one of my favorite single issues ever) somewhere online and not having any luck, I decided to just post some of my favorite sketches from his site. It's not much a tribute, but it's the best I can do.










UPDATE:

My thanks to Curt for finding this picture for me.
Written by Mark Waid and drawn by Mike Wieringo.
This is one of the finest comics I've ever read.
It's one of those rare gems that showcases how magical and amazing comics can be.

Comic-Con Cuteness!

Today's photos center around things I saw at Comic-Con that were cute.

Kittens and puppies cute, not cute girl cute.


Super-Buddies!


These people had a whole big booth centered around this and other similar "pea" themes.


You might have to click on this one to really get the idea, but this was equally cute and incredibly creepy.
On the one hand, you've got a little kid all tuckered out at Comic-Con with his big bag and character mask on.
On the other hand, you've got that creepy V face on a tiny body slumped over in a corner.

Comic-Con Continued!

I met George Romero.
He was 20 feet tall.
I'm standing on a series of boxes in this picture.


By now everyone has already heard about this girl, but I mean, I got my picture with her too. She's resting her butt on my shoulder.


Heavy-set Blade looked mean.


Then I met Superman.
Just let me have this one.


I'm a really big fan of your work.


Shin Chan!

And so it goes..

The Ten Best Bands That Never Existed.

It's on film.

Comics are awesome.

Where could he be?

Do you know what this is?

Gone and on our way.

For those of you who are interested in such things, after quite a drought, tomorrow is a really big DVD day.
The Simpsons Season 10
The Muppet Show Season 2
The Film Crew : Killers From Space
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series
Darkwing Duck Season 2
The Tick Vs. Season 2
TMNT (2007 CGI flick)
Disturbia (which Corey assures me was good)
and saving the best for last...
FLASH GORDON (Saviour of the Universe Edition)!

I think there may well be.

Don't you hate it when you see something that has been made by (what you would assume are) professionals that looks absolutely awful.
I'm looking at a calendar I bought at a store.
This calendar was mass produced, which means it had to go through any number of people for approval before it was released, and yet here it is.
Staring at me.
Ugly as the devil's face.
I see things like this and it makes me wish the people in charge of "things" would call me up before they send whatever it is they make out to an unsuspecting populace.
While it's true that I'm currently employed as a professional graphic designer, I don't have any better design sense now than I did when I was working in retail.
I guess my point (and I'm not sure if I have one) is that the world of mass produced crap would look a lot more pleasing to the eye if I were consulted more often.

What do you think?

Curt has a whole mess of pictures up from our trip to San Diego.
He also has insightful, running commentary.
He also has some strange ideas about Super Mario ... but those aren't on his site, those are in his brain.

You hurt me!

Guess what day it is?
It's Comic-Con Photo Parade Batday!


I got to see the newly refurbished Batmobile.
Curt and I were working on a plan to steal it that never panned out.


Then I met Batman!
I cropped out the creepy Robin he had with him.
Trust me, things are better this way.


Then I met this Robin who wasn't particularly creepy at all.
He was more friendly than creepy.
Great costume too.


Then April met Catwoman!
This was about as close to seeing Catwoman walk out of the comic as I think was possible. She had the costume, the look, and the attitude all down perfectly.
This was definitely the hottest picture I took at the show.
April was a little flustered after this.
Here's another picture of that Catwoman I found elsewhere.

Yowza!

This could be your lucky day.

No, you aren't hallucinating, I'm posting this picture again.
Why am I doing this? What's it to you, pal?! It's my blog, I can do whatever I damn well feel like doing.

I'm sorry. I'm a little tired.
So, I'm re-posting this picture, because I've added a veritable plethora of notes to the photo.


I met Beastmaster.
This picture is also covered in notes if you click upon it.


Curt : Get my picture with this furry!
This was the creepiest picture I took at the con.

A bag of Oreos.

One of the cutest things I saw at the con.
It's a little kid dressed as Capt. Kirk.
He and his folks were with another family who's little boy was dressed as Spock.
Adorable.

The Return.

I may never be this happy again.

Go ahead, take a peek.

Another of my many powers.

So, Curt and April and I leave for San Diego tomorrow.
For Comic Con.
I'm very excited and also very nervous.
I don't care for flying.
I also have no idea what to expect at the Con.
I have high hopes.
Anyway, I doubt I'll be doing any updating between now and next week so here's a mess o' stuff until then.

Cyclops wants kisses.


Spidey 2099 as drawn by Cory Walker and colored by me.


This is a Superman I drew and colored using a color scheme I borrowed from a Jon Morris picture of Superboy.