Every once in a while a public figure will pass on and it will feel deeply personal to you. For me, one of those happened last Sunday. Mike Wieringo, whom you may know from his work on Flash with Mark Waid, most recently Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man with Peter David, or if nothing else, take a look at those preview pages below for Mike’s work on Tellos with Todd Dezago, a great work. Honestly one of my favorites. On Sunday, he passed away of heart failure. At only 44 years old, it was certainly an untimely loss, but at any age, it’s a shame that so many people will not have a chance to see his beautiful work.
I’ve only had the luck to meet him twice, both at conventions, both on a busy floor. One of those times I got a sketch. The other time I got a couple issues of Tellos signed and shook his hand and told him how much I enjoyed his work. Neither one a really stand out meeting event, but he was an extremely nice both times.
He was one of those artists that when I was thinking of how my comics would look I’d picture them in his style. I hoped to one day work with him, but now I and many other creators will never have a chance, but I will still love his work.
Here’s to you, Mike. And say hi to Kirby for me. I’m sure you’ll have fun sharing sketches.

If you don’t know what a Meme is, it’s basically any idea that spreads and evolves, kind of like the telephone game you played as a kid where a string of people line up and one of them whispers a sentence, and you see what it ends up as when it gets to the end. It may be a perfect imitation or something entirely new.

So Andy sent this one my way. and since he directed it towards Comics Radar, I figured I would share 8 things about me that relate to comics.

8 things about John & Comics

1. When I was a child, I had my mom get me a summer membership to the city pool. But after she dropped me off, I would leave the pool and walk to the comic shop that was a short ways away.
2. I’ve never read Maus. I know it’s supposed to be one of the classics, but I’ve just never gotten around to doing.
3. I used to read comics with a Dictionary beside me. When I came across a word I didn’t know I would look it up. Then usually become very frustrated because words like “genetic” and “mutation” weren’t in the children’s Dictionary I had.
4. The only comic I have ever bought multiple covers of was the Transformers series when it first switched over to IDW.
5. I have an unhealthy obsession with CCGs and miniature games. Frequently buying boosters, packs or minis, and Inquest magazine, even though I never play.
6. I met my wife at a Vampire: The Masquerade LARP and proposed at a comic convention.
7. I own the first (I think) 9 issues of Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood, as well as the first three of Youngblood: Strikefiles and Team Youngblood #1.
8. I download a lot of comics from BitTorrent, but usually just end up deleting them because I need the hard drive space.

and now, I get to tag 8 other people to fill out the 8 things Meme.
Let’s go with:

1. Neil Gorman
2. Cunning Minx
3. CC Chapman
4. Bruce Rosenberg
5. Derek Coward
6. Aaron Macom
7. Mikel OD
8. Paul French

I just chose to do all of mine comic focused, I don’t expect others to do the same.

With the recent release of the fifth Harry Potter film and the imminent release of the 7th book, it made me start thinking. I read the first Harry Potter novel, but it didn’t really grab me.

It seems like most people that read the book become enthralled for some reason. (Ostenstibly JK Rowling’s worships a dark lord who empowered her books) But for me it was a bit meh.

and I just started thinking today, why?

Why did this one property that everyone seems to love hold no sway over me? Was it just my natural aversion to whatever is popular at the moment or something more? Suddenly, I realized it was because I’ve already read this story a hundred times. Boy finds he has powers beyond those of the mortals that surround him and learns to make use of the powers for altruistic powers. Because that’s what the story really boils down to. And I’ve read this. Superboy, Spider-man, any number of superheroes. And the story is almost always the same, there’s a betrayal, an enemy turns out to be a friend and a final confrontation that ultimately seems to resolve everything but leaves a hint towards more. But, I wondered am I the only comics fan that has this issue, because if I’ve read this over and over, surely others have to. So I’m asking the other comic fans, are you a Harry Potter fan?

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I’m trying to build enthusiasm for a new TF cartoon, but I’m still not digging the Optimus likeness. It kind of looks like they’re taking elements from Beast Machines and jamming together with Teen Titans.

This is why I’ve been lax with the Podcast lately (like I need a reason, right?)

Everyone say hello to Serenity Jeanne Campbell, the little girl born May 1, 2007 at 5:38PM.

My daughter. That seems so weird to say.

Tentatively being record Monday, I’ll be going over
Gearhead #1 & 2

and Avengers Initiative #1.

I will be recording these on May 1. So if you have any thoughts send them to feedback@comicsradar.com by April 30. Hope to hear from you.

Over at Wizard, Keith Giffen took some time to look back and reflect on some of the happenings, during his long run through 52. Some interesting points. A couple of my favorites:

29) Half of the time I had no idea what certain characters looked like, so I’d just slot in Marvel characters. I was really proud of the Forbush Man cameo.

13) True story. During an early interview about 52, the interviewer floated the following question: “How many issues will 52 run?” Focus!!

19) I tried to get DC to deliberately ship the final 52 one week late—then, when the fan “I told you they’d blow it” fervor was at its height, put out the final issue with the time stamps adjusted to reflect the week skip. The whole 5/2 coincidence killed that idea which, if I remember correctly, wasn’t met with all that much enthusiasm to begin with.

I would have loved to see the last issue come out late, just to see the entirety of online fandom light up over night. After 5/2 Matt and I will take a look back at IC, OYL, 52, and WWIII. Where the DCU has been and where it is going. Send us your thoughts!

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Download

Sellouts of the Week
Free Comic Book Day is coming

Comics off the page news:
• Edward Norton to wear green paint. or Grey?
• Fishburne gives Silver Surfer a voice
• Sega and Marvel team up
• Viz to make Blue Dragon manga & anime
• FUNimation uncuts One Piece
• Spider-man swings with Bono and the Edge.

Episode sponsored by Florida Supercon June 22-24, 2007

Theme Music: Super Myth by Ledenhead, from the Podsafe Music Network

Additional Music: Baby Boy Baby Girl by the Dark Romantics

Hey Everybody,
Sorry, all I’ve put up lately are news episodes, I have a couple other episodes but they still need to be edited and with the baby coming soon and semester finals being imminent, I have to hold off. There will be a new episode by tomorrow morning. (more news) and more extra good stuff will be coming soon.

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