What If This Was The Fantastic Four?: A Tribute to Mike Wieringo – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Mike Wieringo and several volunteer artists (Art), and Val Staples and Leanne Hannah (Color Art)

I’m a fairly easy guy to please when it comes to comic book art. The more realistic it looks, the more I like it. Therefore, I tend to not like “cartoony” art. There are only two artists who are the exception, one is Paul Pelletier and the other was Mike Wieringo. I’ve never been able to put my finger on it, but something about Mike’s art was both pleasing to the eye and simply fun. His art was a huge reason of why I thoroughly enjoyed Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. When I found out about this issue, it was obvious that I was going to pick it up.

The actual story chronicles the “replacement” Fantastic Four – Spider-Man, Wolverine, Grey Hulk, and Ghost Rider – from Walt Simonson’s classic run and asks the question “What if the original Fantastic Four had died, and these four became their permanent replacement?” Within, we see their hesitation to unite and then their eventual bonding as they face several of the old Fantastic Four’s foes together. The story isn’t all “feel good” as we also have to see the world’s coping with the loss of the Fantastic Four. (Rather fitting, considering the several tributes included of those still coping with Wieringo’s death.) And it must also be mentioned that the fight with the new Frightful Four is pretty darn awesome.

Of course, the art is also spectacular. The first several pages are Wieringo’s last work while and the rest of the book is finished by many of his friends and colleagues. Some pages are better than others, depending on the artist, but as a whole the art was very well done.

As mentioned earlier, the second half of this is filled with several tributes written by Mike’s family, friends, and co-workers. I didn’t know too much about him, but I enjoyed his work, and after reading these, I feel as though I have come to know him and appreciate his art a little more. If all of this isn’t incentive enough to buy this issue, Marvel is donating all profits to the Hero Initiative, a charity that helps current and former comic book creators in need. Being a tribute, this is hard to properly rate, so I’ll give it three grades.

Story: Grade: B-

Art: Grade: A-

As a Tribute to Mike Wieringo: A+

-M. Staples

Spider-Man Family #7 – Review

By: Karl Kesel, Todd Dezago, Mark Waid (story), Karl Kesel (art), Val Staples (colors)

This issue of Spider-Man Family is a loving tribute to Mike Wieringo. Many of the writers he’s worked with in the past have come back for this special issue to craft a story that very much centers around Wieringo’s kindred spirit. So, don’t expect something emotional and heavy – this story is completely light-hearted.

The title of the story says it all – “Looter’s Quest” is a 30-page globe trotting adventure featuring about one of Spidey’s most ridiculous foes. The Looter is completely obsessed with finding the “twin” meteorite that matches the one that gave him his powers. Why? Because he wants to be smarter (and probably a more intelligent villain). Spider-Man catches on to his plot and follows him from place to place, yet the Looter somehow manages to outwit him time and again!

Giving nods  Mike Wieringo, we’re treated to many of the characters he worked on such as Spider-Man (duh), Doctor Strange, and the Fantastic Four. As you can imagine, it’s silly and full of cheese. While this story may not win any awards, but its sentiment is heartfelt.

As for the other stories, well, they’re nothing too special. We have a reprinting of Venom #1 by David Michelinie and Mark Bagley, Spider-Man: Death & Destiny #1, and another installment of Spider-Man J – the manga version of Spider-Man. Priced at $4.99, Spider-Man Family weighs in at a hefty 104 pages, which if you think about it, is a bargain. (Grade: B-)

-J. Montes