Wieringo remembered

I still miss Mike Wieringo.

A stellar artist and a great guy, Wieringo died following a heart attack last year at age 44. His sudden death was a shock to many fans and comic creators, spurring a heartfelt round of memorials and tributes. Those remembrances continue this summer as two larger efforts -- a scholarship and special comic book -- come to fruition.

The Mike Wieringo Scholarship, intended to help a talented and needy student at Savannah College of Art and Design, is now soliciting donations. Coordinators hope to raise $600,000 to sustain the annual, $30,000 scholarship. It's a significant effort that many creators are supporting, and an important undertaking that would have been meaningful to Wieringo.

Meanwhile, a Mike Wieringo tribute comic book arrives in stores today. This publication -- not to be confused with the forthcoming "Art of Mike Wieringo" book that may or may not include the Dr. Doom sketch Wieringo drew for me in 2006 -- contains a Marvel Comics tale that Wieringo was working on before he died. The 48-page comic was completed by other creators and costs $4.99. Proceeds benefit the Hero Initiative.

If you can't find the comic at your local shop, ask them to order "What If This Was the Fantastic Four: A Tribute to Mike Wieringo." It's well worth your effort to see the last pages from this incredible artist.