One More For 'Ringo

Ok, I said I was going to get to my own work again, and this qualifies, but also ties into stuff related to Mike. For those not in the know, the Baltimore Comic-Con is this weekend, Saturday, September 8th-Sunday, September 9th), and I'll be attending again, as usual (I missed last year due to the birth of my son, but this year, he'll be there with me!). It'll be fun, but also a sad occasion, as this was to also be the first time I would have seen Mike Wieringo in two years, since the last Baltimore show we did.

As a tribute to our friend Mike, John Gallagher, through Sky-Dog Press, has decided to reprint a poster featuring the art we all worked on together for the cover to the Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule trade paperback. It also features a dedication to Mike's memory, depicting his character, Flyboy. Mike had sent this art to John, along with some other beautiful work from his blog/sketchbook, with the intention that he'd be doing a kids' drawing tutorial for us in our Roboy Red comic. Obviously, that won't be happening now, but we wanted to do something to honor Mike at the show, and this is the poster:



Here's a detail of the tribute image:



And this, from the Sky-Dog press release:

In memory of the late, great Mike Wieringo, Sky-Dog Press will be offering fans at the Baltimore Comic-Con a limited memorial edition of the Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule poster, as illustrated by Mike Wieringo in 2006-- with any donations given going to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Mike Wieringo was a good friend, and in many ways, an inspiration for the fun comics we do at Sky-Dog," said Buzzboy creator John Gallagher, adding, "Mike was generous enough to do the cover to our Buzzboy comic for free-- this is just a way for us to share Mike's generosity with his fans, and help out some cuddly critters as well."


Sky-Dog will be giving out the posters for free, but asks fans to contribute what they can-- a quarter, a dollar, five-- with all proceeds going to the ASPCA, as Mike's family has indicated as a fitting charity in his honor (Hero Initiative being another Wieringo family pick). On top of printing these posters, Sky-Dog is donating $500 in Wieringo's honor, on top of any donations received. A previous version of this poster was handed out at conventions across the country last year-- the new one is bordered in black-- with a tiny tribute box at the bottom, and utilizing one of Mike's favorite unrealized concepts-- Flyboy. "When I see that drawing, it has the same happy smile Mike always offered up," said Gallagher, "I have to think that Mike is up there, flying, with that same silly grin."


The Buzzboy poster depicts art drawn by Wieringo, inked by Rich Faber and colored by Gallagher, originally for the cover of Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule #1. Gallagher and Faber will be on hand to sign copies at the show. Fans can find the posters at the Sky-Dog table in the Kids Love Comics All Ages Pavilion at the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 8 and 9, 2007.

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It's well-known that Mike loved animals, and I think he'd appreciate that donations for the ASPCA will be taken in his memory. I hope everyone will come by, take a poster, and donate in memory of our friend.

I'll see you in Baltimore!

Best,
Rich