We close this block with this bittersweet tribute to Mike Wieringo. He was working on a What If thing about the so-called “New Fantastic Four” from FF 347, 348 & 349 when he died. This book presents his final work, and then calls on an all-start lineup of artists to finish the story.
This issue was also a benefit for the Hero Initiative, a nonprofit that helps comic creators with medical bills and things like that, since comics is an industry that has thrived by keeping most of its creative staff in poverty since the 30s. These days a popular writer can make a good living, but your average artist basically has to marry someone with a better job to survive. Great business, makes you feel good supporting it. Anyway, Ringo. He only got to do 7 pages of this.. Let’s see him kick it off…
Then, fittingly, Art Adams takes the recap page telling you about the original story he drew.
Then it’s back to Ringo.
Jeff Parker explained in another text page that he accidentally had Ringo draw Johnny Blaze here, unaware that Danny Ketch was Ghost Rider in the original story. Mike was planning to fix it once the book was done.
And that, sadly is the last page Mike Wieringo ever drew. He was inked by his longtime collaborator Karl Kesel, who does most of this issue, and colored by Val Staples, who does the whole thing. Art Adams inked himself (And someone else later, which is surprising). On a page by Paul Renaud (I can’t show em all), our heroes see the first Daily Bugle disparaging their efforts, and Ghost Rider once again talks about quitting. And then the Negative Zone portal opens, and we’re treated to 2 pages of Stuart Immonen, inked by Kesel:
Immonen is quickly becoming the best action artist in comics in this period. As we will soon be seeing plenty of evidence for. Next up, Cully Hamner and Alan Davis get a page each, Hamner inking his own, Davis with Kesel, as Dr. Doom rages because Blastaar was defeated. He’s been sending all these FF villains after the new guys, intent on keeping them from continuing the cursed Richards’ legacy. A spooky voice tells him he’ll never stop them without its help. Then we find Peter and Johnny having lunch, listening to people talk about not liking the new FF, when a seemingly possessed Sandman appears, saying he can sense Spider-Man nearby. Peter says it’s a chance to try their “new unshreddable uniforms” as Johnny becomes Ghost Rider and says he’ll summon the others. The other Johnny used to make a big fiery “4” in the sky, and it turns out Ghost Rider can shoot the same out of his mouth, which is pretty wacky. On a page by Casey Jones & Kesel, the other 2 see the signal and head out, while Spidey and GR, now in FF suits, fight the Sandman. GR says he has “nether-energies coursing through him.” Then there’s 3 pages by David Williams, inked by Art Adams. Him inking someone else is a real rarity, especially after the 80s.
Ghost Rider’s rogues gallery is so lame that the new Frightful Four gives you 2 of Spider-Man’s rather than one of his. On pages by Sanford Greene and Humberto Ramos, the two FFs engage, and a news reporter lets us know the new Frightful Four have created a giant energy pentagram around them, trapping a bunch of people in the fighting zone. But they’re burning out, their demonic gifts using them up, and then they all fade to bones and dust as Doom appears in their midst to do his thing. Skottie Young takes over, inking himself with a very Bill Sienkiewicz flourish.
The peoples’ interference gives the heroes a second to breathe, and Spider-Man asks if that’s still the human Doom in there, and when GR says yes, he webs D’Lilah’s disruptor ring into him. Weird thing for Spidey to just be carrying around. It separates Doom from Mephisto. Doom is able to say “thank you” before burning up. Next up is a page by Mike Allred and Kesel, followed by Barry Kitson inking himself to close it out.
Not the most consequential project for Mike Wieringo to end his career on, but it’s not like that was the plan. Salute to all the guys who pitched in on this. There’s a lot more to the book, tho, including this special edition of Chris Giarrusso’s Mini-Marvels, a feature that ran all through Marvel Comics of the period…
…which also includes cameos by characters from Tellos, the fantasy series by Ringo, Kesel and Todd DeZago that they did after leaving Sensational Spider-Man. And what would have been the What If comic’s cover if it made it to print as intended:
The “most of” on this page kills me. Who were the jerks who demanded their full page rate? I shant hazard a guess. I really shant, none of them seem like they would have. I can think of a bunch of comic book artists I would suspect of such crappiness, but not anyone in the credits here. The rest of the book is tributes to Mike by his brother, friends, fellow artists, and collaborators. It’s very sweet. A nice send off for one of my personal favorite comic artists ever. And on that somber note, we’re leaving the Marvel U for the Ultimate U for awhile. Feels like it’s been ages to me, but it’s finally time to see who will follow Mark Bagley on USM.