Broken Frontier

Last summer, the comics world lost a much-loved figure far, far too early. A creator whose vibrant work was synonymous with unashamedly fun comics. Spider-Man Family #7, out next week, celebrates the life and work of the irreplaceable Mike Wieringo. Broken Frontier spoke to Nate Cosby, Todd Dezago, Karl Kesel and Mark Waid, Mike's friends and frequent collaborators, about this very special issue.

BROKEN FRONTIER: This February's Spider-Man Family #7 pays tribute to the work of the late Mike Wieringo. How did the idea of this tribute issue come about?

NATE COSBY: I missed Mike. He was my favorite penciler in comics. And it was such a dream come true to be able to edit one of his projects (What If? New Fantastic Four), and when he passed in the midst of that book, it was just...it was terrible. So I figured, well, I got this Spider-Man Family book, and Mike loved Spidey...why don't I write to Karl Kesel and Mark Waid (two of Mike's closest collaborators), see if they'd like 30 pages to do WHATEVER they wanted, as a tribute to Mike?

Those three guys were responsible for my favorite Marvel comic, Fantastic Four #60. Then Karl mentioned Todd, and I KICKED myself for not asking him to contribute in the first place, because one of my favorite stories of all time was Todd and Mike's Sensational Spider-Man (#s 13-15 1996) story set in the Savage Land. (BUY those books. They're the definition of fun.)

There were a lot of tribute-type projects floating around, all of them very nice (I'm actually working on another one soon), but I figured the nicest thing, the thing Mike would've enjoyed, would be a celebration of Mike's whimsical disposition. Just let his friends loose to have some fun.

BF: The creative team includes a number of talents who worked very closely with Mike at Marvel and beyond over the years...

MARK WAID: We were all eager to participate because we shared not one, but two traits: We all loved Mike, and we all admire and respect the talents of each other. We weren't being asked for a pin-up or a quick essay; we were being given the chance to celebrate Mike's life by working in his spirit with friends.

BF: The solicitations indicate we can expect a tour of those areas of the Marvel Universe that Mike visited in his Marvel work... How much can you tell us about that?

TODD DEZAGO: Mike and I had discussed doing a story like this for years, whenever we'd get nostalgic and moon over our days on Sensational Spider-Man. We thought it could be a real romp of a story to have the Looter drag Spidey all over the Marvel Universe in search of his alleged, long-lost meteor. Add the Fantastic Four--and Mark and Karl!--and how could we NOT have a blast!

BF: Spidey and the FF are obvious choices for lead characters given Mike's association with them. But even a minor Spider-Man villain like the Looter is someone older fans will recognise as having had his moment in the Wieringo spotlight (in Sensational Spider-Man #8 in the 90s). Can we expect to see a whole host of other nods to Mike's past work and maybe the odd cameo or two?

TODD DEZAGO: The story is littered with cameos and fun and a ton of references to Mike and his work! As a matter of fact, Karl slipped in so many little tips-of-the-hat here and there throughout, that we might need to include a guide to all the hidden references! That guy is just amazing!

BF: There's a lovely interview quote from Todd where he says "Mike's characters had a bounce to them." A very simple sentence that perfectly catches the essence of Mike's style. From a fan's perspective you always knew that a Mike Wieringo story would have a very definite energy and sense of fun to it. Was this something the creative team wanted to consciously recreate in the Spider-Man Family story?

MARK WAID: Absolutely. A lightness and a bounce that is, from time to time, contrasted with a moment of real drama. That's one of the things Mike did best; build you up with lighthearted comedy, then sucker-punch you with a serious moment.

BF: Related to the previous question what can you tell us about what Karl Kesel has brought to the visuals? The cover wonderfully evokes the feel of Mike's work...

KARL KESEL: I inked more Mike Wieringo pencils than any other penciler I've ever worked with, and I'd like to think that in doing all that I learned a few things. Personally, I think my sense of layout and pacing owes a TON to Mike. The way I saw him put together pages, juxtapose images and panels- his storytelling had a seamless, smooth quality that I am trying shamelessly to emulate as much as possible.

As far as art styles go, it's impossible for me to be in any way objective about my own work. Personally, I think Mike and I draw quite differently in many ways. But I will say this: I believe that Mike and I enjoyed working together- and working with Mark and Todd- because all of us share a love for the same KIND of comics and stories. We all want there to be danger and threat and adventure, of course, but we also want to laugh and have FUN. We want stories that are full of life and take us places we've never been before. We want stories that, no matter how dark and stark it might get, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. And I believe that gives all of us a connection at some core level that a reader can FEEL, even if the art (and writing) styles are very different.

Case in point: as I was working on the last pages to the Spider-Man Family story, Pete Woods stopped by. I hadn't seen Pete in quite a few months, and before he could ask what I was working on, he stopped and did a double take at the page on my desk-- because at first glance he thought it was a Ringo page! Like I said, I think Ringo and I draw quite differently, but if Pete saw something similar there- and if the cover in some small way evokes Mike's work- that's a huge compliment that I can only accept withgreat humility and deep gratitude.

NATE COSBY: You totally deserve the praise, Karl. This guy cranked out 30 pages of penciled/inked pages in the time it takes some guys to draw 11 pages of pencils. And it looks fantastic (shout-out to colorist Val Staples and letterer Nate Piekos for bringing the fun as well! Nice work, guys!)

BF: Looking back on Mike's career what unique qualities do you think he brought to the comics world, both on the established icons and his own creator-owned work?

NATE COSBY: His art was FUN. It wasn't difficult to understand, or hard to appreciate. I used to keep his FF hardcover on my desk, and just casually flip through it when I had a spare minute. Such a great storyteller with a completely-defined universe that his characters lived in. Todd was nice enough to give me the first Tellos hardcover for Christmas, and it was my favorite gift. Mike's art was the best kind of eye candy. I think he'll be remembered for infusing fun in every project he was a part of.

BF: And finally, what would you hope Mike's legacy to the Marvel Universe, and to comics in general, would be seen as?

KARL KESEL: For the last 20 years or so, comics have been focused on the grim-and-gritty, and some amazing, powerful stories have come out of that. But we've been looking down at the dirt on our heroes' boots for so long that we sometimes forget to look up at the open sky with all its endless possibilities. There's still a place for wonder and hope, and it's as close as your imagination. That's what Mike's legacy to us all is.

Spider-Man Family #7 goes on sale February 13th, and has a cover price of $4.99.