MIKE WIERINGO GOES EXCLUSIVE WITH MARVEL

**MattBrady** · 11-21-2003, 11:39 AM

Following a tumultuous summer that saw him leave Fantastic Four and then come back on it, Marvel today announced that Mike Wieringo has signed a two-year exclusive contract – his second with the publisher, which will keep his services on Marvel properties through 2005. Newsarama chatted him up about the deal.

Newsarama: Bluntly - why sign on with Marvel? Was there any particular straw that broke the camel’s back in this case, or were they just the first to ask?

Mike Wieringo: When the situation in which Mark [Waid] was removed as writer of Fantastic Four occurred, it was clear to me that the decision to "fire" him didn't come from the editorial level at Marvel. In fact, Joe Q. and Tom Brevoort were asking Mark to stay and work on other things at Marvel. I "left" FF in a show of solidarity with Mark-- but I never harbored any ill feelings for anyone in the editorial ranks. They made it clear to me from the very beginning as well, that they wanted me to stay and continue on FF, or anything else I wanted to do.

Even though I had begun to talk with the folks at DC about several possible projects—I was very flattered and impressed that Marvel was giving me the option of not only staying on FF, or taking on one of several other cool projects that they had coming up-- but they were also encouraging me to propose my own ideas of the kind of Marvel characters I'd like to work on. I had never really had that kind of opportunity given me before-- and it was a good feeling. It made me feel wanted, so to speak. So, in the end, when the opportunity for the entire creative team to pick back up on FF came through-- and on the very issue that -I- would have come back on anyway-- as well as an offer of exclusivity thrown in, I jumped on it.

NRAMA: What makes the current Marvel such a good place to work that you’re hooking your wagon up to them for the immediate haul?

MW: For one, the opportunity to continue working with Mark on Fantastic Four. I've enjoyed working with Mark and on the FF so much-- and the fact that it can continue was a big draw. The only other time I've enjoyed working on company owned characters this much was when I was working with my buddy Todd Dezago on Sensational Spider-Man years back for Marvel. Unfortunately, that title was cancelled in Marvel's restructuring during their bankruptcy back then.

Another reason is that there seems to be a real free creative feeling coming back to Marvel now-- which is really similar to the way it seemed just a couple of years back when Joe Quesada took over as EIC. They're trying new things-- seeing what works and what doesn't. And that's always an exciting feeling. The possibilities seem broad and promising-- so it feels good being at Marvel right now.

NRAMA: Let’s talk your workload. While the contract pretty much guarantees that you and Mark will have a nice solid run on FF, what else are you looking at?

MW: They've told us that Fantastic Four is ours to work on as long as we want it. That's a great feeling-- and I'm having a great time, so I don't feel the itch to leave any time soon. Having said that-- Marvel's "toy box" is so full of so many great characters that I'm sure there'll come a time when I'd like to take a crack at one or more of them, yeah.

NRAMA: Are there any caveats in the agreement for outside work, such as Tellos, or are you all Marvel, al the time?

MW: We didn't really work any caveats into the agreement for outside work-- but Todd and I have been discussing creating more Tellos stories as well as maybe creating other projects for ourselves. And I've got some ideas for personal projects I'd like to write and illustrate on my own-- but that's all stuff that I can work on in my own spare time and just keep in a drawer until my exclusive agreement is up. Actually, working on personal stuff is a great way to keep fresh when working on a monthly book-- that way there's no burn out from working on the same thing day in and day out.

NRAMA: These days there seems to be a pretty big battle going on for top level talent between Marvel and DC. Overall, what’s your view of exclusivity?

MW: I think it's a result of a more competitive atmosphere between the two companies-- and competition is a good thing, I think. It's a rough market out there right now, with only a finite number of readers, and both companies vying for those readers. If this makes them "headhunt" for folks they perceive as the best talent to sign to exclusive agreements-- my hope is that this will lead to those folks producing better comic books as well as getting a few of the perks that exclusive agreements bring financially.

It might keep me off that project at another publisher that I'd be perfect for, yeah-- but hopefully that opportunity might still be there in the future.

NRAMA: But also, with the “headhunt” mentality, is there ever a hint that you’re not being brought over for your individual talents, but instead just as another chip as the two publishers try to gather as many as they can?

MW: If that's been Marvel's motivation, they've done a great job of hiding it. They've never given me any indication that it's for any other reason other than that they like my work and want me to draw their characters. Honestly, I don't really see how the number of exclusive creators that one company or another has would make a difference to anyone except those lucky folks who get the exclusive offers. It may give one company bragging rights over another-- but ultimately, unless it results in better comics with better sales, that's not much.

NRAMA: Fair enough. Wrapping things up then, many exclusive creators state that with the contract, a level of anxiety decreases, allowing them to be freer in their work, and essentially enjoy it more. Do you subscribe to that line of reasoning?

MW: If that's a truism, it's because being offered that exclusive makes you feel more important and "special" by the company offering it-- at least to my mind. But that is very dependent on the creative situation at the company that you are exclusive with. It can also be very stifling and frustrating if the atmosphere at the company you’re tied to is poisoned with negativity.

I was exclusive with Marvel once years back when I was working on Sensational Spidey-- but, as I said, that title was cancelled in the bankruptcy turmoil-- and I wasn't offered anything that was fun or creative to do after that. I was stuck in an agreement I couldn't get out of legally, working for a regime at Marvel at the time that was under siege, scared, and most of all, totally uncreative. It was a very bad time-- and I ended up sitting on my hands for the last six months of my contract because they wouldn't release me from the exclusive, and no one else would-- or could-- hire me while I was under that agreement. So I went all that time with no income because I refused to draw any of the horrible, badly written projects they were throwing at me during that terrible time.

This situation feels completely the opposite, though. It feels good now to be hooked up with an excited and creative bunch of editors that Marvel has at this time. So-- under this situation, yeah-- it's a good atmosphere for creating better work.

And in the press release sent out to the comics press by Marvel, Editor in Chief Joe Quesada said:

"I've been a fan of 'Ringo's work for years. As an artist his clean line work and wonderful characterization has made me envious of his skills for way too many years. And I think that fans will agree with me when I say that Mike's work on the FF has redefined the look of the characters and book in a way that has made it accessible to a whole new audience!

"I'm thrilled that Mike has decided to stay at Marvel and make it his home for the next few years. Along with li'l Marky Waid, fans of the FF and Marvel fans in general are going to be in for many more issues of great comics entertainment from the World's Greatest Comic Magazine!"

Ringo returns to Fantastic Four with January’s issue #509, part one of “Hereafter.”

cyclopsfan · 11-21-2003, 11:52 AM

Congratulations!! I am happy to hear that all problems were resolved and that your not only happy and back, but happy to be back! Here's to the continuation of my favorite FF run ever.

perk9600 · 11-21-2003, 11:53 AM

I am not a big fan of his art, since his style just isn't to my taste. But good for him anyway. It is nice that he has an opportunity like this and that Marvel is doing what it takes to keep at least some of the people they value.

J.D. Lombardi · 11-21-2003, 11:59 AM

Good for Mike! It sounds like he is happy and is gonna settle into F4 with Waid for the long haul. It has been a while since we've seen a "definitive" run on a title and while I don't read it...it is nice to know that some creators still would like to hang their hat on a particualar book.

Jack Burton · 11-21-2003, 12:01 PM

Cool. I am very happy that Ringo will be on the FF for the immediate future.

perk9600 · 11-21-2003, 12:05 PM

Is waid going to be on FF for the long run? I thought he went exclusive to DC like everyone else(Rucka, etc). Or is he just taking a Superman book but not going exclusive?

ajrobles51 · 11-21-2003, 12:17 PM

I'll be honest. I was never a big fan of Mike's style of art, but upon reading the Waid-Ringo run on FF I've come to appreciate and enjoy his work.

I'm happy to hear he will be taing up the art chores once again. I've never been an FF fan, but Waid and Ringo's run have made this a "must read" title for me.

Congratulations Mike and keep up the good work.

FullSanction · 11-21-2003, 12:26 PM

While I'm really enjoying Wieringo's work on FF, I would be overfuckingjoyed if he was able to work on another Tellos project. The books without him are pretty good but nothing has been able to touch the original ten issues. Here's to hoping there's more from those two in the future.

tralfaz · 11-21-2003, 12:29 PM

Good for Mike... I may return to buying FF afterall... at least in trade form

Kil49ers2004 · 11-21-2003, 12:42 PM

GOOD FOR YOU RINGO!!!

YOU DESERVE IT!

ONE OF THE BEST, STAYS THE BEST!

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR MARVEL CAREER!

willyd · 11-21-2003, 01:13 PM

ehhh...anyone notice how a great deal of the backlash and regret about Waid's firing came after the latest arc started? the one with howard porter doing the art, that perfectly compliments the storyline? if Waid is going to continue with a darker, more mature FF, Ringo's work is really wrong for it. Waid's doing some great work, but it's undercut by Ringo's silly stylings...Spidey in the Savage Land with giant dinosaurs? Perfect. Dr. Doom's horrible vengence? Not so much...

Although, in his defense, I will say that I love my 5-inch Spider-Sense action figure, created from Ringo's renderings.

Tom Daylight · 11-21-2003, 01:30 PM

Haha! That's brilliant!

Kid A · 11-21-2003, 01:41 PM

I don't think that the particularly dark tone of this last arc will continue throughout the series, and I think Wieringo's has more or less suited the tone for the book up to this point.

Mellow Doubt · 11-21-2003, 01:52 PM

If the covers shown here are indicative of the story's content, it seems that Reed's undergone a pretty miraculous recovery. Issue 506's ending was - for lack of a better word - fantastic, and it'll be interesting to see how things turn out. It's stories like this that make me wonder what on earth was on the minds of Marvel's bigwigs that made them can Waid. But that's all in the past now, and hopefully Waid and Wieringo will be on the book for a long time. As for Mike himself, well he's a talented artist with a distinctive style, and he deserves all the perks going exclusive brings. Congrats, Mike!

mpg · 11-21-2003, 02:47 PM

I love Ringo!

I will always give his work a chance

Falkner · 11-21-2003, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by willyd
Ringo's silly stylings...Spidey in the Savage Land with giant dinosaurs? Perfect. Dr. Doom's horrible vengence? Not so much...

Is there anything too silly for a character called "Dr. Doom" ?

I think of all the Marvel heroes, the FF have some of the most goofy aspects to them. Ringo is a HUGE talent. His cartoony style perfectly compliments a book that always needs to be ready to have it's tongue in it's cheek.

gOgIver · 11-21-2003, 03:17 PM

This is cool. It's nice to hear FF will have a regular artist for a good stretch.

Simon DelMonte · 11-21-2003, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mellow Doubt
If the covers shown here are indicative of the story's content, it seems that Reed's undergone a pretty miraculous recovery.

Since all of Marvel's covers are now generic and reflect nothing going on in the comic, this one case where you certainly can't judge a book by its cover.

nihilance · 11-21-2003, 03:55 PM

Yeah...I wasn't thrilled with Waid's FF (Carlos Pacheco was doing a much better job before Loeb came in with his "I'll write it for a dollar!" - Marvel took him up on the offer and, well, you get what you paid for) and Wieringo's art was even less impressive. I'm fine with Waid staying but the cartoony art is not what I want to see in the FF.

Hdefined · 11-21-2003, 05:21 PM

I can't stand the cartooniness of Weiringo's art and am just as happy for him to be exclusive to Marvel, if only to keep him off of DC books

cyclopsfan · 11-21-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hdefined
I can't stand the cartooniness of Weiringo's art and am just as happy for him to be exclusive to Marvel, if only to keep him off of DC books

Cool, anyone else you wanna send on over?

jawaplumber · 11-21-2003, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by perk9600
Is waid going to be on FF for the long run? I thought he went exclusive to DC like everyone else(Rucka, etc). Or is he just taking a Superman book but not going exclusive?

No, Waid didn't go exclusive with DC. That was just a bunch of Marvel haters putting the cart before the horse. Waid, thus far, isn't taking on a monthly Superman title, either.

In light of Ringo's statements here, I wonder where all the trolls are who are always going on about how Marvel is such a horrible place to work at and that they don't care about any of their creators. Of course, each individual's experience can vary, but it can't be all that bad, considering how much of a pro and a good guy Mike Wieringo is.

cyclopsfan · 11-21-2003, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jawaplumber
No, Waid didn't go exclusive with DC. That was just a bunch of Marvel haters putting the cart before the horse. Waid, thus far, isn't taking on a monthly Superman title, either.

In light of Ringo's statements here, I wonder where all the trolls are who are always going on about how Marvel is such a horrible place to work at and that they don't care about any of their creators. Of course, each individual's experience can vary, but it can't be all that bad, considering how much of a pro and a good guy Mike Wieringo is.

Right... because last i remember Mr Wieringo was going to be a perfect example of why no one should work for marvel. Yet, he stays.... and he stays ...happily

Armdreg · 11-21-2003, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kid A
I don't think that the particularly dark tone of this last arc will continue throughout the series

I heard that too.

Good news for Wieringo. I'll be buying this book as long as he and Waid are there.

beta-ray · 11-21-2003, 08:53 PM

As much as I don't personally like artists only with one company, I'm glad his tummy will be full for 2 years!