MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
Why So Soon?
Why so soon?
We are all born with an expiration date. Eat right, exercise gone by 50. Live life the exact opposite and make it to 80. Frustrating cannot quite cover it. When it is your time, it’s your time. These past few weeks the world of comics has lost two very important people. One you have heard about and his tragic passing made all the comic news sites. The other is a person who most comic book readers have never heard of. Although without him comics might be a very different place. It would be for me.
Mike Wieringo passed away suddenly Sunday evening, Aug. 12, 2007, in his home in Durham, N.C. He was 44 years old. Think about that, he was middle aged at 22. He started his comics’ career at 28. By all accounts Mike was healthy, exercised regularly but his time was up. We are all born with an expiration date and his unfortunately came too soon. Talking about this in the office someone brought up a good point, “Maybe his healthy living helped him push beyond the expiration date by a few years, maybe a decade."
Religiously every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I would check out his site for the Mike Wieringo scheduled sketch. Many comments he posted with his drawings certainly sparked a thought or two that would eventually become this column. Spoke only with him once as a fan and is among only a handful of artists I ever had sign a comic.
Through a mutual friend I had hoped to work with him in some way on SONIC THE HEDGEHOG. A shot in the dark, but worth a try. At the time he was under contract and just wasn’t able. We had planned to try again later. Unfortunately, now it will never happen. 
A volume of Modern Masters, a series profiling comic book artists, was done on Mike Wieringo a short while back. A really great read and look into his art. His friend and collaborator on TELLOS, Todd DeZago did most of the interviewing with this volume. Somewhere in there, and this is paraphrasing, “Mike Weiringo draws the way you wish you could." Nothing could be truer.
legacy.com
The other tragic passing was much closer to home, and just as surprising. Robert Leffler was only a name in the credits in Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic X and other Sonic related comics to most readers. Most of the different artists and writers on the titles over the years never met him. It is doubtful any Sonic fans ever asked him to sign a comic book. And in all honesty, he probably never gave it a second thought. But without Robert there might not be any Sonic comics - and who knows, maybe my life would have taken a different turn if not for his diligence and hard work over the years.
Robert among many other things was “the Sega guy". We would send in script and art and he would get us the approvals we needed to make the Sonic readers day when those comics hit the stands. Robert’s efforts help so many to enter the world of comics and in some cases reading in general through Sonic. Many people would come up and thank us at conventions for getting their kids to read. Often you hear stories of some top comic creator whose kids would read only Sonic. Several times the different artists who have children would have to call and explain they have to do the drawing over, because their kids would take the drawing off the desk and color it in, or hang it on their bedroom walls, or show it too their friends. Never happened with any other character only Sonic, the artist would say. When telling Robert about this he always chuckled. And generously gave us a quick approval to make up for the lost time.
Robert was a wonderful person and was Archie's biggest supporter. With his tireless efforts over the years he helped secure a safe and bright future for the Sonic comic and was a key player in bringing about new projects like Sonic X and the Sonic Archives. While Dyna Lopez and Cindy Chau will continue in his unyielding support of Archie, please keep Robert in your thoughts.
Robert was not only one of Sonic's biggest supporters he was also one of his biggest fans. We are planning to have some mention of his passing and importance in both Sonic comics. 
At the time I first became editor on Sonic, it had been one of Archie’s more popular books, but had fallen off a bit. That first year Robert and I seemed to talk several times a week, every week. He had this wonderful way of making you feel at ease or of giving a gentle warning that something might need to be reworked. He was a tremendous influence, without his knowing on how I conduct myself. He always remained professional, but warm and personable. Over the years since we would get fewer chances to talk on the phone, emails were the main form of communication however we would see each other at a few trade shows each year. It was always great fun to sit and talk face to face for a few hours. Robert had such marvelous stories, a wry comment or a perfectly timed pause to get a good laugh. We certainly got along well, but it is doubtful either one of us would call each other “friend", but I could think of no greater honor.
legacy.com
Next Tuesday we’ll talk about some things more entertaining. As both these wonderful men probably would have wanted. In the meantime, take a moment to let the people you care about know it, and find a few minutes to do something you enjoy, comics or otherwise. Because some days more than others life is too short and the expiration date gets closer all the time.
As always if you have an All Ages project let us know.
Get in touch: mikep(at)silverbulletcomicbooks(dot)com
Check out some new All Ages and Younger Reader comic reads on sale this week:
JUN070231 SCOOBY DOO #123 $2.25
MAY070181 SHOWCASE PRESENTS WONDER WOMAN VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUN072148 FANTASTIC FIVE #4 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072168 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #15 $2.99
JUN072166 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #27 $2.99
JUN072164 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #4 $2.99
JUN072219 SPIDER-GIRL PRESENTS THE BUZZ & DARKDEVIL DIGEST TP $7.99
JUN073331 BART SIMPSON COMICS #37 $2.99
JUN073255 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #154 $3.69
JUN073254 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #79 $2.25
MAY073277 FUTURAMA VOL 4 CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE TP $14.95
JUN073585 UNCLE SCROOGE #369 $7.99
JUN073586 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #684 $7.99
JUN074006 ALTER EGO #71 $6.95
Also, check out some great All Ages comic reviews here at Silver Bullet Comic Books. Thanks especially to reviewers Penny Kenny, Kevin Powers and Ray Tate!
Sonic X #22
CLICK HERE
Sabrina the Teenage Witch #87
CLICK HERE
Betty & Veronica Digest #177
CLICK HERE
Marvel Adventures Hulk #2
CLICK HERE
Amazing Spider-Girl #11
CLICK HERE
Sonic the Hedgehog #178
CLICK HERE
Spider-Man Family #4
CLICK HERE
Legion Of Super Heroes In The 31st Century #5
CLICK HERE
Simpsons Comics #133
CLICK HERE
Entertainment for Every Age is © Mike Pellerito 2006-
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