I didn’t know Mike Wieringo personally, but like the rest of the comics community, I was totally shocked Monday to hear he’d died of a heart attack. Here’s a guy only 44 years old (same age as me; there’s some food for thought), totally dedicated to his art, who apparently lead a very healthy lifestyle. And now he’s gone.

I discovered his work a few years ago when Mike Manley did a feature on him in Draw magazine, and so when Eric Nolen-Weathington suggested a Modern Masters volume on him, I didn’t need any convincing. Just amazing, amazing stuff.

Eric just emailed me to say there will be a public viewing for Mike this Friday at 1 p.m. at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Service chapel in Durham, NC, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Please help get the word out, so everyone can pay their respects.

And let’s all try to stress-out just a little bit less over all but the most important things.