Mike Wieringo was a much loved comic book creator who died young of an aortic dissection at the age of 44 in 2007. Survived by his parents and his brother Matt, the Ringo Awards were named after him. He is best known for his work on The Flash, Spider-Man, and his own series, Tellos.

A week-and-a-bit ago, comic book creator Mike S. Miller had a plan for his new comic book.

So I have this old Spider-Man cover breakdown by Mike Weiringo, and I'm thinking about finishing it, but making it into a Lonestar cover instead. Thoughts? — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) January 22, 2019

Yep. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) January 22, 2019

Would he? It was a rough to a cover purchased and published by Marvel Comics after all…you can own the art, but can you own the rights to publish it, even if the IP is amended? Anyway…

Hahaha… I own it. I can throw it in the trash if I want to. If it stirs up controversy, all the better. Mwhahahaha — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) January 22, 2019

After all, controversy sells, apparently. And the more the better. Let's see if that's true. Because Miller did what he threatened, inked the breakdowns with his own characters, and posted the results as a planned cover.

The last Mike Wieringo original cover that may ever see print! pic.twitter.com/lYurPx2ZmV — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) January 30, 2019

Of course, this was not an original cover by Mike Wieringo that in any way could be considered such by anyone. It was Red co-creator Cully Hamner who pointed this out earlier today.

This is some manipulative, dishonest, self-serving bullshit right here, dude. If I thought you were even capable of shame, I'd say you should be ashamed of yourself. Indefensible. You have no right to claim your redrawn, repurposed image is a Ringo cover, "last" or not. — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

Apparently you took this rough, redrew it enough to make them your own characters, added a shitty, 3rd-rate hack background, and you're going to publish it, touting it as the last Ringo cover to be published. I seriously have no words. Well, that's not true- I have many words. pic.twitter.com/ykpC0C04Ba — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

Let's just overexpose that image.

A Spider-Man rough to a cover published by Marvel. Note, no signature in the rough.

Miller doubled down.

Yeah, the background isn't great, the bricks are too big I just noticed. The breakdown is by Mike. I changed the costumes. Otherwise, it would be worthless. Sorry you're mad bro. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

Hey, "bro," shove your gaslighting bullsh-t up your ass. Mike did not draw that cover rough for you or your book. He didn't draw those characters, and he can't consent to you touting your lame, weak, fraudulent shit as "Ringo's last cover." This is low, even for you. — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

"even for you", I didn't realize you held such a low opinion of me, Cully. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

You realize it now, asshole? — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

I think everyone has, Cully.

Mike Wieringo had no intent and gave no consent in 1996 to draw a cover for your book and your characters in 2019. That image is a rough for a cover commissioned from him by Marvel. You know this, Mike Miller- you've been in this biz for a long time and you're not dumb. — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

There was another charge as well…

Your forged his name. Twice. Get f-cked. pic.twitter.com/eLw24i99vG — Matthew Warlick (@warlick) February 3, 2019

No, you forged it. Once in the inks, and again in the credits. You're a low-life piece of sh-t and I hope @mattwieringo takes you to the f-cking cleaners for it. — Matthew Warlick (@warlick) February 3, 2019

It does remind me of a certain Rob Granito who claimed he worked with Dwayne McDuffie…and how that turned out. Shortly after Cully posted his response, Mike S. Miller had a change of heart.

You're right, Cully. I repent. I won't use it. I know you're a man of good conscience, and trust your judgment on the matter. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

Pinky swear — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

Mike Wieringo's brother Matt Wieringo made it very clear.

Mr. Miller, Mike would not approve of this. Nor do I. As his executor, I need to ask you to remove his signature from this. — Matt Wieringo (@mattwieringo) February 3, 2019

You got it Matt. I wouldn't do it without your approval. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

Hang on, I mean, but…

But… you actually tried to do it without asking Matt's approval. Just saying. — Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) February 3, 2019

… yeah, what he said. And Mike didn't seem particularly contrite…

Yeah, I can read, thanks. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

I will be uploading a video of my final solution to the Mike Wieringo cover controversy in a few minutes. — Mike S. Miller (@AbacusMike) February 3, 2019

Can we please have a moratorium on 'final solutions'? Especially considering what happens next? Because, yup, he set it on fire…

Well, I guess if Miller can't publish it, no one can. Controversial enough, now?