Mike is one of my oldest characters, as he originated from a story written in the opening weeks of fifth grade. That was what, 1987? Yikes, that means I’ve been drawing him for 24 years. Can’t believe it took him that long to knock some chick up.
Anyway, enjoy a stream of Mike Art Through The Ages, starting with the earliest I have on me, the blue-tinted one, which is from 1990ish. Then watch me draw him fold his arms again and again and again for the next two decades.
Of all my characters, he’s probably the one that’s changed the least over time. Hey, if it ain’t broke.
Awesome. I’m not sure I could tell you why, but Mike, my comic namesake, has been one of my favorite characters for as long as I can remember. I’ve loved every last bit of his relationship with Amber, and I’m damned excited to see where things go in the future. Thanks for telling these stories, man.
Somehow my mind imagined a similar ‘through the ages’ of Duke Nukem from the first (sideview, 2d) games through Duke 3D somehow.
way to spoil the suspense of is she isn’t she! XD
Except that he confirmed it in the text under the comic and several times in the comments. And even promised no miscarriage.
once in piratie talk
he musta been drunk in those first few cause he doesn’t have the scowl
What’s the secret to his hair – wind, spray or gel? It’s been more and more cantilevered over the years. I think there’s a master’s thesis there.
So Amber IS preggers!
In looking at these, I’m struck by how much Mike looks like Dennis the Menace.
I’ve always wondered who’d win in an asshole fight: Mike, or the Hat Guy from xkcd.
Oh my gosh. Tough call.
I like how the blue Mike has “Semy” on his shirt, which I assume was an early rendering of SEMME. It’s cool to see how the character, and, by extention, your art style, has developed over the years.
I’ve always been a fan of Mike’s. We think a lot a like, he and I. He never seems to surprise me. Only does what I naturally expect him to do.
Far and away my favorite character of yours, and definitely in my top 10 fictional characters of all time.
I think my favorite moment was when he played the violin for Robin. Beautiful in it’s simplicity, yet articulate in it’s message. (Even if that message was “Fuck you.”)
Anyway, it’s nice to know he and I are the same age. One more commonality to add to the list.
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Heh, that’s funny. My real name is Michael, and I was born in 1987.
Though I still haven’t read Roomies or It’s Walky, Mike is also one of my favourite characters of Shortpacked!
1987? Shit, I’d graduated college and was back in the Army.
That was the year I graduated high school and started college.
You people are really old.
I wasn’t even born until 1988.
Get off my lawn. *Aims M1
LOL! This reminds me of the comic you made about bugs bunny and how he hasn’t changed since the 1970′s. Now you have realized that since a particular point in time Mike has been drawn with his hands folded, and frowning.
Good Job Willis. I think you are now a hypocrite. *claps* Stop me if i’m wrong. 
If he’s still visually identical in fifty years, like Bugs Bunny in the strip you mention, then I’ll get worried.
I AM FROM THE FUTURE: In 2020 Mike gets glasses and a slightly different hairstyle. Also, the ankle that he broke in the engagement picture never heals correctly and he begins to walk with a limp.
I would think that in 50 years you would hope to have moved on to something else.
Especially because the comic’s world moves in realtime.
Mike sucks. Unfunny.
It’s a buncha munch cruncha Mikes!
Mike in the top right looks like he’s doing a Russian folk dance.
Interesting. He changed the way he folded his arms. Obviously because drawing is very time consuming, more details=more time… the story is as critical as the art. I remember when those shirts were popular. The ones with a stripe across the chest. High-tops (or hiking boots) were also popular at that time (early-mid 90′s). I’m impressed as always Willis.
I noticed the arms as well. It’s actually quite awkward to cross your arms the opposite to how you usually do it. (And now you’re trying to do it)
From crossing my own arms so many times over the years to determine how best to draw it, I think I’ve become ambidextrous when it comes to arms-folding. I can’t even tell which way was the way I’m personally supposed to find more comfortable to do it anymore.
Mike’s hands hiding away happened around the time I actually started looking at how I folded my arms. I tuck those hands out of sight. Cupping the tops of my biceps feels a little weird.
The “Semy” shirt is my favorite part.