Allen: Tell me about some of your earliest memories involving comic books.

Mike: I remember sitting in my room “reading” my older brother’s DC 80 PAGE GIANT book starring Batman. At the time, I couldn’t read, so I just made the story up as I went along, which drove my brother nuts. Soon after, he taught me how to read so that I’d quit “messing up the stories”.

Allen: Where did you go to high school? Did you have teachers that inspired you to write stories?

Mike: I attended Hard Knocks High outside of Washington, DC. I had an English teacher named Mr. Sellers who was very encouraging. In fact, he’s one of the main reasons I never gave up on the dream of becoming a writer.

Allen: When did you feel that you would like to try to write comic books?

Mike: As soon as I realized people actually wrote the stories.

Allen: Does your wife share your love for comic books?

Mike: She used to read more than I do, but all the fifty issue crossovers from Marvel & DC turned her off pretty bad, so now she only reads the stuff I write, or stuff created by our friends.

Allen: How did you become associated with Image/Silver line Comics? What is audience level for Silverline Comics?

Mike: I’ve known Jim and Kris for many years, in fact, Jim asked me to pitch for the original Shadowline launch, but at the time I was overly busy with other stuff. So, when I heard they were doing the Silverline imprint, which is a dedicated all-ages line, I figured now was the time to get a book rolling over there.

Allen: Let’s focus on Timothy & the Transgalactic Towel for the next few questions. Tell me about this story. What is the setting? Tell me also about Characters. Finally, how many issues will be needed to tell this story?

Mike: TnT, as I refer to it in my verbal shorthand, is a story about a lonely little boy who finds a new friend that just happens to be a sentient beach towel. And not just any old run of the mill beach towel, this one can take Timothy to any place he can imagine. The first book is 96 pages of story, with a complete tale inside. I have plans for at least five more adventures and rough ideas for several more beyond that.

Allen: Where did the idea for Timothy & the Transgalactic Towel originate?

Mike: Creating Lions, Tigers and Bears volume II went from being a wonderful time to being a life-sucking chore for me after Jack Lawrence quit. By the time the final issue came out, I was really creatively exhausted from all the behind the scenes junk that it took to get that story done. So, I decided instead of jumping right into LTBv3, I wanted to recapture that fun and excitement that LTB used to hold for me.

So, I sat down one day and created about ten new properties that spoke to my heart and offered me the opportunity to just have fun creating stories. Once I’d done that, I got back to work on LTB and scrapped what I’d originally created for v3 and came up with a new story that was a lot more fun. Michael Metcalf finished up the pencils and inks a lot faster than expected and when he was done, I asked him if he wanted to take a crack at doing TnT. He got right on-board and away we went.

Allen: Tell me little bit about Michael Metcalf.

Mike: Michael Metcalf. Keep your eyes on this guy. He did the second half of Secrets of the Seasons: The Gimoles last year and this year he’ll have TnT and LTBv3 both on the stands. After that, he’ll take his rightful place amongst the great artists doing all-ages comics. And I’ll have lots of stories of how I knew him before he was rich and famous...

Allen: When is expected publication date for Timothy & the Transgalactic Towel?

Mike: It’s currently on the schedule to ship in August.

Allen: I recall there were Beasties in Lions, Tigers and Bears stories. Do you feel influenced by monster stories from your youth?

Mike: Monsters are a universal part of the human experience and every kid experiences monster stories in some form or another. Whether it’s Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street or Godzilla or the Rancor in Return of the Jedi, monsters are everywhere in kids’ stories, as well as kids’ imaginations. Since I’m an overgrown kid, how could I be any different?

Allen: Do you have plans to write characters from older series into Timothy & the Transgalactic Towel? Or are they totally separate from your past works?

Mike: Only time will tell...

Allen: Are there any other projects you have in works for Silverline Comics?

Mike: I have several properties in various stages of development and have talked to Jim and Kris about one or two of them. Nothing is set in stone yet, however.

Allen: How do you find time to write new stories? I noticed you are or have created other stories like third series of Lions, Tigers and Bears, Phantom comic scripts and even one story for Sonic the Hedge Hog.

Mike: It’s just part of scheduling your day. I have a piece of paper taped on the hutch over my monitor that has my “To Write” list on it. I just go down the list and get the items done. I try to update the list every week or so and when I have gaps, I’ll put in “create this” or “flesh out that”.

Allen: Do you do any speaking events about your personal comic book stories?

Mike: I have a program I present at Elementary Schools called “How To Make Comics and Create Characters” where I teach the kids how comic books are made from start to finish, and then have them create their own characters so they can make their own comics.

Allen: What’s your future comic book convention schedule?

Mike: Right now, I don’t have any lined up. I just came home from the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, but don’t have any set plans to do any more shows this year. I might go to San Diego, but that’s still up in the air...

Allen: What is your website address? What are best ways to contact you?

Mike: www.runemasterstudios.com And the best way to contact me is either by carrier-dragon or sending out a squad of stormtroopers. Make sure they come with Red Robin coupons, though. If I’m going up in a star destroyer, I want a Royal Red Robin Burger and fries first.

Allen: Do you have any of your issues or previews on websites?

Mike: We have some tales and previews up on www.runemasterstudios.com Check ‘em out!

Allen: What would you like others that have not read Lions, Tigers and Bears to know about series?

Mike: If you’re looking for a book that will strengthen the bond between you and a younger person in your life, this is it. Parents can read these with their kids, Aunts & Uncles can read them with their nieces & nephews, Grandparents can read them with their entire family. The common theme in 90% of the fan mail I receive is how the books are shared and loved throughout the family.

Allen: Do you have plans to ever return to writing about Gimoles characters?

Mike: I do indeed have plans to carry on the Secrets of the Seasons mythos, but I’m waiting for the right time to present itself.

Allen: Are you also writing any novels about your stories?

Mike: I’m working on a Lions, Tigers and Bears young adult novel that I hope to have done by next year.

Allen: What kind of music do you like to listen to while writing?

Mike: I don’t listen to anything when I write. I prefer utter silence. When I’m not writing, however, I love to listen to anything from Vivaldi to Jeremy Camp to Living Sacrifice.

Allen: What do you do to relax?

Mike: Hang out with my family, which is the best thing ever. Watch movies and play Madden Football.

Allen: What kind of movies have you recently seen?

Mike: We’ve watched Twilight, Body of Lies, Bangkok Dangerous, Eagle Eye and a few others recently. Eagle Eye was the best of the bunch, for my tastes. Twilight was a good story, but not really my cup of tea.

Allen: How many pets do you have? Have they ever appeared in any of your comic book stories?

Mike: We have three cats (they all appeared in LTBv1 #4), one of which is “free to good home” if anyone wants him…

Allen: Any thought of having any children with your wife?

Mike: If we have any more, we’ll probably adopt. Right now, we’re just enjoying our one and only.

Allen: Do you read any comic books at present time beyond ones you are writing?

Mike: I get a lot of comics, but seldom have time to read any of them. I think the last one I read was Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel by my buddy Kevin Grevioux.

Allen: What were some of the comic book related contests that you participated in before breaking into comic book industry?

Mike: Off the top of my head, I don’t remember, but I know there were some...

Allen: What kinds of projects are you working on that are not with Silverline Comics?

Mike: I’m revamping some old golden age and pulp characters for Moonstone, as well as trying to get a few of my other properties off the ground. Manny “PX!” Trembley and I are slowly working on doing The Light Knights, which is now in its third or fourth incarnation. I have a few others I’m still trying to find the right artists to help me bring to life such as My Machine, Death Angel and Wish Sticks. Beyond that, I have a pile I’m still needing to develop further before I get an artist involved.

Allen: What do you feel rewards you creating comic book stories?

Mike: God gave me a need to create stories and I think if I didn’t have the outlet of creating comics, I’d literally burst at the seams. So, in a sense, it relieves an internal pressure that builds up. All these characters, environments and scenarios that are just bubbling to the surface and needing to escape the confines of my brain would make me explode if I couldn’t get them out.

Allen: Thank you Mike Bullock for your hard work on this interview. Would to leave with any final thoughts?

Mike: Take a minute today to say something encouraging to someone else. Without encouragement, the human race would never achieve anything.