Mike went to art school at Sheridan College, but was too chicken to pursue a career in comics, so he put his dreams on hold and picked up odd jobs doing menial labour until a work site accident almost crushed his hands. It was the bell he needed to hear and from then on he vowed to dedicate himself to his art or starve doing it. Work with big publishers like Scholastic and Rubicon started paying the bills, but it wasn't until a few local comic shops gave him a chance drawing their store exclusives that the variant cover world came calling. Now, he has done variants for all kinds of titles like Kick-Ass, The Wicked + The Divine, Quantum and Woody, Baby Teeth and Animosity, to name a few. It was from this incredible exposure that he finally grabbed his first assignment as the main illustrator on an ongoing title. As of this recording, Mike is working on Dodge, a prequel to Matt Nixon's Retcon series. It's a great honour and a gargantuan challenge for him and yet, he explains on this episode how difficult it was for him to still shed his blue collar past as he met deadlines and tried to finally leave his job as his building's superintendent – easier said then done, it turned out. In addition to that, he explains how he became the unlikely creator of the Canadian indie hero Auric of the Great White North and ends the podcast reminiscing about meeting his hero Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. The Canadian pro wrestler who passed away the week this episode was recorded.

Mike's website

@uncoothrooth on Instagram

@uncouthrooth on Twitter

Mike's original art at Big Cartel

Retcon

Auric of the Great White North

Mike Rooth on Comic Vine

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