Things never go right for Mike. He lost his job, he has no love life, and he can't go a day without getting yelled at or attacked by somebody. But when he goes to the unemployment office and meets a drifting ninja named Stu, Mike's mundane and discouraging life will never be the same again!

Fleeing the Stumpville Police after a deadly encounter with an inept bounty hunter, Mike and Stu the Ninja become fast friends out of necessity and a common lack of direction in life. Dodging hired goons, rival ninjas, a mad scientist's bizarre robot minions, and a trucker's union at odds with ninjas around the world, Mike and Stu seek to clear their names, bring Stu's adversaries to justice, and make it home in time to watch The Golden Girls.

This is Mike and the Ninja, a serialized comic strip adventure. Mike and the Ninja is updated on Tuesdays. The story is divided into three volumes, each of which can be accessed from the Archive.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

- Brian

Mike

A really unlucky guy. Always in trouble, always getting yelled at, always getting turned down for dates. Young, naive, lonely, and lacking both confidence and aspiration, Mike is searching for his place in the world. Fate, unemployment, and his impulsive and often ill-advised behavior have involved him in a comic strip adventure, which is never good for anyone. Nevertheless, he's kind and a jokester at heart.

Stu

A card-carrying member of the Ninja Union, currently on strike due to a salary disagreement. In the meantime, Stu travels the world as a freelance mercenary and adventurer. Highly skilled in the Ninja arts, including breathing underwater and eating and drinking without taking his mask off. The ninja strike has left Stu looking for purpose, resulting in an often overzealous search for action and adventure. Honorable to a fault--lacks the ruthlessness and killer instinct of a typical ninja, but is still a formidable warrior. Maintains a love-hate relationship with his arch-rival, Evil Bad Guy Ninja.

Renee

Mysterious young woman who allegedly drives a truck around the desert, delivering office supplies to desert labs and research facilities. Sassy and defensive, her solitary line of work leads her to pursue (and pick on) new friends and adventure.

Jeff

Battered, but world-wise veteran of Bob's TV and Bridge Repair Service. Unhappy, but seems unwilling to make changes in his life. Has worked for Bob for the last 18 years with literally nothing to show for it.

Bob

Gluttunous, tyrannical owner of a chain of TV and bridge repair shops covering most of the Midwest. Bob is bitter, cruel, and paranoid of his employee's actions. Makes excessive use of force and fear to bend his employees to his will. Bob secretly employs agents to sabotage TVs and bridges to increase business. The pay is terrible, and there are no Christmas bonuses.

Todd

Bob's number-one brown-nosing supervisor and Employee of the Month 57 months and counting. Todd gets the job done with unfailing precision and efficiency, but is completely devoid of personality, compassion, and sense of humor. Quick to discipline. Likes gyros.

Bee Man

A swarm of bees that developed human personality after contact with a truck driver and a toxic goo spill, Bee Man seeks revenge for the fallen members of the swarm. Deadly, but easily distracted by pollen.

Evil Bad Guy Ninja

Widely considered to be the world's finest assassin. He is also Stu's old training partner and rival, and bears a mysterious, but deep-rooted hatred for him. An extremely cunning and vicious warrior, Evil Bad Guy Ninja's accomplishments have earned him an infamous and notorious reputation worldwide. If he cannot eliminate his target, he eliminates everything else important to his target. His true purpose in life, however, is to settle an old score--with Stu!

Mayor Robert Pratt

Mayor of San Francisco. Arrogant, violent, and without respect for his constituents, people have been wondering for years how Pratt manages to stay in office. Blasts his constituency (both literally and figuratively) and engages in wanton political corruption. Has the necessary suave and smugness of any good politician, but usually just uses his incredible abuse of power to bring the city to its knees.

Hired Goon Association

An organization of muscle-for-hire dedicated to doing dirty work for other people for money. However, they tend to overstep their bounds and occasionally cross the line between an alleged public service and a ruthless terrorist organization.

Truckers Union

Truckers and ninjas do NOT get along. Due to a past working relationship that went sour, truckers actively seek and destroy ninjas known to be traveling American highways. Truckers are good brawlers and can be extremely dangerous, but typically lack the necessary finesse to be a true match for ninjas.