Many people often feel like a third wheel among social gatherings. But for Mike, the same sensation applies to almost every day of his life.

Anxious, reserved and easily led, Mike often feels out of place among his more confident peers. Yet despite finding greater comfort in his own company, he longs for the security and support of a solid group of friends.

Unfortunately for Mike, he has a bad habit of looking for such friendship in the wrong places. The timid spaniel has a particularly awkward relationship with Rocky, someone whose popularity led Mike to chase after his recognition in hope of garnering some affection of his own. Such a byproduct has never been forthcoming though, and so little do they have in common that Rocky merely humours Mike in a 'friendship' which relies more upon Mike being the butt of the husky's jokes.

Mike does however enjoy the great affection of one individual - his secret boyfriend, Rexar. In spite of an unsuccessful history of pursuing girls - including Rocky's girlfriend, Cassie - Mike's friendship with Rex slowly led Mike to question his sexuality before eventually beginning a private relationship with him. Unlike Rocky, the confident dinosaur resembles a deeply intimate source of strength, support and safety for the shy little dog - and a much needed reminder that life is worth living after all.

Contrary to the common misconception that my signature character Rexar is my fursona, it is Mike who actually represents me. His shyness and insecurity is somewhat exaggerated from my own personality, but for the most part, he is the character most representative of myself.

Mike's origins within my artwork are a little fuzzy. In his earliest form dating back to around 2003, he was a generic character of non-specific breed - though still possessing a similarly reserved persona - and was used as a one-off sexual partner for Cassie. Given that he predates Rocky, I had considered him to be Cassie's boyfriend for some time, but as my sexual interests in Rexar have grown over the years, I have gradually shifted Mike towards having a private, loving relationship with Rex instead. During this time, his breed has also been clarified as that of a floppy-eared spaniel.

Despite this apparent web of connections between these four characters, I generally consider Mike's relationship with Rexar and his 'friendship' with Rocky and Cassie to exist in separate universes. Indeed, of all the alternative 'dimensions' in which my various characters exist, Mike is usually the only one to cross between them and interracts with virtually all of the other characters, essentially because he serves to represent my desired role within the given scenarios - albeit occasionally switching with Tydo in such roles where preferable.