Action Pulp!

February 5, 2026

By Adam Messer

Mike Bullock is an author, musician and Thaasophobian who writes action adventure novels, fantasy and comic books.

Please introduce yourself.

I’m Mike Bullock, author, writer, musician and victim of excessive creativity with a side of Thaasophobia (fear of boredom). 
What genres do you write and why?

My works range from all-ages fantasy such as the Lions, Tigers and Bears comic book series, to heroic fiction aka The Phantom, to sword & sorcery such as The Runemaster: Shield Maiden’s Blade and Grimarr: The Skullcrusher. I’ve also done piles of superhero tales ala Death Angel, sci-fi, and even Sonic The Hedgehog over the years. On the other side, I’ve been a professional musician all my life, touring and recording under Restless Records with bands like Ironchrist and Indestroy and currently record/perform with my band Red Vinter. 

What is your earliest memory of reading?

My older brother taught himself to read before he was in kindergarten. He would sit and devour Batman comics, particularly the DC 80 Page Giants that were popular in those days. Wanting to hang out with my big brother, I would sit next to him, pick up a comic and start “reading” along. And, by reading, I mean make up my own stories cause I couldn’t read yet. He became so frustrated with me changing the actual stories that he taught me to read with those very same 80 Page Giant Batman tales. A year later when I went to kindergarten, my teacher was amazed that I could read already, but couldn’t believe I’d learned by following the exploits of the Dark Knight. Ha. 

When did you know you wanted to write? How did it happen?

At some point in grade school, I became aware that writing was a profession and it really appealed to me. 
By the time I hit high school, I entered a school-wide creative writing contest and won. At the time I was unaware that it wasn’t just a local deal, but a nationwide contest sponsored by Random House. As these things go, I soon forgot all about it. Roughly a year later we received a letter in the mail from Random House offering me a book contract. My mother, ever the skeptic, read the letter and said “this is either a mistake or a scam, they don’t give writing contracts to children” and tore it up. 

A week or so after that fateful evening, I ran into my English teacher who had submitted the story on my behalf. He very excitedly asked if I’d heard from Random House. I mentioned the letter and my mother’s response to it, and he went from excited to crestfallen. The publishing offer was real. Since this was before the days of the internet, I had no means of contacting anyone at Random House, much less figuring out which person(s) I would need to speak to if there was any chance of saving the deal. And, so, it never came to pass. 

Years later I was signing at a comic book convention and Random House set up next to my publisher at the time. I mentioned the whole thing to them, but at that point it was nothing more than an historical anecdote. 

What’s one of your favorite scenes in one of your books?

The climax of Runemaster: Shield Maiden’s Blade.  I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to read the book, but I found myself rooting for the characters as I wrote it, almost as if I was just a spectating journalist simply trying to capture the events as they transpired.

What makes a good character? A bad one?

A good one? Assuming you mean quality not good/evil: Depth, emotion, flaws and drive.  A bad one: superficial motivations, two-dimensional behaviors, stilted dialogue. 

As a reader, I want the ability to relate to a protagonist. To see some part of myself in them or at least, recognize traits of others I know. If I don’t recognize any of their traits, or worse, they come across as stiff and contrived, it doesn’t hold my attention. 

What moves the story for you?

In most cases, action. But not just action for action’s sake. There needs to be an emotional motivation for it. I need to feel a need to move forward, then the action brings excitement to the motion.  

What is your favorite book and why?

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It’s a timeless example of everything I want in a story. A quality lead character who strives to overcome his own flaws and make the world around him a better place. His heart is drawn to a wonderful woman, the action is almost non-stop, the adventure excites the imagination and the challenges seem insurmountable, time and again. All the while, Burroughs manages to give just enough detail to paint fantastic imagery in your mind, while leaving room for your own creativity to fill in the blanks – which draws you into the adventure, allowing you to truly escape from the humdrum real world. At last count I’ve read it 15 times since first discovering it when I was 12. 

What do you want to say to your audience?

Thank you so much for encouraging my madness. The best thing about creating is sharing those creations with people who appreciate them. Whether you’re a family drawn together by Lions, Tigers and Bears, a single reader who escapes the stresses of life in The Runemaster, or someone who puts their earbuds in and jams out to a song I wrote as the music helps you feel “seen”. Sharing those connections motivates my creative spirit – so thank you for that! Art is about human connection – thank you for connecting! 

What advice do you have for new writers?

The old adage of “writing is 5% writing and 95% re-writing” will always be true. It’s much easier to mold a lump of clay than empty air. So, write and write and write. Then read it/proof it/edit it/rewrite it later. Don’t get caught up in trying to make every sentence a home run as you author it, just get it out onto the page, then improve it – if need be – later on.  

Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Anything you can do to encourage a creator to create something, whether it’s artwork, music, stories, poetry, makes the world a better place – for you and everyone else. Please give a few seconds or minutes or even hours of your week to like, subscribe, review, and otherwise voice your appreciation for the work you enjoy. A simple click to give a 5-star review is worth a handful of gold to most creators.  

Website:   

www.facebook.com/mike.bullock.52012

runemasterpresscom.wordpress.com/

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