http://umbagog.deviantart.com/

One of the quickest way to get on Michael's shit list is to tease him about his time as the Master's pet. It's a source of shame to him, knowing that he wasn't just subservient to someone, but their personal plaything. The worst part is he can't remember anything from that time* and goes on rumor and the Master's word to figure out what happened. And given the Master's boorish nature, he's concerned something worse than being dressed in adorable costumes or a torn face might have happened.
While he was feared in New Orleans, he wasn't exactly respected. Gunter was both too stupid to be afraid and too mean to hold his tongue. Gunter was one of the Master's other protege's and took every opportunity to torture/tease him (psychologically, physically he wouldn't stand a chance). He MIGHT think twice about getting Michael's goat if they ever met now, since Michael is now an Uber Half-Dead and would happy abuse that power on his old nemesis.

I was playing around with turning Michael's backstory into a short comic. The panel layout is crap here since I just drew things on the fly and didn't consider anything other than getting the idea on paper. The angles are also not the most dramatic. However I like how weedy Gunter looks. Kind of like a rat mixed with a crocodile mixed with an accountant.

And in the upper left is John the Preacher looking all bored-like. "Honestly why did you draw me here?"


*Half-Deads can't remember the details of their time as normal zombies, though the effects of that period in their un-lives can have profound impacts on their psyche, skills and preferences.