Disabused early in his Walden College career of the conviction that he was "God's gift to women", Mike Doonesbury gave up on dating and founded Walden Commune in l972. That summer he and sidekick Mark Slackmeyer embarked on a classic cross-country road trip to San Francisco, the most fortuitous benefit of which was his friendship with Joanie Caucus, whom they picked up hitchhiking near Denver and brought home to Walden.

Years later, working with Joanie on the Anderson campaign, Mike finally met her daughter JJ, which led in short order to romance, graduation, marriage, a computer, and a job in advertising. The pinnacle of Mike's career: a much-praised anti-tanning spot for the American Cancer Society. Low-points: his campaign to sell Ronald Reagan to black voters, and the inexplicable creation of Mr. Butts, spokesproduct for the tobacco industry. Also difficult was the 80s haircut, his stint as "The Subway Avenger," and separation from budding performance artist JJ. The marriage was band-aided back together when daughter Alex was born in 1989, but did not survive JJ's fling with Zeke Brenner.

Lifted from post-JJ depression by a summer fantasy come true, Mike found a new life, a new coffee habit, and a new career as marketing director for a Seattle software company run by his college roommate Bernie. To both his and daughter Alex's delight, he was wowed by and wooed Gen-X coder Kim Rosenthal. The three, united by both nuptial vows and a business plan, now run a mom 'n' pop 'n' pre-teen software startup. To the regret of his employees Mike nobly passed on the chance to be bought by Microsoft, which led to being run out of business by them. The financially stripped-down family went on to buy myVulture.com, a startup whose business plan calls for feasting on the remains of other dotcom casualties.

Like many Americans, Mike had a personal connection to the 9-11 tragedy. His former boss, Mr. Bellows, was among the WTC victims, leading Mike to return to Manhattan for a memorial service in the jittery post-attack days. In an effort to help the slumping economy and prepare for the invasion of Iraq during the way-harsh winter of 2004, he purchased his first big-screen TV.

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