Michael Hallis

Michael Hallis
Michael (left) with Jonathan (right)
Species	Human
Appears in	Game Boy (Pipes is Pipes) (1990)

Michael Hallis, usually referred to as just Michael, is a teenager who appears as the main support character of the Game Boy comic Pipes is Pipes. He lives with his mother Nanette Hallis in a summer rental in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, who works at the Clam Creek Nuclear Reactor, but due to her shift, she is rarely at home. He is friends with Jonathan, another teenager.

History

Michael first appears at an amusement park in Seaside Heights along with his friend Jonathan, telling him that he heard about how to summon Mario from a Game Boy, though Jonathan is incredulous. Michael continues by explaining that Eddie Pasternak claims that he saw Mario fly down the street, along with many other children, though Jonathan is still in disbelief, saying that Eddie is an "idiot" and Mario is only a "bunch of little dots on a screen". Michael attempts to demonstrate by asking Herman, who works under the supervision of his employer Mr. Petrov, to borrow his Game Boy, though he refuses to even let him touch it. After Michael apologizes to Herman, Jonathan comments that he is crazy, with Michael commenting that he is staring at his Game Boy as though in a trance (who is actually hypnotized). As Petrov comments that Herman does that sometimes, Michael realizes that it is time for him to call his mother Nanette.

The two teenagers walk home to Michael's house, where they bid farewell to each other, with Jonathan telling him to come to see the boardwalk once he is done. Inside his house, Michael calls Nanette, who, upon being asked what time she will return home from work, says that things are going very well at the Clam Creek Nuclear Reactor and that she will be back home by midnight. Michael then asks her when she will get a earlier shift, to which she responds that she does have an earlier shift; she is just unable to get away from work. Nanette then promises him that it will change in six months before telling him that she has to end the call. However, before ending the call, Nanette asks Michael what his plans are in the afternoon; Michael responds that he and Jonathan were planning on checking out the boardwalk, explaining that he saw some interesting lights at the boardwalk (actually Tatanga's smokeworks display) before ending the call.

Later, as the authorities organize the evacuation of Seaside Heights following an incident at the Clam Creek Nuclear Reactor that triggers meltdown protocols, a police officer comes to the door of Michael's house and tells him that he needs to evacuate. Michael then realizes that his mother is still at the power plant and tries to call her, but is unable due to jammed phone lines. Michael begins evacuating, grabbing his coat, keys, and Game Boy; upon grabbing the Game Boy, Michael realizes that Mario can help him rescue his mother and plays through World 2-1 of Super Mario Land. Guiding Mario through the middle door at the end of the level, Michael summons Mario, riding the Sky Pop.

Upon appearing on Earth, Mario asks where Daisy is as Michael attempts to explain his situation to him. Spotting a mysterious dark cloud in the distance, Mario realizes that Tatanga must be on Earth and prepares to head off to the cloud's location. However, Michael explains that it not why he summoned him; he explains that his mother is trapped at the Clam Creek Nuclear Reactor and that he needs his help to rescue her. Mario explains that Tatanga has Daisy and that he must rescue her, though Michael eventually convinces him to rescue his mother. Mario says that he will do what he can, but is hoping to do it as fast as possible. He then tells Michael that he needs to hide, find a police officer, and run, unaware that a Bunbun is outside the window watching the two. As Michael expresses concern for Mario's safety, Mario tells him that he should not worry, as he has relatives in New Jersey.

As Mario flies off to the nuclear power plant to save Nanette, Michael decides that he needs to repay the favor by saving Daisy. Running to the boardwalk, Michael finds Daisy on a plank on the boardwalk, tapping her feet impatiently in wait for Mario's arrival. Underneath the boardwalk, Michael whispers to Daisy that he is a friend of Mario and that he has come to her rescue. When asked of Mario's location, Michael explains that he is at the nuclear power plant trying to save his mother, urging her to come. Daisy then jumps into the gap between two planks on the board, only to be caught by Michael, whom she compliments on catching her. Michael says that he hopes that Mario is doing as well saving his mother at the power plant, to which Daisy fears that it is a trap by Tatanga.

As Mario begins navigating the pipes in the Clam Creek Nuclear Reactor, Michael and Daisy are being chased by Tatanga's minions. As Daisy says that they have to warn Mario, saying that she is sure that Tatanga set a trap for him, Michael responds that they might able to lose Tatanga's minions by going through his house. As Michael and Daisy make their way through the former's house, heading towards the back door, Michael is suddenly hit by the front door when it is barged open by Tatanga's minions, knocking them to the ground. Tatanga arrives, demanding Daisy's location, to which Michael lies that he dropped her in a mailbox four blocks back. As Tatanga order's Pionpi to kill Michael, Daisy, who is actually hiding behind the kitchen door and fearing for the boy's safety, reveals her and demands that Tatanga not harm boy, explaining that she could have anything she wanted on her birthday. In response, Tatanga reluctantly agree to not kill the boy for now.

Later, as Tatanga's army leaves after his plan to kill Mario is foiled, Daisy tosses the Gem of Aicheizi to Michael, saying that it is important. As Michael is confused about the gem Daisy tossed him, Nanette and Mario arrive, with the former confused about what is happening as Michael hides the gem behind his back. As Michael wonders if the gem means that Mario is going back into the Game Boy, Mario explains that he cannot; without Tatanga maintaining a Warp Zone, he is trapped in the real world. Michael asks what will happen to Mario if he stays in the real world, to which he responds that he does not know. Suddenly, Pionpi reappears and demands that he hand over the gem to him. Michael simply hands the gem to him, giving Mario the opportunity to sneak back into the Game Boy.

As Pionpi returns back to the Game Boy, Nanette comments that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will not believe their story, to which Michael adds that Jonathan will not either. Nanette tells Michael to sit beside her on a sofa, to Michael surprise, as he expected for her to order him to clean up the mess. Nanette responds that he will have to clean it up later, but first wants him to tell her about Mario and "Tanga" in great detail. The comic ends by Michael correcting her that the latter's name is actually "Tatanga".

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Finnish	Michael	-
French	Michael	-
Swedish	Michael	-